/mark 10:14/

/well, we survived our week at camp! it was everything we hoped it would be and more. as we packed for camp galilee, we didn't know exactly what to expect. lucky for us we were pleasantly surprised. we arrived sunday afternoon and met all the other adults we would be counseling with. some people we recognized, many we didn't. we've been members at grace for a couple of years now, but have evaded much genuine connection to individuals outside of sunday mornings. that was about to change. awkward introductions led into an awkward dinner which connected to an awkward first night in our cabins with just our co-counselor and ourselves: the kids would arrive the following day. what had we gotten ourselves into?

lucky for us, the last bit of remaining awkwardness evaporated the moment the kids got to camp. from the moment they arrived camp came alive. we had 15 elementary campers in grades 4-6. kelly had 6 girls and tyler had 9 boys. (jr and sr high was there, too).

our days were spent doing lots of typical camp stuff: swimming, boating, fishing, outdoor games, and general silliness. sprinkled throughout the day were multiple daily devotion times where we taught scripture, practiced prayers (the kids were challenged to memorize the lord's prayer and the apostle's creed), and had thought provoking discussions about who God is and what Jesus taught. each day ended with 9pm worship before the kids showered and went to bed (lights out at 11). our praise band at worship was made up of some of our sr high kids and they even did some preaching. it was awesome to look out and see youth leading youth in something meaningful and holy.

as the week progressed, we were both continuously impressed with our kids' willingness to be honest and open about their faith and their commitment to Jesus. it was certainly a moving experience that we're already looking forward to next year. while it was nice to come home to our air conditioned house and stand in a shower we could actually turn around it, camp galilee left it's mark on us./


/we/

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

{Choose Carefully}

Image
I am fortunate to work on a team with some of the smartest, kindest, most genuine people I have ever met.  In a profession that is too often thankless, they are a bright spot in my life.  Yesterday, we attended a workshop downtown together and seized the opportunity to catch up over lunch.  Of course, most of our conversation was related to work and our never-ending to-do lists.  But eventually we began sharing about winter break plans and upcoming holidays.  While I was listening, I began to notice the amount of angst holidays can cause.  During a time that should be joyful, we spend a majority of our time trying to prove ourselves worthy, appease our family, and simply survive. I think one of the greatest choices we make each day is who to surround ourselves with.  Our friends and family can should help insulate us from the sadness and difficulties of the outside world.  They should celebrate with us and for us. It's our choice.  The peo...
Read more

Food Prep Fun: Savory Breakfast Bake

Image
Sunday Fun Day involves a LOT of food prep for the week.  What I prep changes weekly depending on our meal plan, but one thing is for sure- I'll be prepping this delicious, versatile breakfast casserole that, when paired with a side of fruit, will last all week for me and the hubs! Once you get the hang of the basics to this casserole- you will find yourself changing it up to your own preferences and what produce you have on hand.  The ingredients I am sharing today are my basic, go-to recipe.  But I will also share variations I have tried.  If you mix it up and add different veggies and meats- tag me in a post and let me know how it turned out! Savory Breakfast Bake This recipe has a few components that are cooked separately before it comes together in a casserole dish.  I am breaking up the ingredients and steps to make it easier to follow. Sweet Potatoes Ingredients: 2-3 sweet potatoes (depending on size) 2 T olive oil Salt Pepper ...
Read more

{My First Whole30}

Image
Today is the last day of my first Whole30 experience.  Lucky for me- I am on spring break, so I have ample time to reflect over what I've learned and where I am going next.                                                                   Why Whole30? A multitude of factors led me to jump headfirst into this journey.  First, we booked a beach house for the first week of June and the idea of getting into a bikini without getting into better shape made me shutter.  Beyond that, I had let food get the best of me.  Like most people, I am ...  was ... still am an emotional eater.  Sad, happy, excited, bored...you name the emotion and I'll tell you the perfect snack pairing.  I'm a snack sommelier.  When we were in the process of adopting Ryan in 2013-14, I gained a...
Read more