hold me near

This weekend I got away on a little retreat, well really I was taking a class but I was alone for the six-hour car ride.  I found myself thinking, praying and singing (very loudly and badly…) to pass the time.  Of the little music  I had with me this song was from one of the cd’s I listened to repeatedly, “hold me near” by Karla Adolphe/ enter the worship circle.  It is based on one of my favorites, psalms 73.

Hold Me Near

Hold me near when I’m restless

Hold me near when I’m bitter

Hold me near when I”m rebellious

Hold me near until the end

 

Hold me near when my heart is broken

Hold me near when I’m ignorant

Hold me near when I am jealous

Hold me near until the end

 

But as for me my feet almost gave out I nearly sold my heart

It’s good to be held by my Father it’s good to be where you are

 

We are creating these theme/scripture paintings as one of the spring crafts for the women’s retreat.  I just had to try it out ahead of time with some left over supplies I had at home and the lyrics from the song & psalm 73.  I love reading into the phrase,  it just has layers for me.

foundation for a legacy

 

This past week we celebrated at the annual SpringHill Christmas party.  It is always such a treat to gather all Michigan, Indiana and Daycamp staff and volunteers together and fellowship, something that doesn’t occur often as we are usually the ones serving from several location.  I love this group of people, for the shared vision and commitment to Jesus and kids.

This year our party coordinator/detail extraordinaire Dina, included us on the fun!  All the centerpieces were made by staff/volunteers and were part of a game.  Guess that Christmas Carol…  Mine I  bet will be obvious to you.  I was so excited to put my ‘O little town of Bethlehem’ votives together I was literally the first one to decorate my table, and one of the first ones to the party.   I tried to leave my hands open as to who would join us at our table and prayed that Jesus would bring the right people to the spots.  Well you can imagine my disappointment when after 35+ minutes of mingling not a single person sat at our table!

 

A little crushed and dinner almost ready to begin, two couples discreetly entered in.  Chuck and his wife, one of our creative duo at Site and Enoch and Joan, our Camp founders.  My fears aside, He brought just the right people, I am so thankful.  Even though we were the closest to the buffet line we were the last table called.  I didn’t mind,  I was in awe of the conversation taking place with Chuck and Enoch talking shop about the dining hall renovation.  Of all the conversations I hear around camp about kids, numbers, revenues… these two were talking about details of the building, specifically floor tiles.

Enoch recounted the 8000 tiles he personally laid in the original dining hall and still exist today in the space.  Talk about laying a foundation for a legacy!  I love that such a dynamic and personal leader was willing to get on his hands and knees to serve a place that reaches so many.  What a great example of humility to all who aim to serve.  Being willing to do even the most redundant lowly projects, that get walked on every day, not for recognition because it’s what needs to be done!   Not delegating just doing.  Something both of these men know a lot about.

I don’t think I could have hand-picked two better couples to sit with.  What a delightful evening it turned out to be, plus the girls crushed at family feud!   To pass on the fun, can you pick out some of the carols?

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“And there, in the stable, amongst the chickens and the  donkeys and the cows, in the quiet of the night,  God gave the world his wonderful gift.  The baby that would change the world was born.  His baby son… And they gazed in wonder at God’s Great Gift, wrapped in swaddling clothes, and lying in a manger.  Mary and Joseph named him Jesus, “Emmanuel” – which means “God has come to live with us.”   – Jesus Storybook Bible

the exchange…

The annual cookie exchange with my SpringHill ladies – always one of the best parties of the year.  I exchanged ice cream for cookies this year the choices were; gingerbread, peppermint, mint chocolate, cannoli and caramel egg nog.  I loved these sweet little pint containers, so convenient!

One of the best exchanges of the evening though was the sharing of hearts as we are able to catch up with those in town for the holidays and friends separated for weeks by busy schedules.  I love these ladies, who they are, what the do, what they believe in and certainly for what they make!  Those moments of exchange as we mingle around the room will last much longer than the temporary sweet treats, and nourish the soul.  Thanks ladies for another great tradition!

Hark the glad sound!

One of my friends stopped by this weekend to show me her completely unique Christmas cards she is making this year.  She saw my Bethlehem print and when she heard this song it inspired her own design.  Each card was quilted using patches of different colored fabrics and she hand embroidered the letters! Wow, way to go June-Marie! I want to be on that Christmas card list :).

the tangible permanence of a handmade book

I’ve had the privilege of creating a custom guestbook for a place that we love dearly.  A place that is all about guests, stories, and recording God sightings.  It’s a place of change, the kind you want to record to forever remember and pass on to your children.

In an age of computers, facebook status updates, blog posts, and tweets, the moment that it takes to post, fleets just as quickly after read.   This book was made to record and to tangibly hold real memories and experiences recorded in ones own script.  It will go in our founder’s guest house and will serve as a running log, I can’t wait to see the first enteries but even more so the content.   I know from my heart that stories will be written on more than pages but the hearts of our guests and staff.  The weight of the book will reflect the heft of the moments.

This year SpringHill launched their Kids Need Camp campaign.  Today’s children, face more media distractions and spend less time outside or in meaningful spiritual conversation.  I love that SpringHill flips those numbers around for every week a kids spends at camp.  Now that’s something to write about.

Live. Move. Be.

^{Acts 17:28}   ‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’

We had such a great and FULL weekend around these parts.  I had a wonderful time, serving at the SpringHill spring women’s retreat.   It is unlike any other camp or retreat we do here, check out what our camp president has to say about it here.

There were over 75 women who joined in on the silk scarf painting!  Sometimes it is challenging to get people to branch out and tap into their creative side, as opposed to following a set example.   But here’s why I think it is so important, we are all created as unique individuals with a unique story and unique song inside of us.  I tried to challenge the ladies to work from their own heart and make their scarf an extension of that place they are at.  I am amazed at the diversity of each design,  truly we are made by a Creative God!

That being said it was awesome seeing each unique painting offering a glimpse of the individual story of the woman at work behind it.    I hope you enjoy  the pictures and I hope I get to lead another craft at our Fall retreat this year!

September 30 – October 2  with  Liz Curtis Higgs & Alanna Story

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pressing on through winters ride

Hosea 6:2-4

After two days he will revive us;
on the third day he will restore us,
that we may live in his presence.
Let us acknowledge the LORD;
let us press on to acknowledge him.
As surely as the sun rises,
he will appear;
he will come to us like the winter rains,
like the spring rains that water the earth.”

 

This weekend I was a camper at SpringHill for the first time!  I dared to attend a winter teen retreat with the junior highers from our church, which proved to be a great time.  What a great weekend of refreshment and a chance to view this place from a new perspective.

I also conquered a new first – I went on a winter trail ride.  I actually have never ever been on a trail ride ever, so to do it in winter was even more daunting for me.  I am not a big fan of horses to begin with the size, strength and their will, slightly frightens me, when I am on and off them.  The snow added another obstacle and another burden (me being the first) for the horse, as it trusted the guide and other horses traveling in front of it to step in the right spots down the right path.

My girls love horses, we visit the barn often in the summer. I have paid little attention in the past to their bodily change for the seasons, all the horses seemed larger and harrier then I remember.  While this seems like an odd detail to focus on, it struck me that their bodies ready themselves for the long season ahead, and they are most likely oblivious to the change.  By contrast we know the taste of each season, and long not only with our bodies but our whole being for what comes next.  We are not created to passively wait for change but ready ourselves by reading the word and putting our faith into action.

As surly as the sun rises he will appear, let us press on to acknowledge him, that he will revive us, restore us, that we may live in his presence.