The build up

Last night we saw the 3rd night of worship build up. That tension where the kids are really starting to get it, really starting to experience God in a way that isn't possible if they are focused on anything, or anyone else. There was hugging, crying and all those great ingredients that lead to a loving relationship with God. Sure the majority of the kids we brought already have it, but do they truly get it? Do they truly understand how special it is to have a personal relationship with God? Do they know how to treasure and preserve that special relationship? Tonight is when we see the fruits of all teh labor. It's the time when those who get it, take it to the next level, those who didn't get it, take hold of it, and for me most importantly those who don't get it finally get it.
Well, Tara brought my 2 munchkins along tonight and they went to the water park accross the street while we were in worship and a concert. Two of her friends came along and brought their children to the water park as well. Jordon had to leave early because he had to go to work at 4am the next day so I drove him to the hotel at about 9. At 9 o'clock the kids and adults that had joined Tara at the waterpark were gone, but guess which 2 kids were still going strong. That's right, the all night marathon kids of mine. Those two weren't just still there, they were still running from slide to slide like it was 2 in the afternoon and not 10 at night. What a time we are going to have with those two as teenagers.
There is one thing I haven't quite grasped at camp. I am on a bed, my own bed and Jordon shared it with me 2 nights ago. I woke up almost every hour hurting and uncomfortable. Sid insisted on sleeping on the floor. He doesn't wake up. I even got mad and tried to wake him up, it's not fair that I can't sleep on a nice mattress and he can sleep through a hurricane on the hard floor. Maybe we'll trade tonight, who knows.
Have a great day and pray for us, the big finish is tonight at 7, then we'll be dragging our worn out carcasses to town tomorrow morning. Then, getting ready for a softball game at 7!

Meemaa where are you?

It came to my attention that this is the first year I have taken a youth group to camp without any of my family. No Kaley, CIndy, Justin or most importantly Meema. Just yesterday I discovered that the very youth group she had built was here. How you ask? We stayed up well past curfew, not even sure what that is. I'm not much of a curfew person myself. So we stayed up and everyone was ready for the trip at 9:30am even though I had told them to be ready and in the van at 10am. I was so proud, never in teh history of camps had I gotten off to such a great start.
Then we went to morning celebration, had a brief group devotion and then ate lunch together. The majority of the group went to the beach where we played football, the girls laid around and read and we just enjoyed some free time together.
Then I went back to teh room and got a shower. At 3:30 in teh afternoon I awoke and made the rounds and here's the part I'm talking about, everyone was asleep. Every single kid (except Sid) was sound asleep taking a nap. It would be much easier to get chaperones if I could advertise nap time built in to the camp.
So we're still here in the getto hotel and we're living it up.

Getto camp!!!!!!!!!

I'm usually the last person to turn their nose up at things but today was interesting. We took off in our church van which is anything put pretty and not so road worthy so I decided to take it easy. I'm sure my pride took quite a hit as grandmas in big cars were passing us along the way. I just didn't want to go 70 in that heap until I'm a little more comfortable. We made it safe and sound, checked into the Ocean Center and then off to our hotel. Which was culture filled if nothing. I checked out the rooms and then had to laugh and wait for the results of the entrance of the ladies. It was priceless.
The rooms have the painted block look inside with lamps that are honestly from the 1970's and carpet to match. The girls took off to CVS on their first move and bought a big box of Lysol wipes. We got settled in and off to worship tonight.
This is where some of the fiasco began which I have to confess now officially eliminates the Athanaseas family from the ingredients list of a good fiasco. While this one doesn't rank that highly, it has been interesting from getto hotel to the trip after worship to walmart. I chose a random back road(never good with me I know) where we were faced with a decision on crossing a broken railroad crossing. The arms were half way down and the lights were flashing, but no train. We crossed into what appeared to be the deep, dark beyond and headed