Celebrating Kelsey Hope!

Then & Now

My sweet Kelsey Hope.

My sweet girl this is your 18th birthday. You are so special to me and dad. You have always brought joy to our lives through your smile. Look at that smile!!! You have always loved your birthday so, so much and truth be told so have I! You make Birthdays fun!

You amaze me with your capacity to love little kids the way you do. Your heart is made for loving. I know that very well. You have a tenderness within you that many people do not have. TREASURE THAT! Protect that as well. Be wise with whom you give your heart. Wait for your prince. Don't settle for any less. Never settle for anyone who does not provide for you and love you like your Dad does. 

You are precious Kelsey Hope and even though we can't really cuddle like we used to anymore cuz that would just be weird. I can still wrap my arms around you and hug you like I never want to let go.

But 18 is upon us and so is the letting go part. I don't like it at all. You are our last baby to grow and go and I want you to know I am proud of you.

Proud of the good decisions that you have made. I am even proud of you for the bad decisions because you learned from them and they have made you the woman of God that you are today.

Always remember that  Mistakes are part of our journey. Lord knows I have made a few. But God allows it and also uses it for our ultimate good. Romans 8:28 says it best: And we all know that in ALL things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

YOU HAVE CERTAINLY BEEN CALLED TO HIS PURPOSE so we know he works all things for good in you!! 

You are dear to our hearts Kelsey Hope and I treasure you. You are beautiful, smart, tender, loving, Kind, helpful, athletic, fun and precious to your dad and I. 

Happy Birthday my beautiful girl. Live in the fullness of His grace and everyday will be a happy one!!!

Jeremiah 29:11-14 says, For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you HOPE and a future.  Then you will call on me and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all of your heart I will be found by you!

Seek him always and you will be blessed. We love you with our whole hearts Kels.

HAPPY  18th  BIRTHDAY! 

Love,

Mom and Dad

BOOT CAMP 2012

Boot Camp was the theme of our state women's retreat this last weekend.
Our retreat is one of my favorite things to do all year.
For many reasons.
 Some people I know think I am enjoying camp as if I were in Jr. High and that would be correct.
I admit it, I enjoy time away from home with friends. I enjoy silly talks and serious time with God. I enjoy hanging twinkle lights over our cabin area and If that means I am Jr. Highish then SO BE IT!
There is something about camp that opens my senses to everything.
Yes, I like to have a good time. It is God's way of pushing my REFRESH button.
Being with people, energizes me. I learn from the older ladies and the younger ladies as well.
 I see greatness in all of them and it teaches me there is greatness with in me as well.
In the silly talks we learn that we are all the same. We crave the same things just in different ways.
So many times women are in competition with each other.
Or trying to pretend like everything is ok.
Camp is like a  therapist couch. Comfy, and safe and neutral. A place to allow you to be you and to let someone else to speak into your life and allow God to do something new.
I love camp for all of these reasons.


Getting there is half the fun!
I often wonder why we go to this retreat each year. As we have to bring everything but the kitchen sink with us.
Sheets
Towels
Bedding
Food
Everything a good hotel would have. But we stay in a cabin.
WHY? Because there is something very intimate about cabins. Something very special about them.

The campy camaraderie  that takes place even with those you don't know. Serious talks in the dark and silly activities as well! People falling off air mattresses in the middle of the night and over 40 year olds trying to climb onto bunk beds. It's all part of the experience.
Yes, you do see a Kuerig in the picture. I have said many times over that I do not have a problem with caffeine I have a problem without it! Turns out I am not the only one. I played the part of Barista this weekend with Hot Cocoa and Coffee, as the temps hovered somewhere near 40 degrees.

It became more important to have coffee than cute boots. All though there were plenty of those as well.




In my last blog post I wrote about making things special for others and receiving that back. That is why I go. That is why I choose these women to go with. They get this concept. Right down to decorating our cabins inside and out.
I am refreshed because God has refreshed me through his Spirit in the services and through his Daughter's outside of the services.
We are all alike. Even with our differences.




Thank you Ladies for a wonderful refreshing weekend.