Something Heavenly

Oh week 8. This was my 11th year to spend that week in the summer at Pine Cove. More summers than my campers last week have been alive.

Week 8 was GOOD. My girls were AWESOME. We technically got the spirit stick 3 times, won pit n palace and were always like 7 minutes early to flag just bc we had nothing else to do... They had NO meds, never wanted soup or oatmeal... it was glorious. A couple of them would randomly get homesick... one kept me up half the night bc she thought she was going to throw up... That was an interesting time. I've never really been homesick. Ever. When I was a camper, I prefered that my parents not come back. ever. So I really can't relate to my homesick campers. I had to take my camper to talk to my senior counselor one night because she was so homesick, and it was cool to listen to her talk to her because she could relate to her... But I felt so useless. Then Wednesday came along, and while we were on 5th grade trip, it started thundering... No rain, just thunder. One of my girls started sobbing histerically asking if there was going to be a tornado. Now THIS I could understand. I was able to tell her the verse I always said to myself when I got scared, when I was little and now... "When I am afraid I will trust in You..." It was cool to see how God had both me and Skipee in the right places at the right times to deal with certain situations. Now when the same girl started screaming and sobbing like a psycho because of the ants in her bed, the sympathy was long gone.

I also had a girl who was completely boy crazy. Boy-twice-her-age crazy. At first it was Dr. Love. Not surprising. But he left for Legacy, so out of sight, out of mind. Then it was PT, DZ, and Drag Racer. Ridiculous. On Sunday, my girls decided PT liked me, so we ended up being in love by the end of the week. In fact, when my girls memorized all their verses and got to dress me up on Friday for lunch, they wrote "I love PT" across my face. Awesome. I had 3 boyfriends last week... At first, PT and I were just in love, not dating... Because I was dating DZ and Shakes. But Shakes cheated on my with Tilt. By Friday my boyfriends were PT, DZ, Shakes, and maybe Drag Racer. They couldn't decide. Then they were trying to figure out if I was really dating any of them, and they decided that the one I was dating would be the best looking one. I was like "oh, I would have the best looking one?" and they all were like "OH YES, YOU DESERVE THE VERY BEST!!" hahaha. PT enjoyed them running up to him informing him that he had a new girlfriend... They said, "It's Haley... also known as Troggie..." hahah

Over the past 3 weeks, I have really been working on my joyful countenance. It's been a struggle, but I have found that the more I smile, the easier it gets. And watching my girls faces light up when I smile is so encouraging. It's like in Proverbs: "A cheerful look brings joy to the heart." I feel like God has really been confirming me by other people who have noticed a difference, and it's been really encouraging to hear.

Next week I have the babies of Castle Rock. I am SO EXCITED!! A bunch of little 6 year olds fresh out of kindergarten. Oh boy!! I wish my camera worked so I could take as many pictures as possible. Boo. Oh well!

Pictures!

Sharing the Gospel with my girls after Funky's talk. The one to my right looked like that all the time... She was the boy crazy one. I would have to tell her to stop staring at them.

5th grade trip, waiting for the thunder to stop

5th grade trip-- fire sideFashion Show Fandango... This girl and I got to hang out a lot because she would cry during activity classes and sports clinics and free time bc she missed her mom so much. She wasn't in my cabin but we became besties.

Every time Tilt and I see the photographer, we just smile and wait for her to take a picture of us. haha. This was one of those moments.
Stitch, Skipee, Tilt and I representing Heights at the Lamp Post week 7! Where my Heights at?

Song of Blessing

It's time for healing time to move on
It's time to fix what's been broken too long
Time to make right what has been wrong
It's time to find my way to where I belong
There's a wave that's crashing over me
And all I can do is surrender

Whatever You're doing inside of me
It feels like chaos but somehow there's peace
It's hard to surrender to what I can't see
but I'm giving in to something Heavenly

Time for a milestone
Time to begin again
Reevaluate who I really am
Am I doing everything to follow Your will
Or just climbing aimlessly over these hills
So show me what it is You want from me
I give everything I surrender...

Time to face up
Clean this old house
Time to breathe in and let everything out
That I've wanted to say for so many years
Time to release all my held back tears

Whatever You're doing inside of me
It feels like chaos but I believe
You're up to something bigger than me
Larger than life something Heavenly

It's time to face up
Clean this old house
Time to breathe in and let everything out

(Whatever You're Doing-- Sanctus Real)

Cool story. I have gone to middle school, high school, and college with this precious little girl's big sister. Then I got to hang out with her at camp!! yay!


5th graders next week... more later.

ruined cont.

hahahaha so Jeff and I showed up to breakfast wearing the exact same thing week 5. While I thought it was hilarious, he seemed quite bothered and requested to change.

Ok so a real update on my week 6.

I had an interesting cabin. They fought, hit each other, bossed each other around... When we would walk places 3 would be 30 feet ahead of me and 2 would be 20 feet behind me. Some of them were blatantly disobedient. My cabin won first on every single thing we could win. Culture Shock, Pitch Black Attack, the Spirit Stick, Pit N Palace... you name it, we won it. Yet they were so disobedient. On Wednesday during club, I just broke down during the slow worship. They were standing there talking and arguing and being completely distracting... I was so frustrated, I had given them everything they had wanted. They wanted the Spirit stick, I helped them win it. They wanted to win Pit N Palace, I showed them what it took to win... Yet they were still disobedient and mean... And during this time of major break down, I heard God say, "Haley, that's you. I have given you everything you need to be satisfied. Yet you still run ahead, or drag your feet behind Me. You disobey and you fail to love." oooh snap. I also felt really convicted about finding joy in these girls and loving them unconditionally, regardless of how they treated me or each other. By Thursday, they had to be disciplined, and that really helped. They started being nice to each other and really treating each other with respect.

On Thursday, I had my one on one with the space cadet of the century. This girl was hilarious. She wore the same thing every day. She claimed her mom did not pack her regular clothes, just clothes for special occasions... She would climb up on other people's bunks looking for her own. She would walk in the closet looking for the bathroom. And she said the funniest things.
During our one-on-one, we were asking each other questions, and it was her turn... She leaned back in her chair, put her arms behind her head, and said, with a completely serious face:
"So, what's your angle?"
"What??"
"What's your angle?"
"What do you mean?!?"
"I don't know, I just saw it on tv, and I thought I would try it out to see what your reaction was."

She then asked our program director if she should be Mary or Jesus for the Christmas night... Todd was like, "Mary, definitely." hahaha.

On Saturday, I got to meet this precious girls parents. They were the coolest people I have ever met. I talked to the mom for like 10 minutes. They live close to Waco and want me to hang out with their daughter!! yayy! It was such a God thing and an answer to prayer on their part.

I also have a really cool story about spiritual warfare but I don't feel like typing it would give it justice so you can call me for it. haha.

Work Crew next week... I'm really glad... I'm getting sick and so I need some rest... and last week was chaotic. To say the least.

hugs

Song of Blessing

Woe to me I am unclean
A sinner found in Your presence
I see you seated on Your throne
Exalted, Your Glory surrounds You

Now the plans that I have made
Fail to compare when I see your glory

Ruin my life the plans I have made
Ruin desires for my own selfish gain
Destroy the idols that have taken Your place
'Till its You alone I live for,
You alone I live for.

(Ruin Me-- Jeff Johnson)

ruined

oooooh emmmm geeeee i'm so tired and I have so many thoughts running through my head right now and I can't write it all down and I'm feeling overwhelmed. haha.

I guess I will start with pictures.

Honestly, I am feeling the whole posting thing happening tomorrow. So just wait. It will be good.

trogs

Song of Blessing numero tres

This was me last night. I love this song. I want the bridge to be the constant cry of my heart.

I see the king of glory
Coming down the clouds with fire
The whole earth shakes, the whole earth shakes
I see his love and mercy
Washing over all our sin
The people sing, the people sing

Hosanna, hosanna
Hosanna in the highest

I see a generation
Rising up to take the place
With selfless faith, with selfless faith
I see a new revival
Staring as we pray and seek
We're on our knees, we're on our knees


Heal my heart and make it clean
Open up my eyes to the things unseen
Show me how to love like you have loved me
Break my heart for what is yours
Everything I am for your kingdom's cause
As I walk from earth into eternity

(Hosanna-- Hillsong United)

Song of Blessing numero dos

This was me on Sunday. And Jeff played it, and made my week.

To the cross I look, to the cross I cling
Of its suffering I do drink
Of its work I do sing

For on it my Savior both bruised and crushed
Showed that God is love
And God is just

At the cross You beckon me
You draw me gently to my knees, and I am
Lost for words, so lost in love,
I’m sweetly broken, wholly surrendered

What a priceless gift, undeserved life
Have I been given
Through Christ crucified

You’ve called me out of death
You’ve called me into life
And I was under Your wrath
Now through the cross I’m reconciled

In awe of the cross I must confess
How wondrous Your redeeming love and
How great is Your faithfulness

(Sweetly Broken-- Jeremy Riddle)

Song of Blessing numero uno

This song is the song of the summer for me. It's the slow song on the video and the song we collapse to on Sunday before staff meeting. It's so good.

Slow down, be still
Let go, we will
Be here, be now
Slow down, be still
Breathe in, refill
Be here, be now

If you choose to love
To know that the call
Is to give all you are
To give love away, away
Rise, rise, people of love rise
People of love rise, give yourself away
Rise, rise, people of love rise
People of love rise, give yourself away
Give yourself away, give yourself away

Slow down, just breathe
Be still, believe
Be here, be now
Slow down and see
It’s all you need
Be loved and free

And to hear the call, is to give your love away
And to hear the call, is to give your love away
And to hear the call, is to give your life away
Is to give your life away

We’re not safe, we’re not safe
But we will rise

(Rise-- Robbie Seay)

The end of the beginning

First half is done. My friends are leaving. I really am trying to have a good attitude about this, but it's really hard. hah. These people have been there for me in the best and worst time over the past 5 weeks. They are my brothers and sisters and I REALLY don't want them to leave. Saying bye last night was the worst thing ever.

Week 5 was like a roller coaster. Sunday, I was tired, and around 5:30 I broke down and cried. All night. At one point I had locked myself in the bathroom and sobbed. If I had been given the choice to leave right then, I would have peaced out. Our drummer let me pick the play list for the evening bc Jeff was missing. That was fun, bc I had been asking DZ to play Sweetly Broken for 4 weeks, and he had refused every week. Because he hates me. So I picked it and put it on the slide show... and then I hid. I was actually very shocked that he actually played it that night. And I cried even more. haha.

The next morning, I woke up feeling awful. I still felt completely joyless and miserable, plus my chest was filling up with grossness and my throat and ears hurt. I couldn't smile. I was so tired, I had no joy, and I had no patience. Robby made me to go the nurse but she had worse things to deal with... like the 5 people who had come in with pink eye... THAT morning. I ended up taking a 45 minute nap, and it helped... But I really wasn't feeling well all day.

After 8 hours of sleep, Tuesday was much better. I got to go get sonic for a Bible Study group!! whoop! I didn't actually get sonic but leaving camp for those few minutes was quite the blessing.

Friday we got to watch fireworks!!

I got my cabin assignment for next week. Featherstone 2-- the oldest of the babies. I've never had younger than 4th grade. I'm freaking out.

Last night, Opee talked about how we are just vapors. We don't matter. My life is not my own. This week, I want to give all I am, all I have, because my purpose is to be used by God to transform lives for His purposes and His glory. Giving myself away is the only option.

I have like three songs of blessings, and I want to put them all on here, so I will do it on different posts, so this one isn't uber long.

Please pray for me and my 8 precious girls this week. It's gonna get crazy.