2008 Pictures

Click, click for all 2008 Kids Camp pictures!

Little Foot's pictures are up!

Some Week 3

Here are Sunshine's pictures from Week 3. I am also hoping to post Little Foot's and some video. Someday. Somehow. Somewhere. (Name that show?)

Week 2 pics are up!!

Click on Kirby for Week 2 pictures.



Video to come soon.

WEEK 3 is pending my ability to overcome technical difficulties. Doesn't mean I love you any less.

WEEK 1 PHOTOS!

OK. Here's the thing. I'm still trying to figure out Photobucket, so for now the (300some) pictures are pretty much in reverse order. But they're there! And you can look at them! [Click on the muscly man to do so & let me know if it doesn't work right!]



Weeks 2 & 3 are coming soon...

Jesus in Disguise over and over again

The first week of Kids Camp 2007, I told the counselors that were there not be surprised if you one day get called out by your camp name. Sure enough one did, and it reminded that counselor of what an impact that they had on this child. Just when you least expect it, "Jesus in Disguise"!!

How have you been "Jesus in Disguise" lately?

Thanks for the great summer!!

As you all know, God is GOOD. Not just sometimes but ALL the time! Thank you, everyone, for contributing to such a fantastic (fan-freaking-tastic?) summer: all the laughter, all the tears, all the weather, all the experiences of Christ in each other, everything. You made this summer what it was; it wouldn't have been the same if you hadn't been there!

I will be uploading my pictures and videos these next few days, and I'll be gathering everyone else's pictures as well. Keep an eye out.

An update on Kids Campers being Jesus in disguise to the homeless (via our food drive for Catholic Charities)... We are donating 7 (the # of perfection!) large boxes of non-perishable foodstuffs! Nicely done, all!

My Kids Camp Experience - Formal

My Kids Camp 2007 experience.

When I was first asked to pray about possibly doing a kids camp, the answer was already a profound “yes” without knowing what I was truly getting in to. My initial thought was an opportunity for our youth and young adult community to work for something that was beyond them and that they would be able to do this together. I had never worked with this age group and wasn’t sure that I would have the patience to do this, but I knew that God would always be there for me like everything else in life. What resulted from our acceptance of God’s will was more than I or any one of our team could ever ask for. These young children taught us more about the theme “Jesus in Disguise” than what were suppose to teach them. There were children like a young girl who wrote me a note saying that I was “Jesus in Disguise” by showing her kindness and patience. It was fruits such as these that brought me tears and what I was seeing in these young children. Sure we were tired and spent, but we found ourselves renewed and fulfilled. As a whole the team out poured themselves to these young disciples and fell in love with the spirit of their youth, and that we would be a part of them being blessed by God like in Matthew 19:13. “Then the children were brought to him that he might lay his hands on them and pray…” I saw youth and young adults come together in fellowship that will create a bond like no other. In this experience, we found conversion, renewal, love, catechesis, evangelization, leadership and especially community.

On a personal note, after having experienced this years kids camp, I am a firm believer in the program and believe that Martin Rosales and Katie O’Loughlin have done such a wonderful job putting together a binder that put forth the vision that they have had and have prayed about all year. It was so easy to do because of the detail that was put into program. All I had to do was to bring together a team, use my ministry experience and help bring the vision to fruition. Working on this camp has really helped me tremendously in my ministry to the youth and young adult at Most Precious Blood who are now so excited to do more ministry opportunities such as these. God has brought us an energy and spirit that I haven’t seen awhile. I heard word that many of them want to now become catechists, youth ministers, and just be more active in their faith. What a gift that this experience has brought us and I thank you for allowing us to be a part of this wonderful experience and hope that we will be able to have another opportunity to serve our present and our future church.

Matthew19:14 “Jesus said, ‘Let the children come to me, and do not prevent them; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these”

All glory to God!

OK. Most pictures won't be up until I get back into the office full time -- I'm having way too much trouble with my server at home. Some week 1 are up, and I promise promise promise they will be here eventually! And we're trying to have them available on CD or DVD for the Summer Fest too. I'll keep you posted on that. For now, though, have some actual blogging.

Nearly a year ago, I started preparing for this summer's Kids Camp. I had just bought Lifesong (the Casting Crowns album) on iTunes - kind of on a whim, because I'm hesitant about exploring "new" (to me) Christian music. The song "In Me" provided a lot of hope for me at the time. It was a cling to God mantra for me, and today I have such a better understanding of it. It is refreshing to not be needed, to be wanted. It's empowering. It's comfortable. Most importantly, it brings God so much glory -- I'm not doing any of this stuff; it's all Him. Please, there's no way I could accomplish the things that are happening at camp this summer. And that's beautiful.

I'll go, but I cannot go alone
'cause I know I'm nothing on my own.
But the power of Christ in me makes me strong
makes me strong.

When I'm weak, you make me strong.
When I'm blind, you shine your light on me
'cause I'll never get by living on my own ability.
How refreshing to know you don't need me;
how amazing to find that you want me!
So I'll stand on your truth,
and I'll fight with your strength
until you bring the victory
by the power of Christ in me

Heading in to this third (and last) week [by the way, can I tell you how happy my Trinity-loving self is that our 3rd year of Kids Camp is nicely divided into 3??], I'm really excited to see what else is in store for the campers, for the team, for the staff, and for me. This year has been very eye-opening, very enlightening for me. I'm a different person. I can recognize that I'm a different person. It's weird (and, you know, different), but I wouldn't have it any other way. I happened upon this "So Long Self" song that's now on my MySpace profile (totally by accident, because MercyMe tends to be a Christian band I avoid; also, yes, I do have MySpace), but I'm feeling it. Ask me about it in about a year.

Anyway. The whole reason I wanted to post was to share some feedback I've gotten from parents and campers. There's been a lot, and there's been a lot that's amazingly positive, but there are two in particular that I want to share.

From a week 1 parent:
I need to tell you that [she] is still singing camp songs, working on her lanyards, wearing her cross, telling us camp stories, trying new things to eat, is very helpful around the house (without me even telling her), and appears to have Jesus in her heart. She has always been a blessing to us , but I see a child who is even more happy and loving. Thanks again for a great camp experience.

From a week 2 camper:
This camp changed my life, that's how powerful the prayers are at this camp. I have so much to say, it's hard to. I felt my soul overflowing with the power of Christ. I feel reborn with a white clean soul, the camp is a total 100% perfect success. Thanks.

So way to go, y'all. Kids Camp, in its entirety, is only possible because of the teams' openness to service and ministry, each member of which is truly revealing the Jesus disguised within him or herself for the greater Glory of God. I am blessed to be a part of that.

AMDG!

2007 Week 1

God is good!

Thanks for a fantastic week, everyone. I am wrestling with Photobucket to get my pictures and videos up (I'll grab LaLa and Speedy's pictures and get them up there too).

Have a restful weekend...

It's almost time, ya'll!!

Kenner Ranch

Posted some of the photos they toook on their website: http://www.kennerhorseranch.com/whisperingwinds.html

Pictures are sorted by date!

week 4 (I'm trying to find more from this week)

more week 3

week 3

What you've all been waiting for...

I finally have the rest of the pictures. FINALLY. I need to go have dinner with AmyO (aka Mamma Cupcake) right now (before she yells at me for being late), and then I will spend the rest of the night posting them!
Be excited...

I'm also working on the pictures that will be mailed home -- don't worry; you have all the pictures coming your way before year's end!

In other news, God is amazing. That might not be news to you. It's not really news to me either, but it's always exciting when He decides to show exactly how amazing He is. Ask Sharkbait.

Pray for peace, pray for justice, pray for Whispering Winds and all of our summer friends!

Love,
Cupcake

week 2 groups

Raja and Lunchbox's Group

Stitches and M&M's group

Chickadee and Giggles' Group

Starburst and Sunshine's Group

The "Loafers"

more week 2

Cupcake needs sleep...

Sorry, everyone... I'm totally behind on this whole "blog" thing. I haven't been able to connect to the internets. I have more week 2 to post, and I have tons of week 3 to post. I, uh, definitely forgot to put the week 3 pictures on my laptop, though. I'll get 'em and post 'em as soon as I can.
Week 3 was great, by the way. Hot and crowded, but tons o' fun.
I'm going to bed; hooray! 9pm on a Friday night... I am the coolest cupcake ever. :)

4th of july -- ultimate frisbee, capture the flag, prayer service

the jeep (before, during, and after)

Week 2

groups

Starburst and Ernie's group

Reginald and Giggles group

Raja and M&Ms group

Sharkbait (ooohaha) and Sunshine's group

[It took me a really long time to find Sunshine in this picture...]

Stitches and Red's group

CITs

Chickadee and Stilts' group

Boots and Ninja's group

Lunchbox and Kirby's group

Stingray and Cookie Monster's group

Last day!

These pictures make me happy!

Sleep = good.

I'm heading out in a bit here to pick up more pictures from the rest of the week. Once I have them, I'll try to do a day-by-day write up and post the pictures. I don't know if I'll be able to determine which pictures are from which day though. We'll see...

In the meantime, the Night Vision Ninja Cam has provided the identities of some TP culprits. Photographic evidence is hard to deny!

More of week 1...

I'm really way too tired to think about writing, but I do want to get some pictures up. I will post more (words and pictures) later...
By the way, I think these are all from Monday. Obviously, I have some catching up to do, starting with SLEEP.

Cupcake

Week 1

It's been a pretty good week thusfar. It's a little stormy today, which has been a bummer, but the fun continues. Most of the girls camped out in the TeePees last night (after 100% of the boys refused to on Sunday night). We've already caught close to 80 fish. Good times all around. Tonight is the talent show -- hooray. All I know is that at least one person is playing me. We'll see how that goes.... :)
Thanks for keeping us in your prayers -- I will try to update more this week!
Cupcake

(The internet is taking too long, and I can't upload pictures at the moment. I'll try again tomorrow; otherwise, check back this weekend.)

Two days and counting!!

Can I just tell you how much I love my staff? They are some excellent children of God, and they make me very happy!
Our orientation was a lot of fun (and, of course, very educational). It's great watching my staff get to know each other and bond over crazy things like how "deep" we are.

Because I'm excited, here's a rundown of the staff's Camp Names:

Boots
Big Mac
Chickadee
Chimichanga
Cookie Monster
Cupcake
Daisy
Dragon Beard
Ernie
Fez
Giggles
Kirby
Lobstar
Lunchbox
Ninja
Raja
Red
Reginald
Sharkbait
Skittles
Spork
Squirt
Starburst
Stingray
Stilts
Stitches
Sunshine

Hooray! Pictures and more coming after Sunday.

It's coming!

Kids Camp Week 1 is one week away! It's very exciting... Staff is coming up on Tuesday. Kids are coming up next Sunday.

I fully intend to post pictures and words every night; hopefully I'll be able to!!

Summertime is right around the corner!

Dear World,

I am very excited for the summer! Check back for info, updates and pictures as we get closer...

Love,
Cupcake