WHy I Count it ALL JOY Wednesday!!

It's Wednesday so you know what that means....

I am filled with Joy because yesterday was my bday and I got to spend it with some really great friends & family. Nothing big...just made me feel special!

I am filled with Joy that my husband went on the Jr. High Float trip today with my girls & I don't have to go!

I am filled with Joy that we get to go to Branson for a couple of days with my Brother & Sister In law & their kids!! 

I am filled with JOY because my mom & sister made me a bday lunch on Sunday with all my favorite things!

I am filled with Joy because I get to  see my BFF from college...Lana... on Friday night!

I am filled with JOY because I have AIR CONDITIONING!!!

I am filled with JOY because we serve in a church with an amazing staff!

I am filled with JOY because Our God Saves & He loves us so much!!

I am filled with JOY when I see my girls working together to make my Bday so special.

I am filled with JOY to get to have breakfast with Rachel & Sami this morning...some of my small group girls who graduated a couple of years ago....I love them.

I am filled with JOY for a Hubs who went into Victoria Secret to get me my bday present even though he HATES going into that place!!

 (got me bubble bath)

I am filled with JOY to have had such a great summer with my kids!!

I hope you join Angel in celebrating your JOYS!!

You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.  Isaiah 55:12

You say it's your birthday...

Well...it's my bday too yah...
(no.... really it is)

Do you remember that line from 16 Candles? 

That was one of my favorite movies....

WHY?

Because Molly Ringwald was a Red Head like me and I felt her pain & related to her...

But today is actually my 38th bday!!

Pretty simple..

Coffee with some friends...

And Just planning to hang with the family today...can't get any better than that.

Blessed....

YQ: Worship & Wraping it all Up

Worship time each night....it's another one of my favorite moments.

I love to watch 300 + kids lift our God in Praise & worship. 

The Spirit is moving...

He loves us...oh how He loves us....

Each night before Worship we gather around the tent and hang out...thru the week...you can see the unity building among them...

Each morning we have devo time...I look forward to this all year. 

I know we can seek the Lord anywhere...but there is just something about His canvas in the mountains.

On Thursday is kinda their "reward" day...we take them to Breckenridge and they can shop & eat!

We all wear our YQ shirts which gives us an opportunity to witness to others. 

We are always stopped & asked about our shirts.

Here is our entire Group ready to go..

Matt & I

Ahh...been looking forward to this all week..

STARBUCKS!!!

Just had to share this picture...It's Paul & Matt. 

Paul was Matt's youth minister. Paul was getting ready to speak that night & he & Matt were praying...I love this picture. It says so much.

Here is our Fabulous COOK TEAM!! They cook...without running water...electricity...and make the best meals EVER for over 300 people!! They work harder than anyone in the camp

Thanks so much for everything!!

And here was my view on the way home...just follow that white van...

Lives Changed...healed...revealed & united in Jesus.

The Message

Youth Quake 2010

The End. 

HBTU MOM!!

Today is my Amazing Moms Bday!! 

Some of you don't know this...but she lives 2 houses down from me...it's a blessing!!

(the 16 year old in me still says....huh?)

We are taking her to lunch with just the girls while we look for a wedding dress for my niece.

Then tonight I made her dinner and we will celebrate as a family.

My mom loves Jesus, my dad & her family. 

She is a hard worker...will do anything for you. 

She would literally hurt someone who messed with her kids/grandkids.

She didn't have it easy growing up...like me. 

I know she is always there for me.

I love & admire her so much.

I am blessed to call her mom.

I love you mom...thanks for always being there for me thru it all. 

You are the best mom.

Happy Birthday to YOU!!!

YQ: Princess Palace & happenings at the Campsite

I could really blog about 2 weeks on YQ and everything so I am going to cram another blog in today about my sleeping arrangements...aka "The Princess Palace." See...I've been to YQ 18 times now...I know what to expect and what to bring. I have an official list that gets passed around every year & I am tellin YA...

I AIN'T FOOLING YA PEOPLE!!

This year I tented with these sweet Ladies...Meet:

Jackie, Me, Heather & Rhonda

Here is our Palace...

We have Da Bomb Cots! They are twin sized beds! Love them!!

And the dreaded tub...we pack our socks...etc in bags so they don't get lost all over that tub...but we dig thru that tub about a MILLION times during the week! But when it rains...our stuff stays nice & dry!

Heather is dragging her stuff back from the shower...

And now...the  Porta Potty (aka...Porta Poopy) Because that's what it smelled like!

Oh my...you learn to go at lightening speed & you dare not go...well...#2...and spend that much time in there...Yes..I took a picture from inside...I just looked at it all week so I couldn't resist...

So that's a glimpse into our camp life for the week...I might make it sound dreadful..but I honestly love it!!!!

YQ: Climbing A Mountain

On Wednesday we climb Mt. Baldie...it's just up the path from our campsite. See the red building on the right...that's about where we start and then go to the top.

 It took me about 1 hour & 15 minutes to get up to the top.

The students are paired up with another student...usually someone they don't know...at first it's awkward for them...but as they climb the mountain, they learn how to work together to make it to the top. The ideal pair is someone who can run up the mountain paired with someone who might not make it to the top without help or encouragement. 

The mountain is NOT Easy Peesy Lemon Squeezy...at ALL!!

Let's just say...I have been training for a 5k and it almost kicked my tail!!

Meet my sweet partner...Amanda...I love this girl. Amanda came thru the youth group with Matt & I and now that girl is a loving the Lord Missionary for Christ! She has been on 3 missions trips this year and has a desire to make it a permanent place in her life as God opens doors. She just graduated from College and ready for God to use her however He wants!

She helped me up that mountain!

Though I felt like I could die..I didn't...

While on the mountain we have a devo time....

And take time to study his word with the view in front of us..

Take lots of pictures...

And some more...

We made these cute shirts...don't I look like 12 years old or something...LOL!

Climbing this mountain really stretches the kids. There are many of them who barely make it to the top...as they do...you hear 300 + kids start cheering them on...

"You can do it"

"You are almost there"

"You're doing Awesome"

Like in our Christian walk...having someone by you...cheering you on...encouraging you...lifting you up...pushing you to grow in your faith. Finish the Race...climb that mountain.

So many of them come back saying...

I couldn't have done it without my partner

I pray you have a "partner" in life that encourages you to keep going. 

I am blessed to have many who cheer me on...tell me when I need to step it up in my faith...won't let me give up or give in or just plan smack me in the head when I need it, but do it because they love me & mostly they LOVE THE LORD!!

But encourage each other daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness. We have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly till the end the confidence we had at first. 

Hebrews 3:13-14

YQ: Youth Group Time

My favorite part of the day is always Youth Group time....

actually that's not true...I have several favorite parts of YQ as you will see

Hearts are broken...changed...healed & revealed during this time...

There is just something about taking kids out of their environment...

away from friends, family, phones, internet, sports or 

whatever is in their way of their relationship with God. 

You see open hearts...unity built...lives changed. 

Listening to them admit addictions to porn, alcohol, sex, gossip, popularity and many other things...breaks my heart...because I have been down that road & I know the hurt that can come from some of those decisions.  I just want to wrap them up in the love of Christ & show them how much God loves them. How they are Precious to Him, His mercies are new every morning & 

His forgiveness is available every day. 

Some were celebrating because @ YQ 09 they had also come clean on some of these issues and were celebrating a year clean

 & set free from the bondage of these sins! 

AMEN!! TAKE THAT SATAN!!

I can't really describe to you the feeling I had sitting in this circle with these youth kids...overwhelmed with God's Grace...His blessings....& felt my spirit moving & growing inside of me. I love working with the youth. They inspire me...change me...grow me & challenge me draw closer to God. I encourage you...spend time with a youth kid this week & see how blessed you are!