Along The Trail

remembering that first weekend! (pictures added!)

***Update! Found some pics! Random People captured them!***

Six years ago this Memorial Day, Whisper Mountain had its first Grand Opening! The weekend was beautiful and packed full of the excitement of finally launching this amazing, long anticipated and prayed for, miracle-start ministry. As with anything new, the optimism and support (and energy!) was flying high! Many, many people came to share in the celebration, many driving from Florida where the base of the support was coming from!

Our little family of four had been living in Charlotte at the time. I remember carrying our weekend things out of our little house and loading our little car, worrying I was forgetting something. We were heading to Selah's preschool graduation that morning, anticipating the drive into the mountains following. Shaun would meet us there the next day after finishing out his work week!

With starbucks in hand, the happy chatter of two little girls in the back, we headed into a weekend that would soon become our lives. In all my excitement, I forgot the flowers I was to pick up in the city on my way out, which allowed me to rub elbows with the inconveniences of small town living. In all my excitement, I bypassed the exit off the big road and headed into Tennessee instead, discovering the frustration of patchy cell service in the mountains. I didn't know, couldn't know, all the changes, struggles, work and letting go that was in store for us. 

Rosy colored lenses can sometimes keep us from seeing the rough of life. But that's not all bad, is it? If we knew all we would be called to endure ahead, we may not be willing to get started at all! In our faithful walking we are able to see the struggles becoming worth it because something greater is attained!

Whisper Mountain Youth Camp started off with such excitement and such a crowd! We had seen God move in a big way. We anticipated such movement in the road ahead.

Six years later, after the rush of stepping out in faith, after the crowd dispersed, we feel more tired, more strained, more unsure, but we still see God move in big ways and we cling to Him more readily. We anticipate more of Him in the road ahead! Thank you to those who have come alongside us from the start! Thanks for believing in the vision! Your investment in God's work really is amazing! We joyfully carry on!

Huddle Up!

I don't know about you, but I'm still feeling rather sluggish from the late night New Year's Eve celebrating (and the elusive sleep afterward). But, we've arrived, haven't we?! A new year has come! After a quick glance to all that was in 2012, I look straight ahead with anticipation to all that might be in 2013! 

Doesn't the New Year feel sort of like a huddle up? We gather our thoughts, dreams, and goals. We measure where we are and where we want to go. A definite pulling in and refocusing.

We ready ourselves for the hand off of what's next, hopeful all will turn out wildly right.

We take off with new energy, determined to make some ground, to move forward.

We can be sure there are days ahead when we are taken down. Days when our rhythm is thrown off, our steps are halted, our determination and energy depleted. Days we simply feel defeated.

On these days may we find the strength and the faith to get back up and keep going. May we remember one fall doesn't mean the end of the game!

I'm really thankful you walk along this trail at least every now and then. Such a small but meaningful space we share here. May 2013 hold a heap of good for you!

intentional

On our road trip to the Rockies, I was able to have hours of thinking time. A nice change, though being trapped in the car for 22 hours is not something I look forward to doing again anytime soon! As I was thinking back over the past year, I realized that in many ways and on different levels, much of 2011 was me surviving. Whether trying to keep up with the exhausting pace of camp ministry, or the equally exhausting pace of family life, or struggling to survive the personal pitfalls, or the race against time to get something done. Whatever it was that begged for my energies and attentions, I survived it. What a regretful moment I had when I realized this. Regret that I didn't find balance more of the time. Regret that I wasn't able to accomplish more of what matters. Regret that I didn't love my man and my children better. Regret that more time wasn't given to people who just need somebody. Regret that my heart's equilibrium faltered more than it centered.

Though I cannot (nor do I want to) go back and redo 2011, I can start 2012 fresh. The beautiful thing about anything new is the fresh slate smiling its welcome. I've never before done this, but this year I am inspired to choose one word I want to define my 2012 living. A word that will remind me of the greater course, the path I want to walk, a positive push in a positive direction! My word is INTENTIONAL. I want to live on purpose. Not just survive life, but to live life...engage in life...embrace life!

How about you? What word would you choose to define your 2012 living?

a sort through

:: In beginning to sort through our fall calendars, both camp and personal, I am hoping to find balance in each!

:: My thoughts are going toward sorting through menus for both home and camp kitchens.

:: Some of us are just beginning to get into the swing of sorting, and liking it!

:: Being careful to sort through which flowers are best for stopping to smell will help maintain focus!

:: Allowing life to run us down will require a sorting through of the heart to bring us back to what really matters.

I'm sort of enjoying sorting through our life in all its different ways! There's a strong sense of refreshment and renewed energy I didn't expect to find! Should you feel the urge to sort through some of life maybe you will find the same to be true for you! I hope that for you today!