Siesta Scripture Memory...nailed it.

Another one of those inevitable nailed it success stories...A new year's plan that started out skyrocketing, then plummeted to the ground a few weeks in...

Audrey and I still have our very first memory verse up on the bathroom mirror and I think it's safe to say that we now have it memorized...haha! Although we didn't quite stick to this incredible journey throughout the year...I have still seen the blessing that comes along with committing Scripture to memory by memorizing the entire book of 1 Peter.

One aspect of the Forge is memorizing 1 Peter, along with studying the book in depth and choosing a passage to teach a lesson on. I am currently in the middle of the third chapter, and wow has it truly been incredible. I have always kind of liked memorizing...the challenge of saying something, reading something, listening to something enough times that it almost becomes part of who you are. If I am going to memorize anything, why wouldn't it be Scripture -- memorizing God's Word until it becomes a part of who you are, in your bones, so to speak.

We had a goal setting assignment where we chose a goal that we had and made a visible way to see the progress you were making on completing that goal. I chose my goal of memorizing 1 Peter, and my love for teaching and all things fun, and created a gumball machine to help me keep track!

So although we didn't technically 'nail' our Siesta Scripture Memory challenge, we took a different route for the same goal. Audrey is also starting to memorize 1 Peter...she already has the first verse down :) 

So 2016...we are ready for you -- 1 Peter here we come! 

Christmastime at Pine Cove

Camp in the summer is always fun and in full swing...but camp in the winter...who knew that Pine Cove is going all year, and this year I've gotten to be involved and see so many different aspects of the different seasons. 

I had the privilege of working a conference just a few weeks before Christmas, and it was such a fun few days spent with families and their kiddos. We made gingerbread houses, used more paint, glue, and glitter than I thought was possible in arts and crafts, dressed up for Christmas skits, and as always had some great worship and speaker sessions.

This was our small little team of champions during the Gingerbread House Competition...the stakes were high, and as much as I wish I could say our house is the one on the right...I'm proud to claim that candy yard and fallen down house in the middle. :) A fun night! 

Got to be in a Pine Cove skit...which if you know a lot about Pine Cove you know skits are the epitome of camp fun...I was Ellie the Elf with my friend Eddie the Elf and we were working hard to get things ready in Santa's Workshop...but the two "Lumberjerks" came along and wanted to chop down all the trees and destroy the workshop...throughout the weekend we finally brought them back to the true meaning of Christmas and had them turn their chopping skills into making their very own Gingerbread House...a fun few days with these friends!

Arts and crafts...making Christmas ornaments and painting pine cones...if you don't make a mess, did you even really do arts and crafts?! Haha...I did, however, realize that glitter is extremely hard to clean up...but as an elementary teacher, I say more glitter, more fun, right?! :) ....most of the time...

In the midst of loving on campers, making gingerbread houses, being in skits, and painting ornaments, there are always meals to serve and dishes to clean. This is our incredibly fun and hard-working Work Crew that we got to hang out with all weekend. They made the meals run so smoothly and were so eager to serve and help! Love these girls and the friendships made!

These are my fun friends who make working on the weekends a joy and a lot of fun. We serve at the Shores, the high school camp, and the Bluffs, a family camp, helping out with retreats and conferences. These guys keep me laughing, always take pictures when I fall asleep, and know how to play a great game of Mafia at a Christmas party...haha! Love serving for the sake of the Gospel with these guys.