This past week was absolutely wonderful. I was at Royal Family Kids Camp… one of the weeks I most look forward to each year. 

Royal Family Kids Camp (RFKC) is a one week long camp for children who have been abused and/or neglected and who are in foster care. There are many of these camps spread throughout the country (136)- even some in other countries (12). I know of one in South Africa that my old church was involved with. Our RFKC was started nine years ago- Its hard to believe I have been involved in this ministry so long!

We typically take 40 children. Each counselor has two campers, and they have a full week! Planned activities, Fishing, Boating, Woodworking, Swimming, Bible Lessons, Songs, and a birthday party are just a few things that make the week an enjoyable one for the kids. 

The purpose of RFKC is to create positive memories for these children. And it is truly amazing to be a part of what God does in these little lives.  

I have some great stories! But I don’t have time to write them right now. Perhaps later… or if you ask I’ll be more than happy to tell! 

I cant wait until next year!  

I have to write about my birthday! It was so wonderful I can’t NOT write about it!  

I am now officially 20!.... or 21?

I got up earlier than usual… I got a call from my grandfather and gifts from my family. I also got a call from AJ, who was at the airport in Miami! I got cards from extended family in NY… some of which I am informed made me glow! I got some cards I wasn’t expecting that meant a lot!  

Then I went to work… where there were happy birthday notes on my desk… one even stuck on my computer screen. Karen, a lady I work with a lot had been at work until midnight the previous night… but had gone home and baked me a cake! So we had that! Then I got a message that I needed to go down to the department I worked in last year. So I went down there and they had cake and they sang happy birthday… and they had all signed a birthday card for me! It was so nice!

Mom brought Jonathan and Katie up to work so that we could all go out to lunch- well dinner for them and lunch for me… Jonathan and Katie liked being “show and tell” at work and met a lot of people. We had lunch at Wendy’s and then they left and I got back to work.

Then, instead of working overtime, like I usually do… I got off early! It was funny... the security guard laughed and commented that it was the first time I'd left when it was light outside!

Seth had offered to take me out for dinner on my birthday… at the place of my choice. So… we met at Duffy’s. First I had to stop home and drop the rest of Karen’s cake off… I really did drop it off… right in the driveway… sigh. But my wonderful mother wouldn’t let me clean it up… she offered to clean up the mess so I could go meet Seth on time!

So Seth and I met at Duffy’s. I had an absolutely wonderful time! After much deliberation, I got my usual… chicken tenders with honey mustard. Seth, however, branched out and instead of his usual potato skins, got the club sandwich… which although he had to work hard to keep it from attacking me … looked really good. Dinner was wonderful… we stayed and talked for a bit… Not til they closed this time though.

I was a bit suspicious… First when Seth and I had talked the night before he asked to talk to my mom… and they wouldn’t tell me what they had talked about… Then at dinner he told me to save room, and that we were going back to my house after dinner.

So… we drove back to my house. I was a bit nervous with him behind me. He got to see how I drive for the first time… We’ll see if he ever rides with me!

We got to my house… and he pulled a CAKE container out of his car! We went in the house, and Seth presented me with my birthday cake… that HE baked for me!!!! It was wonderful!!! Two layers… I was impressed!!- Both with the cake… and the thoughtfulness behind it! I have really been blessed with some amazing friends!

This was one of the best birthdays ever! I didn’t want it to end…

Thanks, Seth, for making it so special!

There is a song that I sing to my little brother and sister at bedtime… and I hum to myself quite often. It goes like this…

When life's burdens get so heavy
And it seems I'm all alone, I cast my cares on Jesus
And come boldly to His throne.
I find His grace sufficient when His promises I heed
For His very life He sacrificed,
And He lives to intercede.
He is the Lords of lords, And when He speaks,
Winds and waves obey,
When Jesus whispers, "Peace be still"
Then darkness turns to day.
And as I'm trusting in my Savior's Word,
Doubts and fears all cease,
And beneath the shelter of His wings,
I'm at rest, in perfect peace. 

I was singing it to my little brother the other night… and I thought about something. I sing this song all the time… but is it true? Yes, God is all I need and He is sufficient. He is the one I can rely on when everything goes wrong. But do I rely on Him?

I don’t. At least not as often as I should...

I either try to rely on people when I should be relying on God… or I try to keep myself busy enough where I can’t focus on the things that are going wrong. But all the overtime hours in the world won’t make things better…

I was in the car today and I was thinking about how upset and frustrated I’ve been with life lately. To be quite honest… I’m somewhat overwhelmed… And I can’t handle it by myself… There are things that I’ve talked to friends about… and there are things that I can’t… But I realized that EVERY single one of those things I can and SHOULD talk to God about. And not just talk to him about… Trust Him with. And once I bring those things to Him… I can rest… really rest… knowing that my concerns are in His capable hands. 

Just like the song says… I may feel alone… and life’s burdens may be unbelievably heavy… But He is all I need. I simply need to trust Him.

When life seems to be falling apart…. And I’m broken and hurting… I just need to give Him the pieces… 

But sometimes its so hard to do…