BigStuf Camp 2009

Here is a highlight video from camp that I stole from bob's blog.

ESPY Awards

My friend, Jeremy Campbell, that I previously blogged about after he won the gold medal & set the world record in the Pentathlon at the Paralympics has been nominated for an ESPY award! Please help him out by going and voting for him!!

(For you Tulians, Jeremy is the son of Gregg Campbell - Kay Sturgess' brother & Nancy Hamilton's son)

Go to:
http://www.espys.tv

Click "Vote Now"
Click "Register". Create an account. (you have to do this to vote...it's free)
Once created, click "vote now" again.

Scroll down to "Best Male Athlete with a Disability" and click on his picture. (the first one) Then click "Vote"

You can vote for all the other categories too!

Youth Camp

We are in Panama City, Florida having an awesome time at youth camp! Check out the youth blog for updates and pictures.

http://lpyouth.blogspot.com


I've got lots of other stuff to talk about but I've been so impressed with BigStuf camps. I am sold on them! I feel like they are so much in line with the church planting mentality and everything that LifePoint is about. Their entire structure and programming fits us perfectly!

This is just one tiny thing that is in line with what LifePoint is about, but they emphasize global impact to the kids. Yesterday we heard from the Daraja Choir and I cannot even begin to tell you how the effected our students. Go check out the blog so you can see some of the student responses!!!

Vegas & Missouri

My first two rounds of traveling are complete. We are currently flying back from Vegas. (that's right...we got the plane trying out wifi!!) Vegas is always a lot of fun and we got to spend some great time with mine and Kyle's families! Unfortunately, we did not win millions but I got some great stuff shopping and we got to enjoy DRY heat for a few days!

Since I already have a ton of pictures of the strip & downtown I never made time to take more. (although I needed to with my new camera!)
Our awesome cabana to relax by the pool:

Inside the Mirage:




The weekend before Vegas I made a trip to Missouri to hang out with Brooke one last time before she moves. I should've found more time in our crazy busy lives to visit more often. We went on campus to take some pictures for her to have. It is such a beautiful campus!!





And of course...we had to end with this since it was sooooo stinkin humid!

Lifekidz

First of all, I'm soooooooooooooo excited that school is out for the summer! I learned more this year on classroom management than my first year, college classes, & any lesson on patience I've had combined!

Now on to LIFEKIDZ! Lifekidz is for K-5th grades on Sunday mornings in our very own theater. It's awesome-ness has made me go from plugging a hole to really, really, really enjoying my Sundays there and being exciting about helping prep it! The kids used to stay in the main service until after the music, but going into the theater we changed that to help with security reasons and to also give the Lifekidz their very own worship time. I'd say it's been a huge success giving us more time with them! Just ask Dawson James...he refuses to come to church without his tennis shoes because sandals interfere with his Lifekidz dancing!

I think our biggest success has been the addition of Lifegroups to our time. We have had such positive feedback. The kids LOVE splitting into their age-appropriate groups and getting to share stuff! They have REALLY opened up and we have been blown away by the things that are on their minds & their desire to discuss things! These kids have real "life stuff" going on and they want to talk about it!

We had one young girl that refused to come in without a parent for several weeks. The first week we did Lifegroups she was able to connect with another girl her age & it was the last week her mom came in!

So, if you are a volunteer at LifePoint or somewhere else...just remember...you're job is so important! You are making a bigger difference than you realize and you are needed fully on board! Keep up the good work!

Also, check out Bob's blog & find the perspective videos to see what goes on every Sunday!

Memorial Weekend

We kicked off Friday with a cool opportunity to hear about church history & culture in Australia. Bob & Martha met and became very close with Will & Nerida through a church planting coaching network in Atlanta, GA. Will & Nerida are from Australia and have been doing a year residency in America for church planting ideas so they can head back and impact Brisbane in a huge way! The Robbins' had them up for the weekend & they invited the leadership team over to hang out and get to know them. It was really cool hearing about church planting from another point of view...and helped me to realize how much easier we really have it to share Jesus with others, yet we still make excuses. All I gotta say is...Brisbane, get ready!


Saturday we spent the day at the lake with the James' family! Here are my 3 favorite "Griffinisms" of the day, followed by too many pictures:

Griffin: "Emily, can I have a towel?"
Me: "Sure, Griff!" (hand towel from behind/underneath me & place over Griffin's head completely covering him)
Griffin: "This towel smells like poop!"
Me: "It shouldn't smell like poo! It's clean!"
Griffin: "Yeah, but you were sittin on it!"

During this arrangement on the tubes:

Griffin: "Kyle's a weiner!!"
Kyle: "I'm gonna splash you!!"
Griffin: "No I didn't say that! I said 'Kyle's a winner!' Griffin and Ashley suck! Kyle rocks! Griffin and Ashley suck! Kyle rocks!"

After Kyle hit a wave and came down saying "Ohhhhhhh..."
Griffin: "Kyle, did you get your tenders?"











The End:

Prayer

Bob wrapped up our "Backseat Jesus" series with a lesson on prayer last week. He talked about how prayer is not an action....it's a lifestyle. It isn't a set time or a set place. We think we can handle the day in & day out stuff, but in reality God wants our time of prayer to be in our time of action throughout our day.

1 Thessalonians 5:17
Prayer continually.

I still remember the first time someone taught me this lesson while I was at youth camp. It was one of the biggest "AHA" moments I've ever had! It has probably helped me to calm myself & keep my job on several occasions this year! Unfortunately, I tend to still think I can handle a lot of daily things & I am far from mastering the prayer lifestyle. But, one of the things I love about LifePoint & Bob's leadership is that he always gives us an example of how we can apply it to our lives. Bob talked about how we can use everyday things as prompts for us to pray about stuff as we are going through our day. It has been a huge help for me & I highly suggest using them or creating your own!

pillow - rest and peace in God
loufa (sp? you know the washy thingy) - thanks for being continually washed with the grace of God
coffee cup (or any daily thing purchased) - thanks for being blessed to be able to buy stuff
computer - work & that my gifts would be used to change the world
ambulance/firetruck - overall healing in your life
garage door opener - family; making the most of time and having energy & wisdom

One of things I changed was the computer to prompt me to pray for our work with the youth. I added:
school building - my job and using it to change the world
Chi iron - inner beauty; self-confidence

What are some daily life prayer prompt ideas you have??