I love PSP. I can already tell that I am going to want to come back next year. We'll see how that goes later in the year, but in the back of my head---it is my yearning.

I have 1st graders, sweet...sweet first graders. Old enough to be somewhat independent at a day camp, but just young enough to want to be around you all the time. I love them a lot.

I can tell I will learn a lot this summer. I have so many people to learn from.

1. I have the Lowerys, I mean obviously. I have been learning a lot from Karla for the past 11 years and some from Kerry too. Ive already learned a lot since I have been here and I love it. They are amazing people and I am so happy in the choice that I made to stay here at their house instead of at the college. I have stress free nights with no expectations...I can go to sleep at 9 or I can go to sleep at 1. And I know I am safe and taken care of.

2. The staff of PSP. Mostly due to their leadership with kids. The way these people deal with these kids. Its amazing. Giving me a little insight to what teaching will be like for me in the future. How I can give the kids more power in their choices, instead of just choosing for them.

3. The PUMP kids. These kids would probably give me their heart out of their chest and trust me to reattach it for them, correctly. I dont think I have felt as much compassion as i do to these kids.....I mean, I have been here three Sundays, and every single one I have had a child in my lap during "service". First Sunday, it was Malachi (Malli), then it was Kezia, and then the next Sunday it was Miss Michal. All girls are sweet and amazing. And Catilin (seen below) loves to sit with her mommy during service, but is a leach at other times. But, I wouldnt trade it for the world.

4. Most importantly, I have opened myself to be taught by the Lord this summer. I am here for a reason. I know I am....God wanted me here and I will be open to lessons no matter how tired I am and no matter how long the days get...I will be open to His lessons.


For you West Houston people, PUMP is definitely a different kind of church than what we are use to. In many ways, I like PUMP more than West Houston. I love the fact that kid's are the focus of the activities. I like the fact that you are so close during service that you HAVE to get to know the person next to you. I do miss the "old school" singing of West Houston, but we did a kinda Circle Of Love on Wednesday night...something amazing to hear my two favorite voices sing the songs that tug at my heart strings.

I miss home. I will not lie. If you are reading this and you are from Houston, odds are that I miss you a lot.

I am going to try my darndest to keep this thing updated!!!

Sometimes, it is little faces like these that make it all worth wild. No matter how much I may miss home later this summer, I can look at the faces of PUMP kids (like sweet Caitlin) and the kids that will be in my PSP group and I know I will be fine because their faces will remind me of why I am here :)

Today was a good day. Mt Hood was AMAZING this afternoon. I dont think you evevr get sick of it's beauty :)

Well, here I am. Sitting in the living room (at the Lowerys) sitting at a place that feels kinda like home. Any apprehensions and fears that I have were thrown out the window when I saw Karla and Kerry in the airport. I love it here and I feel that I am just at another home. I love them a lot and couldnt imagine staying anywhere else this summer.

This weekend was Amazing. To me, there really is no other word to describe it. For you Houstonians, the interns and staff went on a retreat to camp Yamhill here in Oregon. It was beautiful. Think about any camp you go to in Texas (or even Oklahoma)and multiply the beauty by like a million and you MAY have Camp Yamhill. But not just the beauty of the place amazed me, but the the beauty of the chemistry that the interns have with eachother as we interacted in so many circumstances. We went through a ROPES course that tested all of our strengths and weaknesses, even though we may not have accomplished the goal set before us by the guide, I beleivev we reached many more goals that will be more important in the long run for the summer. We had fun and it was amazing. I kinda hated to leave...but the next step is PSP and I know that is what God brought me here for and I cannot wait to embark on a new spiritual, emotional, and mental journey.

I miss home some. I wont lie. I miss my parents and I miss Susan and the girls. I miss my best friend that is in Kansas too, but I thank God that my missing has not overwhelmed me and my actions. I do not even think about it until night time when things get quiet, and still, it is not an overwhelming feeling. I do feel a little lost not being a part of the West Houston VBS, but I know it is in good hands and that those kids are learning all that they can learn from the people involved.

Here are a few pictures of this weekend: