Home from Crooked Creek

I am sitting in my living room,
reflecting on my time at camp.
We got home last night and I am feeling a little sad.
Although it was great to sleep in my own bed last night,
I already miss my community at Crooked Creek.
Saturday night we watched 205 kids stand up and decide to follow Christ.
205,
that's a beautiful thing.
That's what gives me life.
That's what makes me forget about all the things I don't have,
and makes me remember what I do have.
It makes me thankful for this mission of Young Life.
I am amazed that God still chooses to use it.
It works,
it still works.
God still uses a week at YL camp to brings kids to him.
I have never experienced such a powerful "real life" at camp as I did this past month.
The life stories shared were incredible, and I have no doubt that God used them to bring so many teenagers to him.
To see a room full of leaders with broken stories, changed from death to life and then give their time and energy to a bunch of teenagers is awesome to watch.
One person on our assign team was hiking with a camper and the camper looked at her and said "why are you being so nice to me? Nobody is ever nice to me" and this girl stood up Saturday night and decided to follow Christ. That's just one of example of so many stories like that.
YL is imperfect, run by a bunch of imperfect people but amidst all of it, God shows up and and does incredible things.
I can't really put into words what this past month has meant to me.
But one word comes to mind and that is "thankful".
Thank you God for taking me out of my little world, and placing me in a heavenly place.
Thank you for taking me to a place where I can truly be known, and I can truly be loved.
Thank you for taking me to a place where your hand is so big and your work is so clear.
Thank you for taking me to a place where I am little and you are big.
Thank you for taking me to a place where the conversations are deep and laughter is large!
Thank you for taking me to a place where my mind is clear and my heart is focused on things above.
Thank you for taking me to a place where hearts are broken but given the hope of you.
Thank you for taking me to a place where people graciously serve others with no agenda.
Thank you for taking me to a place where death becomes life and despair becomes hope.
Thank you God.

I haven't had a chance to upload all my pics but here are some.

bath with Fisher McCleskey

taking a stroll by the creek

just being cool

First time on a horse! He was so brave!

Great friends at camp.
Ben David, George, Jacob, Avery Kate, Ellie, and Lincoln

Trip's character. Leroy Hare, the evil Easter bunny.

Crooked Creek week 1

Wow, where to begin?
Life is sweet here,
I am always reminded at camp of the amazing purpose of this mission of Young Life,
it makes all the hard days during the year worth while.
I am so thankful that I get to be a part of this.
Last week before campers got here, I watched some of the maintenance crew work to put up a tree in the club room for Springer's talk.
Few people will ever know their names,
they aren't on the "front lines".
I watched people all over camp property working on little odd jobs to prepare for high school kids coming.
Most kids will never even notice all that has been done around them to give them an amazing week.
And that to me is the beauty of this mission.
The hundreds of people that work to make camp the special and unique experience that it is and all for one purpose.
Everyone here has the same goal in mind.
One simple purpose.
To make Jesus known.
That's it.
That's the only reason.
And I love that.
I love all the different people with unique gifts that contribute their time and effort for that purpose only.
And I am thankful that my kids get to grow up witnessing that.
I can't wait until they are old enough to really understand why we are here.
I wouldn't trade that for anything!
Brooks is having the time of his life at his little age of 2 years.
It's fun to watch him watch everything.
Ford has been super baby, he's just so easy going.
He's sleeping great and smiling lots as usual!
Thank you God for him!
Trip is doing a great job on program despite some health issues going on.
Our assign team is awesome,
I love everyone who is a part of it,
I love hanging out with everyone, it brings me so much joy!
There is something so special about a group with a common bond in Young Life.
These people know my life, they know why we do what we do.
It's a special thing.
And the laughter these people bring to me is so good for my soul!!!!!
We are almost done with week one with campers, can't wait to see the fruit Saturday night.

This is posted in the adult guest lodge, love these words!

It snowed last week! So fun to have snow in May!

fun on playground with new friends!

Welcoming the first campers! Exciting moment

can't get enough of this beautiful view in camp

watching the volleyball match

visiting the horses during the rodeo

dad was the rodeo clown, so silly!

sweet Ford on western nigh

watching tableau 

"wow this is crazy mom!"

just pushing Ford

not a bad place to kick a soccer ball around

Crooked Creek

We made it,
Sunday was a long day,
but the boys did really well.
Ford only fussed a little on the plane,
and Brooks was squirmy but thought the plane ride was awesome.
Considering the time change and the schedule being thrown off,
they have both handled it well so far.
It's so refreshing to be in Colorado,
I love it here.
It's good for the soul.
It's a lot of work to get everyone packed up and relocated like this for a long time but it's so worth it.
Camp is beautiful,
I am excited for the rest of the assign team to get here tomorrow but it has been nice to have the place to  ourselves the last couple days.
I'm trying hard to unplug here and just be present in the moment.
So far we've seen some deer, a moose, a couple fox, and lots of chipmunks :)

visiting the horses

home for the next month

What more could a little boy ask for? Baseball field with this view ain't bad!

running the bases with dad

random haircut in winter park

waiting to get on the big airplane

checking out the new head phones

happy boy

push ups with Allen

traveling is exhausting

Summer!

Summer is here!
My favorite part of Young Life,
is camp,
nothing like it,
I am thankful for the way God chooses to use camp to draw kids to Jesus,
We are headed to this place this year,

Selfishly I can't wait to see what God has for me at Crooked Creek Ranch,

I don't want to miss it,

While I know that the ultimate goal is for high school kids to experience a week like no other and hear a clear presentation of the gospel,

I know God is waiting there for me too.

I pray for sweet reminders of why we do what we do,

Young Life is hard,

it's a hard job,

it's an amazing job,

I wouldn't have it any other way,

but it comes with it's challenges,

so I am hoping that the beauty of camp brings me back to the simplicity of the mission of Young Life.

Brooks has been very excited about getting to ride on a big airplane!

I will feel very accomplished once we arrive at camp,

packing up for a month is no easy task,

especially when dealing with this..........

decided to unpack his bag that I already packed during his nap time!

More to come of our time in Colorado!

4 months

4 months old and such a grinner
Ford had his 4 month appointment last week
Height- 24 3/4 (25-50th %)
Weight - 16lbs 13oz ( 75-85%)
Head- 41 3/4 (50th%)

He's doing great, so thankful for a healthy, happy baby!
The way to his heart is simply giving him a little attention, just give him a glance and he'll smile at you like you're the best thing in the entire world!

We are getting ready for our summer assignment at Crooked Creek Ranch!

Soooooo pumped!

Can't wait for Colorado!!!!!!!!