Sterling...

This little guy right here is the strongest kid I know...


In fact, I would say one of the strongest people I know...not just kids! I wrote about Sterling last year here, here, and here but my precious 5 year old little buddy is now in the process of recovering from two more brain surgeries that were done on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Roger and Becca have again amazed me with their faith, courage, hope, and strength throughout the past few days. Their love for the Lord and trust in Him is an incredible testimony to me and I thank the Lord for blessing me and Graham with their friendship. The way they love their son is beautiful.

Please join Graham and I in praying for this incredible family. The picture below is what Roger and Becca put together for people to know how to best pray for Sterling and his surgery/recovery. All prayers are appreciated!

Update...finally...

I really did have great intentions of blogging every week this summer - doing a recap of all that had happened so that my family could keep up with us from back home. Clearly, this did not happen! This summer has been absolutely incredible, but definitely busy and filled with some pretty important life decisions for Graham and myself. More on that later...

Blue Team 2010...BT10...Blue Magic...whatever you would like to call them...I could not have asked for a better group of people to spend the past 2 1/2 months with. I am so thankful for all of the HARD work they have done to make each of the 11 events we have had a success. We have traveled all over the country...when we counted it up I think we have been in 16 states in 10 weeks (AL, TN, GA, FL, MO, AR, OK, IN, IL, OH, NJ, WV, NY, PA, MD, VA)...whew! We have made some incredible memories...some funny, some sad...but all of which will last a lifetime.

We were all incredibly BLESSED to get to know one of my new very best friends...Maureen Owino. If you have read any of my earlier posts you have heard about Maureen. Words cannot express how amazing this lady is. There were many tears shed on Tuesday when Maureen had to leave, but we are excited for her to return to Kenya to minister to, love on, and care for the people of Kenya who have her heart. This gorgeous face will most definitely be missed...

Below are some more pictures and memories from the summer - these are the faces of some of the people who have made a lasting impact on my life!

We also spent the night in NYC this past weekend...which was SO much fun! Our great friends Brad and Brittany, and Jeff and Jourdan were in NYC at the same time so we were able to spend time with them...which we always love! We watched the movie, "Friends with Benefits" being filmed in Grand Central Station with Justin Timberlake and Mila Kunis (from Modern Family) which was pretty cool to see! I have not uploaded my pictures from NYC yet, but here a couple from Brad's phone...

[Excuse this last picture...we had been driving for 10 hours that day... :)]

Today is our last full day of camp...ever. Yes, I said ever! That will deserve a whole other blog post, but for now I will just leave you with that.

We will be headed to TN tomorrow, then to AL on Sunday...it is always a bittersweet time when you get home and have to say goodbye, but I know that many of the friendships I have made this summer will last past August 8...and for that I am thankful!

Comfort...

I will update in more detail how the summer is going, just wanted to share this Psalm with you for now. This has provided so much comfort to me over the past month...

O Lord, you have searched me and
known me!
You know when I sit down and when I
rise up;
you discern my thoughts from afar.
You search out my path and my lying
down
and are acquainted with all my ways.
Even before a word is on my tongue,
behold, O Lord, you know it
altogether.
You hem me in, behind and before,
and lay your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful
for me;
it is high; I cannot attain it.

Where shall I go from your Spirit?
Or where shall I flee from your
presence?
If I ascend to heaven, you are there!
If I make my bed in Sheol, you are
there!
If I take the wings of the morning
and dwell in the uttermost parts of the
sea,
even there your hand shall lead me,
and your right hand shall hold me.
If I say, "Surely the darkness shall
cove me,
and the light about me be night,"
even the darkness is not dark to you;
the night is bright as the day,
for darkness is as light with you.

For you formed my inward parts;
you knitted me together in my
mother's womb.
I praise you, for I am fearfully and
wonderfully made.
Wonderful are you works;
my soul knows it very well.
My frame was not hidden from you,
when I was being made in secret,
intricately woven in the depths of the
earth.
Your eyes saw my unformed substance;
in your book were written, every one of
them,
the days that were formed for me,
when as yet there were none of them.

How precious to me are your thoughts,
O God!
How vast is the sum of them!
If I would count them, they are more
than the sand.
I awake, and I am still with you.

Oh that you would slay the wicked,
O God!
O men of blood, depart from me!
They speak against you with malicious
intent;
your enemies take your name in vain!

Do I not hate those who hate you,
O Lord?
And do I not loathe those who rise up
against you?
I hate them with complete hatred;
I count them my enemies!

Search me, O God, and know my heart!
Try me and know my thoughts!
And see if there be any grievous way
in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting!

-Psalm 139

BT10...

Here they are...meet my family for the summer! These people are seriously some of the most amazing people I've ever met - it is a blessing to serve with them!

We unfortunately do not have a whole team picture with us, but we do have department pictures, so here we go...

Our fearless leader...my amazing husband...our Event Director. I am beyond thankful for the opportunity to serve alongside my husband in such an incredible job. Very few people realize all of the work that he does to make camp happen - I am so thankful for his humble leadership. He is the BEST!

Graham Hill

Our wisest teammate...my birthday twin...our Compassion International Representative. Like I said in my last post, Maureen is truly one of the wisest, most amazing woman of God that I have ever met. She has an incredibly beautiful story of how God used Compassion to change her life and turn her to Jesus Christ. The poverty-stricken conditions that Maureen grew up in are worse than most Americans can even begin to imagine. Yet when asked what she thinks of poverty, Maureen's answer is, "I thank God for poverty. Without it I would not know Jesus the way that I do."

Maureen Owino

Our behind the scenes yet making camp happen Office Staff. This group of people is who I have the joy of serving alongside every day in the office. Their dedication in their jobs is such a blessing to me! These people work so hard to make the logistics of camp happen and I am beyond thankful for each of them!

Austin Farmer, Alicia Bailey, Me, Alicia Corona, Jamie Riddle, Mary Margaret Collingsworth

The most awesome group of techies I have every worked with...our Production Staff. These guys allow God to use the incredible talents that He has blessed them with to lead the students in worship each week. From lighting, to sound, to video, to acting, these guys are the ones behind the scenes in the worship center day in and day out making sure that all technical aspects of worship come together. I am so thankful for the servant hearts in each of them and the many ways that they help us out in the office each day. They are a blessing!

David Morgan, Nick Murray, Jeremy Hunt, Michael Short, Ben Knaus
Ben Baker, Erica Smith, Shara Lewis

Our workhorses on the team...those who spend hours outside each day...our Recreation Staff. These guys work so incredibly hard each day. Though most of their time is spend ministering to students on the rec fields, these guys also end up with so many of the responsibilities requiring them to be outside and work so hard. Each of them have such a great attitude through it all, though, which is appreciated more than they will ever know!

Stephen Wright, Lindsay Judy, Madison Terry, Marissa Brokaw, Clay Butler

Our redheaded stepchildren on the team...just kidding guys...our Missions Team. These guys are awesome! We kid them about being the stepchildren because they are not with us all summer, but that could not be further from the truth! They will spend 6 camp weeks with us this summer and any time they are away from us they are GREATLY missed! They spend their days traveling to mission sites and ministering to students who are out serving in the local communities. They, too, work so hard and I miss them so much! We are ready for them to return to THEIR team!

Sean Gallagher, Joey Farrington, Caroline Sweatt, Meredith Day, Shea Lentini

So that's my team! They truly are so wonderful! When I say that Graham and I are blessed to lead these people throughout the summer...I mean it. I could not ask for a better job!

Here we go...

Summer has begun, which means that three weeks ago Graham and I packed up our bags and headed out on the road for three months! We have been and will continue to be traveling all over the country this summer - from Tennessee to Missouri to Pennsylvania - we will be making our rounds! Our schedule for the summer, along with the personalities for each week, is:

Lee University
Cleveland, TN
Speaker - Adam Robinson
Worship Leader - Aaron Ivey

Windermere Conference Center
Roach, MO
Speaker - Afshin Ziafat
Worship Leader - Unhindered

Windermere Conference Center
Roach, MO
Speaker - Adam Robinson
Worship Leader - Jeff Johnson

Gatlinburg Convention Center
Gatlinburg, TN
Speaker - Louie Giglio
Worship Leader - Kristian Stanfill, Matt Redman

Lee University
Cleveland, TN
Speaker - Wade Morris
Worship Leader - Aaron Keyes

Lee University
Cleveland, TN
Speaker - Jeremy Kingsley
Worship Leader - Matt Papa

Lee University
Cleveland, TN
Speaker - JR Vassar
Worship Leader - Brett Younker

Ocean Center
Daytona Beach, FL
Speaker - Louie Giglio
Worship Leader - Chris Tomlin, Matt Redman

Oklahoma Baptist University
Shawnee, OK
Speaker - Wes Hamilton
Worship Leader - Aaron Ivey

Branson Convention Center
Branson, MO
Speaker - David Nasser
Worship Leader - Chris Tomlin, Matt Redman

Tuscarora Convention Center
Mt. Bethel, PA
Speaker - JR Vassar
Worship Leader - Aaron Ivey

This job is such a blessing. Getting to watch thousands and thousands of teenagers worship week in and week out brings so much joy to my heart. I seriously cannot describe it.

We are currently in Roach, MO at the Windermere Conference Center. Luckily the sun has decided to come out and hopefully dry up the rain for a little while! It has been an amazing week with many students coming to know Christ as Lord of their life. Praise God for His ways!

Last night was our Compassion night of worship. Maureen, the LDP on our team this summer, is an incredibly inspiring woman of God who has a beautiful story of how God saved her through Compassion. I will write more about Maureen later...she deserves a post all to herself :)

That is all I have time for now...Celebration (our morning worship service) starts soon so I need to head that way...

Thank you for your prayers!

Mothers...

This Mother's Day was much different than any other in years past for my family. Saturday afternoon, the day before Mother's Day, my Meme (my dad's mother) passed away. Though she had been sick for a long time and was suffering greatly, it is always hard to see a loved one leave this earth. We rejoice, though, because we know that she is healed. She is in the presence of the Lord...the exact place that Christ-followers long to be. Please keep my sweet grandfather in your prayers. For many, many years he served my Meme as she was unable to do so due to illness. I know that there are lonely days ahead for him and that breaks my heart. He is an amazing man, and such an example to Graham and I of what it looks like to truly serve, respect, and honor your spouse...in all times.


Mothers play such an important role in a family. With the passing of my Meme this weekend, and my other precious Grandmother last year, I have learned so much about the impact that a Mom has on a family. I am thankful for both of my Grandmothers and what God taught me through their lives about being a mom.


Each of the beautiful ladies below are also incredible examples to me of what it looks like to be a loving, caring, gracious, servant-hearted, and selfless woman - especially pertaining to motherhood. This Mother's Day I had lots of time to think about how special each of these ladies are to me and all that they do for Graham, myself, and our families. I love each of you very much!

Los Angeles...

Last weekend, Graham and I were able to do something that I have wanted to do for the past year...visit one of my very best friends, Briana, and her husband, Brandon, who recently moved to the LA area. It was one of the best weekends I have ever had!

Though Graham has been to LA several times, this was my first...and I LOVED it! It is absolutely gorgeous. Mountains and the beach...all in one. You can't get much better than that!

We arrived Thursday night and went to dinner at a place right on the shore...I don't remember the name, nor do I have pictures (Briana...will you send me those when you get a chance?!), but it was FABULOUS!!! There were huge rocks right outside of our window, the the ocean was on the other side of the rocks. I just stared out the window and watched the waves crash on the rocks...it was beautiful! A GREAT way to start the weekend!

Friday morning we headed to Hermosa Beach for brunch and a walk along the beach. I could live there. Easily. Here a couple of pictures from that morning...

This sidewalk runs for 26 miles along the beach...the houses along it are beautiful!

This is appropriate for me and Briana :)

We then headed to the Americana mall, which was just as gorgeous as everything else I had seen so far. The best part about it, though, is the Tiffany's store. Now granted, any Tiffany store is going to be amazing. But...this one is especially special....you get to try on EVERYTHING in the store. Incredible! We walked in and Briana started opening up these drawers and saying I could try everything on. I didn't believe her at first...but I quickly caught on and a good half hour later I had tried on everything in the store. I love jewelry, so that was a dream for me!! We also visited Downtown Disney that afternoon which was lots of fun as well! We tried to get in the park for a little while, but after realizing it would be $90 a ticket...we opted out. Sorry Graham...I'll introduce you to Mickey soon! That night we hung out at Brandon and Briana's apartment...and I loved every minute of it. I have missed my friend so much so it was great to catch up and spend quality time with each other.

Saturday morning we woke up and headed towards Hollywood. It was much different than I was expecting, but so much fun to be there! I had no idea that people dressed up as movie characters and stood along the street...I was a little confused at first :) Here are some pictures from our time there...

I couldn't help it. He's one of my favorites...

Notice the people dressed up...Tinkerbell had fairy-dust that she was sprinkling everywhere with her wand. Strange.

I made Graham take this :)

After Hollywood, we went to Beverly Hills and spent a long time on Rodeo Drive. There is no way to even describe this place that would give you an adequate idea of what it is like. If you haven't been, go. It is worth it just for the experience! A few of my favorites...

There was a movie being filed on Rodeo Drive while we were there.

A small home in Bel Air.

We had such a great time and are so thankful to Brandon and Briana for being such great friends, first of all, but also hosting us for the weekend. We look forward to coming back...hopefully sooner rather than later :)