CAMP TIME!

During my first week of camp this year, I had seven young girls and two junior counselors in the cabin.  These girls were SO MUCH FUN!  They enjoyed dressing as ladybugs using my favorite costume accessory - trash bags!  The girls were so cute. They thought the trash bags made cute formal dresses, and they were serious! Ha ha! Some parents could get by pretty cheap using that idea some day!

 The junior counselors made up some little songs to the tune of "I'm a Little Teapot" and "Head and Shoulders, Knees and Toes", but using ladybug lyrics.  It was so cute!

 The theme of the week was "Answering Questions". We taught that the BIBLE, God's Word, is the ONLY source we should use for what is true and right. The girls asked some GREAT questions, but thankfully had them answered in the WORD! I know they learned a lot!

 We decorated the cabin with red bows and lady bugs, which was perfect for a group of 9-12 year olds!

 Camp looked beautiful this year, thanks to the blessing of rain!  After a long drought, this rain has made it more lush than it's been in a long, long time.

 My oldest son served as a counselor this year. That was neat, since the youngest was there as a camper. That's the oldest flying through the air!

 Cute Bible skits were written by one of the directors. This is "Wiki" and "Google" asking questions about what's true and what's not.

 Mr. "Truth" used the Bible to answer questions by the "Question" character, played by my daughter.

Our youngest had lots of fun at camp this year, making more friends and growing in God's Word. The games and activities made it extra-fun, like this "Minute to Win It" game. He did it! He balanced four dice on a tongue depressed being held in his mouth! 

F.R.O.G. - Preteen Camp Session at QMCC

It seems strange to be done with church camp (QMCC - Quartz Mountain Christian Camp) and back to blogging! I've missed my time with YOU, but enjoyed camp very much.

The first week of camp was a junior session of grades 4th-7th.  I counseled the older girls going into 6th and 7th grade. I hadn't counseled since I was 13, so this was quite a change being 30 years older!!  The girls were great and we had a wonderful time together learning to F.R.O.G. - Fully Rely on God!

We decorated the bathroom and cabin sleeping area with frogs and lights.

 One of the junior counselors also put scriptures around the mirrors....

 ...and walls.

 The girls enjoyed the FROG decor!

 What a fun group of girls!  It was great being with them....teaching them and getting to know them.

 It was also neat having our youngest son there as a camper.  He had instructed me to "not get in his business"!!  Haha! I told him I would stay out of his business unless I saw that he was doing something that I needed to be in his business about!  He was good, so no "gettin' in his business' was needed! :)

Twenty-seven years ago at this same camp - on talent show night- my friends and I did a "Trash" song in rounds. All of these years I've wanted to do it again, so our girls allowed me the opportunity to bring it back! I was soooooo excited! Unfortunately the round was "off" a bit, so doesn't sound as good as I had hoped it would.  It still was fun!

 Each night the campers dressed up.  There was alien night.....goof ball night....super hero night.....and backwards night.  Here are a few pics from the nights...

It was especially neat to counsel along with my daughter (left). She was in a different cabin, but it was neat to have her there with me!

 We had great lessons during the camp.  This one taught the campers to STOP and F.R.O.G. (Fully Rely on God).  They wrote their "problem" on a CD then smashed it.  That was fun! Then we glued the smashed pieces on the letters saying "STOP and FROG".

The camp directors of this session are wonderful! They do a great job coming up with or finding material for skits that really get the campers interested in the lessons.  This was the "Frog Hunter". He was always trying to sabotage the 'Professors" lessons.

The "Professor" dressed up for one of the goofball nights in this #1 mom shirt!  So funny!  He would bring the skit to the real meaning - according to the Bible message/lesson.

One evening the campers were playing games.  I looked to the west and saw a beautiful sunset over the mountains nearby.  It's wonderful to be able to see God's beauty in His creation.  

Thank you, God, for this week of camp where we all learned to "Fully Rely on YOU".  I pray that each of the campers is continuing to remember the lessons they learned.  I pray that they will always F.R.O.G.

The Chronicles of Biscuit - A TALK WITH THE COUNSELOR

In the last "The Chronicles of Biscuit" post, Biscuit was wanting to talk to the school counselor. After a few days, I asked him again why he wanted to talk to the counselor and he said, "Because they get beads." And, he also said, that a friend of his who visits with the counselor says it's lots of fun.

So, we don't know what the beads are all about, but it's apparent that Biscuit thinks it would be a lot of fun to visit the counselor. He got an appointment set up with the counselor -on his own - for 3:05 on Wednesday. We told her she didn't have to do it, since there really wasn't a problem, but she wanted to do it for him. After Biscuit told me about the appointment, I asked him what he was going to visit with her about and he said, "Fruit". I asked, "Fruit?". Biscuit said, "Yep!" Okay....fruit! That makes sense, doesn't it???

Biscuit was so excited about getting to talk to the counselor at 3:05. I told him I would be back in a little bit. I went to pick him up about 3:20, but he was still in "counseling". I could see him through the window....would have liked to have been a fly on the wall! He and the counselor talked and talked and talked. He finally came out about 3:35 and said, "I'm coming back next Thursday at 3:05." I looked at the counselor and mouthed to her quietly, "You don't have to do this!" She said, "It's okay. He's fun!" We asked her later about the counseling session. She said that he wanted to know how much sugar was in fruit! That was all he wanted to know. She asked him questions like "What do you want to be when you grow up?" Biscuit said "President". Usually he says Vice-President because our 10-year-old wants to be President. She asked him about our past Presidents - the 1st, the 16th, the 43rd. He enjoyed answering all the questions, but Biscuit is mostly excited because the counselor is making him a bead necklace and giving it to him at the next "session". We've told him that this next meeting will be the last one. He's okay with that (not that it would matter, of course!).

This sweet counselor is giving Biscuit time and attention. She is listening to him. She is being a friend to him. She is taking time out of her busy schedule to talk to a little 6-year-old boy who is already well-loved and well-cared-for. Why? Because she loves and cares for all children. Biscuit has five others in the house with him, so there are plenty of us around to listen to him, but he thought the counseling and talking to someone else would be a lot of fun. Plus, the beads, of course, were a big deal!

How many people in the world need someone who will listen to them? How many people need someone to care about them? We know that God should be our #1 Counselor, but we all need friends, too. This counselor is being a friend to Tyler and making him feel special for these few visits. Who needs you to be a listening ear? Who needs you to be a friend?

Take the time this week to listen to someone who may need it. Take the time this week to help someone in need. Take the time this week to be a friend to someone who needs it. Their lives will be blessed, but so will yours. Sometimes in our hurried lives we don't take the time to stop and think of others. I challenge you and myself, too, to make an effort this week to put someone else's needs before your own. Reach out to someone who needs you. Through your example, you will be showing the love of Jesus. Just another way to "Shine Like Stars".

A friend loves at all times. Proverbs 17:17a
Ointment and perfume delight the heart, And the sweetness of a man’s friend gives delight by hearty counsel. Proverbs 27:9

The Chronicles of Biscuit - "I Need A Counselor"

A few days ago my husband and I were in our laundry room. Biscuit came in there and, out of the blue, said, "I need to talk to the counselor." My husband and I quickly looked at each other, a little in shock, but a little amused, too. Hubby asked Biscuit, "Why do you need to talk to the counselor?". Biscuit responded extremely confidently, "Because of how smart I am."

Well, if you'll remember from the last Chronicles of Biscuit, his brothers "learned him all he knows", so it isn't any wonder he feels that he has a "problem" in this area! However, what Biscuit doesn't realize is that his problem very well may be a "pride" issue and not an "intellegence" issue.

Hubby and I could hardly contain our laughter, but didn't want to make fun of him, either. I told Biscuit I would talk to the counselor and see what she could do about him needing to speak with her. I called her, but couldn't get her that evening, so decided to just let it go. However, today Biscuit said that he tried to talk to the counselor on Friday and wasn't able to, so he hasn't forgotten. We've decided to just let it play out and see what happens. I'll keep you posted!

Although there may be times when we, as Christians, need to talk to someone about a problem or struggle we have, God should be our ultimate source for strength and comfort. His Word should be our guide to what is good and true. His Son should be our Savior. His Spirt be our Counselor.

Jesus replied, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. He who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me. "All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. John 14:23-27

Have a great week!