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!