Happy Mother's Day

This is a day late, but I just wanted to wish my mom a Happy Mother's Day. I am so thankful for the mother that God gave me. She is such a strong, beautiful, godly woman, and I would be very fortunate to be like her. So when I grow up...I want to be just like my mom!


I love you, Mom!

Laughter

Our Camp Director, Pastor Phil, was reading some interesting tidbits today. There was one that he could hardly read because he was laughing so hard. Thought I would share it with you.

Bumper Sticker - I want to die in my sleep like my grandfather. Not screaming and yelling like the passengers in his car.

Then Pastor Dave added a funny as well.

Chelsea Clinton welcomed a new soldier home and asked him what three things he is afraid of. He responded, "Osama, Obama, and Yo' Mama."

Super Hero

Your results:
You are Spider-Man

Spider-Man 55% Superman 50% Robin 50% Green Lantern 50% Supergirl 45% Wonder Woman 35% The Flash 35% Hulk 30% Catwoman 30% Iron Man 25% Batman 5%

You are intelligent, witty, a bit geeky and have great power and responsibility.

Click here to take the "Which Superhero am I?" quiz...

Mmmm Good Recipe #1

I hope to start putting some recipes out here from time to time. This is one I make when I cook for volunteers here at camp or have company and don't have a lot of time. Let me know if you try it!

Italian Chicken Sandwiches
4 chicken breast halves (bone in/skin on)
4 chicken thighs (bone in/skin on)
1 packet onion soup mix
1/4 cup prepared Italian dressing
1/4 cup water
1 tsp. garlic powder

Put the chicken in the crock pot. Put dry ingredients on first and then pour wet ingredients over the top. Cook on low until chicken is done. De bone the chicken and shred. Place shredded chicken back in the juices in the crock pot and reheat. Serves probably 10 people. Serve on french rolls or a harder bread (it will make a regular bun really soggy).

I have also made this with a pork roast, but you need to add more liquid. If you end up adding quite a bit more water, then add some more Italian dressing as well.

Administrative Professionals Day

Wednesday, April l 25th was Administrative Professionals Day. I never remember that it is coming up, so I'm always surprised.

Last year, when I went to get the mail Pastor Phil sent me to his house before I came back to the office. When I got there the kids had prepared a treasure hunt for me using Bible references. It was so much fun and the "treasure" was a 12 pack of Diet Coke that was in the bottom of their little pond (it was wrapped very well with duct tape). I didn't realize until the end of that whole search that is was Administrative Professionals Day. (I was wondering why they decided to do this for me; I'm slow sometimes.)

When I got back, I went through my apartment to go up to the office and found that the guys had hidden Diet Coke all over my apartment. It was over 100 cans. I think that there is still some hiding because I found a couple cans a few weeks ago. I deserve it after all the April Fool's jokes.

I was pleasantly surprised this year to find such a wonderful present.

Once again after I came back from getting the mail, I found this beautiful wind chime hanging from the ceiling fan. I love wind chimes and had just told my mom that I wanted to get a big one to hang outside my door and join my two little ones.

For now, it is still hanging in the office. Partly because I can't get it down, and I also think that everyone likes to walk by and make beautiful music.

Thanks guys!

Comment Lover

Okay, I admit it. I'm one of those people that gets excited about receiving comments. I log onto the internet, type in my blog address, and scroll down to that wonderful word...comments. My heart races; my palms are sweaty. "Does anyone read? Does anyone enjoy what I've written? Has anyone new discovered my blog?" Then I head over to my little map. "Are there any new dots? Has the number of hits gone up? Does Bekah have more dots than I do?" Then I head over to her blog to check out her dots and number of hits. Then I realize that by doing this, I'm giving her more hits! Uuugggghhhh!

So what is the point of this little story you may ask. Just to let you know how much I love comments, so please leave some.

Okay, so after reading this, I realize that I may need a support group.

Weekend Fun

This past weekend I had a great time with my two secretaries from this summer. They came up to visit and we played games, watched movies, ate burgers, went to Goodies, went to Applebees and had lots of fun. They did such a great job this summer and I'm excited to have Lynn working in the office again this coming summer.

Here are a couple pictures of our weekend.

Mmmmmm! Goodies is the best!
The three of us at Applebees - Annie, Lynn and Me

Working with the staff girls is one of my favorite parts about working at camp. I get to be boss, "mom" and friend. Some of those hats are more fun than others, but all are stretching for me. Because of the responsibility, I'm challenged to stay fresh in the Word because it needs to be my source for all of those responsibilities. I'm so thankful that when I feel inadequate, God says He will be my source of strength.

Happiness

While I'm not happy about the snow, there are many things that do make me happy. One of them is the pussywillows that my friend, Judy, gave me. She knows that I love them and brings me a bunch every spring. Here's a picture.

I asked the kids at church last night what their most treasured possession was that makes them happy. I heard everything from a 4-wheeler to pets. One little girl said, "God." I think she knew that was the right answer. (You know how kids sometimes always answer Jesus no matter what the question is.) We sang More Precious than Silver. The words are as follows:

Lord, you are more precious than silver;
Lord, you are more costly than gold;
Lord, you are more beautiful than diamonds,
and nothing I desire compares with you.

I had to ask myself if that is true in my life. God has been challenging me to rejoice in Him no matter the circumstances, and I realize that in order to succeed in this God must be my focus. When I focus on me, it is easy to become discouraged, selfish, and have a complaining spirit. But when I focus on Him and desire only His delight and pleasure, I find that I can be happy (rejoice) even without the pussywillows.

Here's some scripture that has encouraged me in this areas:

Psalm 73:25, 26 (ESV) - "Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever."

Habakkuk 3:17-19 (ESV) - "Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation. God, the Lord, is my strength;he makes my feet like the deer's; he makes me tread on my high places."

Psalm 34:1-3 (ESV) - "I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul makes its boast in the Lord; let the humble hear and be glad. Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together!"

Philippians 4:4 (ESV) - "Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice."

I could go on and on. I hope these verses encourage you to rejoice in Him because He is absolutely worthy! May your heart overflow in worship and praise!

Spring???

I thought you might like to see what spring looks like in northern Iowa right now. We have already had 70° weather and green grass and now.......this is what we have.

While is was snowing all day yesterday, I remembered a quote from my friend, Mary Ann, while we were students at Northland. "The trees look so tired." And I must say that I am also tired of the snow and ready for the real spring!

April Fool's Reactions

Many of you have asked how the guys reacted to my "gifts" to them. Pastor Phil never really reacts. I think that he believes if he doesn't react, I might stop one year.

Pastor Dave put about 50 cups of water around my chair. He also messed with the mouse settings on my computer. He told me to check out his office, but he had closed the door part way and I knew something was up. I thought maybe he had put some cups behind the door that would spill when I opened it, so I didn't touch the door. Come to find out, he had four cups on top of the door that he was hope would dump on my head.

Dan thought his daughter, Amanda, had wrapped the Gator, so he put packing peanuts all over her room. I guess I was able to kill two birds with one stone on that one. Amanda was the one to get me back though. She put those packing peanuts all over in my desk drawers.

So overall, it was a very happy holiday and I'm very happy with the "gifts" that were left for me as well. I do think I will give them a break next year though. I think I need an extra year to come up with another idea.

If anyone out there has an idea, I would love to hear them!