A jumble of thoughts and Phil 1:21

Hey Y'all!

Sorry I've been so MIA. Posting in the summer this year is a lot harder then I ever thought it would be.

This past week was verrrry busy. No down time at. all.

This was basically my schedule:

-Camp

-Home for an hour to eat and shower (no rhyme intended haha)

-VBS all night

-Bed at 9:30 because I was so tired.

-Repeat until Friday.

Whew!

It wore, me, out. I'm telling you.

At VBS I was in the preschool room with about 15-20 little tiny kiddos. They were sooo cute though. Most of them were really sweet too. Those few hours were usually filled with lap sitting, back rubbing, swing pushing and tickling. :) I love, love, that age. The kids were mostly 3 and 4 I think. Some 2 years though.

Oh yeah, I also worked my new job at Kids Park on Monday night. They are a newly started business so not many kids have been there.

I worked today as well and there were more than they've ever had when I was there. (seven kids)

I wasn't going to say this, buuut. I just can't contain my excitement about it...

I ordered some business cards for Kari Rachel Photography. :) I'm super pumped about it.

More people are liking my facebook page and some people who I don't even know! I'm excited about it and so glad that it's so fun for me. and also that I can use it to make other people happy.

Ever since last week's Bible study on Wednesday I've been pondering about whether or not we got to Heaven or Hell RIGHT when we die. Of course I have always thought so...it's what everyone always says... and we were trying to find the verses in the Bible that say specifically supporting that right when we die we will go to heaven.

I couldn't find one! It was frustrating. I'm sure that we will go to heaven in the last day when Jesus comes back, (there are a lot of verses supporting that) but I couldn't find much else.

It was kind of bothering me.

After talking with several people and investigating some verses I found a comforting one.

²¹ For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. ²² If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! ²³ I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; ²⁴ but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body.phil 1:21-24

Paul is clearly saying here that when he dies it will be a GAIN because he will be with Jesus.

My study Bible notes say: "Either alternative was a good one. While mysteries remain, this passage clearly teaches that when believers die, they are with Christ, apart from the body."

We were basically trying to disprove the idea that when people die there is a "resting"....and that they go to Heaven later.... and I think this verse disproves it . :)

What do you think?

Camppp and fill in the blank

I am so. completely. D R A I N E D.

This "work" week was only four days but somehow it felt like six! (and I'm not the only one who felt it)

This was the third day in a row that we got thunderstorms, and let me tell you, they aren't such fun when your camp is basically all run outdoors. It means that we're all (cranky-tired-staff, sticky-sweaty-smelly campers) stuck in close proximity under some sort of large structure that will keep us safe...for what feels like for-ev-er. It's not so bad the first day, but today (the *ahem* THIRD day in a row) we all knew the drill and I could tell we were all more than a little bummed that, yet again we would be having a "no store, no pool, vale pick-up" kind of afternoon.

I was in charge of arts and crafts this week. I enjoyed it, but I'm glad to be a counselor next week again. It felt like a lot of stress and pressure on me this week because it was like it was my job to keep the pavilion clean, after everything. Like...everyday I had to pick up the kids' trash from being in there from the storm.

It sounds like I'm complaining, but I'm really just saying that it was really tiring... and don't get me wrong I did have help so I wasn't ALL alone in the cleaning.

Today the storm happened a lot earlier than usual-at 1:45. so half the camp went to the lodge for a movie. This little boy was using the one and only toilet in that building. He was in there for about 20minutes, and I went in after him. When I flushed, the toilet started overflowing. It was basically like a waterfall all over the floor. haa. I told someone with a walkie quickly, and then randomly the metal trashcan on the wall came crashing down simultaneously. It was weird. No one was even near it! Talk about a strange afternoon/pretty crummy day! I'm thinking the boy used up ALL the toilet paper (there was none left when I went in) OR he used paper towels and loaded the bowl with them so that it clogged...haaa. Kids.

I'm so excited to veg tonight, I can't even express it! I feel like I've been going none stop.

On another note, I wanted to do a Fill-In-the-Blank-Friday since I haven't in a while:)

1. My plans this summer include.....working, working, and more working. I'm working at camp, and my second job will start up this weekend. I'm definitely scared for how I will be able to manage both.

2. The best summer I ever had was...the summer right after my junior year in high school. It was my last summer without working and I went on so many trips and just hung out. I went to New Hampshire with a group of students from school (quite the adventure with canoeing, hiking etc..), Harvey Cedars Bible Conference, and the beach for two separate weeks with my parents. It was the best!

3. Summer is...warmth, freedom, starry nights, thunderstorms, unlimited photo shoots, best friend hang outs, transition time, corn on the cob, fruit salad, vacations. It's good for the soul.

4. My favorite summer food is...hands down, corn on the cob. :))) I also lovee me some fruit salad.

5. The best way to quench a summer thirst is... drinking ice cold water.

6. My uniform of the summer consists of...Shorts, T-shirts, and sneakers. (thank you camp)

7. The best thing about summer is...It's a break from the normal, the weather, and all the fun seasonal things about it.

:)

God's always loved you.

" Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the EVERLASTING God, the creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired and weary and His understanding no one can fathom." Isaiah 40:28

This was camp's memory verse this past week. It's one of my favorites!

Yesterday I was watching a video testimony from the website "wonderfully made" and the girl speaking shared a quote. She said "There has never been a moment when God hasn't loved you".
That really hit me. It's way comforting.

Never.

Ever.

The times when I decided I didn't "need" God, or the days when I was doubting, the times when I didn't acknowledge God's presence at all...He still. loved. me. He has always loved me and He really always will.
I'm so thankful that God is a loving God.

This week I went to a Bible study led by some friends for the summer and really enjoyed it. They are studying John because it is meant to be geared towards "seekers" or people who are newer in the faith. No one like that came though...ha. but it was still good. It was very refreshing to talk about the word with other people and discuss what the verses meant for each of us.

Lately I'm really loving Bible stories. For what seems like forever I didn't enjoy reading the Old Testament. Lately though, I'm really interested in those stories and hearing them and also applying them to my life.
I've been reading Ezra...

No Job prospects. I'm starting to accept the idea that I will have to sub for a year or so to make connections before I can get a job.

The theme this summer at CSF is about other countries that are persecuted. It's been awesome because every week I'm reminded about how blessed I am to live here in America. Sometimes I don't understand why we live in such abundance here and then there are countries that have close to nothing.... it's so hard to grasp. I've been reminded to pray for them though and to be grateful for what I have.

This Thursday I'm finally starting my training for that new evening job I mentioned before.
I'm also being the arts and crafts person this week instead of a counselor to fill in for Christin. She's going on vacation.
Should be an interesting week.

Lately I've also been reminded in a lot of ways, (kind of like I said last week) that this life is SO much more then what I tend to want to make it. It's not about me, or you, or anyone else but God and salvation.
It's the greatest gift in the history of the world, and it's really all that matters. :)

What a joy!

Wishing everyone a nice Fourth of July!

(Ps. I don't mean to keep changing my blog look, but I can't seem to find any I reallyyy like.)

Also, here are some pictures from camp this week!


We had our 4th of July parade! I'm a nerd and JJ is Thing 1




Me and one of my "nerdy" campers ;)

Some things on my mind...

Today was the first day of camp!
I'm with the 1st grade group and they are a delight :) (MOST of the time...)
I really do appreciate each and everyone one of them. Most of them, out of 19 are returning campers..there are about 3 or 4 who are new. Since a bunch of them are returning I knew a lot of them already!
I love the first day of camp so much, because you get to see kids who you've built relationships with, but who you haven't seen all year long. Most of the time they look older, usually taller, (sometimes MUCH taller, those boys do sprout!) and smarter.
I'm really good at remembering people's names.

You know how some people say "I'm horrible with names..!"? Well I'm the opposite, I really remember names extremely well for some reason. (not to brag...)

Usually on the first day of camp the kids are shy...yes, even the "old pros"! I love greeting each one by their name. That was the best part of my day. You might not think it does a whole lot...but it realllly does. You can see their eyes light up and they smile, and you can tell they feel a little safer, knowing that someone knows them and cares to learn their name. (It's even MORE special when people REMEMBER them!) Returning campers are so excited when you remember them and call them by name!

I was journaling tonight and wouldn't you know God gave me an analogy:)
You can probably see where I'm going with this...
but God knows OUR names...! He remembers us, always. He cares about us and no matter how long we might be away from Him, or how "far" we might stray, He still knows us and He calls us by NAME. HE never forgets our names!!
I feel so much comfort and safety knowing that God knows me and calls me by name. Not only that but He calls me His own!
It's awesome :)

Lately to be honest, I've felt like I'm farther away from God =/ It stinks and it's not intentional. I wish it wasn't this way but I feel like I'm taking steps backwards in a way, of becoming who God wants me to be. I'm frustrated with myself and I want it to change so badly.
I used to be so excited about God and so on fire that I would talk to Him in depth everyday and make sure I had my time with Him.
I want it to be that way again, so badly.

Things aren't too bad, don't take me the wrong way, they just aren't like they used to be.

Father,
I pray that you would change my heart, and open my eyes to see when I'm making this life all about me instead of about You. I pray that you would focus my thoughts to be of you, and point out when they aren't. Help me to act towards others in a way that is pleasing to you. I trust you God, and I pray that you would deepen my trust and confidence in You. Amen <3