take a breath of fresh air
aaaaah, it feels so glorious. I love the feeling of just being at peace. Oh my.
So, I've discovered why throughout the school year I feel so much depression and just so down in my luck and downright tired. I'm so wrapped up in schedules and work and planning things months in advance and everything revolves around me. The things that made me so at peace in Mexico were the things that made me so at peace this last week at Harlow. Peacefulness, the quiet love of God, and my days revolving around the servitude of others. My days were full of prayers, encouragement, and putting 7 year olds priorities above my own. It was glorious and so. . .amazing. A huge breath of fresh air and realizing. . .ok God, I really am doing alright. I just get so down on myself. Sometimes it takes being in a place where I don't have to think about myself so much to realize everything is alright between me and God. Instead of prodding at people to tell me whether I seem like I'm letting God live in me, it's nice to feel sincere joy towards a person when they tell you in their own free will that they are inspired by you or something along that lines. God is very good. All the time.
I was looking forward to Harlow all summer, anticipating it so much, and when it finally came, I didn't feel ready. I felt like my heart was not in the right place with things that had been going on in my family and it really just didn't seem like I should have been leaving. I almost wanted to cop out and just not show up at training and hope they would tell me to not bother coming. But God's plans were bigger and better and I went and immediately felt like I was prepared. How could I have doubted my God. I can do ALL things through Him who gives me strength.
My first overnight camp. What a wonderful first experience. I had 8 adorable girls. six 7 year-olds, one 8-year-old, and one 9-year-old. They were the most adorable girls. A few got homesick, but it wasn't as bad as some cabins had it. I honestly did not want them to leave. I had the best last night with one of my campers Amber. She was in her bunk after lights out and started to move around, so I told her to lie down. In the dark I heard this sweet little voice say "Polka Dot, I can't sleep." So, I crawled up to the top bunk and laid down next to her. She asked me to tell her a story, so I made one up about a sea princess named Amber and she really liked it and asked for another, so I told her about the rainbow fish story. (maybe a lot of you don't remember that story, but it's about sharing and it's cute). She played with my hair the whole time and was a wonderful listener. I would have paid all the money I had in the world for that moment again. I prayed and thanked God for allowing me to experience such a wonderful moment. I had a few other moments like that where I wish time could have just stood still for awhile. All in all, I had a good first week and God was very evident.
Oh, PS, I led one of our cabin times and it was amazing. I LOVED it.
So, I've discovered why throughout the school year I feel so much depression and just so down in my luck and downright tired. I'm so wrapped up in schedules and work and planning things months in advance and everything revolves around me. The things that made me so at peace in Mexico were the things that made me so at peace this last week at Harlow. Peacefulness, the quiet love of God, and my days revolving around the servitude of others. My days were full of prayers, encouragement, and putting 7 year olds priorities above my own. It was glorious and so. . .amazing. A huge breath of fresh air and realizing. . .ok God, I really am doing alright. I just get so down on myself. Sometimes it takes being in a place where I don't have to think about myself so much to realize everything is alright between me and God. Instead of prodding at people to tell me whether I seem like I'm letting God live in me, it's nice to feel sincere joy towards a person when they tell you in their own free will that they are inspired by you or something along that lines. God is very good. All the time.
I was looking forward to Harlow all summer, anticipating it so much, and when it finally came, I didn't feel ready. I felt like my heart was not in the right place with things that had been going on in my family and it really just didn't seem like I should have been leaving. I almost wanted to cop out and just not show up at training and hope they would tell me to not bother coming. But God's plans were bigger and better and I went and immediately felt like I was prepared. How could I have doubted my God. I can do ALL things through Him who gives me strength.
My first overnight camp. What a wonderful first experience. I had 8 adorable girls. six 7 year-olds, one 8-year-old, and one 9-year-old. They were the most adorable girls. A few got homesick, but it wasn't as bad as some cabins had it. I honestly did not want them to leave. I had the best last night with one of my campers Amber. She was in her bunk after lights out and started to move around, so I told her to lie down. In the dark I heard this sweet little voice say "Polka Dot, I can't sleep." So, I crawled up to the top bunk and laid down next to her. She asked me to tell her a story, so I made one up about a sea princess named Amber and she really liked it and asked for another, so I told her about the rainbow fish story. (maybe a lot of you don't remember that story, but it's about sharing and it's cute). She played with my hair the whole time and was a wonderful listener. I would have paid all the money I had in the world for that moment again. I prayed and thanked God for allowing me to experience such a wonderful moment. I had a few other moments like that where I wish time could have just stood still for awhile. All in all, I had a good first week and God was very evident.
Oh, PS, I led one of our cabin times and it was amazing. I LOVED it.