Leadership Development Week

Our first retreat of the summer went so great. The retreat was focused on cultivating leaders within the youth group. This fall, we will be starting up student ministry teams to create more opportunities for students to lead and serve. Phil has been working to create/establish/continue these teams with our youth staff team. Our week with the students were full of life lessons on leadership, service, and following hard after our Lord.

We got to know students and staff better which was the hightlight of the time for me. Other highlights were staying up late with the girls, getting to lead a trip with good friends and my dear husband (who did a fabulous job and created a intentional time for all of us), dancing our hearts out, and getting to share with others how great The Firs and Camp Firwood is. There are times that I think I'm in high school again, and then there are times I am reminded I am definitely not. :)

The Chalet

We were privileged to check out 3 of 4 sites owned by The Firs. This was our first stop.

Debriefing an outdoor initiative.

Fab Four

Our week was packed, and it was especially fun to get to lead the trip with our dear friends, the Vankers.

Enjoying Lake Whatcom

Crossroads

We have been loving our jobs. We have definitely hit the ground running with a full and fun summer ahead of us. More pictures of adventures in a week and a half. :)

I have finally arrived in Seattle.

I fit in with the Seattle goers with my complicated drink of choice at Starbucks:

One bag Awake non-fat tea misto with four pumps vanilla, steeped for 3 minutes.

Welcome to our family, Solomon!!!

Handsome, wonderful, not-even-24-hours-old-yet Solomon.

We are so glad for your life!



An overwhelming family welcome!


Uncle Phil with Solomon


Auntie Ligaya with Solomon


Uncle Phil with Aidan and Paige.

Wisdomless

I got my right 2 wisdom teeth out my junior year at Multnomah, and I got it done from our family dentist, Dr. Castro. He was Filipino, and practiced dentistry in one part of his office, and practiced law in the other part of the office. I was awake during the whole process, and was thankful for the local anesthetic. I thought everyone saw the blood on their dentist's gloves and felt their head getting yanked around as the dentist pulled their teeth out. All on the backdrop of various legal files. (Dr. Castro no longer practices dentistry or law as far as I know.)

I had a much more pleasant experience yesterday, at Dr. Reed's office. It was a nice treat to be asleep during the whole process. The most alarming thing that happened is that I woke up in the recovery room in bed with a nasty little white stuffed bear, that I'm sure wakes up with most of the patients that go through there. All in all, though, it went great, and I'm out and about today! And public thanks to my wonderful husband that changed my gross mouth gauze, and rotated my ice packs. :)

Changes

Phil and I are officially on staff at Crossroads Bible Church in Bellevue, Washington! We will be working in the student ministry department, and we are SO excited to be working together again in formal ministry. We start June 1st...That's soon!