Preparing . . .

Every morning I read from Beth Moore's book, Praying God's Word.  Knowing what I'm doing today, Sam and I both thought it was apt:

"Our bridegroom sometimes leads us to difficult places,

but we can trust him to have purpose in our stay and never to forsake us."

Then it goes on:

"You say to me, Lord, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."  Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Your power may rest on me (2 Cor. 12:9).  You will never leave me, Lord.  Never will you forsake me (Heb. 13:5).  You are the only absolute guarantee I have in all of life.  Help me cling to the one thing I can never lose."

And now we're off!  To Him be the glory!

Finally - Wedding Related Photos!

Here they are - the pictures I know you've been waiting for:

Beautiful Bridal Helmet

Glowing Groom Helmet

Calvin and LeeAnn

Sam and Bossie at the wedding

Margo and Bessie at the wedding

 

Lost and Found

The phone rang just as we sat down for lunch today.  Sam answered it.  It was my supervisor at the Y.  Barbara had a question about lessons this fall, but before she asked she wanted me to know that a phone had been left on her desk this morning.  When Matt came in to the office on rotation, he asked, "What's my mom's phone doing on your desk?"  No one knows - or is at least telling - how it got there, but my old phone is back.  Unfortunately, I like my new one more . . .    

Thankful Thursday and more . . .

Micah and I had the best time Monday afternoon decorating helmets for Calvin (our former course manager) and LeeAnn (who he met at Sand Creek).  When they showed up at Sand Creek on Thursday with their bridal party, I handed LeeAnn the bag holding her helmet first.  She opened it and simultaneously began to laugh and weep tears of joy.  Micah had used a simple blue and white theme and decorated that helmet with classy feathers and glitter pom poms.  It was the best!  

Mark handed Calvin his bag and as he pulled out his helmet, we all began to laugh.  I had used neon feathers and glitter pom poms and it was quite obnoxious!  He loved it!

I was very thankful for a daughter who created helmets with me and for two friends who were blessed with our creativity (or lack thereof).  It was a joy to be at their wedding last night and celebrate with them.

Sadly, all the pictures I had taken of the helmets are now gone so I can't share them with you.  My phone was one of two phones stolen from staff at the Y this morning.  When I think of all the pictures I've lost and all the quotes I had put on my phone, I am so sad.  But I remind myself that it was just a phone - and eat another m&m . . .  

Happy Matt Day, Matt!

Twenty years ago today, 

we adopted . . .

YOU!

The Difference in Two . . .

I worked at Sand Creek yesterday from 9:30 a.m. - 6:45 p.m.  Today I want to share two different groups that I experienced . . .

Gretchen came in the morning with her sister and her sister's best friend.  Never have I ever met any one as polite as Gretchen at Sand Creek.  Hand her a harness - "thank you."  Hand her a helmet - "thank you."  Put on a tether - "thank you."  Take her picture - "thank you."  Gretchen was a delight.  Gretchen has Down syndrome.  Gretchen also had a blast!    

Our last group of the day needed to learn from Gretchen.  They were sixteen people from a wealthy western suburb.  Their language was foul.  Their interactions were crude.  With some exceptions, they were not a very pleasant group at all. 

Take for instance, the lady who tried to zip no handed after I had clearly explained to everyone that because we wore seat harnesses, you needed to hold on with at least one hand.  I turned from the launching pad to the group remaining and said, "We wear seat harnesses.  EVERYONE needs to hold on with one hand.  I have just dealt with two emergencies on the high ropes course and I have no desire to deal with a third because someone is not following the rules.  YOU MUST HOLD ON."

They now clearly understood what they needed to do and did it.  However, that did not stop the whining.  We had a couple from Green Bay who had lived through both rescues on the high ropes course, had had their first three zips and had three to go.  They had walked up the hill just I had finished launching ten of the sixteen.  I did not have enough of the right sized tethers for the remaining six, so I sent Green Bay off again.  And the whine began - "Why do they get to go?"  "They're not a part of our group."  "We should use be able to use their tethers."  "They should wait for us."

I took a deep breath and turned to the group of adult whiners and clearly stated my case:  "I am sorry.  We only have so many tethers of each size.  This couple has been here since 3 p.m.  They waited in the heat and humidity at the high ropes course while we performed two rescues.  They have paid for a six zip tour which they deserve to finish.  Their two tethers are NOT the ones I need for you to zip.  As soon as your size become available, I will send you . . ." (as I thought in my head, "because I can't wait for all of you entitled arrogant people to leave!")  

I know it was hot.  I know it was humid.  And I know that group needed Jesus.  But it sure was hard to be Jesus-with-skin-on for them! 

Thankful Thursday!

Last week at our Ukraine Team meeting Terry and Ben were talking about the book, "Revolutionary!", authored by David Pierce, the founder of Steiger and "No Longer Music".  Since this is the group we will be serving with in Ukraine, I wanted to borrow the book.  Terry lent me his copy.

I am thankful that, no matter how far out of my comfort zone this opportunity takes me, our time with be under the platform of these godly principals:

• God rewards those who seek Him with a desperate heart;
• Audience of One;
• God wants the glory;
• No cross, no power; 
• Be relevant;
• Ask for God's broken heart;
• Be impressed with God, not the scene;
• What give you authority ON stage is what you do OFF stage;
• Commercial success can be a sign of failure;
• You must be willing to step through fear.

Mercy Ships ruined me for the ordinary.  I think Steiger is going to bring me to God's extraordinary!  And for that, I am thankful . . .

Two Family Reunion Snaps . . .

Corey, Micah, Sam, Margo, and Matt

Yes, I can name them all!!!

Dunning's Springs in Decorah . . .

LOL!!!  Somewhere out there is a great picture of members of the Zupke family standing on the stone arch bridge at Dunning's Springs in Decorah, Iowa, taken on the Fourth of July 2017 with this waterfall behind us.  I know it's out there.  I smiled for it, but I haven't seen it yet.  

Hanging on the wall behind my neighbor Tron's dining room table is a wedding picture of her and her husband, Dave, standing in the very same waterfall!

I couldn't believe it!  And to think, I had gone over to ask her her opinion of "Whippey Dips" . . .

Putting in the "C" . . .

Today's post took place at the YMCA this morning.  I had finished my swim and was getting ready to take my shower, when I ran into my friend Erin.  I have not seen Erin since at least April.  April, when she told me that she has been a financial supporter of Steiger Ministries (who we are going to Ukraine with) since she was first married.  She told me - IN APRIL - that she wanted to support our trip so I have carried in my gym bag - SINCE APRIL - a support letter for Erin.  As she offered to write a check right then and there, I told her we were fully supported financially, but certainly could use prayer as I am concerned about the amount of sleep I'm going to get and how that will affect me as I continue to recover from my concussion.  

She prayed over me, right then and there - I was dripping chlorine and she was sweaty - and I know God heard. 

From a Friend . . .

Since my birthday in 2012, my friend, Jana, has had a Caring Bridge site.  She has been battling a brain tumor.  Some days she doesn't feel like she's winning.  Other days are better. 

Yesterday, she sent me this from her daily devotional:

"The Lord doesn’t necessarily intervene as we would like Him to, but He’s always present in our times of trouble (Psalm 46:1-3, Psalm 46:7). What’s more, He meets our needs in a way that benefits us in the long term instead of merely providing a quick fix. The question we should ask ourselves is, Am I willing to learn what God wants to teach me through this situation?"

Spot on!  She's been praying for me since I found out our schedule in Ukraine is not going to be conducive to sleep.  It was the encouragement I needed to keep pressing on . . . and be willing to learn what God wants to teach me through this situation.  

Calvin Beware!

My first two years at Sand Creek, Calvin was the course manager.  We also worked at the Y together and became good friends.  He left Sand Creek two years ago, a single man, for a larger zip-line in Florida.  Since then, he's gotten engaged to LeeAnn who, with Calvin, trained me in at SCA.  The wedding will be here in cities on July 21 and the day before, the wedding party is coming to Sand Creek!  An opportunity too good to resist!  Mark, Duane and I (who all worked with Calvin) put ourselves on the schedule and yesterday we began to plan.  What could we do to make this a memorable time for our old friends?  

The funny thing is - it was one of our guests yesterday who came up with the best-idea-ever!  Sarah was there with three friends celebrating her upcoming wedding  August 4.  Everywhere Sarah went yesterday, she wore this hat:

And we began to laugh - because Calvin and LeeAnn WILL have to wear helmets while at Sand Creek.  Wouldn't it be fun to add some bling to their helmets?

 That idea was approved by the course owner last night and I will have a little over a week to come up with two tastefully creative bride and groom helmets to be worn by Calvin and LeeAnn!  If you have any ideas, please - send them my way!  Decorations, too!

And don't worry, Calvin and LeeAnn know nothing about this blog - they will be surprised!  Unless you tell them . . .

Blaize

Blaize is a new hire at Sand Creek.  He started working there a week ago Sunday and was placed with me for training last Tuesday and Wednesday.  I must have done something right because he came up to me last Saturday when things were quiet and said, "I have something to show you.  Look what I had done last night . . ."  He lifted his sleeve and showed me a tat with two stakes made into a cross.  It was neat.  Then he shared with me the verse that he was going to put with it and it became even neater.  Then he began to explain his next tattoo to me, but he couldn't remember the verse that went with it.  I did.  This time was just an awesome reminder to me that youth ministry frequently occurs outside the church.  To God be the glory . . .  

Thankful Thursday!

Today I am thankful 

that I serve a mighty God 

who WILL provide as I walk obediently with Him

in Ukraine.

Zupke Family Gathering . . .

Two parents

Seven Children

Seven Spouses

Thirty-Two Grandchildren

Ten with Spouses

19.5 Great Grandchildren

That, my friends, is a party!

Missing?

Five grandchildren,

Four spouses of grandchildren,

Nine great grandchildren.

Pictures will follow . . .

       

Corn, Caving, and Cousins!

Couldn't go to Iowa and NOT eat sweet corn - even if it was from Illinois!

Cousins in a cave!

How much fun was it?  Well, Matt had to work on the Fourth and by Sunday evening he had already found a sub for his shift so he could stay longer!

Doing Double . . .

There were Joshua's, Mark's, Rachel's, Matthew's and Micah's at the reunion.  These were my favorite:

Minnesota Matt is in blue, Iowa Matt is shirtless, Minnesota Matthew is missing!  Josh and Corey joined the picture! 

 

 

Minnesota Micah is holding Washington Micah!