I always think it's for the kids

I'm back from a week at youth camp. 
I have realized that even though I leave for a youth camp thinking it is all about the kids I come home knowing God put me there for a reason.

The chance to watch all those kids get closer to each other, watch them worship and really minister to each other, watching my own kids grow in their faith is a privilege every time I go.

I always question my girls to make sure they want me there.  I have been involved with their children's groups and their youth groups and don't want to be there if they need some space.

 

It was funny how little I saw my own kids or really interacted with them at camp this year. 

 

 

And as usual, I came away knowing God had put me there for my growth and not just to help.
Getting to know other leaders (this year I wasn't the only leader above 25) was truly a gift. 

And I mean really getting to know their hearts, see their passion for Christ and their love for those kids.
Laughing and laughing and laughing.

Staying up way too late.















Bonding over coffee with the other coffee lovers in the group.

The worship was just for me I'm convinced. 

 I can't get this song out of my head.  I needed to be reminded I guess...

 

Your plans are still to prosper,

You have not forgotten us
You're with us in the fire and the flood
Faithful forever,
Perfect in love
You are sovereign over us

 

Being in Texas, we encountered a HUGE tarantula while we were there.  And of course the sign that makes me laugh every year

I won't make you look at the mascot statue and what is wrong with that.
On second thought

 

Boys eat A LOT

Our church is having it's annual D Now weekend and we were the host home for the 9th grade boys.
How on earth did that happen?
Our house couldn't be more girly!
But.  They are here and they seem to be having a good time and doing ok.

Bible Men

and Bible Dog

I am loving that they like to eat.

 I've never seen people that excited about breakfast.

I wish a had an after picture.

They have been here just under 24 hours adn here's the rundown:

7 boys
1 college leader
24 eggs
2 lb bacon
20 tortillas
24 rolls made in to monkey bread
1 gallon of milk
6 2L soda's
3 bags of chips
3 packages of cookies plus a batch I made them
1 bag of candy
maybe 6 showers?
maybe 6 hours of sleep
and we still have one night to go...

But in the end, I couldn't be happier to have this group and be involved.  They are out right now praying over my neighborhood.  God is good.

A word to I needed to hear...

Thursday evening I was just out of sorts... Grumpy at kids and hubby... no one was doing what I thought they should be doing. (they really weren't... it surely wasn't just me...)
Later when I was on FB, I clicked on a video a friend had posted...
 a little 3 minute video on FB that I am sure was meant just for me...
one of those where you have to say "ok God, I get it..."

Yesterday I got to spend the day with 2 close friends and 9,000 others at a Beth Moore event...

What a treat.  I always think how wonderful it is to see that many women in one place who love the Lord...
And as was the case Thursday, God again had words that I think were just for me.

I'm working with the youth again this year and tonight there was a youth worship service that was so good... what a treat to get to be in the "youth" with my kids and they even like me being there...

I got to see Katie win "minute to win it" tonight...She'll be using that gift card to Sonic before the day is over tomorrow I would imagine...

I wish every week had this much worship...

I am feeling very blessed today. 

Can a full moon last 2 weeks?

After all these years of working in a school I am still surprised by a few things...

• How crazy the first week or two is... and not only in a busy way but in a "is it a full moon" kind of way...
• How many parents want you to do more than whats expected for their child but they won't get the papers, shots, dr's orders etc. that we need at the school...
• How many parents get a new cell phone number almost weekly
• How little the new Kindergarteners are.
• How many kids can share their germs the first week of school.
• How many kids can share their germs with my own kids the first week of school...
• That my kid can still get strep the first week of school even after having the tonsils out a year or two ago...
• That I can get pink eye if a kid in a 10 mile radius has it...
• That now 2 weeks into it I have the sore throat...we will be keeping the clinic in business this year it seems...
• Did I mention how "full moon-ish" it has been???

That's just a few of the observations two weeks into the year...

Another observation (that I should probably not be saying out loud yet) of the last few weeks is that my girls seem to treating each other a little better... not as much fighting... more talking to each other, watching t.v. together, tolerating each other just a little more, less hitting, less screaming, wanting to be with each others friends when they are over.  As we speak they are in the kitchen talking about school and teachers...see even at home it's freakishly full moonish!
I pray this is a trend of things to come and not just a quiet spell!

Well, I'm off to make a year's worth of spices with a friend's ladies group from her church...
Call me if you need taco seasoning or season salt and other assorted spices or have any explanation for the crazy at my house or school...

A cute new book and a photo shoot

We've had a very routine week around here...Mike has been so busy with work however, that I have done all of the kid stuff... which compared to what he's doing is easy, but I was ready for the weekend.

Friday afternoon I got to spend a couple of hours out with a friend.  That was such a treat!  No kids with us and I only had one phone call from them.  That's a record!  Both girls had a friend spend the night so that kept them busy and that made for a relaxing night for me. 
Today is 'favorite' kind of day, there is a pot of soup on and I'm trying really hard to not leave the house! 

Then this morning a friend came over and we worked on making us each a new address book.  Of course I am copying the idea from another friend...

Now picture this with holes punched and all put together....

I didn't really need a new address book but really, really loved Kim's so I needed to copy it!  So here we are... I enjoyed using some of the Christmas card pictures we have gotten in it...

Everytime I go to upload pictures I find some pictures that I didn't take... seems there are frequent photo shoots going on by my girls....

who's this kid?

  no, just kidding, she's one of the friends that I think might be living here....

wonder what this was about????

Back to school...

Well, I've been back at work for a few days now. I really love my job and I know how fortunate I am to have a great job that I love and that lets me be off when the girls are off.

I never dread going back to work. I don't mind it at all. Now, I really hate to give up the summer life and all the days off but I still don't mind going back...

I've spent the last few days in meetings and every year it makes me wonder, why? Why do some people have to ask a million questions, some that have already been answered, why do they make unnecessary comments while speakers are presenting? I think they should be limited to a certain number of comments per week. And if it's a personal comment about something someone in your family has or did, it will take away all of your comments for the week. I'm happy to police this at meetings...

Friday, while listening to a speaker talk about high school, I realized that after this year Katie will be in high school and I will only have her for 4 more years. I teared up. I have no idea what she talked about the rest of the time....

4 years, I can't even think about it without feeling sick.

I know I talk about feeling like time is flying and my kids are getting too big but really, I just can't tell you how fast I feel it is going. Then that makes me feel old, then I get sad... it's crazy.

Oh, but just then, as I sit sobbing worrying about my babies leaving me, I hear a fight in the hall where the girls are about to kill each other over a shirt and I think, ok, maybe it won't be bad when they are gone. NO, NO, NO, not really. Then I'm just here with Mike....ahhhh...

Speaking of tearing up, watch the video linked below about the mission trip Jennifer just returned from...It makes me so thankful for what we have, what my children have. It makes me want to go get all of these children.

Really, watch it....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GWUU_1ymhmU

Spring is coming....

I know Spring is coming soon... You know how I know this? Just look-

My kids are cleaning...they helped clean the boat to get it ready to go to the lake for Spring Break

a kid with scrub brushes is an unusual sight at our house!
OPI Cajun Shrimp - time for open toe shoes

Starting to get out the Easter decor... (edited to say I mean Spring decor Wendy....)

We spent the weekend getting boat things done, getting stuff ready to leave Fri. for the resort at Lake Texoma. We are excited about getting out of town. I feel sure it will get cold and rainy at the lake because that's how it usually turns out for us... but being off for one week, being in a different place where there is no laundry or other things I should be doing - where there will be books, movies, games and resting...it will be good. I need a couple of new books to take... I bought a couple of new family games and the girls picked out a new movie to take...

If only we could take the dogs...

A good Saturday

Today we had no plans, no where we had to go, nothing. All afternoon I've had four 12 yr olds hanging out here. They are even being civil to the little sister most of the time. I can only hope I am setting a trend for the future of K and her friends... I really want to be the house they hang out ....I've fed them twice, gone to get more soda, laughed with them over their silly ideas as they shared them, rented movies and wii games, made cookies...