The first week of camp is definitely one of my favorites every summer. The weather is cooler, everything is new and exciting, we get to celebrate our birthdays & we have the whole summer before us! This years camp theme is "Mystery," based on Ephesians chapter 6, where it talks about proclaiming the mystery of the Gospel. It's hard to believe this is our 4th summer to be at Falls Creek. There are things that I absolutely love about spending our entire summers in this special place, but also things that we miss out on. Our summers are far from "normal" but we would have it no other way! We count it a joy and a blessing to be able to serve in this capacity. I remind the kids when they are bored or tired of camp that this is their ministry too!
Here are some pics from week one of camp.
Helping with decision cards after the invitation is something they look forward to most days!
I made cookies for program staff to kick off week one.
Every single trip we make from home to camp involves another backpack full of "supplies!" =0)
Here is an overview video of weeks 1-3...camp is off to a great start!!
Jonah is loving the top bunk!
He can just barely stand up there...next year this won't work out so well for him!
This is Todd's first summer as Program Director and its going to be great! Each week, there is a guest speaker to help with the morning teaching times. This week, Buddy Hunter is here.
Madison was very adamant about decorating the walls with her posters from home! Wonder where she gets ideas like that?!
Gotta bring The Few comics to FC!
Mackenzie is a huge help and wants to be in the big middle of everything! We are going to have to remind her that she isn't actually ON summer staff yet! =0)
My little buddy...
It's a good thing we get 1/2 off at concessions!
It's a good thing we get 1/2 off at concessions! 
We LOVE our new home away from home!!
It's very nice not having to cook meals in the summers...we do grow a little weary of camp food by week 8, but can't complain too much when I don't have to fix it or pay for it. =0)
Invitation Training Take ONE! (Only 15 more to do this summer!)
Brian does this on Monday and Tuesday evenings each week.
I'm always amazed by Brian's ability to speak to thousands of people. Each year, I think he gets a little more relaxed and used to it. By the last week of camp, I think he could probably do his morning talks in his sleep. =0)
The first of many visits to the gift shop!
Pins, Pins & More Pins!
Mackenzie was indecisive about her pin set-up this summer. They went from her book, to her board, to her towel, back to her board...I lost track of how many times.
We always look forward to eating with our Harrah friends during week one!
Yeah, I actually wore a sweatshirt during camp...it was chilly during week one.
Building forts is always a summer favorite.
Off to do the Fun Run...at least we can say we did it once this summer!
I don't remember why the pouty face, but this kid is the king of pouting!
That's a fake smile if I ever did see one!
This is Jonah's favorite kind of meal right here! He is our spaghetti loving boy!
Pin trading was huge this summer...it seems to grow bigger and bigger every year. Our kids always get a lot of attention because they have a lot of really great pins. We just have to keep an eye out for rotten teenagers who try to swindle them out of their good pins for lame pins. =0)
I had to take a picture of this...the biggest, most amazing puzzle I have ever seen! 10 bagged puzzles that all fit together into a 40,320 piece puzzle! And you know what they were doing with it? Giving one puzzle piece to each camper this summer, as an illustration. I could hardly stand it!! =0) I looked on Amazon and I think this puzzle is nearly $300...so we won't be buying one for our house anytime soon...but how fun would this be to put together?!
Good Morning, Sunshine...
Week one Ministry wives fellowship...Angela jumping in and getting things going.
Oh how I love them!!
I am having a hard time with how grown up she is all of a sudden!
Getting mail at camp is a big deal! Mrs. Garner mailed Jonah a letter and he was so excited to get it!
Poppa & Louise also mailed the kids cards with $5 to spend on ICEE's and ice cream!
(Don't have a pic of Mack's card, but she got one too!)
I don't remember if Jonah drew this, or if Owen drew it for him, but he was very proud to display it on his bed! We are all VERY excited and looking forward to the McConnell's visiting camp in a few weeks!
I love the way this GoStudents display looks!
Playing Jenga in a cabin we visited for lunch one day.
Again, why does she have to look so grown up?
"Look Mommy I made a cross!"
This was at the Rancho Village cabin, where we stayed with Idabel our very first summer at FC when I was pregnant with Mackenzie. The church staying there this week had a huge stash of sunglasses and let the kids all pick out a pair. They thought this was great fun!
Happy Birthday to us!
They are pretty packed into this little room, but I am so thankful for it! 
And that's a wrap on week one!
Brian and I spent the night Friday night while the kids were with G-Ma. We slept in Saturday morning and woke up to a lot of rain, before driving to Texas for Katie & Marc's wedding. 
