Oopsy...

It would appear it has been about 4 months since my last post. My sweet sister in law reminded me of that on my recent trip to Texas.

Hear me out before you pass judgement on my song selection.

*Disclaimer* I don't drink, smoke, or gamble. Nor do I believe the best thing in life is dying in your sleep. Those reasons aren't why this song has been on my mind.

This song first off makes me laugh. It's an old classic country tune! I do find some realness in knowing when to hold'em and knowing when to fold'em and simply knowing when to walk away or knowing when to run.

Life is an interesting thing.

The hurdles we face. The joys we overlook.

I've started with my Master's work again taking 9 hours online. Perhaps not my brightest moment. I'm a couple of weeks into and pretty much overwhelmed by two of the three classes. We'll see how the next couple of weeks pan out.

The construction on my new place of residency continues to go on. The move in date is still yet to be decided.

Work is work. Some people like what we do. Some people don't. I suppose that happens everywhere.

I noticed a couple of leaves fly by my window today while I was in the office which means the tress should be getting colorful pretty soon.

For all three people who read this and don't have daily contact with me now you know the short version of where life currently has me. Trying to know when to hold'em, know when to fold'em, know when to walk away and know when to run. That sums it up pretty well for right now.

The Beauty of a Child...

That picture is not of any baby that I know just one I found online. The past two evenings I've had the joy of holding a newborn for a bit. A friend of mine here in Tennessee has a baby that is all of 9 days old today. For the life of me I have absolutely no understanding of how anyone could ever not want a baby. I realize they can get expensive and cause a good amount of stress in the life of parents. I realize it's probably a little scary to take one home from the hospital. But how in the world after looking at one do you just not want one?

I've found myself both last night and tonight not just holding the baby. I like to hold her in front of me and just look at her. The tiny hands and feet. The eyes, ears, nose, and mouth that are so precious. The innocence. The dependency to survive both physically and emotionally upon those that surround them. It just fascinates me.

The reality that the Lord knew completely of that child long before she was born. The reality that God formed that baby in her mother's womb. The reality of God's design to give women the ability to grow a child within their own body. How do you see that happen over a period of nine months and not believe that there is a God?

The beauty of a child is one that always has and I guess probably always will make my heart melt.

Still here

I am still alive! Our staff has arrived for the summer. I've tried to take lots of pictures only to come to my computer and find out that my USB ports are apparently worn out. Little inconvenient but not a complete catastrophe. I can still download them somewhere else and put them on my computer through a CD that hooks up through a firewire.

I'm sure that was far more information than anyone really cared about.

We have 7 staffers currently. Five will stay the entire summer and two of them will be leaving at the end of June. As with each year they are all different. We've had a good time of orientation with them and continue to work out some of the odds and ends of what we expect of them throughout this summer.

I had to go out and till the garden today and for the first time since I cut my hair I actually pulled it into two lower pigtails to get it off my neck. That's a big step for my hair!

I haven't completely figured out yet how to make time to blog through this fun time of year. Hopefully by the end of the summer I will have something figured out!

Physically there is much going on around here.

Mentally it seems hard to make the mind slow down this time of year. There are so many things the Lord brings before us. Yes, we get staff in to help us do some of the ministries. Honestly though we believe one of the biggest task for our staff is to get to know Jesus more while they are here. We take that responsibility very seriously because if they walk away knowing Jesus better than when they showed up here there is nothing better in life we could have taught them. Nothing will help them go further in life more than knowing their King.

Spiritually it's a war zone around here. We want to see God move through this camp, this ministry and our lives. For every prayer and desire to see God move is an equal and opposite motive from satan to desire things around here to crumble. He's rather vicious in his attacks too. This song below is one of my favorites by Rich Mullins. I love the simplicity of the lyrics.

I'm the type of person who likes to understand why. When I go through times where my life doesn't make sense those are very frustrating times for me. It's in those moments I have to go back to the root of God. I have to find those things about Him that I do understand to help me understand my own life better. In the midst of that searching this song often becomes my prayer. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

Busy days...

Sorry, I don't have any personal updates at the time.

You can check out my work blog to understand why!

Hair update

Mom, just thought you'd want to know my hair is growing!  This hair was washed last night and did it's own thing through the night.  It's calmed down as the day has gone on.  And no I'm not as pale as the picture shows.  Just a bad combo w/ the office lighting and my flash I guess.  

Top 5 do NOTS of the day!

I didn't want to have to think long enough to come up with a top 10 so we're going to go with a top 5 list!

Top 5 things NOT to done when anywhere other than your own home...

(Keep in mind I work at a camp/retreat facility.  Also keep in mind today I had to clean some cabins)  Enjoy.

5.  Do NOT stash candy, gum or anything else under your mattress.  If you're snacking just admit that you're snacking and when you're finished snacking in bed go throw it in the trash can!  Somebody has to pick that up!

4.  Do NOT leave coke or in todays case Mountain Dew cans EVERYWHERE after you drink them.  Drink the can then place it in a trash can.  It's that simple.  Somebody has to pick that up!

3.  Do NOT leave enough hair behind that a fake wig could be weaved from it.  I know hair can come out by the handfuls.  But that does not mean you have to leave it all over the sink.  The best is pulling it from the drain.  It's one thing to pull your own hair from a drain but somebody else's is disgusting.  When you leave hair everywhere guess what?  Somebody has to pick that up!  

2.  Do NOT leave band aids in the shower!  You know when you have a wound that needs a band aid.  You know if you go into the shower with a band aid you should come out with a band aid.  If you go in with a band aid and do not come out with one...  Where might that band aid still be?  In the shower!  Somebody has to pick that up!

1.  This is my favorite from today.  Do NOT leave your underwear any place other than on your body or at your house!  Perhaps you have more than you need.  Perhaps you wore the ones that give you a wedgie all day long.  Either way if you bring 3 pairs with you please go home with 3 pairs!  I know economy is struggling but I don't need somebody's drawers...  Biggest reason not to leave your underwears is that SOMEBODY HAS TO PICK THAT UP!  

Too cute