It's That Time of Year
When I married a student minister and speaker, my wedding vows included, "I promise to love you, cherish you, be faithful to you, and follow you to as many camps as I can humanly take as long as we both shall live." I think the second summer of our marriage we were only home for three weeks. This summer, our sixth married summer, will be a little less hectic. I'm thankful for that since I have no idea what I'm getting into by taking a toddler to camp. Tomorrow is the big day when we'll load everything but the kitchen sink into our car and head off to our first one of the summer. We're so excited!
Since your one and only comment moderator is going to be off in the piney woods of East Texas, presumably without Internet access, the blog is going to be a little quiet this week. My mom might post, but you won't see any of your comments until I get back into town. My parents will be at a Life Today taping at the end of the week, so Bethie might be a little out of touch too.
For our Boone girls who are eager to get their commissioning, keep an eye on the LifeWay event recap page. They should post it soon. I've provided a new link to it on the left side of the page for future reference. They have recaps for a ton of events, so if you've attended one in the last two years you might see yours listed.
Yesterday, Memorial Day, I thought a lot about my grandpa. If he had still been alive I would have written him a little email or left him a message thanking him for serving our country so bravely. Last month I took a picture of the shadow box we have that contains his medals.
If you look very closely at his picture within it, you can see the hole in his cheek where he had been shot. Part of the bullet traveled down to his heart and remained there for the rest of his life. He had that picture taken to mail to my grandma so that she would know what he was going to look like from then on. Fortunately, the doctors were later able to patch it up better so that you couldn't see the hole.

And this is a picture I forgot to post of my grandpa with that bunny I told you about in this post. One of the bunnies is a decoy and the other is the famous Thumper.

See you next week!
Labels: Amanda, blog housekeeping, family, Marriage

36 Comments:
Amanda,
I used to be a youth leader and I loved going to conferences with them. I never went to camp but I sent my two as often as they wanted to go. One thing I learned, don't ever plan on sleeping. Have a great time and I bet Jackson will enjoy camp! I loved the picture of your grandfather and Thumper. May God continue to bring comfort and peace to you and your family. See ya next week!
Love,
Patty
I hope you have a great time at camp. I will be at the taping this weekend and I am anticipating a word from the Lord. Please let your mo know that I will be praying for her as she prepares.
We will miss you this next week Amanda and I know all your "sista's" will be placing a prayer covering over you, your hubby and sweet little Jackson!! The adventures you are in for this summer with that little guy.....oh endless fun!!!!!
I have three wonderful boys (15, 13 & 9) and everyday is STILL an adventure!!! Treasure every moment and every memory record in your heart and on paper.....I miss those days when the boys were small, but it is a blessing to re-live them again and again!!
Thanks for allowing me to share in your family memories with Jackson.......it takes me back.....and I just smile:)!!!
Love to you,
Angela
Have a blast out there in East Texas Amanda! Enjoy the quietness of no internet :)
Amanda,
I will try not to go into withdrawal from not being able to read the postings from my sistas this week, but I'm praying you have an awesome time at Camp. Even if you do get a chance to connect to the Internet, please don't worry about "work" for this week. Enjoy every single moment of Jackson's first camping experience! I can't wait to hear about your new memories and see the photos after you get back. I always loved Camp, and how wonderful that Jackson will get to grow up making such fun and wonderful memories!
And thanks for sharing the photos of your Daddaw. Such an awesome man, and what a legacy he leaves! Our country is indebted to him.I loved the one of him & the beloved Thumper!
I'll be remembering you & Curtis and Jackson in prayer this week, and also your parents. You all are so precious to me!
Happy packing!
Linda
May the Lord protect you and your precious family and bless each one of you as you bless the campers w/ your service to the Kingdom.
Annette
thanks for the pictures and Do Relax and Enjoy the technologically-deprived time with your family, your friends and your Lord! How happy we'll be when you return!!!! You know what they say about absence and the heart!!!
maybe your sweet sister who you flatter no-end would jump in to save some of us gals who will be thirsty in this desert!!!!!We'll miss you so!
Oh, I hope all three of you have fun at camp. Summer camp was the highlight of my childhood! So I have a soft spot in my heart for camp.
Awesome photos of your grandfather. Grandpas are just so so special.
We'll miss your updates, and your mama's, too! I loooove watching your mother on Life Today!
Have a wonderful weekend, ladies and internet sistas!
:)
~Kitty
Have fun at camp. I had a rabbit named thumper and it froze to death. I have never been one for pets. I had a rooster that imprisoned me in my yard for years. I was so scared of that thing. It would spur me in the back. Its amazing how afraid we can get of things smaller than us. I could do a whole lesson on that.
All I can say is that I'll miss you both. Every time you post, it's like getting a letter in the mailbox from a penpal. Your whole family is such an "asher" blessing. Have a great time at camp. I'll be praying.
I am going to be a leader at our high school camp in a few weeks...of what FUN!! Have a great time, and you, Curt, Jackson, and all the campers/staff are in my prayers.. be sure to take mosquito repellant..just talked to my g-ma in East TX and she said the skeeters are a-bitin'
Love, jackie
Amanda,
I know you will have an exciting time at camp this summer. It is just a good thing to be serving God. I was waiting for the picture of your grandfather with the rabbit. I have a pet rabbit so they are dear to my heart. My rabbit is white like the decoy. You guys are always in our prayers. Tell your mom thanks for a wonderful time in Boone. It was just what I needed.
Sherrie
Amanda,
Praying you will have a good week. Loved the picture you shared of your grandpa. see you next week.
hugs and blessings.
I love camp! Just last week I was filling out registrations for three of my kids. I wish I was going.
Blessings.
Dear Ladies,
I cannot go into any details, only ask that you lift up my family to God this week. We are going thru some deep waters. I know God is faithful and that nothing will touch us that HE has not allowed. I do need your prayer coverage. Thank you in advance for your faithfulness to pray.
May God bless you for your love and concern for others.
In need of your prayers
Love the photos and story behind your grandfather (how much I see the resemblance from the early photo to the later years). Have a great time at camp.
Blessings,
~toni~
My kids have grown up being at Daddy's weeks of camp. My oldest went at two weeks old! And now one of their favorite places on earth is church camp. What great memories and adventures you're giving Jackson!
Have fun sweet friend. We love you! I'll be praying for you as you are at a camp with a toddler. I bet you'll have LOTS of help, though with all the teenage girls there. I LOVED the little ones when I'd go to camp as a teenager.
love you sista,
Kristi
Have fun at camp! I can't imagine being at camp with a toddler. Hope that goes well. Sweet story about your grandpa.
Many blessings.
Amanda,
We'll miss you. Have a fun, safe time. An adventure! Jackson will get so much love and attention from all those kids. We'll want stories and pictures when you get back.
And thanks for that link to the recap page.
Amanda, I miss you all already! have a wonderful time at Camp, what a thrill this is going to be for Jackson!! and the pictures of your granpa truly moved me. how I loved his smile in the uniformed picture. That's a trait I see fully planted in both your mom and yourself.
Have a great week everyone!
maria cristina :)
It figures that you're coming to my neck of the woods and I'm leaving to go down closer to your mom! We're headed on vacation down to Galveston or I'd invite you come camp at my house if you get tired of church camp ;-)
Have a blast and yes, you will have TONS of help from all the girls who will go crazy over Jackson!
I find it amusing how much I look forward to your blogs and Beth's. It is part of my day to log on and see what's new. to have the blog silent for awhile is just too much for me. I NEED TO GET A LIFE OF MY OWN!!! (Ha, Ha)
God bless you all!
Amanda,
I think we all will have withdrawals from not being in touch. I so enjoy getting on here every day and reading all of the comments.
I pray that you all have a great week at camp. Jackson will have a blast. We can't wait for the stories and pictures.
Thanks for sharing about your Daddaw. What a brave man!
I also want "annonymous" to know that as I read the comment I prayed for what she is going through and the fact that we can lift her up in prayer, not knowing her, but knowing we serve a God who knows her name and cares deeply.
You're right...He is faithful and He can move mountains for us.
Thanks again Amanda. We'll miss you!
Blessings on you and your sweet family this week. Praying with Ps. 121 guard and keep you.
The shadow box turned out beautifully. What a great way to honor Mr. Green. I know it will bring you comfort and joy, as you already knew he was a hero.
I'm going to be working at a camp all summer. I'm trying to be excited about it!!! Woo hoo!
Amanda,
I too am a wife of a student pastor. This is our first summer where our family includes an 8 month old! We head off for camp in a few weeks but I am not brave enough yet to try it with a baby! Our little Emma Kate will stay with her Nana part of the time and MiMi the other half.
I think it is SO IMPORTANT for the wives of student pastors to be involved because let's just admit it...they don't get girls the way we get girls!! I also think it is important for them to see you as a family, see your husband as a father/husband. It has become harder with children BUT God has proven Himself faithful with babysitters and or laid back attitudes on the part of the baby!
I am praying that you have an "easy" time with Jackson at camp and a renewed sense of passion / conformation with the ministry you have with your husband.
Fighting in the trenches with you,
Lori
I know this won't be published until next week...but I can hardly contain my enthusiasm! I had to give a shout out and let my sistas know that the updated version of "A Woman's Heart Gods Dwelling Place" is scheduled to come out June 1st. I have been calling Lifeway to see if they possibly got it earlier...they told me no. I will keep wearing them out until it hits the shelf! Beth will have an updated workbook, dvd's, and our favorite...(drum roll please) her hair will be updated! Can I get an Amen!
Also, "Breaking Free Day by Day" is coming!
I have to share something funny. I saw that the paperback was on sale at Lifeway and I went to get it. When I got there I was (in my head) talking things over with myself. I already broke free via workbook 4 times, I have Breaking free on tape, and I have the hardback. Why in the world did I need it in paperback to??? My counselors at Lifeway said I probably needed it in paperback so I could carry it in my purse! I said NO and broke free of buying "Breaking Free"!
I literally thought I was going to freak out because I have done all of the studies and I am finishing Daniel again and I was wondering what in the world I was going to do next...then the Holy Spirit reminded me: "A Woman's Heart God's Dwelling Place"! Praise Him!
And for those of you reading this thinking I am crazy...don't worry: I AM!
I just found this blog today! It is so interesting. I can't wait to read more.
Cheri
AHF Ministries
Canada
Amanda, may your sweet spirit be an encouragement to the young people around you. I am praying that the Lord will use your family as witness to the youth and may you be a wonderful example of Christ to them -- rain or shine - Bugs or not - good hair day or frizzies! We can't wait to see pics of you all roughing it!
A dear friend and I are sitting here having one of our last visits of the season. We are both seasoned camp staff ("well marinated" she joked) and so our time together in the summer is basically non-existent.
I just happened to open this post, and now we are having a great giggle. We love your vows! And three weeks off? You were still on VACATION girl!
Seriously though, as ones who understand, may you and your family be blessed as you are an integral part of the Lord's work this summer. Heaven alone will show you the difference you have made in years past, and will make this summer and in the years to come.
Amanda,
Thank you for this post to remind us all of Memorial Day. I always remember to thank verteran's on this day as well as Veteran's Day. My son-in-law thought I was crazy because he didn't go to the Gulf War. They kept him here because his specialy was needed here. He didn't think he deserved to be thanked. That is so wrong . All of our men and women in uniform deserve more thanks than we can ever express. Thank you Jesus for these souls that dedicate their lives to our freedom.
Jeani
Amanda,
I just arrived home on Friday from chaperoning our church youth camp along with my pastor husband and youth leaders. WOW, are we tired!! I took my 9 year old and 3 year old with us. The main difficulty with a toddler was I did not take her to any of the small group Bible Studies because I did not want her to be a distraction. She did go to corporate worship with us. When she got ansy I just had her watch her personal DVD player(those things are the best things ever invented) and she stayed quiet. The teenagers had a great time and so did she.
I am praying that God will reveal himself in a mighty way at your camp!
Love,
Donna
Amanda!
Girl, I just got back from camp, and it was awesome! My husband and I are called to camp ministry. We have an absoulute passion for it, but the Lord is still preparing us. In the mean time, we go with our kids to KIDS Camp! It is amazing. We started going 2 years ago, our daughter was 6 months old. Last summer I was 28 weeks pregnant (no AC or indoor bathrooms in the intense heat of GA!) and our daughter was 18 months. We just returned from our 3rd Kids Camp with Kimsey 2 1/2 yrs and Joshua 10 months old. I tell you our kids were born for camp, too. But beware, there is something about camp that seems to grow our kids up leaps and bounds in just one week. Every year our jaws hit the floor as our baby says, "See ya, Mom!" and goes running off with older kids! If I wasn't so shocked and speechless, I just might grab ahold of her and remind her that she is my baby and she should live forever in my arms! But, camp is the BEST! I sometimes feel like a goldfish out of water until I can get to camp and breathe camp air. Nothing beats it!! Have a blast, and hang onto that boy!
Holly, Georgia
Amanda, I'm a youth volunteer at my church and we're going campoing for a 4 days, I can't wait. . . I've never been so I hope I survive. . .Please tell us all about it and post some pix. And next time give us more warning please it was so quiet here :)
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