"Whatever!": Youth Retreat 2011

This past weekend I had fun hanging out with around 25 middle school and high school students and some cool adult leaders at our annual fall youth retreat. In the past, it's been in mid-September. But this year, it was later and cooler (not just weather-wise).

One student "just happened" to bring this notebook with her .....

and here's our study guide for the weekend. We studied Phillipians 4:8 which says, "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things."

We had a fantastic time. It was really hard to pick out photos for this post as I took nearly 400 of them. We did many team building exercises.

WEBMASTERS!

carpetball

tetherball

volleyball

searching for a lost contact lens...they found it

soccer with a football

can't remember the name of this game

making shapes with our bodies. This is the state of North Carolina. Can't you tell?

a 3D turkey

talent show...

It's tradition for the youth leaders to do "Pea Soup." (military style)

I'm seen by the doctor (my REAL doctor, actually).

(TV evangelist style...I was healed)

a group of guys harmonizing by the campfire...sweet

another shot of the gang

We had an awesome weekend away on the youth retreat! Wonder if I'll return next year? Hayden will be in the youth group (gasp), so I'm still not sure if I'll continue as a leader. "Whatever" happens is in God's hands.

Hayden's "Annie" Highlights

Last weekend Hayden was in Lexington Youth Theatre's production of "Annie". The cast and crew did a fantastic job!

Here are a few pictures of Hayden on stage:

After the show...


Coming in March...."Annie Get Your Gun"....

"Wine"ding Down

I got to get away last weekend with some girlfriends. We call ourselves the GGs, which is short for Girlfriends Gathering.

We traveled to Laurel Springs, which is in the North Carolina mountains of Allegheny county.

We spotted many Christmas tree farms and passed several trucks loaded down with frazier furs to sell. I kept thinking, no wonder my last real tree died before Christmas....it must've been cut down the first weekend of November.

In the evenings we cooked and had supper together and played the Wii. We didn't have to compete with children or husbands for our turn with the wiimote.

We made some GG glasses for nightly toasts. Some of the ladies quilted or crocheted...I read.

Saturday afternoon we visted two local wineries for wine tastings. I'd never been to a wine tasting before.

Saturday evening we sat on the deck with our glasses of wine and watched the sunset.

I'm grateful for the opportunity to spend time with some friends and thankful for JJ's willingness to be on the go with the children all weekend. I am blessed!

Fall Festival Fun