Fruit Salsa

You guys are going to love this one. I made it this morning/afternoon - who really knows what time it was. I was still in my PJ's, but of course I didn't take my shower until 5:00 and then I just put fresh PJ's on. But you don't want to know about that. (I did get my apartment cleaned an my living room rearranged.)

Here is the cast: mangoes, fresh pineapple, strawberries, kiwi, mandarin oranges, lemon juice and sugar. I made this at my parents' a few weekends ago and their store didn't have mangoes, so we substituted peaches. It was still really yummy.

Chop it all up and mix it together.

So what do you eat it with? Take a stack of fajita tortillas and cut them in six.

Heat some oil on the stove and mix up some cinnamon and sugar. (Please ignore the pile of stuff on my counter top. I was going to work on that after I was done cooking, but it's still there. I guess I worked on the more important stuff...once again...I better get back on target.)

Fry up those tortillas and then cover them with the cinnamon and sugar.

Here they are! Ready to dive into that fruit salsa!

Here is the recipe. It makes a really big batch, so I just made a half batch today.

Fruit Salsa
3 mangoes
1 pint strawberries
1 fresh pineapple
2 10 oz. cans mandarin oranges
8 kiwi
1/4 cup lemon juice
2 T. sugar

Mix and serve.

Amazing Chocolate Cake!

You guys are going to love this recipe! I was watching the Food Network one weekend at my parents' and saw Tyler Florence make this. I had to try it. Well, here it is! You can find the recipe here, so I don't have to type it all out. Yes, I'm lazy. I made this for Judy's Birthday a few weeks ago. Yum!

Dad's Installation Service

August 17 was my Dad's installation service at his new church, First Baptist Church, Pana, IL. I was able to go and meet their people and see their new home. It was wonderful to see my parents again and much more of my family as well. Here are some pictures.


Aren't my mom and I cute?

This is my Uncle Danny and his wife, Sue.

Ethan said he was wearing his "King clothes."

These kids love their Grandma and Papa!

The kids wanted me to read them stories before they left to go home. I was to oblige. Yes, I'm still in my PJ's here and my hair is a mess.

Sweet slumber.

This is my parents with my Pastor Ted and Pat Phillips (my Dad's pastor). He was able to come and preach at the installation service. It was very special

Another Camp Update

Okay, so here is the much awaited update. Sorry it didn't come sooner, but the internet connection this weekend wasn't very good. But hey, it's still the weekend...and I digress.

This week is the end of the summer for our full-time summer staff. They have worked so hard and we will miss them so much!!! I have loved working with Keri and Melissa and will miss having their companionship in the office. They have done a wonderful job of making me look good.

I have learned much this summer. I'm not going to spill my guts for all the world to read, but I do want to say that God is good. It is amazing that He chooses to use me in this ministry. There have many that have trusted Christ this summer; many have given their lives to serve as missionaries; many have committed to read their Bibles and apply it to their lives; many have confessed sin. The list could go on and on. Even though I may not be the one counseling these in their decisions, it is wonderful to know that the work I do makes a difference in lives. People are changed because of what God does through IRBC.

On a lighter note, here are some pictures of the second half of the summer. Enjoy!

They just love to organize! I have to make a list of all the stuff I don't want to do before they leave me. (You think I'm kidding?)

Not sure what Anna was thinking when she did this to her hair that morning. Okay, so it was for Jr. Girls.
James wanted to see if his mouth was bigger than mine, so we took a picture to find out. Yep, an eight year old has a bigger mouth. I know what some of you are thinking about me and a big mouth, but I just want to say that if you can't be nice then keep it to yourself.
Some of the Dining Hall girls wore tie die one day. They came to help us fold new shirts for the gift store. Aren't they cute?

We'll call the next few pictures, "Fun with Lost and Found." We put out the lost and found at the end of the week, but we take a few fun pictures in the process.

This was a test run of "Don't Get Out of Your Chair Day. " It only lasted for one customer (don't worry, it was a staff member). What can we say, it was a late night.Aren't they cute in their camoflauge raincoats? It was pouring rain and they had to bring in several tubs of mail. Hence the raincoats that belong to Pastor Dave and Aaron.
I know...this is disgusting. Katelyn did the "Chubby Bunny" thing with bubble gum. She actually got 40 pieces of that gross stuff in her mouth!

Teaser...

Okay, it's been awhile since I have posted anything fun. So I promise to post this weekend with pictures and everything. How is that for a teaser?

Horray!!!

Well, I am starting to feel much better. I'm not coughing as much and actually made it to the chapel service tonight. It was a great service! The music was incredible and the preaching was right on.

I also had another blessing today. I found out that I will be able to attend the installation service for my parents at their new church in Pana, IL on Aug. 17. It seemed impossible to get away, but God is so good and some of the other staff at camp are going to cover for me. I'm so excited to see my parents!!!

Well, it's off to bed for me!

Pity Party

Okay, so I've been having a bit of a pity party tonight. Today is the first day of Sr. High Camp, which is the largest camp of the summer and tends to be the highlight. Instead of being at chapel in the midst of all the action, I'm at home in bed coughing. I've been struggling with bronchitis/asthma problems for three weeks now. (Lest you all worry about me too much, I'm headed to the lung specialist next week.)

In the midst of feeling sorry for myself, I was reminded that the devil doesn't want Sr. High Camp to be a success and one of the ways to accomplish that would be for our staff (me included) to become discouraged. We have several on staff that are getting sick this week including our Director, Contenders, Asst. Activity Director and others. Please be in fervent prayer for us. We need to press on and give our 100% with joy.

I was supposed to sing at church on Sunday night, but couldn't. The song I was going to sing is very fitting, so I'll share the words with you.

Hide Away in the Love of Jesus
by Steve and Vicki Cook

Come weary saints though tired and weak,
Hide away in the love of Jesus,
Your strength will return by His quiet streams,
Hide away in the love of Jesus.

Come wandering souls and find your home
Hide away in the love of Jesus,
He offers the rest that you yearn to know,
Hide away in the love of Jesus.

Bridge:
Hear Him calling your name
See the depths of His love in the wounds of His grace,
Hide away

Come guilty ones weighed down with sin
Hide away in the love of Jesus,
The freedom you long for is found in Him,
Hide away in the love of Jesus.

Bridge

Come hopeless hearts, do not despair,
Hide away in the love of Jesus,
For ten thousand joys await you there,
Hide away in the love of Jesus.

Camp Update

I'll start this post by introducing you to my two wonderful secretaries. Melissa is on the left, and then me, and then Keri. They both do a super, fantastic, superb job. I'm thankful for them and utterly depend upon them. Though we work very hard, we have a lot of fun too, which you will see in the following pictures.


So how do you like my new look?

Melissa looks too smiley to pull this off.

Keri on the other hand it totally scary. :)

This is Aaron and Anna seeing if they can incorporate that Japanese marshmallow game I previously posted about into our Family Camp Olympics. They haven't found the right tubing yet. It made for a great picture though.

This is the face of my boss. You never know what Pastor Phil will do when he gets a camera in his hand.
My pastor's wife gave us a basket of goodies a couple weeks ago and in it was a pair of Bubba teeth for each of us. It's a good look, don't you think?

The cooks declared one day Secretary Appreciation Day and made us this scrumptious chocolate/raspberry cake.

These are the fabulous cooks that went the extra mile and baked a fabulous cake.

This picture has no point, but I thought it was cute and worthy of posting.

Lest you think it's all fun and games...We work very hard and keep the camp running. We have seen many, many campers put their faith in Christ this summer as well as other decisions. It is amazing to be a part of such an incredible ministry.

Well, I hope my long awaited update was worth it.

Update...

Camp update coming soon....I promise. Stay tuned for a riveting tale of my life at IRBC. Okay, so maybe it's not riveting, but it is my life.

Hymns

Lately, the words to hymns have really made an impact on me. So many times I'm like everyone else in church just singing the words and not really paying attention to them. God has been doing a work in my heart in the last few months and I can't help but wonder if this is why the words to hymns are so much more powerful to me right now. When I sing them at church, the meanings just burst forth.

Here is one in particular that has meant a lot recently.

Since Jesus Came into My Heart
Verse 1:
What a wonderful change in my life has been wrought,
Since Jesus came into my heart!
I have light in my soul for which long I have sought,
Since Jesus came into my heart!

Chorus:
Since Jesus came into my heart,
Since Jesus came into my heart,
Floods of joy o'er my soul like the sea billows roll,
Since Jesus came into my heart.

Verse 2:
I have ceased from my wand'ring and going astray,
Since Jesus came into my heart!
And my sins, which were many, are all washed away,
Since Jesus came into my heart

Verse 3:
I shall go there to dwell in that City, I know,
Since Jesus came into my heart!
And I'm happy, so happy, as onward I go,
Since Jesus came into my heart!

So this prompts the question...Is Jesus in your heart? If He is, do you have floods of joy? If you don't maybe some examination is in order. It was for me.