Fam-Jam Reunion

I am a pretty family oriented person. So it would be no surprise that when the family reunion rolls around every June, that it is one of my favorite events of the year.

So today we headed up the hill on which the top lives my Oma and Opa (You could say that they live on a hilltop just like in fairy-tales).

At first you sit around awkwardly, not talking to anyone. Its been a whole year and you can't remember which one is Tante Sieka and which one is Tante Marti. Eventually someone breaks the ice. You start talking to someone you haven't talked to in a while.

A highlight of the day was definitely when my cousin came up to me and asked me to play with him. This is how the conversation went:

"Can you play with me"

"What about those two little boys over there?"

"I want to play with you"

"I'll tell you what, if you make friends with those little boys then I will play with you"

(Background information: all the kids there were from my grandparents, so the two little boys didn't have any cousins or kids they knew to play with)

So now this is the conversation with my cousin, the little boy, and me:

Cousin: "Do you want to be my friend?"

Boy: "Sure"

Cousin runs over to me: "He wants to be my friend"

Me: "Well do you know what his name is?"

Cousin runs over to little boy: "What's your name?"

Boy: "Caleb"

Cousin runs over to me: "His name is Caleb"

Me: "Well does he know what your name is?"

Cousin runs over to little boy: "My name is Logan"

Cousin runs over to me: "Now will you play with me?"

I ended up telling my cousin that he had to play with his new friend. I supervised a soccer game in my grandparents barn due to the fact that it was raining outside.

It was a good family reunion. I was so proud of my cousins for being accepting to the second cousins. We had some great times, good food, and awesome reunioning.

After a Few days...

It has been an An exciting week of staff training so far. Just home for a little bit of afternoon relaxation.

Spontaneous Worship moment this week.

This is my desire
This is my return
This is my desire to be used by you

This is my desire, to honour You,

Lord with all my heart,

I worship You,

All I have within me, I give You praise,

All that I adore, is in You,

Lord I give You my heart,

I give You my soul,

I live for You alone,

Every breath that I take,

Every moment I'm awake,

Lord have Your way in me.

There are so many amazing things to tell. Like how AWESOME the people I have been getting to know better. I cut my friend Seth's hair. I chatted it up with some old friends. Playing Dutch Bingo. Swimming.

O camp. Its like we never left...

I'm Off to Camp

Well my failure of a countdown clock says that I'm supposed to be leaving for camp right about now, but I'm not.

I'm headed out tomorrow morning.

Two weeks of staff training.

I'm So Excited.

Someone's Watching Over Me

Today at Church when the Children came up for the children's message, there stood Dave with his soccer coach uniform. He gets down to the children's level and tells them a story about when he used to play soccer.

It went something like this:

When he was younger, after one of his games, he was feeling a bit down because they lost. Dave's dad came to him. As a proud father he said, "No matter what is going on in the field, I always know where you are".

Its like God. God always knows where we are.

He watches us on the field. He sees our failures. He sees our victories.

He is always there.

Just like, from then on, Dave was encouraged and tried his best because he knew his Dad was watching, we can be encouraged to live our life in a way that is pleasing to our father in heaven. We can be encouraged to know that he is ALWAYS there.

I'm Thankful for my earthly father who is always there to joke around with me. He has taught me about working my hardest and always to give a 110%. He gives me discipline, but also can get in trouble with mom with me. Even though he always complains that he is stuck with all girls, deep down I know he loves it.

Happy Father's Day

I love you Dad.

And Heres a Letter From God this Father's Day:

Father's Love Letter

My Child ~
You may not know me, but I know everything about you ~ Psalm 139:1
I know when you sit down and when you rise up ~ Psalm 139:2
I am familiar with all your ways ~ Psalm 139:3
Even the very hairs on your head are numbered ~ Matthew 10:29-31
For you were made in my image ~ Genesis 1:27
In me you live and move and have your being ~ Acts 17:28
For you are my offspring ~ Acts 17:28
I knew you even before you were conceived ~ Jeremiah 1:4-5
I chose you when I planned creation ~ Ephesians 1:11-12
You were not a mistake, for all your days are written in my book ~ Psalm 139:15-16
I determined the exact time of your birth and where you would live ~ Acts 17:26
You are fearfully and wonderfully made ~ Psalm 139:14
I knit you together in your mother's womb ~ Psalm 139:13
And brought you forth on the day you were born ~ Psalm 71:6
I have been misrepresented by those who don't know me ~ John 8:41-44
I am not distant and angry, but am the complete expression of love ~ 1 John 4:16
And it is my desire to lavish my love on you ~ 1 John 3:1
Simply because you are my child and I am your father ~ 1 John 3:1
I offer you more than your earthly father ever could ~ Matthew 7:11
For I am the perfect father ~ Matthew 5:48
Every good gift that you receive comes from my hand ~ James 1:17
For I am your provider and I meet all your needs ~ Matthew 6:31-33
My plan for your future has always been filled with hope ~ Jeremiah 29:11
Because I love you with an everlasting love ~ Jeremiah 31:3
My thoughts toward you are countless as the sand on the seashore ~ Psalm 139:17-18
And I rejoice over you with singing ~ Zephaniah 3:17
I will never stop doing good to you ~ Jeremiah 32:40
For you are my treasured possession ~ Exodus 19:5
I desire to establish you with all my heart and all my soul ~ Jeremiah 32:41
And I want to show you great and marvelous things ~ Jeremiah 33:3
If you seek me with all your heart, you will find me ~ Deuteronomy 4:29
Delight in me and I will give you the desires of your heart ~ Psalm 37:4
For it is I who gave you those desires ~ Philippians 2:13
I am able to do more for you than you could possibly imagine ~ Ephesians 3:20
For I am your greatest encourager ~ 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17
I am also the Father who comforts you in all your troubles ~ 2 Corinthians 1:3-4
When you are brokenhearted, I am close to you ~ Psalm 34:18
As a shepherd carries a lamb, I have carried you close to my heart ~ Isaiah 40:11
One day I will wipe away every tear from your eyes ~ Revelation 21:3-4
And I'll take away all the pain you have suffered on this earth ~ Revelation 21:3-4
I am your Father, and I love you even as I love my son, Jesus ~ John 17:23
For in Jesus, my love for you is revealed ~ John 17:26
He is the exact representation of my being ~ Hebrews 1:3
He came to demonstrate that I am for you, not against you ~ Romans 8:31
And to tell you that I am not counting your sins ~ 2 Corinthians 5:18-19
Jesus died so that you and I could be reconciled ~ 2 Corinthians 5:18-19
His death was the ultimate expression of my love for you ~ 1 John 4:10
I gave up everything I loved that I might gain your love ~ Romans 8:31-32
If you receive the gift of my son Jesus, you receive me ~ 1 John 2:23
And nothing will ever separate you from my love again ~ Romans 8:38-39
Come home and I'll throw the biggest party heaven has ever seen ~ Luke 15:7
I have always been Father, and will always be Father ~ Ephesians 3:14-15
My question is ~ Will you be my child? ~ John 1:12-13
I am waiting for you ~ Luke 15:11-32
Love, Your Dad, Almighty God

Tattling and Truth

People seem to like to tattle on me. I won't mention any names, but two of my cousins are constantly getting me in trouble with my parents because they tattle on me over non-relevant information (I did not do anything worthy of being tattled on). There is a difference between the need for an honesty and tattling on someone . A tattler may be telling the truth, but it is not necessary for that information to be revealed.

Yes, Quote: "Saying the truth out loud", is tattling

Corny Song

I know this corny song about friendship. Its got some pretty meaningful lyrics, but the song just cracks me up every time:

Packing up the dreams

God planted

In the fertile soil of you

I Can't believe the hopes He's granted

Means a chapter in your life is through

But we'll keep you close as always

It won't even seem you've gone

Cause our hearts in big and small ways

Will keep the love that keeps us strong

And friends are friends forever

If the Lord's the Lord of them

And a friend will not say never

Cause the welcome will not end

Though it's hard to let you go

In the Father's hands we know

That a lifetime's not too long to live as friends.

With the faith and love God's given

Springing from the hope we know

We will pray the joy you'll live in

Is the strength that now you show

But we'll keep you close as always

It won't even seem you've gone

Cause our hearts in big and small ways

Will keep the love that keeps us strong

That a lifetime's not too long

To live as friends (to live as friends)

To live as friends

Soanyways.. Me and my friend were sitting on the bus taking turns choosing songs from my iPod.

We ended up listening to this song. She and I laughed a little as we both find a lot of joy in listening to this song. About halfway through the song she said, "You know what I just realized? This is our last bus ride together". She is moving to Jarvis next year (and if you don't know where Jarvis is, most people don't so its okay), so basically we won't ride the bus together anymore.

Its a bit of a saddening time of year. Everyone is going their separate ways for summer. Exciting that it is finally summer, but after graduation I won't see some of my Grade 12 friends for a long time. I get to spend the summer with 2 of my best friends, then both of them are going off to University and College.

Corny song has some truth I guess.

Summer

Summer is here. I am finished my exams.

Camp starts Monday (despite my failure of a countdown that says it starts in two days)