Your Love

I've been focusing a lot recently on God's love.  It is just amazing to me, and I kind of enjoy just meditating and thinking about it.  There is one song that I keep listening to over and over again because it blows me away to think about.  It's called You Love Me Anyway by the Sidewalk Prophets.  I shall share it with you! :)

The question was raised
As my conscience fell
A silly, little lie
It didn’t mean much
But it lingers still
In the corners of my mind
Still you call me to walk
On the edge of this world
To spread my dreams and fly
But the future’s so far
My heart is so frail
I think I’d rather stay inside
But You love me anyway
It’s like nothing in life that I’ve ever known
Yes You love me anyway
Oh Lord, how You love me
How You love me
It took more than my strength
To simply be still
To seek but never find
All the reasons we change
The reasons I doubt
And why do loved ones have to die?
But You love me anyway
It’s like nothing in life that I’ve ever known
Yes You love me anyway
Oh Lord, how You love me
I am the thorn in Your crown
But You love me anyway
I am the sweat from Your brow
But You love me anyway
I am the nail in Your wrist
But You love me anyway
I am Judas’ kiss
But You love me anyway
See now, I am the man who yelled out from the crowd
For Your blood to be spilled on this earth shaking 
ground
Yes then, I turned away with a smile on my face
With this sin in my heart tried to bury Your grace
And then alone in the night, I still called out for You
So ashamed of my life, my life, my life
But You love me anyway
Oh, God… how you love me
You love me anyway
It’s like nothing in life that I’ve ever known
You love me anyway
Oh Lord, how You love me
You love me, You love me
You love me, You love me
How You love me
How You love me
How You love me

Battle of the Barges

Sunday-  We didn’t go see Transformers last night, but that’s okay with me!  Jess and I went over to Krista’s to watch The Office...I’m still obsessed.  Sunday morning we got up and went to church, which was fabulous as always.  We did like serious prayer time which was wonderful, and I’ve pretty much decided after a lot of prayer that I am going to go to seminary.  I want to say definitely, but then I get nervous so I’m still praying, but I really feel that is where the Lord wants me so we shall see!  After church we all went out and ate at Superior Grill, which is mexican food!  YUMMY!  It was amazing!  Then I came back to the dorm, and went back to sleep till around 5:30.  Then I got up and went to the store to get supplies for cooking tonight.  I made chicken with white sauce because my family sent me some!  Everybody loved it...because it’s awesome.  We also watched The Office then. 

Monday-  We woke up early-ish and got ready for the day.  We then went down to the French Quarter to spend all day down there so we could get a good spot for the fireworks over the river later that night.  We went and ate at Bubba Gump for lunch, and I was totally in love.  It was a splurge to eat there, but worth it.  I loved the atmosphere, because I love that movie, but the food was really good too.  Hushpuppies=AMAZING.  After that we just walked around, took many breaks with water, and took pictures (Check out my facebook for all of the pictures Becca took).  After a lot of walking, we went and got a spot for the fireworks around 7:30.  They started at 9:00ish and it was called battle of the barges.  It was really awesome, and I absolutely loved it.  My camera died after I took 2 pictures of the fireworks though.  Sadness.  After the show we came back and went to bed immediately because we were so tired, minus Becca who had to edit and upload pictures.  

Tuesday-  Camp started back today, and we didn’t have any MissionLab.  I was kind of thankful, but today was definitely not the kids’ best day by far.  They didn’t get to swim today because lightning had struck the pump for the pool over the weekend and the pool was gross.  They were not happy about that.  Also the air conditioning was out in the gym, again.  Not cool.  Today was an okay day though.  My group had to scrub the walls though because they decided to write on them with markers.  Remember I have 10 and 11 year olds.  I wanted to scream, and yell so much at them.  I held it back though and just made them scrub everything from the walls to the floor.  After camp we went over to watch The Office at Krista and Josh’s, and Bethany called me!  I was so happy to get to talk to her because It had been a week and a half since I had heard anything from her, which may not sound too long but it was nice to talk to her for a little bit.  She stayed up till 2:45 her time though just to talk so I felt really bad, but I know that she knows that I would have done the same for her.  Then I went back inside and watched some more office, talked about tattoos, and now I am about to pass out because I am SOOOOOO tired!!!!  Peace.

RIP Crimson Cafe

So it's been awhile, eh?  Yes, I decided to sound like a Canadian then because I miss watching How I Met Your Mother so much!  Why does that show have to be so funny?!  Anyways, first off it has been officially 2 months since the tornado in Tuscaloosa which is really crazy to think about.  Sometimes I forget all about stuff back in Ttown since I've been in NOLA the entire time.  Apparently Crimson Cafe went out of business which makes me oh so very sad!  They took dining dollars, and the pizza there was AMAZING.  I think somebody else should just buy it so we can still have it.  Weeks keep going by faster and faster here.  I am definitely not excited about the rate that camp is going by.  I love camp, and I am going to cry like the biggest baby ever when it is over and I have to leave all of the kids, the city, and all of the people I have met.   It is all downhill from here since this was the 5th week of camp.  I really need to start blogging after each day of camp so that is my new goal so I can remember details about the week.  I don't remember much about this week besides the fact that I still want to punch some kids in the face, but instead I just play dodgeball against them.  My MissionLab group this week was one of the best so far!  The first week was awesome, and they were from Alabama.  This week was just a little bitty tiny bit below them in the awesomeness level and they were from Nashville.  It's a sign I'm sure.  One of my missionlab just graduated college and totally looked like Will Franklin Chapman.  I wanted to marry him...just kidding...kind of.  Friday was Monster's (one of my kids) birthday celebration day since his birthday was Saturday.  We had cupcakes, and made him a card and stuff.  This was the first week since camp started that my group hasn't won anything.  It's okay though because all of the people who won totally deserved it!  Last night we went to eat at Corky's which was really good, but still no Big Bob Gibson's.  I miss my white sauce, but I totally got a package from my fam with 4 bottles of white sauce in it!! HELLO!  Totally made my day.  I am cooking for everybody Sunday night.  Today I went to the mall, and got like 6 inches cut off my hair.  It be short, and will take some getting used to.  I am glad I did it though because long hair was not working for me this summer, and it's only getting hotter here.  It felt like 106 degrees the other day according to the weather channel.  That be crazy, y'all.  Anyways I must go, and like sleep and stuff because I am way too tired.  I shall blog again Monday since we don't have camp that day because of the 4th.  :)

Monster with our spirit stick.

Krista, our director who is totally fabulous.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MONSTER.

Alfred...cutest kid ever.

Lawrence and Skyler.  These are in my group, and they are awesome.

NEW HAIR.

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...