Camp Sumatanga

As most people know I spent an amazing week last week at camp sumatanga working with high school students. Our theme for the week was faith. We discussed all the aspects of faith in our small groups and I continue to be amazed at the struggles that kids today have to go through and how they still come out on the other side with faith in God. This week also gave me a lot of hope that our world isn't going as badly as I may of thought. A lot of times it seems like we all get so caught up in the bad that is happening that we ignore the good which makes me sad because the kids that I met this weekend have far more good to give to the world then bad.
I had not only a wonderful cabin of girls but also a small group that was open and willing to discuss what was going on in their lives. That is so hard for a high school kid to do and I was so amazed at their honesty. I also got to get to know my camera a little better thanks to Byron and our photography interest group. I took lots of pictures its just that none of them include me and another person, there wasn't time for any of that. I also climbed the mountain for the first time which I must say was absolutely amazing. The view from the top is so much more worth it then when you just drive. Last week was a new experience for me, but one that I wish I could return to. When I left the whole way home I was thinking I loved every moment of the past week. I loved getting to build realtionships with high school kids as well as with the other counselors that were there. I met so many amazing people in such a short amount of time. There is no way to put into words how much I needed to meet the people that I met this past week. In college towns we are surrounded by people who think the only way to have fun is to go out and make fools of themselves, well I can now counter that argument. I just had one of the most fun and fulfilling weeks of my life while I was sweating mass amounts, without cell coverage, not having a computer, no late nights. I played outside and talked to people about what they think is important. It is one of those things that makes you look at how you live your life as well as the way the people around you live their lives.

It was such a fun week as well as a restoration of me. I have never felt like this before. I see so many doors that God is opening and each of them is something that would be amazing and change my life forever. It is nuts that God is showing me this quickly the reason why everything that has been happening is. I am slowly but surely becoming more free of the ties that bind me to my comfort zone, and maybe not even slowly. Thanks to a plan so much bigger and so much better than my own I can now go "Wow, I am so glad I am not walking down that road anymore." That is such a great feeling. To just let go and know that what is coming is so much better. I am glad I can see it, I always knew it was coming but now I can see it with my own two eyes.

A Lineage of Grace

Over the past few weeks I have been reading A Lineage of Grace by Francine Rivers. Each time I finish one of the stories of these incredible women it makes me wonder why I haven't read the stories before. Each one is inspiring in different ways but each has one thing in common, the never ending faith that the women had that the Lord was all they ever needed. I saw this the most in the story of Ruth. She took on a faith foreign to her because of the example set for her by her mother-in-law. She was so loyal to Naome and to God that she abandoned everything she knew and went with Naomi. Even though they had very little she had faith that God would provide. Even when people threw rocks at her and when they lived in a cave she still had rock solid faith that God would provide for her, and he did. He gave her Boaz who loved her and had longed for a wife for many years. He was able to provide for them because of his faith.

I just finished the story of Bathsheba and I am in awe of her as well. Yes, she made a mistake but don't we all? I know that I have. For a long while the only way that Bathsheba could function was knowing that the Lord was watching over her family. I am also in awe of her bravery. She would of given up herself to protect her sons. She wanted to actually. She was always in awe of what mercy God granted his people. In awe of the mercy he granted her. Even though she sinned grately she was forgiven because she repented. She was the only one of David's wives that raised her sons in the way of the Lord and it was her son that became king.

Each woman in the series has brought about a characteristic that I pray that I can have. Tamar had a great strength that even when women were of little worth she stood for what she knew was right. Rahab walked in blind faith and had bravery. She turned her back on her family even after she had saved them not knowing if she would be accepted into God's peolple because of her profession. Ruth prayed constantly that her needs and Naome's needs would be met, but that Naomi's would be met first. She was a prayer warrior and God delivered. Her faith was never shaken. Bathsheba had a great strength and great wisdom. She had a moment of weakness, yes, but she also learned so much from the discipline that she recieved. It taught her so much and she passed that knowledge onto her sons.

Reading the stories of each of these women is helping me to understand what potential each person who follows Christ has. It is scary and not always easy, but how much do we learn when something is easy? Not a lot. When we learn a lesson the hard way it sticks, that doesn't mean that every lesson has to be hard, but each lesson must be learned none-the-less. Every person that wants to be brave, faithful, strong, and a prayer warrior can, it just takes dedication and a really big God. The good thing is we have a God that is bigger and stronger than we can ever imagine, and he loves us more than we could ever know and he grants us the gift of grace daily.

Fourth of July Fam Jam 2010

This weekend was the Fourth of July and I am not sure we have ever had a better celebration. Everything kicked off Saturday morning after Julie arrived and went until about 4:00 on Monday when we all headed back home and back to real life.

Saturday was a very fun filled day. Everyone gathered on the Pier and we all talked for a while and then Dad came down and took us all on a boat ride that was wonderful! I love it when you can just ride around and see the lake, although if you told me to navigate us back to the house it would not be a good day because I wouldn't be able to. We went to the waterfall where we always anchor the boat and just swim. Then I skied for the first time in about 3 years. At that point it was almost 2:00 and we all realized we were starving so Dad drove us back to the house. When we got back we noticed someone walking down the steps and for the life of us couldn't figure out who it was and then all at one moment we realized it was Haley! Complete shock! Haley flew in from NYC just to be with the family for the weekend! It was great! After that we headed back out on the water for a little while. Upon getting off the boat everyone else headed upstairs while Emily, Amy and I made fools of ourselves while trying to take pictures. I didn't realize how hard climbing on the pier over and over is. When we got back Mom prepared a clam bake that was absolutely amazing! I can't believe that we had such amazing food all weekend, well actually I can.

Sunday the rest of the crew arrived that included Julie, Marty and baby Mason. It was so great just to have everyone together for so many days. We once again spent the vast majority of our time out in the sun. We went on several boat rides. Dad cooked his famous Fourth of July feast for everyone and as usual it was delicious! We also took a family photo in our awesome Fourth of July t-shirts. It is so rare for so many of us to be in one place all at the same time anymore so we had to take advantage of it. That night we shot off lots of fireworks that I am sure were the best on the lake. That night was pretty epic because we managed to fit 15 people into our very small house. It required 4 twin beds, a double bed, a sofa, a futon like couch, 3 double air mattresses and 1 twin air mattress. We decided after this that we could of fit two more twin beds in there so that is the goal next year- 17 people!

Monday night was not a good night. Mel had to put Fe to sleep because he had cancer in his neck. I know that it is so hard to go through something like that and I know that it just takes time. He was the only cat that I ever liked, mostly because he thought he was a dog. He was so great and he was such a good pal to Melissa all these years so please keep her in your prayers while she is going through all of this.

Weekends like this past one always help remind me of how rare the bond is between my family. I don't really think of us as 11 different grandkids from 3 different sets of parents. I have always thought we were far too close to just be cousins. I can't imagine what my life would be like if I only saw my family 3 or 4 times a year. Instead I am blessed to come from a family that is incredibly close. We are all different, because no one is exactly a like but we all have qualities that are similar if not all then time than at least some of the time. I really don't even know where I would be or what I would do without all of their love and support. That is how I know that whatever happens to me I will always be ok because I have such a huge support system.