Vertical Reality 2012

I spent a weekend in September at Sharp Top Cove in the beautiful mountains of North Georgia with my small group girls and the rest of the BBCC Inside Out students (about 560 for the weekend).  It was an amazing weekend that I needed and will never forget.  Our small group grew so much closer with each other and our relationship with the Lord.  

The subject of the weekend was prayer.  Sounds boring, right?  It wasn't.  

We were presented with a new way of thinking about prayer.

 How do we usually pray?  "Lord, give me, protect me and bless me."  

That's not necessarily a bad thing.  But Jesus taught us a better way to pray.

  

"Lord, I want to know you."

 "Lord, take the lead."

 "Lord, use me." 

These are three prayers the Lord will always answer.  This is how we plan on teaching our kids to pray.  Since I've been praying those simple prayers the past few weeks, God has moved drastically in my life.  If you feel like you need to hear from God, pray those three sentences.  Then, get ready because he will answer them and move in your heart.

The Walk 2012

I have just started leading a small group of upcoming sophomore girls at our church with my co-leader Jen.  Every year, they go to Panama City Beach, FL for 5 days for summer camp called The Walk.  I was super pumped to go this year with our not-so-small group of 19 girls.  I had 10 girls in the condo with me and Jen had 9 with her.  It was a large group, but we had a really great time!

It was my first time leaving Will and Wayne, so of course I was a little sad. (and a little happy at the same time.  All of you SAHMs get my drift.  *wink wink)  Wayne kept me up to date with Will's funnies by sending me pictures like these.

I guess his dog needed a hat.

I had to leave after only being there for two days to come home for the Michael Jackson Cirque Du Soleil show. (my Christmas gift from 2010!)  I was really really really sad to leave my girls, but I'm so thankful I got to spend those couple of days with them.  And of course, the MJ Cirque show was AMAZING!  I cried through the first 4 songs, and then some more later.  I probably cried for 50% of the show, to be honest (stop judging me).  It was a very moving show and an excellent tribute to the King of Pop.

Although it was a short trip, it felt great to feel sand between my toes..

...be reminded of how great our God is in his vastness and His love for us...

...swim in the ocean as a small group...

 

...scream like a little girl while braving this huge slide with these awesome girls...

...not worry (too much) about the mess...

...and grow with these beautiful (inside and out) girls 

in our relationships with each other and the Lord.

God worked in some amazing ways that week.  

I can't wait to see how the Lord continues to work in the lives of these girls over the next few years.

"From wherever I am

 to wherever God leads,

I'm gonna move."