Among the Pines in the Cheaha Mountains

I have been pondering yet again what to blog about, wavering between several different topics. I settled on one of my favorite places on earth… Camp Mac. It is a place like no other. I grew up there in more ways than one. It was and is affectionately known as my “Summer Home.” For those who are not familiar with its splendor, it is nestled deep in the Talladega National Forest, minutes from the top of Cheaha Mountain (the highest elevation in Alabama.) This unique summer camp for boys and girls has been family owned for 60 years by the McBrides. Campers come for weeks at a time to just play. For four weeks there are no cell phones, computers, or T.V. It is a rare experience for kids in today’s world.

Some of my favorite things about camp: waking up to the bell and falling asleep to chimes, taco salad and lemonade, teaching riflery and life guarding at the lake, scram at rec hall, prayers at vespers, lazy Sundays, fireworks over the lake on the 4th of July, inspection in the morning, mail from home, radio shows while it rained, air conditioning in the senior counselor lounge, friends who came back year after year, reading my Bible everyday, rockers on the front porch of the little theater, being the canteen queen, relay races in the gym, steal the chicken in the pitch black dark… I could go on for days.

I still escape there for a couple of days each summer. My mom is the Head Counselor for girls for 6 weeks; she is the “mom” of camp. She is amazing. I have never seen someone with more patience and wisdom. She is adored there; I am so glad she still gets to go! We have a great cabin on the lake and I usually find some time to go and visit her and to be a kid again myself. I always love telling my friends about camp, but it is such a treat when I am able to show them. I was able to take both Emily and Will this summer. We climbed the Ice Burg, slid down the Wet Willie, rode horses, and relaxed by the lake. Sharing this part of me with them was a highlight of my summer!

Here are a couple pictures from our adventures!

The Reason I am in Auburn

For my second post I thought it only appropriate to discuss why I have come to Auburn. At first I was convinced it was my job, however, I have been proven completely wrong. I was brought back to Auburn to hang out with the most amazing girls on Wednesday nights.

For the past two months, several girls have gathered in Creekside for Wednesday Night Bible Study. When I first discussed doing this, I imagined 6 or 7 people weekly gathering for dessert and a little time in the word. The Lord completely proved me wrong. In my faithlessness, He was faithful. We have come to average 15 to 20 girls a week, and it isn't the number that surprised me, but rather their commitment to take what we have learned through the Psalms and apply it to their walk's with our Savior and their daily lives. We have enjoyed some great dessert, coffee, and fellowship, but I think we can all say we were abundantly surprised to see the Lord bless us with such amazing community this summer. Thank you girls for showing me why the Lord brought me back to Auburn. The reason is in each meeting Wednesday night through what you teach me! And Jesus said, "For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them."

Here are a few pics of these precious girls... notice the white fluffy animals are not rats, but rather Roxie's really cute puppies. They also are a regular at Wednesday night community!

Multi-subject First Post

I must say I am skeptical to begin this blog. First, I don’t have kids nor am I married, which seems to me to be the highest percentage of bloggers. However, Courtney Green and her very wise and thought provoking blog have convinced me that I will enjoy it. I have toiled over the first subject of my first post. I have entertained several ideas, but none stood out as the “one!” So, I have decided to have a multi-subject first blog entry; none of which are highly interesting, but all are constant happenings in my life.

1. Katherine and Robert
I told her she was going to be my first post, and she did not believe me. This is to prove her wrong. Here are a couple of pictures to reminisce from the old days and a recent shot from their latest adventure as a COUPLE! Blessings to you both as you embark on long distance dating!! I coundn't be happier for you. Love you KK... hope you don't kill me, but my word is my word. Let your yes be yes and your no be no.

2. West Wing

I am obsessed! I cannot wait to crawl into bed and find out the latest from the White House. I am currently on season 2 and am waiting for Donna and Josh to confess their undying love for one another. I am also in complete agreement with Chris Musgrove that this is some of the greatest television ever written. I can’t decide what about it that is so entertaining; I have come to the conclusion that my combined love for Jackie Kennedy, politics, Washington D.C. and the movie The American President have fueled my love for this television masterpiece.3. Faith is not a Feeling
I was given the most wonderful book, Faith is not a Feeling by Ney Bailey! With my best friend being in EA for a year, it made it difficult to always encourage each other over the phone, so she bought this book for me. I hesitated to start this book because I was in the depths of a very mind boggling Danielle Steel book. Ha. I did however take the plunge. It has been life changing, something DS will never be. So that this post won’t go on forever, Ill leave you with my favorite part:

“But as strong and fluctuating as my feelings are, God’s word is: Truer than anything I feel, truer than anything I experience, truer than any circumstance I will ever face, truer than anything in the world. Why? Because heaven and earth will pass away but God’s word will not. This means that no matter how I feel or what I experience, I can choose to depend on the Word of God as the unchanging reality of my life.”