Thankful...

For friend's 8-month old babies that make me not miss my nephews, who are so far away, as much.

For Coffee Mate Pumpkin Spice Coffee Creamer... Last week I really needed to stop at the store to buy some basics – milk, fruit, etc. I had exactly $20 left in our grocery envelope for the month. I had a girlfriend with me, and we were in another part of town so I went to a random grocery store. She knew of my obsession with the CoffeeMate Pumpkin Spice coffee creamer. I may have been, ahem, secretly phone stalking my neighborhood grocery store dairy staff regularly since mid-September asking “do you have the CoffeeMate… in yet?” Sadly, the answer was always no. Well, we didn’t see it on the shelves, but we thought we’d ask an employee. The gentleman went back and checked, then told me – we only have the large size. The LARGE size… amazing treat. I nearly freaked out in the random Stater Bros dairy aisle in Redlands , CA . My store doesn’t have it in yet, but I was totally blessed by this random Coffee Creamer. I know there’s some theological issues with God’s sovereignty in day-to-day life, but I really think he knew how much I would love that (and my total on groceries came to $20.13!!).

For random dinner dates with good friends and mentors.

For great father-in-laws who celebrate another year of life (Happy Bday yesterday, Paul!)

For closure, direction, and peace in the midst of big (undecided) decisions.

For the pumpkin patch & corn maze Matt & I went to on date night last week. For the "lovekin pumpkin" we carved at a pumpkin carving competition on Friday... a panoramic pumpkin of our love history.

For catch-up conversations with friends who live really far away.

That God knows me and knows it all... “Are not 5 sparrows sold for 2 pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid, you are worth more than many sparrows.” Luke 12:6-7

For long runs on crisp mornings.

For my 2-minute commute to work.

For thegrocerygame.com where we save LOTS of money and always have plenty of food to share with spontaneous dinner guests.

For fun fall baking.

For making Christmas gifts this year (we’ll see how that goes). For Advent Conspiracy... if you never looked into it, do it!

For being closer to G-Ma Stevenson who we used to only see once a year.

For our friends who are trying to get us addicted to LOST. We’ve never watched it and we’re like 7 episodes into the 112 episodes in 5 seasons (we’ll see how that goes, again).

For visiting Santa Barbara last weekend on a last minute mini-vacation. It is definitely my fav southern CA city to date.

For being able to plan our Staff Retreat when all staff leave for 2 days to recharge, refocus, and fellowship with each other. It’s coming up in 3 weeks!

For my Girls' Bible study every other Saturday morning and really hearing each other's story.

For Kicking off the month of Thanksgiving with thanksgiving. SOOO much to be thankful for.

Change, change, change

“There is a time for everything, and a season for everything under heaven.” Ecclesiastes 3:1

“Threrefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation, the old has gone, the new has come!” 2 Corinthians 5:17

“See, I have refined you, though not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction”. Isaiah 48:10

I’m so thankful the seasons change. It’s a time when all of creation is shouting that something is old, and a new thing is coming. It’s so amazing to live somewhere beautiful. I wake up and look at the tree outside our bedroom window gradually changing from green to yellow, orange, and red. I am reminded that nothing is too big for God… we live in a fallen world, with fallen creation, but God is sovereign enough to tell the leaf it’s time to change color. I am excited for the fall and winter to come, and thankful for the summer behind us.

I am thankful to be in this season of life. It’s definitely been a season of transition… the obvious – new jobs, new home, etc. but also a time of growth, healing, and transformation before the Lord. Sorry if we’ve been distant (via the blog or other means of communication) – I feel like our life needs one of those “pardon our dust during this time of construction” signs. It’s been a good time of construction. I am being pulled and stretched by the Lord in new ways. Matt is doing the same, and we are hoping to come out on the other end refined.

What an amazing privilege to know the Lord and walk with Him… I am humbled by my inadequacy and amazed by his grace.
(more blogs coming soon!)

Quick Recap

I am sitting in the Long Beach airport waiting for a flight to Portland. There are tiny birds running around the terminal... it's hilarious.

Mom, Steve & Meredith are picking me up at the airport and taking me straight to a wedding of a family friend. Tonight I get to help Mom prep for the day tomorrow... which includes a fun-filled, joyful gathering of family & friends as we shower Mere & Jake with all kinds of baby goodies required for welcoming Finley into the world! It could be just a couple of weeks before his official debut! I will come back home on Monday morning.

Matt and I have been living life and having fun. Katie was in a few weeks ago and all three of us made it to Disneyland -- what a FUN day. Katie & I went back a couple days later (yea for the So Cal Season Pass!).

Paul & Debbie (Matt's parents) came in last weekend and it was a huge blessing. We loved having time to show them our world, catch up on life, and play at camp. We drove to Big Bear on Saturday afternoon and rode up a ski lift, then hiked down. It was a GREAT weekend.

Matt and I are enjoying our weekly grind.... community dinner with tons of friends Monday night, Matt plays ultimate frisbee on Tuesdays, weekly date night randomly, etc.

Work has been kind of nutty for both of us. I helped plan our post summer celebration day for staff (it was a little late, but that's ok) and it was held on Thursday... we celebrated the God of All Ages by asking each department to dress up in a different decade. I had to dress up 70s and Matt had the 80s. We have some hot pictures :) We're headed to the other Forest Home location this Monday afternoon-Tuesday. The other camp is located at Ojai Valley (on the beach) and that's where we'll have our staff retreat in November. Matt is meeting with the Recreation people out there, and I will be in retreat planning meetings. We both have work conferences coming up later in October (conveniently, on the same days). Matt will be headed to Hume Lake with the Program Directors to pray, plan, etc. I have a HR conference for the state of CA in San Diego. I will visit Bethel Seminary (San Diego) on my way home, and we're supposed to go visit Fuller Seminary later that same week. So lots going on there. We are both still loving all aspects of work and thankful that we get to work there together. Matt has a new Rec Assistant who is amazing... this has been a HUGE blessing to Matt and to me! This is allowing for more time away from camp which is healthy & necessary!

It's definitely cooling off! It's been getting into the 50s at night at our house - so far we're loving it. It will be interesting when it starts snowing :) Yea for the fall... don't you just love this time of year?! I seriously do hope to update more often.... we'll see. :) Ok, time to board.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Catching up

We have been having a blast catching up on some regular life...

having people over for dinner and playing with friends' babies...

building the newest Recreation element at Forest Home - the Sky Trail...

enjoying Matt's new car (1974 International Scout - bought it about 2 weeks ago- it's super cool, the top comes off)...

getting ready to go to Disneyland today with my sister Katie who is in town for a teacher's conference! YEA! Thanks to the Riskeys I am buying my "So Cal resident season pass" today with hopes that Hubby can come with me & buy his season pass VERY soon!

Hope you're doing well!!

Summer recap

Hello again!

I am currently waiting on the Charter man to come set up our TV (yea- just in time for college football on Saturday) and thought I'd finally recap some fun from the summer... in category form :)

fire
Thought I would cover this one first since we're getting many questions... we are completely clear of the greater LA fires right now. There is a fire fairly close to home - the Oak Glen fire - and we will keep you posted as things develop. It's pretty darn humbling to watch these flames on the mountains (up close - in person) and know there's nothing you can do but pray. So please join in our prayers as these fires affect so many people.

growth
Oh my gosh... talk about growth this summer. Matt & I experienced some new challenges and hurdles as we officially entered a life in ministry. We stuck to our weekly date night 95% of the time and had to constantly adapt to the crazy schedule and emotional stress leading the staff. It was such a good summer for us to walk and work together as a team and co-laborers in this ministry. We learned a lot and had a ton of fun... so good.

We got to watch the staff grow individually. A few in particular had some major issues they came to camp with and it was such a ridiculous privelege to watch God move in their lives this summer. A few girls are possibly going to move into our basement in January and start community college in our area. Another guy had been dealing with some intense shoulder pain after an accident earlier this year and was literally healed this summer... I don't know how that works, but I do know that the God who made this whole world is capable of anything and a certain gentleman left camp this summer with no more pain - we rejoice in that. I know we were there physically with these guys and girls as they grew, but it was almost surreal to watch the Lord work in spite of us. Amazing.

There was growth in the whole Recreation department. No major safety issues, unity among staff, etc. that camp hasn't seen in a while. Amazing.

As you know we studied Colossians in Bible study this summer. The theme and take away was "Therefore, as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him" (Colossians 2:6). It was beautiful.

crazy things
So my dear hubby developed minor frost bite while participating in an ice cream eating competition. No really... fingers white, then purple, pealing, lost sensitivity, etc. He competed with two guys against multiple other teams in an 18-scoop contest (plus cookies, toppings, etc.) and finished eating with his fingers after 7 minutes, and won the contest. Insane. This is our life.

There was frequent male unleashing upon the neighborhood wildlife. Bible study could be interrupted by a family of raccoons on our deck... followed by multiple men running outside with hockey sticks, BB guns, etc. No worries -- no animals were seriously injured in this activity. The bears and mountain lions have continued, but praise for no major injuries!

- We had a fun game of sharaddes at camp... think hiding on top of buildings, etc.
- We took the group to a shopping area and ate at the Costco food area. Fun.
- Girls night with homemade oatmeal masks... messy but too fun.
- Guys had a "bear hunting" adventure - not hunt to kill, but hunt to find and annoy :) Oh dear.
- Thursday morning girl time continued all summer... even though we were all asleep until the coffee kicked in.
- Matt loved his "Milkshake with Matt" time with each of them.
- Random dance parties often busted out post-Bible study.
- Random beach trips.
- Late night IHOP adventures.
- Had our cool cousin, Scott, come to middle school camp in August and got to hang out with him for a few days. Super cool!!
- Had a great girls' trip with sisters and Mom up in Portland in July.
- Blob competitions (w/me!)
- Many more things...

post summer
We are recovering from the fun of this summer. Matt is jumping right into Guest Group season (camp is full almost every single day with school groups, businesses, church groups, etc.). He is doing great and is really trying to take some time off as he's able.

My job is good. There is some transitioning going on in the HR department that might require more work on my part, and I'm still praying through seminary endeavors, so we'll see what happens over the next year or so. Matt and I talked last night about trusting God with today and doing what seems right today. I tend to fast forward 10 years and try to decide what I should have done... but yea for freedom in making decisions for today, and that the Lord is sovereign enough to move us around as necessary :)

In some ways it feels like we just moved here as we are just now seeing what "normal" life is like in California. We have time to hang out with friends and are enjoying some community with peers and not just Rec staff :) We are in the church hunt process. Still unpacking, settling everything (mostly decorative things left). Excited to see what is in store.

Here are some necessary pictures.

Matt and I at banquet night.



Post-ice cream competition. I know... this is what I get to come home to everyday. Pretty hot, eh?! :)


Also what I get to come home to. On our back deck... too often.

Our first Angels game... Fourth of July.

Some rec staff on our back deck after a Bible study.

Matt and cool Cousin, Scott.

Still alive: another shamefully short update :)

Oh my goodness, life is good. We are still alive... still finishing up camp!

This Saturday is the last official day of summer camp, but then guest groups and a huge college conference begin in full force so we aren't really sure what our life will look like then. But we are hoping for a more semi-set schedule and rest.

To be honest, we are so completely drained (in every way possible) that I have no idea what to blog about. Other than that we're doing good. Both busy. Both dealing with finishing up goodbyes, tears, girls' nights, guys' nights, really late nights, movies, laughs, games, beach trips, prayers, Bible studies, dinners, coffee dates, milkshake dates, etc. with our dear summer staffers who we are going to miss so much!! We're so thankful to have each other as we do this "ministry thing". Still haven't finished unpacking... still haven't turned on the TV (anyone want to handle that one?), etc. but we're doing good. :)

And when we are home, both of us only have the mental capacity to sit or sleep, so hence the lack of blogging. We will return soon! Thank you for partnering with us in this amazing journey...

A different kind of move over :)

I have a house full of college-aged guys and gals and a starving hubby on their way over, but just so you know we're alive...

We did move! The moving day went remarkably well! We are loving this house and getting settled and I will post pictures soon. We hope to be here at least through next summer, and we do have a rent-to-own option if we end up really loving the house. Gotta pay off an undergrad student loan first and build up some additional savings (Dave Ramsey anyone?) but it's nice to both be working full-time for the first time in our marriage! Verizon is continuing to have some glitches with our internet, so I am borrowing "a bar" of wireless from our neighbor at the moment. Once the internet is up (now they say Monday??), we hope to be able to post more soon.

Well, not too soon-- tomorrow is the summer staff Beach Day near Laguna Beach, so we will be there all day. I leave for Portland on Tuesday night for a week of amazing girl/sister/daughter time with my mom, Nana, Mere, Kate, Jill, and Whitney. We will be staying at a beach house just a ways outside of Portland! So fun!

Matt and I covet your prayers as we finish up the last weeks of camp (starting on Sunday). It's been such a blessing to co-labor with this ministry and see the Lord change lives and families. To Him be the glory!

Talk to you soon :)

Correction: actually 5 weeks of camp left (4 weeks regular camp, 1 week college briefing) Back to sweet treat prepping... :)