Gull Lake Family Camp

In the summer of 2011 we found a treasure that I've been meaning to share with you.  We see it as such an amazing investment in our family that it will become a honored summer tradition for us and love it so much that we don't want to keep it to ourselves!  How many vacations can you go on and come home saying?....our family bonded, growing closer to Christ and to each other.  We had a blast and were so blessed with refreshment from the LORD, that even though now the drive will be even longer since we've moved to Texas, it is SO worth it to us, especially when we think about how fast our kids are growing and how few summers we have left with them.  The oldest 2 would rather go HERE than DisneyWorld!  This is serious, people.  We also know that going to DWorld or any place of the sort, would have us all separated with the wide ages of our children.  This is fun for our WHOLE family!  Our kids had amazing counselors that valued them, taught them, and exemplified for them the love of Jesus.  Even Moriah had a fun camp experience and loved being a "MONKEY" for the week! 

There are videos and more info HERE at the GULL LAKE CAMP website.

Research it like I did.  From the moment we arrived after that long drive, our family is served and blessed like royalty.  All of the belongings in our van were put in our hotel room (or cottage, if you choose) for us.  The hotel is very nice, NOT a camp-type place you'd imagine at all!  The food is yummy and some nights the meal is a date night and the kids eat with their counselor groups. (ahhh...)  I wondered if my oldest would make friends easily, knowing no one there, and he did immediately, even with the counselors!  We had family nights where we all dressed up and there were themes they told us about before we got there, so we brought clothes and fun stuff on our trip!  The mornings are spent in God's Word, memorizing verses and worshipping as families, then separately listening to amazing teaching from the week's speaker.  The afternoons are as relaxing as you want them to be, but you can sign up to do tons of things on or around the lake.... ride the pontoon boat, sailboat, water-rocketing behind a speed boat, swim, waterslide, water trampoline, or just sit by the lake building a sandcastle or reading a book (my favorite).

Here are just a few pictures of our trip last year...

Hope you will pray about it and experience the FUN with us in beautiful Michigan!!!

Dwelling in Peace

I loved this bed....It's a picture of my temporary place until I return to my true home for eternity of being able to talk with Jesus and rest in His arms. He provides times of rest for us because in this world we will have trouble...He allows times of trouble so we will learn to trust Him and He provides the grace to keep trusting Him even when we don't understand....

The hardest part of the day since last Friday is bedtime. For the past month I'd been adjusting to sleeping on my side again. Being able to sleep on my tummy is a most vivid reminder. I cried out to God many times.  He spoke quietly through my tears over and over again.  I soon realized through many loving reminders from His Word and His voice that I was being selfish and prideful to think I had a mind that could understand the ways of God. (Psalm 8)  His will is always what I pray for, and yet in this particular time in life I don't agree with Him?  
I've learned  that t
rusting Him, (though not easy) has come easier during this time than it was back in 2006.  I can praise Him for that because I know Him more.  He's been faithful to bring us through so much since then.  Life is short, and for this small moment of mourning in mine, I choose to look past my own small view of what I think the future should look like and praise God for what He has in store.  Morning by morning new mercies I see, all I have needed thy Hand hath provided, Great is Thy faithfulness Lord unto me.

Then as I'm counting my blessings, I turn over to see this....

I will lie down and sleep in peace,for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.

Psalm 4:8

But I trust in You, O Lord; I say, You are my God, My times are in Your hands...

Psalm 31:14-16

And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Phil. 4:7

Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning.

Psalm 30:5

R & R in AR

On Monday, the girls and I took a 6 hour drive to Arkansas and met up with Luke, my brother & his family and my parents. It was a relaxing home just for pastor's families to retreat.

We ate a lot, played games, watched movies, read books and occasionally left the home to see the Ozark mountains. One day we took a drive into Little Rock and went to the zoo to feed the fish...

and ride on the "choo choo"...

We ate at one of our favoritest places ever... (Chickfila)

We enjoyed relaxing and resting with some of our favoritest people ever... (Aunt Stephanie in this particular moment)

Thank you God for providing places of rest, just when we need it most.

Remembering Cafe Yumm!

Inspired by Betsy's comment below, I went looking to see if I could buy online a delicious bottle of something I found while I visited her there in Oregon. We had lunch at a very healthy, and very hip little place, appropriately named, "CAFE YUMM!" They have a simple philosophy, summed up by the very eloquent ME: put a bunch of heathy foods together in a bowl and put some sauce on it, appropriately named, "YUMM SAUCE!" and there you have it! Yumm bowls come in a few varieties to choose from, fill you up and make you feel like you just had a bowl of vitamins. Almost like a salad, but more filling, with organic beans instead of greens. Sorry Kansas, we're just not health-conscious enough to render getting one here, so you'll just have to go to Oregon to try some! I highly recommend the experience, but my opinion could be a bit off, since it may just be the company that made it so good! ;)

Betsy, have a YUMM bowl for me and I'll have um.....a SPANGLES cheeseburger for you. :( Oh, how very sad. Miss you, my dear friend.

The "Secret" Gift

Brad knew I was bummed to not get to go on a SPARK mission trip to Seattle, where I thought I'd get to see Betsy, my best friend from high school. He "secretly" facebooked her and planned to fly me out to see her in Oregon for a few days in November. The quotations are there because the secret lasted an hour....at most. He couldn't wait to tell me, as bummed as I was after having to tell her I wasn't coming. I got teary when he told me & of course he did! I even got teary thinking about it several times later. I've always wanted to visit the place where she went for college after high school and never left. I really don't care if we just sit and talk. We're like soul sisters, still close at heart. I've missed her and this time with her is the best gift I've ever gotten. Betsy said it best when she said...."He's such a sweet man and he saw your heart". Thank you, honey for seeing my heart and blessing me with such an incredible gift. I love you so much.

Be good friends who love deeply.

Romans 12 MSG

Sunday @ Salt City Splash

Brad took the day off and we went on a day vacation down the road 30 minutes to Hutchinson. They have an awesome city pool that's a sweet little waterpark! It was already cheap prices, but that day, without us knowing, there was a special deal....$8 for the WHOLE family!!!

Thanks God.

Luke & Grace had a blast!

Moriah's not sure about the cold baby area at first.

but she warms up to it!

It was so nice just to be together.

Vacation to Remember

Here are a few highlights that I don't want to forget...

•  Good 12 hour car ride thanks to dvds, plenty of pacis, snacks, new books to read and Brad's Journey cd.
  
• Yummy Mexican food!
• Time with Terri & Tim (Brad's sis & bil) LOVE you guys!
• Walking on the RiverWalk at night in the cool Spring weather
• Riding the Log ride with Luke & Shawn, and getting soaked! 
• Riding the "Great White" with Brad, screaming the whole time, embarrassing him.  hehe.
• Having Grace need one last hug, afraid to let mommy go on this "scary" ride 
• Watching Luke ride the Atlantis water ride with his best bud/cousin Shawn 5 times in a row!  (yay---no lines!)
• Watching Grace laugh out loud at the Sea Lion show and her amazement when Shamu waved to us.
• Seeing Moriah just take it all in with her laid-back, "whatever" personality.
• Seeing Leah's beautiful face as she walked down the aisle.... laughter + tears = priceless moment of happiness.  The sweetest wedding (& the shortest) I've been to in a long time.
• Brad's time away from working and getting time with his best friend and mentor, Dale.
  
• How easy it is for my kids to make friends....swimming at the hotel pool, they made fast friends with the kids there and started a game of Marco Polo....(poor unsocialized homeschooled kids)  (that was sarcasm)
• Sitting in the hot tub watching my kids and thanking God for them.
• Quality time with my family, relaxed and carefree.... thanks to a sweet little tax refund.

Meal Plan Monday

Ok, really I'm doing this because I CAN'T WAIT to eat the food I'm going to be eating this week.  
Monday:  Bowties & Meatballs...boring...keep reading... 

Tuesday:  Eat at Memaw's with Aunt Sharon, in town for a visit...better, but...keep reading...

Wednesday:  Crock-pot Chicken meal of some sort....KEEP READING!!!!! 

Thursday:  MI TIERRA on the Riverwalk in San Antonio!!!  YES!  I LOVE THIS PLACE!  Reeeeeal Authentic Mexican Food.   YAHOO!  (I know.  I've got problems.)

Friday:  Somewhere else in San Antonio with my Awesome SIL & BIL and niece & nephew!

Saturday:  Cousin Leah's Wedding and BBQ Cookout Reception....YEE HAW!!!!

A New York Minute

Sunday was a big day in the Big Apple!  Here are some highlights:

• Worshipped at Brooklyn Tabernacle
• Had a great breakfast at Junior's in Brooklyn
• Prayed over all of the ladies at the Bowery as we said goodbye....with many tears 
• Ate & had the famous "Frozen Hot Chocolate" at Serendipity 3  
• Saw Rockefeller Center & the ice skating rink
• "Shopped" at Bloomingdales  
• Peeked in the windows of the Today Show set 
• Walked up and down Broadway & 7th, aka TIMES SQUARE
• Almost got run over by several cabs
• Shopped at the world's largest candy store & the M&M's store 
• Met very nice New Yorkers who gave us directions
• Met very rude New Yorkers who barked at us
• Walked down to see Letterman's studio
• Hailed a cab
• Rode the PATH train back to NJ hotel at midnight
• Made 2 Kansas girls feel... if she can make it here, she'll make it anywhere

On Blog Vacation

I'm definitely on SUMMER VACATION mode. I only have a few more weeks of this vegetably wonderful life, before school planning and Fall schedules come in and bring productivity & a welcome routine back into our home. I love hanging out with my kids doing nothing but playing, watching Disney Channel, going to the pool, talking, taking walks, doing some chores together, catching up with friends on the phone, reading and best of all...afternoon naps!

Another good book I've just read (in a few days because I couldn't put it down), was "Desperate Pastor's Wives". It was so good. I related to every character in some way, and just had a great time hearing the ups and downs of being a PW that these women would share at LuLu's Cafe. I can't wait until the next one in the series comes out! Even if you're not a PW, I guarantee you'll like this book!

So if I'm not posting in the next few days or weeks, please come back in August, when my computer and I have finished our rest. And as always, thanks for stopping by.
Hugs and love from the prairies of Kansas....

Pictures I took...

....with my new sweet red camera
This is cool. The first picture I took. Because it's good to know that in the midst of that big worldly city, there is a church, reaching out. Speaking Truth.
"You've been lied to. There is a God. He knows you. He loves you. He has a plan." I want to take more pictures of stuff in NY that you don't see on TV. Now this isn't one of them, but how cool is it to be THAT close? And how much is that electric bill each month?
We walked in the rain. It was nice to be cooled off finally after a hot, humid day, and it was just fun.Here's a general observation about the people of NYC. They seem sad and lonely. Everyone I've talked to (or rather who would talk to me) was NOT from NY. Most were from other countries, i.e. Italy & Puerto Rico. Tomorrow, I'll be working in the kitchen at "God's Love We Deliver". Then other groups will hand deliver meals to 2500 people! Wow~what a cool ministry that I get to be a part of.....I've never been so excited to go work in a kitchen.
(Molly wants me to blog about her.)
Our leader, my friend, Molly is doing a wonderful job on the mission field. I've always thought she was perfectly cut out for it.

Back to Chicago

I've taken a while to post these pics but I did want to highlight some of the fun parts of our reunion trip.

After 11 years of NOT singing together, it was pretty amazing how easily they came back together and sang as if they'd never stopped. The parents of Kevin, (far left) were retiring from the Salvation Army and loved Kenaniah. They had no idea we were coming. Kevin got up to sing for his parents, "I feel good, good, good...." as an acapella solo, and then as the other parts were to come in, the other 4 guys came in through the side doors singing with him. They were very surprised! For more on Kenaniah, see Kevin's website....

We had fun on the subways and trolley rides. It was like my practice trip for going to NYC for the first time. I kept visualizing scenes from the show ER. Lots of walking, lots of riding and keeping each other's kids in tow, lots of fun and sightseeing, but most of all, LOTS of love.

Once while going down the steps into the subway system, Grace must have caught a whiff of the Hot Dog Vendor and said "I smell Hot Dogs!!!" and then as we descended further....

"and I smell throw-up a little bit, too."

Thanks, Kev, for a great reason to come back together. Let's not wait 10 more years!

CHICAGO

Friends, Memories, Reunion, Big City, Salvation Army, Subways, Downtown, Walking, Children's Museum, Deep Dish Pizza, Splashing in the fountains, Kenaniah, Jim (& Little Jim--Ian), Jay, Brad, Mark (& Tom), & Kevin (Kristen, Adorable Devyn & Baby Boy on the way), Lily's Eyes, Up All Night, Laughter, Stories, Good Times.

Just like no time ever passed. JOY.

Vacation

I love rainy days. There's nothing better than a cup of coffee, while watching the rain outside my front door.

We got in last night at midnight from a wonderful, magical vacation in Orlando. We stayed with friends and relaxed, ate, played outside in the perfect weather, and of course, went to DisneyWorld. Brad's best friend, who used to be in Brad's choir, moved there to be a Worship pastor. He has many people from his church who work at Disney and can get them in free anytime, which was such a blessing for us! One of the coolest things was their son, who is college-aged and used to be in my bible study group and in Brad's youth choir, is working at Disney, as none other than...Prince Charming. He told us many of the "backstage" Disney secrets and we learned a lot about how it all works! We were so proud to wave at him in the parade, and see him in a show in front of the castle. It was good to spend time with friends, relax and play as a family.

We even got to march in the "Family Fun Day" parade....

Today is our last day of "Fall break" and we are enjoying just being home....together.

My Favorite Cancun Picture

Beach Bliss #3

Thursday, July 13
It's 6 am. I'm sitting at the edge of the ocean watching the sun rise. God's speaking to me, as if I'm the only one on earth. I feel His love so clearly in the sound of the waves. I found this in His Word: "Ascribe to the Lord the glory due His name; worship the Lord in the splendor of His holiness. The voice of the Lord is over the waters; the God of glory thunders, the Lord thunders over the waters. The voice of the Lord is powerful. The voice of the Lord is majestic." Psalm 29:2-4

O Lord, how majestic You are. How glorious is Your beauty in the works of Your hands. How you love me in the gifts that You give. I'm so small and insignificant compared to the vast ocean and all that is in it, and yet.... You love me....

Only You know me better than I know myself. But on this earth, You have given me one who knows me & loves me in spite of me. Thank you....for through him--it's Your arms that hold me, it's Your eyes that look at me with love, Your words that bless me and encourage me, Your hand that heals me and Your heart that gives him such a great capacity to love. What other person in all the world fits me so perfectly? He was created for me and I was created to be his. How could I have known what an honor that would turn out to be...
10 years later?

Beach Bliss #2

Wednesday, July 12
I'm having wonderful, sweet conversations with God here. He is "kissing me on the cheek" over and over again. This romance is making my cup overflow into a sea of affection for my dear husband. This is what a 2nd honeymoon should be...fliratatious, carefree, joy-filled days of love.
Here is my favorite verse for the moment:

"But I will trust in Your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in Your salvation. I will sing to the Lord, for He has been good to me." Psalm 13:5-6

So good to me...

Beach Bliss #1

Last week was our 10th anniversary trip to Cancun...Here is the first of a few journal entries I'll share with you:

Sunday, July 9
We have found our virtual "happy place". Next time we are stressed out at home, this is where we'll go in our minds: Beside the pool (which is on the beach), we found a tiki hut with a (queen-sized) bed, just waiting for us! It was heavenly. We laid there about 4 hours, reading, eating pizza, talking, taking the occasional swim and doing sudoku.
We started today by going into town (Playa del Carmen). We ate lunch at Senor Frogs, a great mexican food place on the beach. We could watch the ferry going back & forth to Cozumel & watched the last World Cup Soccer game on the big screen with many excited fans (cheering for Italy!). We shopped along the strip of small, garage-like shops selling sombreros, bead necklaces, pottery, mexican blankets, dresses, etc.... The sellers kept calling out to us..."Honeymooners, come look!" We smiled at that. Actually... para diez anos, amigo!
After coming back & spending time in our "happy place", we walked to the beach, just before the sun set. We walked in the water a little and then, like in a sweet, romantic movie... we kissed on the beach, waves rolling in nearby, wind in our hair.... Wow! 10 years and he still takes my breath away. Thank you God for this amazing scene in my mind, to be kept in my memory forever.