24 Years

Today, July 25th, is my sweet parents 24th anniversary! AH that's so amazing! 24! Which means next year will be their 25th year anniversary on the 25th! Good grief PADRE, you've got to do something super special! Isn't that the "golden anniversary"? Just sayin. Big deal! Growing up my dad had really awesome (and hilarious) gift ideas. One year, he got my mom one those foldable chairs that you bring to baseball games. You know, the ones that fit into that bag? He found a DOUBLE of those chairs so two were sewn together... So it was a super huge jumbo bag of chairs that we took to all of my brothers baseball games. And watching my mom's reaction while she opened the present was priceless. Maybe not what she expected, but it's the thought that counts right? 

My dad is probably the funniest person I know. Really, I'm serious. He has a dry sense of humor and it always has me laughing. He always looks for the best in people. He is a constant reminder that you need to work to the best of your ability. He's such a hard worker and I've never once heard him complain. I'm so thankful for him. 

My mom has such a servants heart. She has always taught our family to put others first and to serve without expecting anything in return. She really is the rock in our family and I don't know where we would be without her. I'm so thankful for her.

So for their anniversary, my little brother and sister and I cooked them dinner. We made all of their favorites and we wouldn't allow them to clean anything up. Even if I'm the not good at cooking at ALL, again, it's the thought that counts right?

They are so precious. Mom and dad, if y'all are reading this, I hope you know that I'm so thankful for you two. Happy 24th Anniversary! 

Catchy blog title

The past few days, I've been avoiding this blog post. Mainly because I don't really know how to put into words what the past eight weeks has meant to me. I'm having such a hard time explaining what kamp means and what the Lord has done in my heart. So as a start, I'm just going to try to verbalize all of the ways that I'm thankful for K-Kountry. 

A lot of the things that we do at kamp doesn't make any sense to the outside world and that's why I love it. I'm thankful for this sweet place because it's a break from reality. It's a place where you become a mom of twelve in a matter of minutes; belly flops are just about the coolest thing ever; piggy back rides are common and your fingernails are always painted every color of the rainbow; sunday coffee cake breakfast is famous and asking your neighbor to pass the whiffle encourages the whole cafeteria to break into song; coloring your tooth black with a sharpie and throwing a toilet seat halfway across the lowerfields is normal, all for the hopes of creating moments of wonder; you get to look into the teary eyes of your kamper and tell her that she is LOVED and that she is made by the Maker; you have moments that make your heart smile, like when a kamper tells you that she loves kamp because "she can be herself and feel loved".

I'm thankful for the way the Lord works at kamp. You can see the Lord in everything that you do and you have to depend on Him for strength. Sometimes at home, it's hard because you can't hear Him as well. But the Lord speaks loud and clear here... I'm so thankful for that. I'm also thankful for the Lord entering our kampers hearts for the first time. Nothing sounds better than the bell ringing and seeing a kamper surrounded by counselors cheering and hearing them say, "this is what the angels are doing right now in heaven".

I'm thankful for the friends that you meet there and the cloud of witnesses that surround you. I'm so thankful for my sweet co, Chelsea Courtney. And for all of the encouraging and uplifting women of Christ that I got to work with. The Lord truly handpicks every single one of the staff members at kamp for a great purpose. 

I'm thankful that kamp makes you live for the moment. You can't plan ahead for the next day. You have to live for the day. I'm thankful that I got to take part in anything from dressing up as a tribe cheerleader with my kampers to dressing like a character from Candyland. While you're at kamp, you have to lay everything down that day. Yes, kamp creates moments of wonder but it also helps you live in that moment and appreciate every second of it.

Last but not least, I'm thankful for the joy that the Lord brings at kamp. When you feel so tired you can't get out of bed, the Lord provides that joy and strength. He gives it to all of us at kamp. He provides tons of laughter and smiles that you leave feeling like your cheeks are going to fall off. I'm thankful for that joy. So very thankful.

Kamp is a place that is so special that I know I can never completely explain. On that note, I'll leave you with this: east side, west side, get yourself to the kountryside.

God Bless B-town

I haven't been able to blog in the past couple weeks because time off has been hectic, but lots have happened since the last time I wrote! Only one of the greatest holidays ever, the 4th of July, took place. 

We love America at Kamp.

We really really do.

We had lots of festivities to celebrate America's birthday by watching the fireworks, eating as many ribs as you can, and enjoying a good ole bomb pop, colored red white and blue, of course. The 4th is just a great reminder of how blessed we are that we are able to freely worship our God openly. We are so blessed y'all. So so blessed.

Another ski trip has come and gone! The sun was out all day and even though it was a blazing 105 degrees on Taneycomo, it was so fun. Its weird to think that everything I've done this past term will be the last. Last ski trip, last canoe trip, last real deal trip.... Last chica dia, last few k-lifes. I'm getting sad just typing this! I'm going home soon!

This past term was the last time we were going through the themed parties. Last time we are scheduled to work at them. Y'all, this is so sad! Last chance to dress absolutely ridiculous without having to provide an explanation. 

Maybe this is a really sad post. But I'm just feeling a little sad about saying goodbye to the happiest place on earth!

Last trip to the blueberry farm, the sweetest place ever.

I'm just really thankful for this summer and I'm amazed how fast the weeks have flown by.

On that note, I'm so excited to see all my family and friends. But, the sweet smiles of my 35 kampers from this last summer will weigh heavy on my heart. Next time I update, I'll be home. Ahhhhh weird.

Until next time!