FUNfetti

Great newwwssss! All of the five roomies are moved in finally! YIIPPPEE. 

We threw a birthday party for one of our sweet rooms, Cecilia. We wanted to bake something fun for her birthday so Mollie and I decided we would make icecream cupcakes. That's right. We made funfetti cupcakes (the only way to go), and put them inside of icecream cones. After that, we put them in the oven and let the cupcakes bake inside of the cone. YUM. Then we put cream cheese frosting on top. Y'all, it was so good. It looked just like a vanilla icecream cone. Tricked yaaaaa. 

How good does this look? And it was so easy!

Yum. Seriously. Huge hit.

This week, I'm thankful to have all of my roomies back in Auburn. I'm thankful school has started (nerdyyyy, judge). I'm thankful that Cecilia had her 21st birthday last week and so thankful she was born! She rocks.

SMITH STATION YL REUNITED. Yep, my heart swells a little bit when I look at this picture. Greatest team ever, I feel so blessed to be placed with them! Here's our ballin team for this year... Minus Meggers and Anna!

I mean, how cute is this dog? Or the fact that his name's Bailey? I'd love to get a dog. Really. I'd especially love if it was one of these guys-

Great danes are so cute. I mean really. So what if they're huge? I WANT ONE.

Hope everyone has a blessed week. I'll leave y'all with this video. BEN RECTOR rocks

We're buds. September 13th y'all.

Mat Kearny's NEW CD

Yipppeeeeee Mat's new cd is out! IT'S SO GREAT. Really, it has some sweet jams on it. This past week has been busy, fun, and exciting all at the same time. So to break down, check out these pics.

P.S. Texas may be my new favorite state... With Montana in close second. 

Texas is SO pretty. Really, we were driving to Austin and I looked out the window and saw this. Beautttyyyy.

Knox and I ate at this fun place called "Home Slice" and it was the BOMB. Hmmmm pizza. Holla.

While we were in Austin, we had to see the capital. DUH. And might I say, it's pretty cool.

Then we went to Waco where I got to see some of my kampers! I couldn't have been more excited! Sweet Maggie on the left is one of my kampers from last summer. She is such a blessing and joy to be around. Laura Leigh is on the right and she's one of my funniest kampers I've ever had. She was in barn twelve with me this past summer!

After Waco, we headed back to San Antonio. It really is such a cool town! And I got to spend time with the sweet Schroller family. All in all it was a great visit, with great shaved ice, and great sunny afternoons. 

I love traveling and getting to make visits, but I've also realized how excited I am to start school and see all of my sweet friends from Auburn! Yippeee for fall, Mat Kearny, younglife, and friends!

Until later.

                

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!

More kampy things

God is so good. I know I've said that plenty of times. But this week has been reassuring in that I know the Lord has a plan for me. During one of my quiet times this past week, I stumbled across this verse:

"In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps."

Proverbs 16:9

It was just what I needed to read that morning. It was so great to be reminded that the Lord has a plan for us. And He knows exactly what our future holds. He will never put us through anything we can't handle! Because He is a loving and faithful God. I'm so thankful for that.

 We had a Medieval party that we call the "Knight at the Fair" where all the girls dress up like princesses and the boys dress up as knights. There were several booths that had funny games that were made medieval style. There was even a corn eating contest. My sweet kamper Elizabeth challenged me to one. And she beat me. NO competition. None at all. 

We took the girls in this term on their "Real Deal" Trip that I explained in the last post. They were so excited and as cheesy as this sounds, it just warmed my heart. It really did! I love their joy and excitement for the day. Sometimes, I feel so complacent and I don't always appreciate the day like I'm called to. One of my favorite verses that constantly reminds me to live for each say says:

"Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."

Matthew 6:34

So here we are in sweet Lampy, MO at K-west for the real deal trip. We had just gotten there and we were about to go swim off their dock in wonderful Tablerock when, out of no where, this precious baby pig shows up. K-west is so cool and has a baby pig pet. I wanted to steal her and bring her home. Please look at the pink nail polish. My heart is melting. 

I'm sad that you can't really tell what I'm doing in this picture. But after we played with the cutest little pig, we headed to the blueberry farm. Look at the size of that blueberry!!! Its the size of a quarter. I'm just saying. They put the organic blueberries in Publix to shame. Complete shame. Y'all, they were the size of golf balls! Okay exaggeration, but I think you got the picture. Blueberries. Yum.

All I'm saying is, the Lord has blessed me this summer. I've loved the time I've gotten to spend with other counselors and with my kampers. I feel like my time at kamp has taught me so much about the Lord and about myself. 

This is a rando picture from staff training. But, we can't forget about our roots. And by that, I mean that I miss all my Auburn friends and I am definitely repping the AU out here in Missouri.

Until next time, 

Peace, love, & War eagle.

July & June

We have our second group of two weekers already! I cannot believe a whole group has come and gone. I miss my first girls but this group has been so great too. So far, we've had a couple of themed parties and with our new group we have gone on a ski trip. We don't actually ski.. Just a bunch of tubing in freezing cold water (really though... Lake Taneycomo doesn't mess around). It's just a day full of laughter, sun, and getting thrown off tubes. This past week has been really great because I've gotten to spend lots of time with the girls that left in the first term and with the new girls we just got. I love getting to be a part of these girls lives, even if it's only two weeks out of the whole year. Also, lots of my kampers from last summer are back this term! It warms my heart to see them and have them run up and give me a hug! Really though, it's my favorite thing ever.

For now, I'm at the Coinomatic... Hanging out, doing some much needed laundry. I realized yesterday that we only have THREE weeks left out here. My heart hurts. Literally, it hurts. I can't keep thinking about that because it makes me so sad. I wish time at kamp could last year round and that school would just get itself done. With that being said, I miss all my friends at home and I would strongly support their decision to move out here. We could work at Dixie Stampede together? Tempting....?

The Lord has been showing me time and time again to stop looking at my watch and to quit planning things so far in advance. I feel like my whole life revolves around a clock and a schedule. He has been reminding me that He knows what He's doing. That He doesn't run on a schedule. Things happen on HIS watch. Not ours. And although this has been a tough lesson for me to learn, I'm thankful that it's not up to me what happens in my future. And it never has been. It's so funny how I have such a small view of what the Lord is doing in my life and I find myself thinking that I still know best. I'm thankful for the Lord's plan, for His faithfulness, and for His patience.

I'm having a blessed time and the Lord is working in the Kampers lives and in my own. Please continue with your prayers, we definitely could always use them!

P.S. Last night we ate at a BBQ restaurant called Danna's. So great. SO so great. Attention everyone at home: come visit me but go eat Danna's first. Peace and blessin's yall. 

P.P.S. Listening to Jillian Edward's "July & June" and you should too!