Kick off

It seems like, for me, blogging comes in seasons.  Fall, winter, and spring -- I'm full of thoughts and stories to share.  Summer, however, the ol' blogspot is hardly an open tab on the computer.

But as summer fades to fall, it seems Wags' seasonal blogging days are ahead of her.

To kick off such a season, there could be no more appropriate video.  Enjoy:

And may the countdown to Saturday noon begin...

Colorado rendezvous

2 weeks in Colorado looks a little something like this:

my summer has felt a bit like this:

A Glimpse into Wildwood

A brief photographic recap and glimpse into Wildwood Summer Project 2011:

It's all happening

Staff Arrival: check.
Staff Orientation: check.
Student Arrival: check.
Student Orientation: check.
Summer Project: happening.

121 E. Maple is filled.  Filled with 45 college students.  Filled with laughter.  Filled with rich, meaningful conversation.  Filled with games of Apples to Apples.  Filled with sweet grace and with precise truth.

We have a great staff team, who I just continue to find myself enjoying.  We are a totally low-key/low-maintenance group -- which I am loving.  We had a great week of just staff together; we formed a sweet family with one another.  We welcomed our students into an already-family.  And our students are a blast -- relational connections are being formed, significant conversations are happening, and steps of risk & faith are being taken.

Too much ice cream has been consumed.  Wawa has become a dear friend quickly.  I'm wishing Floody's Grill was still around.  Every day has been characterized by sunshine.  And did you know there are just as many stars in the galaxies as there grains of sand in the world?  That's been blowing my mind.

En route...

Tonight the boardwalk sits empty.  

The shops haven't opened, the ferris wheel has been stalled for 8 months, the games sit quiet, and Curly's French Fries' smell has waned to a minimum.

But tonight, I will arrive in Wildwood.
After 6 months of planning and praying, I will finally arrive in Wildwood.  I'll sleep at 121 E. Maple St. for the first time in 5 years.

It seems a bit surreal.  I'm currently en route and I can almost already smell that distinct ocean smell once you cross from the mainland into Wildwood.

If you are the praying kind, would you pray?
Pray for my summer.  I am nervous.
Pray for our summer.  We want to love.  and love well.

 ... In just a few days the rest of our staff team will arrive -- we eagerly await them!
 ... In just a few more days, 50 students (from across the country) will make their summer home with us in Wildwood, New Jersey.
 ... And in just several more days, the Wildwood boardwalk will open, and hundreds of thousands of people will fill the town with life.

We believe not one person will enter this town by mistake. 

May souls encounter the divine this summer.

And may Wildwood make its way into peoples' hearts as a remembrance for things witnessed and encountered.

How You Can Play a Part...

I never thought I would put this on my blog...

but after several blog-followers have been asking, I've decided in favor of it. :)

Some of you have asked how you can be a part of my story with CRU, and specifically support my summer in Wildwood.

     2 Things -- 

1: Go to http://tinyurl.com/3wcl4p5 ...you can financially give right here on-line.

2: If you believe in prayer -- pray.

If you'd like to be part of my summer, part of my ministry with CRU, these are my 2 biggest needs.

Thanks to those who have asked!

Thanks to those who so desire to be a part of my story and my journey!  I am grateful for you.  May you be blessed.  :)