Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek
Every year the third week of June my family sets out for our favorite spot on God's beautiful earth. No it isn't the most beautiful spot nor the most comfortable. It isn't the best climate either in fact it is usually so hot your skin feels like it is melting. To my family we do not care, we LOVE it.
If you know me personally you already know that I am talking about Central Texas Christian Camp held at Camp Hensel in the beautiful Hill Country. God forever changed my life through that camp and I will be forever thankful. My Dad has been involved in the camp for 11 years and I have been able to help for 6. I helped there the summer I met Joe, and not again until Joe Braden was 1. Joe didn't enjoy Church Camp as a child so he was not interested in helping and I didn't want to go alone. In 2004 my Dad took over the director position and between the two of us we finally convinced Joe to join us as staff.
That week in June was the most amazing week of our married life. We saw what God wanted for our lives. He wanted us to work with children, bringing them to Christ, or closer to Christ. He used this week to work on our hearts, and man did he work! So now every year we all go, even the boys! We have staff there to help with staff children so that our boys will always be involved in our work. They love it as much as we do and it makes for a great Spiritual uplift for our year! Joe always says that God pulled him to camp for a reason and his only regret is that it didn't happen sooner.
Uh Oh Papa gave the mic to Joe Braden!
Bonfire being lit
Girls ready for skit
Camp Sky
46 comments:
awwwww, I just love these times... I hope you all get filled to over flowing and take lots of pics!!! What a sweet time.... LA
That sounds like a wonderfully fulfilling experience.
I admire you tremendously for embracing your faith like that. I think we need more people like you in the world.
That's awesome!
Looks like a great time is had by all! What an awesome place to grow and fellowship!
Blessings!
LOVE that sky shot! happy PSF
How great that you all have a family camp to attend. It sounds like a lot of fun.
That looks and sounds FANTASTIC, even with the temps.
There is nothing like going somewhere that you feel so in touch with Christ.
What a great testimony you have - and what an awesome opportunity you have to be able to steer kids toward Christ. Great post.
Sounds like some amazing work you guys are doing there. Some of my best childhood memories were from our church summer camp. It changed my life! Thanks for stopping by my blog!
That sky picture is beautiful! I still haven't been there.
It sounds like a wonderful experience. What a great thing for your family!
Beautiful moments to be treasured.
WOW - is this camp open to anyone?
I love this!! and "so hot your skin feels like it is melting" SOUND right up my alley!!!!!!
You camp site skies photo was amazing! Great shot!
The girls looked great camouflaged!
Earth
Looks like a great place to be. :)
So much fun! Great memories I am sure!
How fun!
Sounds like a wonderful camp and experience for everyone. Something to look forward to every year no doubt. :)
What a wonderful time and look at those clouds...
Sounds like a great opportunity and great fun! That's awesome that your kids can participate, too!
Sounds and looks like you had fun.
Precious story! I'm with your husband -- I had one youth camp experience and it was AWFUL (and, yes, it was a Christian camp). Your PSF brought a tear to my eye. I love it when God works so sweetly. Sounds delightful (except for the heat-that-melts-your-skin part). : )
What a wonderful experience for you and your family each year.
That looks like so much fun!! I love bonfires!
Great post. That's awesome.
I love church camp! Some of the best times of my life were at Falls Creek in Oklahoma. Those kids are lucky to have you working with them:-)
What an awesome place!! =)
Love the pictures!!
That was a beautiful post and I am so pleased at the way God is working in your life and my life too.
I never went to camp when I was younger, but now my daughter goes and loves it! She is now old enough next summer to be gone the whole week! What will her mother do?! I love that she loves camp and is growing closer to Christ Everyday, and camp is such a big part of that! Thanks for coming on over to my place!
What a great place and what an inspirational story!! Sounds so wonderful!
Have a good weekend - Kellan
what a great time.
Beautiful clouds in that sky!
Looks like great times to always be treasured!
cool, I thougth for a minute there that these pics were from like yesterday and was sooo going to be jealous! Great face paint!
How amazing!!! I just adore that last photo - wonderful.
Sounds like a wonderful summer trip. That picture of the camp sky is amazing!!
Wonderful post. Blessings from Costa Rica
What a wonderful tradition to pass down to your children. Wonderful pictures too.
What a great PSF, some of my very favorite memories are from Church Camp! Fun!
I agree with Chris!
Wow, what a great experience for your entire family. I love the last picture. Very cool that God did a change in Joe's heart to be such an integral part of it now.
Thanks for stopping by my blog!
It sounds wonderful there. I love that 3 rd photo!
Ooh.. we love the Hill Country, too!
Thanks for visiting me earlier this week.
Have a great weekend!
That looks like a lot of fun!
Well, I clicked on your blog link from a comment you made somewhere else... because I'm not super mom either... this camp sounds great! Central Texas... at least you were honest about the weather!! LOL!! lived there for 1 year in the army. nice to "meet" you.
That is sooo awesome, exciting, and amazing that you get to participate with your family! What an incredibly special thing! It sounds soooo neat! Congratulations!
Great camp memories... looks like a terrific week!!
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