Progress?

So I'm supposed to be sorting and packing since I'm going to be moving next week. Okay, not really moving. I'll be packing up my apartment and putting all my stuff in storage at the camp. Then I plan to go to Illinois to spend some time with my family and getting some much needed rest.

So I thought I'd show you the progress I've made in packing. Ready? Are you sure you're ready? It's quite a site to be sure. Okay, here goes nothing.

Yep, this is it. But when you have a sinus infection, it's hard to hang your head down to pack up boxes. After packing up these boxes this morning, I'm ready for a nap. I'm very thankful my parents are coming to help next week. At this rate it could take me a month to do this myself.

End of an Era

Well, today was my last day to work at IRBC. Wow! Where has the time gone? I'm so very thankful that God chose to use me in the ministry here. I'm also very thankful for the opportunity to work with each secretary He brought to IRBC. They have each been a blessing to me. I'm thankful God has used IRBC to continue to mold me, transform me and help me grow closer to Him. I'm most thankful for the camp families who have become my family.


Hopefully I'll have some pictures to post later, but let's just say the camp family made my last day very memorable.

It's been bittersweet. I'm excited to see what God has around the next bend, yet my heart is breaking over leaving.

I hope you have a fantastic Thanksgiving!

Giving Thanks

We had our Praise Banquet at church last night. What a wonderful time of praise to our Savior. One of our college guys gave the message and preached on Job. Not a typical thanksgiving message, but it was just what I needed. Somewhere in our little minds, we tend to make Thanksgiving about us. Oh, I know we GIVE THANKS for God's blessings. But what blessings to you tend to thank God for...family, job, home, friends, church, etc. Do we remember to thank Him for EVERYTHING? Job was left with nothing and yet offered praise to God. This is especially timely for me.

This is my last week at camp. Although I'm excited to find what God has around the next bend for me, it's also very heart breaking. I'm not just leaving a job, but my entire life from the last six years. Just thinking about it now is bringing tears. I know that it is an answer to prayer and I know that God will use this stage in my life to continue to draw me closer to Him, but it breaks my heart. But I choose to give thanks. I choose to give thanks for the difficult circumstances that brought me to this decision. I choose to give thanks I have no strength of my own and have to draw from His. (When I am weak; then He is strong).

I have wonderful things to be thankful for as well. But let's remember that even if God decides to take it all away, we still have a reason to be thankful - God. Job was simply rejoicing in who God was even though he had nothing..."The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord." Job 1:21b

One of our teens sang this song last night and it was such a powerful message. Enjoy the song and let's be thankful for our Savior together.

Weekend with Annie

Annie came up to camp for one last weekend. We had such a great time. She brought work with her and did it up in the office while I was working too. Our weekend was filled with cooking together, movies, shopping, lots of laughter and prayer. I'm thankful for such a great friend.

Here are some pictures of our fun time.

Don't know what I was thinking..."Nose check!" No boogers...good.

We bought a fresh pineapple...so good!

Our table at Applebee's was wobbly, so Annie decided to fix it.

Lynnae and Stacy joined us for lunch. We had a great time.

Oops...Let's try again.

That's better.

I'm now addicted to shopping at thrift stores and I've passed along that addiction to Annie. Don't worry, we didn't buy all that. We did in fact try it all on though. It was a shared cart and most of it was Annie's. We both found some really nice stuff for really cheap prices.

Pigeon Impossible

I have a couple posts I want to write, but am waiting on pictures from people, so you'll have to be satisfied with this for now.

The Best Chocolate Chip Cookies EVER!!!!!!

I promise you these are the best chocolate chip cookies you will ever taste. This is Judy's recipe and she is the best baker. So I hope you enjoy these as much as everyone else at camp does. These are going to my Jr. Girl's Class tomorrow night.

Chocolate Chip Cookies
1 1/2 cups butter or margarine, softened
1 1/4 cups sugar
1 1/4 cups brown sugar
1 T. vanilla
2 eggs
4 cups flour
1 tsp. salt
2 tsp. baking soda
4 cups chocolate chips

Mix butter, sugars, vanilla and eggs. Stir in flour, baking soda and chocolate chips. Bake at 350 for 12-15 minutes. Cool slightly before removing from baking sheet.

Just try to resist taking a bite while they are warm. Mmmmmm.

Incredible!

You guys will be amazed by this.

Freebie

This site has a free Christian audio book for download each month. This month is Desiring God by John Piper. There is a coupon code that you have put in so it's free. This month is NOV2009. Hope this is a helpful tool.

Surprise!!!

So remember when I told you I felt like this?

Well, I'm feeling much better now. But when I felt like that, it was my Birthday. I know...a pretty lousy way to spend a Birthday. Well, everyone still tried to make me feel special with phone calls and balloons.

But I'm the kind of girl that likes to celebrate. I like to go out to eat...I like when they sing to me...And I especially like presents!

Well, Judy had planned to have me over for dinner to celebrate, but since I felt really awful, she rescheduled it for this week. I showed up and she took me to the next room and it was all decorated. I thought that was very sweet. And then I look over and there are people there! The camp lades were throwing me a surprise party!!! I've never had one before and I loved it.

Judy made a delicious meal and then we played some games. I'm so thankful for my friends. I don't know where God is going to move me, but no one will ever replace these ladies. They are amazing!

Here's a few pictures of the night.

Michelle and Judy

Anna and me. Don't you like the scarf? It was my present from Barb. I love it and it matches almost everything I own.

Barb and me
Barb and Michelle

You Are God Alone

I just got back from the NARBC Conference. It was a wonderful time of fellowship with my fellow camp staff as well as camp staff from around the country. My first camp conference was a Camp Forest Springs in Westboro, WI and it was also my last (a little ironic). Not only did we have great fellowship, but the staff at Camp Forest Springs provided us with helpful workshops.

During the sessions, we were lead in worship by Matt Hoffland. I loved his selection of music, but the song that really stuck out to me is You Are God Alone. I've heard it hundreds of times and sing along with the radio, but seeing the word on the screen made such a huge impact on me this week. I thought I'd share them with you as well. What an amazing God we serve!

You Are God Alone
(Phillips, Craig & Dean)

Verse 1:
You are not a God
Created by human hands
You are not a God
Dependant on any mortal man
You are not a God
In need of anything we can give
By Your plan, that’s just the way it is

Chorus:
You are God alone
From before time began
You were on Your throne
You are God alone

And right now
In the good times and bad
You were on the throne
You are God alone

Verse 2:
You’re the only God
Whose power none can contend
You’re the only God
Whose name and praise will never end
You’re the only God
Who’s worthy of everything we can give
You are God
And that’s just the way it is

Chorus

Bridge:
Unchangeable
Unshakable
Unstoppable
That’s what You are

Chorus

Bridge

Camp Conference!

Well, I'm headed out on the road again. Tomorrow is the start of our National Association of Regular Baptist Camps' annual conference. Up until Friday I wasn't sure if I'd be able to go, but I'm feeling well enough, so I'm off. It's a relaxed schedule so I'll be able to take lots of naps. It's a refreshing time for camp staffers. It's like us getting to go to camp! This year the conference is being held at Camp Forest Springs in Wisconsin. We've been there once before and it was fantastic. They have amazing facilities and a fantastic staff.