14ers and such

The summer is passing fast and sweet. I am exhausted...more tired than i have ever been...but at the same time i am so enjoying my time here (a truly unforgettable summer). some friends and i have found it necessary to have coffee and conversation at 5am in the A-frame on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings, before our kids are up. It is wonderful. Also, the weekends have been amazing. Last weekend we camped and hiked a couple of 14ers. It was lots of fun and so beautiful. This weekend Kira and I drove down to Canon City and i am spending some time with Luker.
Friday afternoons are the best feeling in the world and the deepest kind of "tired" i can think of. But by Sunday afternoon God somehow replenishes me and provides the grace to welcome another group of campers with excitement.
I don't have time to really tell stories so the pictures will have to speak enough for now...

God as enough

not just "thank you, God, for giving me all I need" or "Lord, you have given me more than enough" but "God, YOU are enough."

more to do with his very character--His ESSENCE.

By nature, He is enough. This is in my head right now.

(and below are a few pictures of life's current happenings...)

Week before last--probably my favorite cabin of campers so far. They were awesome. and super cute. These pictures are from crazy night. I think i pretty much only take pictures on crazy night...apparently. i should work on that.





these were my girls from last week. pretty easily my toughest week yet. i was so tired; sick with two different things...it was "ADA week," which is American Diabetes Association week....so we were living and learning lots about diabetes and helping the kids have fun in the midsts of tests, etc. It was a good challenge, i guess but i'm glad to see it over. I had a couple really difficult girls and a couple of amazing ones...



Duran. as "pooh." crazy night. enough said :)

summer days passin' by...

not really an update but here are a few pictures of friends and such :) ENJOY! (crazy night and fun with the girls last week...kira and i are the world's coolest hippies)

rain, hail, and an occasional ray of sunlight

here are a few pictures, dad :)
beautiful but cold (this lake is what the wee ones jump into 4 mornings a week for dippy club. i've decided to wait until july to get my tag):



crazy night (every wednesday night is crazy/concert night). Jenna was a cowgirl with me because she went to the U of A and now lives in Phoenix. We commiserate when it is cold...



our first week of girls (the sun is apparently washing me out in every picture) and Daysha, my amazing co-counselor on banquet night--the campers' last night at camp--awards ceremony, etc:



week one with campers is over. whew. it went well. i don't really have the energy tonight to write about it.

it was a cold week. rain. hail. sun for 15 minutes (maybe 30) at a time. brrrrrr. my nalgenes filled with hot water in my sleeping bag have saved me.

God is stretching me lots. teaching me lots. there are a lot of really amazing people here--campers, leaders, and staff. I am privileged and humbled. it's often an uncomfortable place to be.

when life isn't about you and you are placed in a position of servant-hood, perspective on life begins to change.

tomorrow is a day at the coffee shop with Duran and Caleb. Fun guys. Good friends. Then taking Caleb out for his bday dinner. fun times.

tonight i rest. emails. letters. reading. silence. aahhh.

p.s. i won't post pictures often--don't get excited. its too much of a bother and i really don't want to be spending much time on the internet. snail mail letters are really the way to go this summer.

who is the center of attention?

can you tell? yep, it's Sam. because he's so darn cute and good-natured. here are some shots from family day. he's such a good sport, putting up with all of us...
it's sad to say goodbye so soon. next time i see him he'll be a WHOLE lot bigger. sigh.

p.s. the "sad/grumpy/about to cry face" is the aftermath of dad's creepy laugh. Sam doesn't like it one bit. he cries each time. haha. it's funny in a sad, pitiful kind of way.

the day started with a yummy breakfast. pancakes, french toast, bacon, sausage, fresh berries, coffee. mmmm...

this is a sweet place

i like being home, even if for only 4 days. i like sitting on our couch watching a monsoon role in (early this year, eh?). I like playing with my adorable nephew. i like sitting around the house with family and laughing so hard about ridiculous things. I like anticipating new things and while recognizing the hand of God in people's lives--people that i sometimes don't think about enough when I am busy with school, etc.

i am thankful for my life. i love my life.

pictures to come before i leave on thursday.

a bridal shower and impending goodbyes

Saturday night was Sarah's bridal shower. it was SO fun. we went to hot chocolate and had a wonderful time together.









Last week was insane but i made it (we all made it). i finished my papers (whew) and now all i have is this week. I have my Romans final tuesday and that's the only final. The rest are papers (3). I can do it :)

Yesterday Sarah, Mariah, and I went to Cemitas Pueblas, a small mexican restaurant famous for its "cemitas," a WONDERFUL sandwich that can (so it is claimed) only be found in Chicago (outside of Puebla, Mexico). I got carne asada...AND an appple soda which totally brought back memories of mexico. i;ve been missing it a lot lately. hmm...

we've been enjoying some last fun things.

Tonight we have our last "sis" event: dessert at the grand lux. Tuesday night Sarah, Mariah, and I are going to see State of Play (woohoo!!!). Thursday during the day Mariah and I are going to say goodbye to Qassim and Hind (our "old" student). Then, that night our directed study class is going to Dr. Schmutzer's for a cookout. That will be nice. Friday night we are going to hang out before I leave early on Saturday morning. sigh.

Then I have till next thursday before I leave for Colorado. Gosh, time is flying. These days feel "weird." Yesterday was the first "hard" day, as I am recognizing more and more what it will mean to say goodbye to two dear friends.

tres de mayo

we have long held out but our cravings for mexican food finally won over--two days before cinco de mayo, i know, but we have more time on the weekends to cook.

so: fajitas, beans, enchiladas, salsa, guacamole, chips! yum yum yum. a mexican fiesta.




when your kitchen utensils are limited, you learn to improvise :) No bean/potato masher!?!





YUM. and we have a whole lot of leftovers.

Well, the semester is nearing its end. i still have a whole lot to do. This weeks challenges are two 10 page papers due on thursday. One i am excited to be writing: the theological and literary purpose of the books of samuel. the other i am a little more intimidated by: an exegesis of Romans 8:22-24.

i'm getting over my weird sickness. my voice still sounds horse and manly sometimes. but other than that I'm getting my strength back! I appreciate all the prayers. If i had counted how many different people suggested i have swine flu you would probably laugh. it's rather ridiculous.

i'm off to work in a few minutes. not really sure how i am going to keep 15 4th graders in line with a whisper of a voice. alas...

"there were never such devoted sisters..."

shout out to sister :) today is Kristen's bday!
in sentimental moments like this one, i hear Reba's voice in my ears and for some reason remember that card you gave me when you were starting hillsdale....the ballerina dresses gone wedding dresses (except apparently mine's still a ballerina dress. haha).
RAISE YOUR GLASS!!! here's to great sister times past and more sister times to come! wahoo!

I LOVE YOU!!! i'm so glad we're sisters :)