Family Time

So Thursday at camp went by super fast!!  We talked about Daniel and the lion's den.  It was my day to teach which I loved since this is one of my most favorite stories!  The kids did a skit of the story in an indian version which was really funny!  I still am having problems with Danielle though.  I just want to slap those stupid looks she gives me when I have to get on to her for something.  I hold myself back though.  Ethan apparently has said the f word twice now at camp, and still hurting people, and still nothing being done.  Don't get me wrong, he still gets like swim time taken away or something like that, but not the kind of punishment he deserves.  Anyways my mom and sister got to New Orleans around 8:00ish.  Let me just tell you the train station is packed when a train is getting in...imagine that.  I accidentally drove over the bridge to like Westbank, and had to pay the toll to get back!  Not fun.  I did get to the train station, and parked illegally, and then got the fam.  We immediately went to Joey K's for dinner, and Sucre for dessert!  Amazing, as always.  My car was doing something funny with my brakes though so Mom said she would take them to get fixed when Mer and I were at camp Friday.
Friday- Friday was an awesome day at camp, and all of my kids love my sister.  One kid told me sister that "Ms. Emily is mean and nice at the same time."  I don't know how I accomplished that, but I am looking at it in a positive way, and every teacher/counselor has to get on to people sometimes, but still needs to be likable which I have accomplished! :)  The bad thing about Friday is because I was kind of sick.  I seriously was in some serious pain all day, and I'm not going to go into details because it is very repulsive everything I was going through.  At closing celebration we won the spirit stick, again!! :) :)  This means the blue team has won something every week so far!!! After camp mom called and said that my brakes were being fixed, and something else that busted that they found, but it wasn't going to be ready until Saturday afternoon.  Therefore, we rented a car.  It was a lot of effort to get to this point, but finally everything was done and we had a car for the weekend, and then mom came and picked me and mer up at the seminary, and we went to walgreens so I could get some desperately needed medication.  We got back to the hotel, and we all got ready.  After some medicine, and more medicine, I felt much better and we went out to dinner at Mother's.  AMAZING.  I got a po-boy that I would go back for right now!  Their ham truly is amazing.  They don't lie.  We then went to Cafe du Monde for dessert which is always fabulous.  After that we went back to the hotel and played phase 10.  Love.  It.  The next morning we got up and got ready for the day.  We started off at the French Market of course because it's my absolute favorite. I got a water meter necklace, that mom bought, for $18 but it started off at $28.  We kept trying to walk away and the guy kept lowering the price, and gave me a longer chain for free.  I was pleased.  We got snow balls also, and I got wedding cake.  TO DIE FOR.  After that we walked down Decatur St and I got some cool stone thing to hang on the wall for $10!!  Meredith keeps saying that when we get an apartment in about a year I'm not decorating it with NOLA stuff because we don't live there, but she be crazy.  My awesome artwork I buy from here will go in the apartment, and so will Bethany's awesome pictures from Scotland, and whatev else she wants.  Mer will get over it.  Anyways...we walked about Jackson Square and I wanted to buy so much art, but held myself back.  I did donate to at-risk youth, and got to paint my name on a door.  Pretty cool.  For lunch we went to Johnny's Po-Boys which truly are the best that I've had in NOLA so far.  We started walking back to the car, and saw this guys performing so we stopped and watched.  They were so funny, and awesome dancers!  It was worth it.  We then went to go get my nose pierced!  I was kind of nervous, but it really didn't hurt very much.  It felt just like getting a shot or something then it was over.  We went down to Magazine St and got some jewelry! After that we went to dinner at Voodoo BBQ.  Mer didn't like it, but oh well.  She enjoyed the two-story Target just as much as I do so that was good.   Mom really liked it too, as everyone should.  We went back to the hotel, and played games and stuff.  Then to bed!  We had to wake up at 5, and we left around 5:20.  I took them to the train station, then drove back to my dorm and went back to bed till around 10.  I am supposed to have skype time with Bethany later today so needless to say that will be the highlight of my day.  I am so excited!!  It has been too long since I've hear that girls voice.  Tonight will consist of the normal though.  Meet MissionLab, staff meeting, devotion, and hopefully worship with missionlab!! I can't believe week 5 is about to start.  MAKE IT STOP!!

Tristan being the life guard

Nathan, who is part of the Trinity

Darren, who is an apostle

Chloe and Sabria

CUTEST KID, Alfred

SECOND CUTEST KID, Myles

Sister and I

Funny Talented Dancers

NOSE PIERCED

Burn Us Up

Who doesn't love the Shanes?  I mean, really.  Ms. Izabela did music for us today at camp, and totally taught the kids the song "Burn Us Up" by Shane and Shane.  It was so awesome especially because that is the exact story we talked about today!  I love that song so much!  Today was overall a good day at camp though.  Ethan keeps having his freak outs, and they happen often.  I wish I knew something to do, but I feel like they are trying everything except actually punishing him.  That is so stupid to me.  He is never going to have any consequences for his actions which is not the way it is supposed to work.  I'm sure you all can figure that out though.  Dr. T is a foster mom though, and got a new baby yesterday.  Her name is Destiny, and she is 12 days old.  She is so precious!!! I love that baby already.  Last night I started the Calm My Anxious Heart book by Linda Dillow.  It is so good!  The first chapter talks about how we learn to be content.  Remembering Philippians 4:11-13 and the five steps that were written by a missionary definitely made a difference in my attitude today.  I am not perfect, but I am learning.  My mom and sister get in tomorrow night, and I am immediately taking them to Joey K's for dinner, and then Sucre!!! YUMMY!!!!!  I am so excited!  I can't wait to spend the weekend with them, and get my nose pierced. :)

5 Steps to being content
1.  Never allow yourself to complain about anything-not even the weather.
2.  Never picture yourself in any other circumstances or someplace else.
3.  Never compare your lot with another's.
4.  Never allow yourself to wish this or that had been otherwise.
5.  Never dwell on tomorrow-remember that [tomorrow] is God's, not ours.

"Not that I was ever in need, for I have LEARNED how to be content with whatever I have.  I know how to live with almost nothing or with everything.  I have LEARNED the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little.  For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength." -Philippians 4:11-13

I am strong for all things in the One who constantly INFUSES strength in me! -Interpretation of Philippians 4:13 by Kenneth Wuest

Lyrics to Burn Us Up by Shane and Shane


There were three
Before the king
There were three who wouldn’t bow to him
For when you heard
The music play
And you were standing you would burn.
They looked at him and said…

Burn us up! Burn us up! Burn us up!
Oh king won’t you burn us in the furnace of
Your desire
We give up! We give up! We give up!
Oh king won’t you burn us in the furnace of 
Your desire!
Won’t you throw us in the fire!

The king enraged 
At what they said
Sent the three away to find their death
The palace stopped in unbelief
When the guilty raised their hands to sing
They looked at him and said…

You are able to deliver from the fire of affliction
It’s the declaration of my Lord
You’re not an image of gold
You’re the God of old
You have made us
Come and save us
We are Yours
But even if You don’t, we will burn!


Burn us up! Burn us up! Burn us up!
Oh king won’t you burn us in the furnace of
Your desire
We give up! We give up! We give up!
Oh king won’t you burn us in the furnace of 
Your desire!
Won’t you throw us in the fire!

Go With The Flow

So I believe I told you in my last post that I was supposed to go to church Saturday night and then out to dinner at The Joint with MissionLab for Jeremy's birthday.  Well plans change, at least for me.  Everybody else went and did the plan and even saw Jason Lee at the joint! CRAZY!  I, on the other hand, got stopped by Joel and Jonathan on my way out, and their families had both gone away for the weekend and neither one of them had a car. I volunteered to not go with the group and hang with them and go to church in the morning.  We went to Winn Dixie and picked up stuff for dinner.  We went back to Krista and Josh's apartment (Our director and husband, and Joel is Josh's brother but they were gone for the weekend).  I cooked dinner for the boys.  I made shrimp alfredo!!  It was actually very good to be honest.  We also had brownies and garlic bread.  Jonathan and I wanted to watch Harry Potter, but Joel didn't.  We won and got to watch it!  Afterwards Jonathan left, and Joel and I did the dishes.  He then made me watch some show about gangs in New Orleans.  That was quite scary to be honest.  We then watched one about the klan that was pretty good.  Those peeps be crazy also.  After all of that we went to bed.  Sunday morning I woke up with a killer ear ache so I went back to bed till 1:30!!  I woke up with my ear still throbbing.  I needed groceries from walmart, and medicine now as well so I text Joel to see if he, or Jonathan, needed to go.  They did, and Hannah came with us as well.  We went to Walmart, and I finally got groceries!!  Yummy yummy!! After that we went by tbell and then back for staff meeting/devo.  We normally meet our MissionLab Sunday nights, but this time we only met with the leaders which turned out to be fine.  The problem was that the youth minister has had the study material since March, and they didn't prepare for anything.  Ideally the MissionLab are supposed to teach crafts and afternoon bible study.  We are all being very flexible though and we are doing everything.  My MissionLab this week have been absolutely awesome so far though!  My kids are being awesome this week as well.  I think they've finally figured out that we are not going to stop what we are doing just because of a couple of people's bad attitudes.  Granted, there are still some attitude issues, but not nearly as much.   This week we are talking about Daniel who is my absolute favorite!!  He is so wonderful, and tomorrow we are talking about the fiery furnace, and for music we are singing "Burn Us Up" by Shane and Shane!!  LOVE IT SO MUCH!!  I also got a letter from Bethany today which made my day!!  It included Justin Bieber stickers as well.  I went to LifeWay during my break with no intention of buying anything, but I ended up buying a devotional type thing for movie lovers.  It looks really awesome and I plan on starting it tonight.  I also went to Barnes and Noble tonight and finally bought the book "Calm My Anxious Heart" by Linda Dillow.  I am stoked about starting this book!  I've only heard good things!  Continue praying for us as a staff because some of us have very "GBC'' (great big challenges).  I have been very lucky not to have any as bad as others so praise be to God!  I have kind of been in awe of God this week because I still can't believe I have the opportunity to be doing what I'm doing.  I can never say it enough that I know that camp is where I should be.  I'm so tired, but it is ALWAYS worth it.  Thanks God! :)

Blue Keeps Rockin'

This week has gone by so fast, and that makes me so nervous because I definitely am not ready for this summer to end.  Okay, yes, I know that I still have 7 more weeks, but as fast as this one went by it worries me a bit.  Let's start with Sunday night.

Sunday Night- Sunday night was when we had our staff meeting/devotion/worship time together.  I really enjoy Sunday nights and just worshiping with our staff alone.  I definitely can worship anyway I please, and feel like nobody is going to judge me.  Isn't every church supposed to be that way?  That's another conversation.  Anyways Josh (Krista's husband) gave the devotion.  I really like Josh, and the devotion was awesome.  We talked about how if we depend on our flesh, and not on the Spirit than we are going to fail.  If you think we are so tired and there is no way to go on, we are depending on the flesh and not the Spirit.  It was really awesome, and it was fresh on my mind all week which I think truly helped me during the week with getting frustrated/tired.  

Monday- Mondays always seem to come super early, and it's when we have red beans & rice for lunch so I'm already not excited.  Monday we also met our MissionLab for the week for the first time.  We had 6 girls and 1 adult.  I quickly figured out this was way too many for our group.  I had 25-26 kids everyday, and with my missionlab I definitely felt overwhelmed because of all of the people.  It didn't help that these were the worst MissionLab I've ever had thus far.  They were AWFUL.  Monday for crafts we were decorating some glasses, and the MissionLab brought glitter and stuff for them which was totally fine.  We had used glitter before and it went very smoothly.  Not today. Don't misunderstand me.  My kids were fine, and mature with the glitter.  MissionLab were not. They started putting it in their hair, and then they put some on the floor and rolled in it. Literally rolled around in glitter.  These girls are 15-17 years old, and the adult thinks it's funny.  I wanted to scream.  I don't have the authority to get on to them but I wanted to slap all of them in the face.  I decided to let it go though, and just vent at dinner and pray they are better tomorrow.  We went to dinner at the Cafeteria with all of the MissionLab campers/staff.  We sat with some of the staff and were telling them about our day.  They had already saw all of the glitter in the room because we swept and some of it would not come up so they were furious at MissionLab and had a talk with that group's leader.  Monday I don't think we did anything but go to bed.

Tuesday- MissionLab still is bad.  They never shut-up.  They are more immature than my kids, and they are not having the best influence on my kids.  They should go away.  We have been talking about David this week and the kids really like David so this is good.  They keep asking questions and stuff when they are paying attention and the mission lab girls aren't talking.  Tuesday I don't think we did anything either.  Oh!  I went to go try to buy a new battery.  No luck.  I got Subway for dinner though. :)

Wednesday- Becca's birthday!  I love Becca.  She is so funny!  Seriously, hilarious!  I am so happy I got to meet her.  Camp went by super fast today because I think I was so excited about going out for Becca's birthday.  We went to Houston's and it was so awesome!  I got seared tuna steak.  AMAZING.  It was pricey, but we knew that going there and I allowed myself to splurge a little.  Also they had the best spinach and artichoke dip I have ever tasted.  It was so creamy and wonderful.  We then surprised Becca with a cookie cake.  Yummy.

Thursday- LAST DAY OF MISSIONLAB!  Our group is leaving a day early, thank God, and so today is the last day.  I have never been more happy in my life.  They are still loud, obnoxious, and rude.  Dislike them so much.  I had a lot of problem with my kids today to, more than normal.  I had 2 girls start crying because one girl was being mean.  It's always one girl, and it's always the same one.  I just sent her to the office cause I was sick of her attitude and the way she treats others.  Stupid.  Anyways other than stuff like that everything was fine and then that night I was supposed to get a new battery but Josh forgot and I fell asleep.  Oops.  

Friday- Always the best days by far.  My kids were so awesome today it was amazing.  I have never seen my kids act this good. Ever.  It was a blessing from God.  We had a massive game of dodgeball which we do every Friday.  LOVE. IT.  This morning though Tristan, my adorable asian little boy, was dropped off and his mom talked to Krista, the director, for a little bit.  Apparently he has been getting pick on by a girl named Danielle, same girl I sent to the office yesterday.  This makes me want to take Danielle and just hit her a couple good times because Tristan is so sweet and good and awesome and wonderful and not just because he is asian.  UGH. So we had a talk with the whole class about it, without saying names or anything.  Other than that today was fine.  One of the boys in my class, Jonathan, sang in the talent show because we have one every Friday.  He played guitar, and sang How He Loves by DCB.  I was so proud.  Blue team even won best cheer!  WOO-HOO!  That means that in the first 3 weeks of camp we have dominated, and won everything you could possibly win.  We won spirit stick, best cheer, and super counselor. We rock.  Friday night we went shopping at the mall/target and I totally bought a long elephant necklace, and a romper that doesn't make me look 3 feet tall.  We then went and at Voodoo BBQ which I honestly didn't have high hopes of, but I was very wrong.  It was very very very good.  I loved it, and it was on the cheaper side. 

Saturday-  We got up and went to go find Becca some Toms.  We went to the quarter because there is a store that sales them, but they were closed so we went to the french market for a little bit.  We go snowballs which were amazing, but made me remember the summer snow in Tuscaloosa doesn't exist anymore. :(  I also bought a pair of awesome aviators for $5!!!  We then went to a Journeys that took forever to find, but we did and it was totally worth it.  It was in a mall we hadn't been to, and as soon as we walk in I see a glorious thing...OLD NAVY.  I have missed my old navy so I had to go in and buy a new cardigan for my romper I bought yesterday.  I also am buying a new pair of Toms from Journey's in 2 weeks.  They were the most awesome pair, and they will be mine.  After that we went and got a battery for my car, and my car works again! :)  We also went and got Rally's for lunch which is pretty much Checker's but I've never had that before so it was awesome and I kind of love it.  Tonight we are going out for one of MissionLab's staff, Jeremy.  His parents are actually paying for everyone's and they aren't even going to be there.  That's crazy.  I am wearing my new romper outfit! :)

Let me share some photos!

Korbin and Nathan

Some of my best kids.  Darren, Monster, Tyler, Maxxi, and Maya

Jess, Cody (MissionLab), and Blake (MissionLab)

Mission Lab Staff Andy singing after we set up 500+ chairs

Assistant director, Jason and his wife Suzanne

Co-Counselor, Ms. Bri

Roommate, and neighbors!

MissionLab and Camp NOLA Kidz out for Becca's birthday.

Oh and I forgot!  Wednesday I got to talk about David and Jonathan and how they were best friends.  In the curriculum I was told to talk about my best friend and what makes them special so I got to talk about Bethany.  All of my kids thought it was cool she was in Scotland for a month!  I also told them that she was coming to visit when she got back!  

Also let's talk about stupidity at the camp.  Ethan, who is the son of a woman that works at the preschool and is bipolar, goes to this camp.  He has some major freak outs sometimes, and he is told to go to the office and cool down by playing or coloring.  The problem is that he is very violent and kicks other kids, hits them, and the same with staff members.  This has happened on multiple days!  I will be the first to sympathize with somebody who has an exceptionality, but exceptionality or not Ethan knows what he is doing is wrong.  He is 8 years old, and tells us what he did that was wrong so therefore there needs to start being consequences for his actions which NEVER happen.  One day he slapped a camper in the face, and the grandmother of the child, the child was a little girl, came up to complain.  The grandmother knew Ethan had done things like this to other  kids/adults.  The grandmother came to complain to Krista with the handbook showing Krista where Ethan was supposed to be suspended by now because of his actions.  If you hit a camper or staff member 2 times you are suspended.  One kid really did get suspended this week and he hit a staff member, and bit somebody so he got suspended.  Ethan doesn't.  Krista wants to suspend him, but she isn't allowed to because her boss, Dr. Stringer, says "Ethan is like family."  She won't let Krista do anything.  If Krista has a problem with Ethan she is to call Dr. Stringer.  MESSED UP SYSTEM.  Till next time...

Let's Talk About Sex, Baby

(Before you freak out this was the title of the message last night at church).

1 Corinthians 6:9-11

"Don't you realize that those who do wrong will not inherit the Kingdom of God?  Don't fool yourselves.  Those who indulge in sexual sin, or who worship idols, or commit adultery, or are male prostitutes, or practice homosexuality, or are thieves, or greedy people, or drunkards, or are abusive, or cheat people-none of these will inherit the Kingdom of God.  Some of you were once like that.  But you were cleansed; you were made holy; you were made right with God by calling on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God."

Okay so this verse I have had memorized ever since June 2, 2009.  I always dread even thinking about it.  So when I walk into church last night and learn that this is passage we are talking about my heart automatically sank.  I didn't want to.  I hate it.  I hate thinking about it, and remember what it is saying.  It makes me cry if I think about it too much.  Do you understand yet how much I hate it?  I know it is there for a reason though, and I should take this passage to heart along with the rest of the Bible.  The point is I learned a lot last night about this passage, and was able to view it in a different way without taking it out of context.  Let me explain.

This passage can talk about identity.  What is your identity?  When I was asked this last night I just automatically thought "Emily."  That should sum it up, right?  No.  I know the correct answer.  I know that my identity is found is Jesus Christ.  I am a follower of Christ, and I strive to serve Him in all that I do.  I know this, and I know that this is true for me...most of the time.  We have to realize that if our identity is found in anything else than Christ, it is hopeless. HOPELESS.  We can always fail in any other identity we have.  If my identity was a teacher.  I can fail at being a teacher, and yet I cannot fail with Christ.  So let's go through the text.

1 Corinthians 6:9a- Identity determines our future.  

Those who do wrong that are mentioned in this verse are simply those that have never been set free by Christ.

1 Corinthians 6:9b-10- Identity drives our present.

"Identity precedes activity."  This is where my view changed.  I always seemed to only read one part of this passage and what it was saying.  I never remembered to read all of the other "wrongs" here.  After doing that I was overwhelmed, and humbled at the same time because I have does some of those things while still loving God.  I still believe I was a Christian while doing those things.  We all sin. ALL.  Another list, Ephesians 5:3-6.  Identity drives how we act.  

1 Corinthians 6:11- Our identity distinguishes our past.

Who is your identity?  It all comes together at the end, and then the last passage which make it even more wonderful if that is even possible.  Romans 6:20-23- "When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the obligation to do right.  And what was the result?  You are now ashamed of the things you used to do, things that end in eternal doom.  But now you are free from the power of sin and have become slaves of God.  Now you do those things that lead to holiness and result in eternal life.  For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord."  Okay so I have heard this many times in my life, but sometimes it is needed to really remember what God is saying to you here.  It is different for all, but after reading this verse all I want to do is jump on a table and praise God.  I mean seriously!  Anyways so I shall leave you all with the song that makes this message more real to me, and what I really got out of it.

Everything- Tim Hughes

God in my living
There in my breathing
God in my waking
God in my sleeping

God in my resting
There in my working
God in my thinking
God in my speaking

Be my everything
Be my everything
Be my everything
Be my everything

God in my hoping
There in my dreaming
God in my watching
God in my waiting

God in my laughing
There in my weeping
God in my hurting
God in my healing

Christ in me
Christ in me
Christ in me the hope of glory
You are everything

Christ in me
Christ in me
Christ in me the hope of glory
Be my everything

Super Counselor

I feel like I must apologize every time I blog because I wait so long to do it.  Okay so I believe I left off at Saturday night while we were watching My Fair Lady.
Saturday Night- For what I saw of My Fair Lady it was quite fabulous to say the least.  We got a text from "MLJ" (Mission Lab Josh) telling us that there was a field trip to the movies that night if we wanted to go.  I honestly didn't really want to go because I was very tired, but I ended up going anyways.  It was me, Jessica (roommate), Becca, Hannah, and then the mission lab boys (Cody, MLJ, Blake, and Lenny).  We went to go see the new X-Men movie which I totally did not want to go see because I just didn't care about it, or so I thought.  The movie was seriously phenomenal. I love Kevin Bacon as a bad guy too much for words.  It was so good as soon as I got home I bought the score (thanks Bethany)!  Afterwards MLJ wanted pancakes, but nothing was opened that had pancakes so we went to waffle house!  It was kind of scary, but good.  I sat at a table with Cody, Jess, and Lenny.  Lenny is from New York so his accent is kind of funny, and plus he didn't know what "Roll Tide" meant so we had to explain it to him!  That was a funny conversation because he was so confused.  Lenny is by far one of the nicest guys ever though!  Finally we got home around 2:30, and fell asleep pretty fast.
Sunday-  I woke up sick.  Awesome.  Waffle House messed me up, and I was NOT happy. I had to miss church which was very upsetting because I absolutely love the church down here we go to.  Everybody got back around 12ish, and we went to the living room in the dorm to watch the bama softball game which made me want the throw up again.  I HATE FLORIDA.  Anyways after that horrible of a game we all took a nap.  When we woke up it was time for dinner with all of the mission lab so we could meet our group for the week.  After we met them we had our staff meeting which is always funny!  I love everyone on staff here and the director is the nicest person on the face of the earth.  Krista is awesome, and I seriously can only find one fault in her.  She is a Florida fan.  After that I think we all just camp back to the dorm and watched tv before bed.
Monday- Oh the joys of starting a brand new week at camp.  Today I had a new camper named Shannon in my group.  She is autistic so I automatically love her so much.  I wish I could just take her home with me, because she is so sweet!  Me and her shall be best friends I know it. My group seriously still has a problem of staying in lines, being quiet, being positive, and not being disrespectful.  One girl named Danielle is my biggest challenge.  It takes everything in my not to smack the crap out of her when she rolls her eyes at me...now I know what my parents felt like with me back in the day.  Monday was an overall good day though.  We started talking about Moses this week, and I have finally started to figure out these kids and what they like.  Monday night I did not do a thing.  None of us did.
Tuesday- Yet again another good day at camp except my mission lab need to pick up their game a little.  I have the youth minister, and an older man in my group so you would think I wouldn't have to deal with behavior issues with them, right?  They are really nice, but when I am trying to get the group to be quiet it doesn't help when they are talking to the kids still.  I wanted to duct tape their mouths shut!  UGH!  Tuesday night some of the people went to Target I believe, and I skipped out on that trip and caught up on my SYTYCD.  LOVE IT.
Wednesday- Danielle had another bad day.  I had a talk with the group about being positive and how I didn't want to hear another negative comment out of anybody's mouth. The rest of the days the kids just said "Ms. Emily is cranky today."  I was, and I didn't care what they said as long as when I told them to do something they didn't talk back or grunt/moan like it was the worst thing EVER.  I did figure out music they finally like though.  We do the Cupid Shuffle, Cha Cha Slide, and dance offs for music time. They kept asking for Lecrae which I didn't have and Michael Jackson which I did.  They wanted Thriller and to turn off most of the lights so they could dance in the dark all scary like. They LOVED it, and I have to admit I did too.  I didn't go out tonight either.
Thursday- Another breaking point at camp.  Everything seemed to be fine.  We worked on our cheer for Friday, and it's awesome.  It was storming during our swim time so we didn't get to swim, and Shannon was a little upset to be off schedule.  I had to calm her down which was easy enough, but she doesn't do well with really loud noises and a lot of different things are happening around her.  She does for a little bit, and then she starts screaming.  This started happening when we were in the gym so me and her just played together.  Later on that afternoon though I overheard people talking about her and how weird she is, etc.  They even started laughing and making fun of her right in front of me. I was almost to the point of tears I was so very angry.  I made Shannon and Ms. Bri leave the room, and it took everything in me not to just yell at these children as loud as I could.  I quickly composed myself and had a very unwanted conversation with them.  I explained to them the struggles Shannon has, and how she is just as intelligent as the rest of them.  We talked about how she doesn't deserve the treatment they are giving her, etc.  After about a 15 minute conversation everything seems to be better for the moment anyways, and I pray it stays that way.  Today we also got a new staffer.  His name is Joel, and he is Krista's brother-in-law.  He is 19, and country.  Josh, Krista's husband who also is a youth minister and works with the camp too, is definitely not so I didn't expect Joel to be like this.  Joel wore a camouflage hat with a confederate flag on it and it said "Git R Done."  He is really nice though, but you know...country.  Yes I know I'm from Alabama.
Friday-  I love Fridays.  Thursday night I went to Walmart and got some face paint and stuff for the celebration today.  We had a pretty good day minus the fact I had to send Danielle to the office because of her attitude and talking back, etc.  Not fun.  Right before celebration we were getting ready and some of my girls went to the bathroom to check their face paint.  They came back saying Ms. Becca was in there crying so I went in there and talked to her.  She was just frustrated and had her own breaking point because she was having to do stuff all by herself and her co-counselor wouldn't step in and help.  There have been problems with this every since the beginning of camp.  After a long time with her we went out to celebration.  Everybody's cheers were very good and the Lifters won which are the group above us.  The red group won the spirit stick, and I won super counselor of the week.  Woo-hoo!  Bethany left for Scotland today, and I was very nervous about her flights, and imagining the worst but I did wake up to a text message from her saying she landed safely.  She knows me too well. Anyways it is now Saturday and I don't feel like doing anything at the moment, but I do have to laundry.  Gross. Tonight we are going to the church service at 6, and then out with mission lab again to hopefully see Pirates 4.  Anyways TTFN.

My wonderful Seth who is autistic.  Just proof that even children with autism are the same as others.

My precious Shannon

Team Blue!

Camp NOLA Kidz-Week 1

Whew!  I'm so sorry it has taken forever to blog, but let's just say I've been too exhausted to do much of anything after camp everyday.  I am totally loving the camp staff life though.  I think I was totally meant to do this, because I truly cannot get enough of it.
Monday-  Okay day 1 of camp.  Stressful.  Nervous. Excited, and did I mention nervous?  The first day was the easiest of all the days actually though.  I didn't really have to punish anybody, and my group was pretty much awesome.  The mission lab people we had were AMAZING.  We had a girl who was 15 and named Haylee Grace, and then an adult woman that was a chaperon.  Her name was Allison, and she was a teacher so I automatically liked her.  Both of them were amazing all week!  I was truly blessed to have them because they made everything much easier.  At the end of the day I was completely worn out though because I had to be there at 7:15-around 4:30 this week.  Like I said though, totally worth it.  A little boy named Seth is in my group and he is autistic, and FABULOUS.  He is the sweetest boy, and his laugh is truly contagious.  That night we went out to eat for one of my fellow staffers, and he got a free steak from this place!  It was awesome!  As soon as we got back though I crashed!
Tuesday- Okay here is where I finally I had to start disciplining...not fun, but necessary.  I had a few new kids today, and they like to talk. A LOT.  I got a kid who has the worst attitude ever because he wants to be in a group with the Lifters even though he is supposed to be in my group.  Oh well though I just let him sulk in the corner if he wanted to.  After camp today I went back home, and went to bed pretty soon.
Wednesday- Today I got some more kids and we had to instate the rule that if we have to say your name more than 3 times that is an automatic 10 minutes off swim time(which is their favorite).  This helped some, but of course there are also just a few that still like to test you.
Thursday- The day of my breaking point.  Today my co-couselor had a doctor's appointment in the afternoon and had to leave for 2 hours and part of the time she was gone we had rec time.  I had 2 kids already having to sit out 10 minutes from rec because of some disturbance they caused earlier.  15 minutes of rec consisted of free play which I have found to be a bad idea.  I turned around and see Haylee Grace having to hold two kids back from each other.  Picture this:  a super tall girl, and the littlest boy in the class yelling at each other.  Why you ask?  Because Danielle thought Mark had thrown his necklace at her which wasn't true because he was twirling it around his finger and it threw off.  So Danielle steps on his foot as hard as she could and he starts hitting her.  I sat both of them out, and said I would talk to them later.  I turn around and another one my kids runs up to me saying Maya, another girl in my group, is crying.  So I go over to Maya and she's crying because no one will play with her so I talk to her and then another girl came over to play with her.  I then turn around to go over to Mark and Danielle and another councilor from another group came up to me telling me to go talk to Skylar who had been set out because she threw a ball at another kid as hard as she could because he called her a name, and she is a big girl.  Then after I finished talking to her I hear Danielle and Mark yelling at each other and Mark is in tears. UGH!  Can I not get a break here?!  By that time it was time to go so everyone lines us and we start walking back to the Price building.  On the way back two of my kids started kicking each other in the shins. REALLY?!  So we get back and I have to have a conversation will them and pretty much 3 people out of the class ended up with deducted swim time for the next day.  Finally the day was over and I was ready to collapse.
Friday- Ah, Friday. YAY!  The beginning of the day started off rough.  One girl got sat out all of swim time because she just would not listen so just sat in the corner and cried, but I just didn't have any sympathy for her AT ALL.  Toward the end of the day things were getting better minus the fact that my kids don't know how to walk in a line so I have to bring a rope on Monday so they can be like preschoolers and have to hold it on the way to places.  On a good note we totally had the best cheer even though we were ripped off and didn't win because we won the SPIRIT STICK instead!  Woop-woop!  We get to decorate any way we want and get to keep it for a week.  That night we went and at at Joey K's...OMG AMAZING, and then Sucre! Ah!  I feel like as soon as I got home I passed out even though I have been reading Choosing to See by Mary-Beth Chapman.  SADDEST BOOK EVER...even though I did know what was coming.  I'm a little over halfway through and I feel like I never read it without crying.  It is so good though!
Saturday- I slept super late thankfully, and then we went down to Magazine street to shop.  It was really fun, but very tiring.  My feet hurt, and I'm sunburnt, but I got pretty things!  Now we are watching My Fair Lady, which is fabulous.  Oh also throughout the week I have found out my house in Tuscaloosa has fleas!  REALLY?!  I need a break.  I cannot deal with camp and stupid fleas from my roommates dogs when I'm not even there.  I am so thankful for my mom though who has been communicating with my roommate in Tuscaloosa figuring stuff out for me since she knows I'm already stressed I truly am blessed for a mom like her.

CHECK OUT SOME PICTURES!

Co-Cousilor Ms. Bri along with Mark and Tristan.

Rayvn...one of my talkers, but good kid.

Airelle, Jaylen, and TJ in the back corner sulking.

Mark

Jaylen, Maxxi, and Johnathon. Some of my best kids.

Team Blue at it's best.

What the kids did all week.  Abraham=hero of the week.

Just a funny picture of me and my roommate.  This pretty much sums up our relationship.  She thinks I'm crazy, but she loves me.  Roll Tide.