Mother/Daughter Retreat

This weekend was the our big event: the 4th and 5th grade mother/daughter retreat. We had 5 moms and 6 daughters there, which is all of the 4th and 5th graders at HCC, so Shanna and I were excited. We had a speaker fly in from Memphis, Suzanne Grisby, who is a friend of Jeff and Cherie's. Shanna and I picked her up at the airport, but we didn't know exactly what she looked like, so we wore these sparkly tiaras while we waited. She figured it out immediately but we sure did get some laughs! Our theme for the weekend was Beautiful for Thee: a Daughter of the King. On Friday night we decorated everything with the princess theme and had tiaras, and princess items for the girls and moms. We ate pizza and played games (we were supposed to watch Princess Diaries, but our tv didn't work) and the girls played dress up all night long. It was alot of fun and very laid back, but I think the moms really enjoyed that it was so relaxed. Saturday morning we cooked breakfast (pancakes and fruit), cleaned up from sleeping, sung some songs, played crazy bonding games (and boy did we bond haha), and then listened to Suzanne share some from Psalm 139. Our activity for the first session was pedicure spa for the moms, which included their gift of a decorated metal pail filled with lotions, scrubs, and pedicure tools. We happened to have a foot pool and a pariffin wax machine so we used that as well. During the pedicure time, Suzanne answered (used loosely) various parenting questions the ladies had. While moms were downstairs, we took the girls upstairs and did a little character quiz and wrote letters to the moms. They seemed to enjoy it, and had fun bringing the letters to their mom. For lunch we just had sandwiches and had some freetime to just play games, run around, take a nap or shower, whatever. We wanted there to be time to build relationships not just follow a schedule and it seemed to really work. =) I think Dayna, T, Shanna and I played a game called Sequence for the 3 hours. Team blue won!! =) We did songs and listen to Suzanne teach for our second session -- she finished psalm 139. Our second activity we divided up again and made bracelet/keychains with beads and stretchy string. We had pearls that represented the Fruits of the Spirit and then the vairous colored beads represented different sins we wanted to work on. Each person wrote the fruits of the spirit and then what their sins were and what color represented them on an index card. Then the girls and moms sat down for reflection time and talked about what they learned during the weekend; this was also the time when they shared what their beads meant with each other and asked to be held accountable if they wanted to. As they left, we gave the girls their gifts: a mirror with a ribbon to hang it, decorated with their name and the theme, and they had cute flowers glued to them. Also each person recieved a tshirt. We all wore them to church this morning!! Just like we do at our church after camp =)! Anyways. All in all, I am very tired, but despite some things not going as planned, we had an amazing weekend. Everyone seemed to enjoy themselves, the girls spent time together as a group (which is needed as they go into middle school), the moms as a church became friends outside of Sunday morning, and we got to just not be around boys for 24 hours. =)

Anyday's a good day serving Jesus

On Wednesday of this week, Shanna and I went to Denver for one last girls trip. However, we arranged to volunteer at the Denver Rescue Mission in Downtown Denver for lunch. I know that sounds really random to some, but last year I read an amazing book called Under the Overpass, which talks about someones life spent homeless for four months in various cities. He begins his journey at the Denver Rescue and learns the ways, habits, and rules of the homeless and addicted. Ever since reading that I have wanted to help at the Mission in Denver, so Shanna caught my dream and we pushed for making that a reality before I left. We arrived at 10:30 and were introduced to the program members who were coordinating volunteers and lunch. We bagged up peanuts to give out and then it was time for the first lunch shift -- this is for the volunteers, the staff, and the program members (the Mission is primarily a rehab program). Then we cut up some vegetables for a salad they were having dinner and it was time for the second lunch shift -- this is for anyone off the streets. Shanna and I bussed the tables and brought them water as they ate -- over 200 were served lunch that day. We could not stop smiling,we were having so much fun! Those guys were great. We actually ended up racing to tables to beat some of the program guys who had to help -- Cecil, Ivan, and David. They were protective of us from the other guys, but they were just so helpful and glad to be there. Shanna and I kept asking the rehabers if they were having a good day, and expecting a typical answer of 'yeah' we were blown away when they answered "Anydays a good day serving Jesus". I just left the mission wanting that to always be my answer. And mean it. Any day should be a good day because I am alive and able to serve God. Another cool part was just getting a tour of the place and seeing all the work the Mission does. Anyways it was awesome! And we loved it.
These lyrics described my thoughts after I left the Mission: "Well I'm not talking about a smile so fake, while the world takes pictures 24/7. I just want my faith to a little more real, what you see is what you get, what you see is how I feel."

Catching up

Well its been a couple of days and alot has been going on! First of all the Berrys came back so that was exciting, not being alone anymore. On Sunday Andy, Trish, Nic, Shanna and I went to Denver to pick up the dog from Trish's mom, but while we were there we went to Red Lobster and stuffed ourselves! It was so good! yum...seafood. But we also just enjoyed soaking up the 77 degree weather and sunshine! =) Teaching sunday school went really well though this sunday. We have had some issues with them listening and gave Shanna a particularly hard time while I wasn't there last sunday (last day at work). So after a little lecture and having Trish there to kinda back us up, we had a fun time of learning and crafts. Monday (yeah that was only yesterday) Shanna and I spent the day at the church offices preparing for the week. This weekend is our mother daughter retreat!! =) and so we were busy getting together the last minute stuff and making lists for us to do on Friday. We should be picking up t-shirts tomorrow, our mirrors are finished, we have presents for everyone that helped us, the speaker is flying in on Friday, she has all her stuff prepared, and Shanna and I think we might just be able to pull this thing off. =)
OOh and the best part of all, is that tomorrow shanna and I are going to Denver for a fun little day off. We have to get some stuff for our retreat, but we also want to shop alittle. But thats not the best part. We are going to serve lunch at the Denver Rescue Mission in Downtown!! =) I am so excited. We will help prepare the meal and then serve it and eat with the residents as well. yay for stories and being brave! But anyways it all started with reading Under the Overpass and this is the same facility where that story starts. I just think God is so cool to let me actually experience this. And Shanna has been so great to catch the desire and make it happen! =) I will tell you all about it tomorrow!

Peeling

Umm peeling sucks. haha Actually I guess its a good thing since that means that I will be over this soon. And usually you wouldn't be peeling this fast, but since its so dry up here, I guess its speeding things along. But I just look really weird and awful. So i'm definitely glad no one can see me. haha. =) But anyways going to do some errands and then hide in the house...
later! haha

It's my Birthday, I can _______ if I want to

Copper is officially CLOSED! and I have been let go. haha. So since we cant ski there, there is another smaller resort still open, but its definitely more of a local's place. Shanna and I took Brittany and Hannah (her 5th grader) to ski at A-Basin. And then Alison and Nic joined us. So that made for a fun group. We skiied morst of the day from like 11-3. Yep those are the hours when you should avoid the sun. Yep those are the hours you should wear sunscreen. Yep those are the hours when you cover your skin at all cost. I did. Except on my face. And I some how didn't put on my normal moisturizer that has suncreen, but I assumed I had. So I have an extremely burnt face. ugh. It really sucks. And its only my face.
But after we all got burnt. haha. They all have goggle tans. But after we got home from skiing, the Berry's threw me a surprise Little Mermaid theme party! haha it was awesome! We had a bubble machine (so you were under the sea) and a fish pinata and leis and sunglasses and umbrella straws. We usually have ladies bible study on monday nights so all the ladies came for a party instead. We broke the pinata -- haha Andy had control of the pinata. I think he enjoyed me making a fool of myself. But then we ate cake. Alison made it! It was confetti cake with white icing, but she decorated it with jawbreakers, licorice and lifesavers. Very cute cake. And then we opened presents! haha Alison got me hugs and kisses (the candy) =) Shanna got me a cute tshirt and a black and white photo frame. So me. And the Estes girls (Shanna's family) got me chocolate and then each made me a card. So we had alot of fun. The Berry's are just amazing thoughtful caring people who have truly blessed me.
In other news, I am by myself this week. They went to visit Andy's family in Idaho and I'm also house sitting for some friends for the week. haha Thanks for all the birthday wishes!