Well I am doing well! Surgery went fine, I recovered...pushed it a little too much but then caught up on my rest later on. So, now we're just waiting....back at square 1 with IVF....I guess not completely square 1....that happened a while ago, but square 1 for the treatments. Which is fine, since we're still on track to do it! For that, I am thankful.

Other than that, we had a full week. I had classes, work, meetings, and fun times with family and friends. Last night we celebrated Independence High School's homecoming, and Meagan Fernandez who was part of the Homecoming Court. Jeannie Wherley and a couple of the U-turn girls made shirts, and they were nice enough to make me one! How fun is that?!?



How fun is that? Independence won, 31-28 and it was a good game. Afterwards, Jordan and I came home and watched "While You were Sleeping." That really is an incredible movie! Great morals, great story, funny and so sweet. It's a few years old, but totally worth it!

Today we enjoyed celebrating with our friends Paul and Alison Hillenbrand at their baby shower. They are expecting their first, a little boy in December and we are all SO excited! Next week they're moving into a brand new house in Spring Hill, just right down the road from us! We had a great time, and I wish I had taken pictures, but I was busy taking them with Rachel's camera, so I didn't get any. Oh well!

Well, I must be gone...LOTS of homework to do, and this day, as relaxing and great as it has been, has FLOWN by!!! Must be working!

So it's been almost a month since I posted and yes- a lot has happened!! (Hence the lack of posting) Here's a quick (VERY quick) rundown:

We had graduation weekend, where all the public (and some private) high schools in Williamson County are having their graduations. Typically Jordan and I average about 4 each year, but thankfully this year, the only graduation we went to was Independance High School's. We filled up the rest of our weekend with graduation parties and open houses. Here are a couple of pictures:




Hope and Steve were also in town for a couple of days, headed to Evansville....then came back through for a couple of nights. We had a great time with them in the midst of the graduations and camp prep.

The next week was spent getting ready for camp! We had activities team meetings, worship rehearsal, scheduling, etc, all in the midst of our normal work/church schedules. It was busy, but wonderful!! Somewhere in there, Barry & Shannon O'Neal had their 2nd baby girl: Eleanor and she is BEAUTIFUL!!



Then last Sunday, we took off for camp! What an incredible week!! First off, here are a few pictures:









As always, camp included many memorable and enjoyable times: not-so-wonderful food, an eventful bus ride down and back, a lively dorm full of 9th/10th grade girls, hilarious morning activities, exciting team competitions and even me and JT taking a trip to the emergency room with one of our campers who busted open his knee!

There was also incredible transformation. While I would say last year's camp was marked with significant breakthrough for the students in regards to specific strongholds and addictions they were facing, this year was marked by significant growth and deepening of their relationships with the Lord and each other. I believe the fruit that will be produced from this week will be consistency in their intimacy with Jesus, and increased faith to see the Holy Spirit use them in amazing ways. I myself was prayed for (by Laurel) for healing this week and received it immediately! We are encouraged and determined to see more miracles in our lives and for the Holy Spirit to use each of us daily in the ways that the Bible instructs us to expect. I am so proud of all of the students, and so enjoyed the time with them...I honestly wasn't ready for it to end. I am excited though about what this summer and next year holds for all of them. I truly believe that we will see some amazing things in each of their lives!

Jordan and I had an opportunity to rest on Saturday, which was wonderful and much needed. Sunday we had a wonderful service and connection times, and then got to celebrate a dear friend and mentor's birthday in the afternoon.



We ended the evening with a movie and a great night's sleep! I am so excited about what God is doing. There are a lot of changes ahead, but I can honestly say that I now embrace and look forward to change! It is the very thing that keeps me pressing into God to hear the smallest whisper, His commands and His voice as we walk out the life He has blessed us with!

Praise the Lord for His guidance and love in our lives.

Jordan got back yesterday from taking a group of the high school guys camping in the Cumberland Gap at Stone Door. It's a GORGEOUS place in East TN. I LOVE living somewhere where this kind of hiking,climbing and scenery is available just an hour or 2 away. (Of course, Colorado beats it hands down- but I don't live there, do I?!) He took some pictures on his phone (I'm so proud of him) that turned out very well so I'll get those from him soon and post a couple.

I loved hearing all his stories of the guys, funny things they said, did, etc. One of the boys (who I consider one of my many "sons", but I won't name names to protect the innocent) was apparantly getting himself all worked up and freaked out about the dark. Jordan said that there were several raccoons barking at night, and he got all freaked out about it. Knowing this boy and knowing EXACTLY the facial expressions and tone of voice he had just sent me rolling! Hilarious! They survived it well and from Jordan's account are probably ready for the next level- the true back country camping. So fun...only thing I wish, is that I could have gone! :-) Next time!

Well, I absolutely must finish off the post I started about camp. I told you about all the fun we had and activities we did, but the most incredible things were the things that happened in these student's lives. We saw some give their lives to Christ, we saw some decide to return to following God after doing their own thing, we saw some realize their callings in life and so many set free and let go of unforgiveness, bitterness, suicidal thoughts, anger and so many other things that were holding them back from what God has for them.

So many times, we see it take a couple of days for students to really feel comfortable and get into being there...enough to let their guards down to really hear from God, but what we saw this year, was students going right after it, from the very moment we got there. By the time we had the first session, which was a couple of hours after we arrived at camp, I had already had conversations with 2 or 3 girls about breakthrough they needed in life. That first evening was incredible. We saw them give their lives to the Lord- let go in worship- tune in the message...amazing!

I could write for probably the next 3 hours about different things, but since I don't have that kind of time or space (nor do you) here are some highlights:

- Sunday night worship: students and leaders alike went RIGHT for it. I co-led with Kyle and we had an awesome time!
- Monday night dorm time: just saw the girls really let down their walls and share with one another, victories and struggles alike.
- Tuesday night, praying with one young lady to receive the baptism with the Holy Spirit, which we believe is for greater power in our lives. We receive the indwelling of the Holy Spirit when we accept Christ as our Lord and Savior and then He baptizes us with the Holy Spirit for greater power and effectiveness in our lives.
- Wednesday night- many of us as leaders were sensing that it was to be a night of extensive ministry. Joel and I were leading worship, and both of us were really struggling vocally. I was praying for wisdom in what to do, and really sensed that we were to go forward and trust God to restore our voices, and He did JUST that. The entire night, I was able to sing full range and full strength.
-Wednesday night, we had prayer for many different things for the students, ranging from those who have had suicidal thoughts or oppression, to those who needed to forgive fathers and mothers. We saw UNPRECEDENTED breakthrough in their lives that night
-Thursday night, baptising several of our students in water. What a sweet and amazing time that was.

I could go into great detail, but alas- the time!

Check out this video if you get a chance....there are a few students sharing here:

So now we're back from camp, and I have no idea how to begin!! Way, way, way too much happened to be contained in a tiny little post. I think what I'll do it tell a little about some of the funny and activities-related things, and then later this week tell about some of the transformation that occurred in many, many students' lives.

So, first of all, I must talk about my team! A few years back, we (the activities team- mainly Jordan) determined to have names for the teams that were consistent from year to year instead of having them come up with a team name on their own. We chose cherokee animal names like Yona(bear,) Soquili(horse,) Tlvdatsi(mountain lion,) and Uwohali(eagle.) Last year we had 10 teams total, but needed to add 2 more this year, so we added Wahuhi (owl,) and Ogana(groundhog.) I was, of course, a groundhog! My team was awesome!! I was so proud of them. They really worked together and we ended up going from placing 9th or 10th the first day to 1st the 3rd day and a VERY close 2nd the 4th day. They were SO much fun and one of my favorite teams ever!



My dorm was also a lot of fun. My group was about half of the junior high girls from Spring Hill and we were partnered with Marisha Wagner who had about half of the junior high girls from Cool Springs. Our evenings were complete with LOTS of giggling, creaking bunk beds and funny sleep talking. We had a lot of fun with dorm inspections, and made "stuffed people" the first day which was HILARIOUS. Click HERE to watch the dorm videos. They were really funny! We were Tefteller B.


Team competitions were amazing this year! Here's a run down of the days:

Monday: This was what we call "Name Discovery" where everyone finds out what team they're on, and who else is on it with them. We had 1,000 feet of twine per team, beginning at the center of camp and weaving all throughout. They had to follow it to the end, and then decipher some puzzles that led them to their next clue. It looked like a giant spider web and was amazing.


Tuesday: This game was called angle ball. It consisted of 4 seven foot tall posts with a basketball on top. The teams were trying to knock the basketball off, getting passed defenders and keeping their's from being knocked off as well. Again, will post pictures of this later.

Wednesday: This game is called tank. Basically each person is paired with another one on their team, with one person, the "gunner" being blindfolded. The gunner gets a mouthfull of flour, and then, while guided by the other, non-blindfolded person, walks around the field trying to "shoot" the other tanks. It's basically a game of annihilation and this is the one my team won. It looks something like this:

Thursday: this was a repeat from last year called "Storm the Mound" It is impossible to describe this game but let me just say it is one of the most incredible games I have ever played. My team came in 2nd by 5 points! Crazy!

And then I must just add a picture of some of my girlies being so fun and getting into it. I love these girls so much!



Well, if this isn't long enough for you, check back later for more stories and more pictures!

Ever since my last post about camp, it has been my life :0) We've been cutting twine, material, painting, pasting, coming up with games/riddles, making emblems, blindfolds, wood burning team staffs, planning, praying, practicing, etc. I've been purchasing everything from posterboard and muslin fabric to flagging tape and burlap bags.

We've also had some really late nights this week. Tuesday night we had the team over working on all this stuff, and despite us starting at 5:30, we were still going strong with lots to do at 11:30. TOO late for my taste. Last night, I got home from camp worship rehearsal about 9:30 and saw Ian & Jordan all the way down at the end of our street with twine stretch down the length of it. We found out we are oh, about 4,000 feet short what we needed. (How was I supposed to know that 2-ply 8,500 feet meant it was only 4,250 of usable twine) So, instead of the 17,000 feet we thought we were getting, it ended up being 8,500. And now I need 4,000 more - so, trying to find that. Stayed up WAY to late this morning, and then J & Ian woke up at 6:00am to finish wrapping said twine....all that to say, I am looking forward to sleeping in tomorrow. We certainly need it to get rested up befor Sunday!

This is an amazing time, though and I wouldn't trade it for anything. I am so excited this year- not about games and activities, although I know those will be awesome, but about the breakthrough that will happen in these students lives. I am more sure of it and passionate about it than I've ever been.

Please be praying for us next week. I would LOVE to have an amazing blanket of prayer over us, which I know we will!

I can't wait for camp!! 10 Days to go! God's gonna do some amazing things this year- I know it!

I've been very bothered by some things I've been hearing and reading lately. Stories from across our nation that I just cannot ignore, and things that are happening that greatly bother me. One such thing I read this morning: A MIDDLE school (that's grades 6-8) has ok'ed a new law that allows students to obtain birth control pills and patches at their student health center. They must have written permisson from parents but under state law such treatment is confidential and the student decides whether or not to tell their parents. What? This same school has provided free condoms for students since 2002. (Read about it here)

This bothers me, not simply because of what they're doing, because I know that the people behind this are coming from a completely different perspective than me, and are trying to prevent STDs and teen pregnancys, and are not looking at it from a biblical perspective. It bothers me because it is continuing to support what Gregg Johnson talks about that our kids are growing up faster but staying young longer- meaning that they are being exposed to things before their time....coming into contact with decisions, concepts and things that God never designed us to worry or think about at such a young age. But, they're staying younger longer, not knowing how to grow up, think for themselves or be adults in our society. (putting away childish things)

We are robbing our kids of childhood without giving them the tools to succeed as adults, and that's what saddens me. Lord, help us as the church to learn to not only teach but to parent an un-parented generation.

This middle school is trying to put a band-aid over a greater problem.

So this morning- my husband had organized a big breakfast for the junior high and high school students who live in Spring Hill. We met at 7:00 at this old diner called "Poplar House," it's the oldest restaurant in Spring Hill. It was definitely your classic small-town diner, and we really invaded the place with about 20 students, but it was a lot of fun and I know the kids really enjoyed it :-) I jetted off at 5 'til 8 to "open up" the office. It's great to see these youth in Spring Hill really connecting and building relationships with each other.

Here are FINALLY some pics from Florida. Mom came over for dinner last night, so I got them from her camera.

**currently drinking: water