The Castle

Well, I made it home :) On Monday, I left with the Junior High group from my church and went to the "Castle" in Pennsylvania. It really is a castle, with towers and everything and the stone building sits high atop a mountain. Our church groups have been going there for a long time and this was my third trip down. Going to the castle never gets boring. We go with great expectations and hopes of what the Lord will reveal to us, and He is always faithful. This year was the first time the Junior High group got to go and they loved the experience. It was fun to watch them interact with my older brother Dave and my sister-in-law Leta, the group leaders. We had some really good studies and the last night there, we had a special prayer time which included songs, tears and a whole box of tissues. God is good. Dave and Leta also prepared some really cool games which the kids loved. He took us out into the woods and each team (there were 3) had to build a little house from anything we could find in the woods. The houses were scrutinized for durability, order and style. We also played a relay game where each team had to put a body together piece by piece and learn scripture verses that went along with that particular appendage. Dave is good at making up kid games, cause he is still a kid himself :) I am so glad I was able to go along with the group of them and I hope to keep up with the kids a little better than I had been. What fun, what fun.

Going Away

I am going on an "adventure" next week. My brother and sister-in-law head up the Junior High youth group at church and they are taking the kids to PA for a youth retreat. They had a couple kids sign up last minute, leaving themselves in need of another chaperone to go along. Dave called me and asked if there was any possibility that I could go. I was very hesitant and at first told him no, that I wouldn't be comfortable leaving Josh for so long. The retreat is from Monday- Thursday and I haven't ever left Josh overnight yet. But Adam encouraged me to go and said that he'll be fine with Josh. He even said that he'd enjoy the challenge. So I'm going along after all. As you can imagine, I'm rather nervous about leaving Josh for so long and I miss him already just thinking about it. I think being away from the little guy will be harder on me than on him. Adam will most likely fill the "Mommy Void" the best he can. Horrible as it may sound, I am actually looking forward to being away from Adam for a few days. Whenever we are apart for an extended period of time, we appreciate each other more. I think it does a couple good to miss one another :) Anyway, if you think of us next week, please say a little prayer for us. We always look forward to the Lord meeting us in a special way when we go on a retreat. It's kinda exciting to expect great things from our Savior. I hope to have lots of exciting pictures to share when we return.

Winter Retreat Pictures!

These are some of the girls that were in my cabin. The first picture was taken when we went for a walk on some of the trails one afternoon when it was really sunny. We found some of the challenge course structures quite fascinating. The second picture is of the girls "dancing" for me the first night we arrived. We had quite a bit of fun.

Here is all the snow we got while at camp. Not much but those boys tried sledding in it anyway! All the snow was gone two of three hours later. The day before, when there wasn't any snow some of the girls tried going down the hill on thier sleds. We called that "grassing", because of the lack of snow.

I've been trying to share some pictures from our retreat and not having much success with how things turn out so I'm trying again. This is a group shot from just before we left. See how much snow we had? But they were still having a good time... you can tell by their smiles!

Penn-York Retreat

Hello everyone! We have returned from our retreat with the Juniors to Penn-York Camp in PA. We all had a great time even though we had no snow. The kids had to occupy themselves with something other than sledding. They played pool, football, capture the flag, basketball, and took walks on the different trails. But mostly played pool. A few of them even went "grassing"- the snowless version of sledding. We had a very light snowfall one morning, and several of the kids tried to make the best of it and go sledding. Not very successfully, but none-the-less, they did try! We had Bible study in the morning and in the evening, and meals three times a day. Those kids downed more sodas than I knew one could! I was glad that the soda machine was busted the first day, because they were hyper enough without soda in them! Tuesday afternoon each cabin made a mini movie/skit about 5 verses (whichever they wanted) from the Gospels. They enjoyed that and it was a good thing to do. My group did the 5 loaves and two fishes passage. They did such a good job, especially since we only had a half hour to come up with everything and could only have five props. I took many, many photos, some of which I will try to share with you except that the photo button on this post creator isn't working. I'm not sure what is wrong with it...

Saddening News For You All

Well, I have two bits of sad news. The first is that, when I sat down to look up my blog, my pants caught on a little nail that is sticking in the computer desk, and now they have a little tear/hole in the knee. I am so sad.... One of my only two good pairs of jeans.
The second bit of sad news is that I will be leaving the blogging world for four days as I venture off to new places with the Junior group fom church. That is not sad for me, but sad for those of you who depend on reading my exciting new blogs every other day or so. But take heart! I shall return with good news and exciting tales of winter retreats... good Bible studies, sledding, a bunch of girls talking way too long into the night, cold feet, forgotten towels, and etc... Adam and I were both asked to go along with the Juniors as they go on their annual winter retreat. We will be having a good time I'm sure, and getting to know these kids will also be an adventure. I haven't ever really talked much to this age group lately. I worked with the teen group last year, but this I think will be a little different. Especially since none of them really know me either. So prayers will be appreciated and thoughts coveted. Hopefully I will come home with lots of fun picture to share... If I get a picture card for our camera and new batteries too. Hmmm... maybe I'll have to think about that...
Anyway, our wedding cake is kinda yummy. Adam thawed it out for Valentines Day. The cake is still pretty moist except for the outermost edges. I know we were supposed to wait for our first anniversary, but by then the cake would be past enjoying. So we eat it now, while we still have the chance to see how good of a cake maker Cheryl, Auntie Lori, and Gramanita are. We didn't taste the cake on our wedding day... other that what was smashed on our faces. So we take the liberty of choosing to eat while still enjoyable. I think there is two pieces left... we should eat them (and the rest of the leftovers in the fridge) before we go away tomorrow. Don't you think?
Well, I should be on my way.... I would like to stop by Mom and Dad's today. Hopefully I won't forget that I need to pick up my sleeping bag, a bag for traveling, and there was something else too... Oh, yes. I'm also borrowing Mom's boots. Can't forget those. I'd certainly be the one with cold feet then. Yikes...