Memories and ABCs -- Camp!

Each year at the youth conference, the classes of young women make gifts for each other, their counselors, and the women faculty. . Back in 1999, one class handed out a scroll title the "ABC's of NEBYC." It's a list of things they found wonderful about the conference and wanted to remember. I came across my copy today. Reading it,  I realized how much of the list would be echoed by campers now... or campers back in 1920. Back in 1920, we were called the "School of Methods"; now we are CYC. But name changes notwithstanding, the important stuff has remained constant. Here's that list:

The ABC's of NEBYC

A  Alone with God: Answers: Amazing

B  Beauty: Banquet: Boys: Believing is Becoming: Bell Tower: Block Party: Big Sisters

C  Communion: Commitment: Chapel: Class: Campfire: Care Cards: Canoeing: Curfew: Camp Meetings

D  Dining Hall: Dancing: Desire: Devotions

E  Enthusiasm: Energy (or lack of): Evening program: Everlasting Bond

F  Faith: Fun: Friends:: Fellowship: Fort Williams: Free Time

G  God: Graduation

H  Hasseltine: Hope: Hugs: Holy Spirit

I  Indescribable: Ideas: Individual: Inspiration

J  Jesus: Judson: Joking: Joy

K  Knowledge: Kindred Spirits

L  Love: Listening: Laughter: Life: Little Sisters

M  Meaning: Miracles: Moonlight

N  Nature

O  Ocean Park: Ocean: Openness

P Peaceful: Party: Pines: Possibilities

Q Questions: Quiet Time

R  Railroad Tracks: Raiding (there is no...): Reveille: Raspberry Lime Rickey

S   Singing: Serenade: Silence: Sherwood: Sunrise: Sunset: Searching: Swimming: Soda Fountain: Soulful:

     Smiles: Spirit: Sunshine

T  Temple: Thankful: Tears & Tissues: Trust: Talent Show

U  Unconditional Acceptance: unity: Unique

V  Ventures: Vacation: Volleyball: Vespers

W  Worthy: Wacky: Wonderful: Water: Welcome

X  Xcellent: Xtraordinary

Y  You (the one and only): Yummy

Z  Zany: Zeal

Camps and conferences for teens offer so much. Try it and see. 

CYC, or the Christian Youth Conference at Ocean Park, offers two weeks of Christian community, discipleship training, fun and friendship every August on the beautiful southern coast of Maine. Check us out!

 

Song for Sunday: I Sing the Mighty Power of God

So early last week, especially during the full moon, a line kept coming to my mind: "The moon shines full at His command and all the stars obey." I knew it was from a hymn, but didn't recall which one or any other of the lyrics. 

Today at worship we sang Isaac Watts hymn. "I Sing the Mighty Power of God" and the line was there. So that hymn became today's Song for Sunday. It is a wonderful hymn, reminding us of God's sovereignty. 

Here's a link to an acapella version.

Have a blessed day!!

Getting Organized -- Playroom, Update 3

 With a week to go, we're getting there. We've donated stuff, put stuff away, sorted stuff, trashed stuff, hung stuff.

We are on track with the minimalist game and are feeling like there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

Still not a usable room, but it feels like it might get to be one.


 Just need to keep the energy up and not get distracted. That's happened before. Then we'll need a sustainability plan for the organization of the room so it doesn't go back to the way it was. That's probably going to be a real challenge. Ideas welcome!!

                             

What organization projects have you been working on?

Previous posts on this:


Getting Organized -- Playroom
Update 1
Update 2

Meme-ic Monday: The Library

It has been said -- I found it quoted in several places -- that the public library is the poor man's university. Perhaps it should be poor person's university. 

You can learn about literally anything at a good public library, and most libraries can borrow from other libraries, even university libraries, if they don't have information on what you are looking for themselves. 

Many libraries provide free internet access as well, opening a plethora of online courses and resources about just about anything. 

Libraries even offer classes themselves. J and I have learned how to write resumes and do well on job interviews, we've supplemented our geography and history knowledge at engaging lectures, met interesting people at reenactments, and tasted new foods at cooking demonstrations. J has also learned how to program 3D printables in tinkercad, how to solder, and how to code computer games. On top of learning how to find books and do basic research. All for free. All at local public libraries. 

And that's just a sample. 

Libraries aren't free of course. Our taxes pay for them. Which makes it all the better to use them well to support lifelong learning. 

They aren't quite free, but they are a blessing and a help. I thank God for them. 

So I encourage you to get to the library, support your library, enjoy your library.  It's yours, after all.

I mean, that's Albert Einstein up there in that meme. He was a smart dude. And he went to the library. 

I dedicate this post to the memory of my sister Pam, a dedicated library director, who passed away a few months ago. Her town was better for her educational leadership. We were all better for knowing her. Love you, Pam!

Song For Sunday: Father's Eyes

I had a hard time with deciding what song to use for today's post.

It's been a week since the horrible attack at Pulse in Orlando and I haven't written a thing about that here. Not that it hasn't been in my prayers and on my mind! It has. It's just... what do you say? There are really are no words that would give comfort. And repeating what's been said after each incident begins to sound hollow.

It's Father's Day. My father has been in Heaven since 1995 and I would like to make a fitting tribute to him. He was a man of compassion who was always willing to lend a hand.  A nod, too, to my husband, who loves our son dearly.

Then a young friend from CYC posted this on Facebook:

Happy Father's Day to the only ONE who will never leave me or forsake me!A father of the fatherless and a judge for the widows, Is God in His holy habitation. God makes a home for the lonely; He leads out the prisoners into prosperity, Only the rebellious dwell in a parched land.” Psalms 68:5-6  

A reminder that God is Father.

Putting it altogether and mulling it over, I found myself recalling this old song. I first encountered at a high school revue, when a friend sang it.  It was a real favorite, and a prayer of mine, for a few years.


Now, I share it with you. Praying that God will let us "find the good in things, when no good can be found" and will "find the source of help when no help is around." It seems like that good and helo are far away when there is --yet another -- mass shooting.

Also, that I will have my father's eyes. And my Father's eyes. Thankfully, they aren't too much different.

Blessings, friends!

Getting Organized --Playroom, Update 2

Well, getting there. This second weekly update brings visible progress. Some, anyway.

Still need encouragement and prayers though. I've still got the target date of July 1.

For those following along. here's photos:


Beginning:

Current:

The fact that this is visible progress is testimony to how bad it was when I started. *sigh*

Well, on we go.....


Thanks to my biggest encouragers-- and competitors in "The Minimalist Game" -- who are fellow members of the Christian Youth Conference at Ocean Park (CYC) community. Three of us were students together. The other started attending a few years later. Not all of us are active in CYC anymore and there is some geographic distance, but CYC cements friendships. Encouragement is part of that.

If you know a teenager who would like to make lifelong friends while enjoying two weeks of God, learning and fun a quarter mile from the beach this August, check out this link.

We're also on Facebook.

Previous posts:

Getting Organized -- Playroom
Getting Organized -- Playroom, Update 1


Blessings on your housework this week!

Flag Day.

A couple of photos by Jordan to honor the day!

 

Forever in peace may she wave!!

Lord, bless our flag. May it ever be a symbol of freedom and hope.

 Bless our nation that we might have peace and do what is just and right. 

In Jesus name, Amen

Flag Retirement and the Environment

I have seen a flag retirement ceremony for US Flags that are no longer a fitting emblem.

It involved saluting the flag and placing it in a fire. It was done with care and respect by young boys and teens. It was touching and fitting.

An American Legion ceremony script. reminds us:

“A Flag may be a flimsy bit of printed gauze, or a beautiful banner of finest silk. Its intrinsic value may be trifling or great; but its real value is beyond price, for it is a precious symbol of all that we and our comrades have worked for and lived for, and died for a free Nation of free men, true to the faith of the past, devoted to the ideals and practice of Justice, Freedom and Democracy."

The flag is the symbol of our nation and worthy of respect.

Our environment is also worthy of respect. So, here's the thing. Flags are not always made of natural gauze or silk anymore. Many are made from polyester, nylon, or arcrylic. These materials are toxic when burned. During combustion, nylon releases polybrominated diphenyl ethers, hydrogen chloride, hydrochloric acid, and hydrogen cyanide among other pollutants.

The US Flag Code, part of our national law code since 1923, says:

"The flag, when it is in such condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem for display, should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning."

Preferably by burning. As long as the ceremony is dignified and due respect is shone, other options are acceptable.

Recycling nylon flags is one option. This not only eliminates the production of toxins by burning but reduces the amount of petroleum -based products used.

Perhaps we could revise the code to allow for proper burial in a special coffin,

Really any method of destruction can be made dignified and respectful with the proper ceremony.

Of course, we can continue to retire flags made of natural fibers by burning.


I love our flag. Our love the natural world. I hope to see both consistently treated with appropriate respect.



JMHO and some thoughts to consider.


Have a wonderful day!

Song for Sunday: Escape

I am planning an escape room for my youth group tonight.

Also, my family is planning to watch "The Great Escape"

So, I thought a song with an escape theme would be good for Today's Song for Sunday.


This Enrique Iglesias song has lyrics that remind me that we can't escape God's love, no matter what we do or how we try to hide. I don't know if Mr. Iglesias meant it that way, in fact I am thinking not, but that's where I am at.


Hope you enjoy this link!!

 

Want to escape your routine this summer? Teens come to the Christian Youth Conference at Ocean Park this August.  It's two weeks of God, friends and fun -- on the beach. What's not to love?

Getting Organized -- Playroom. Update 1

Last week's post about my disorganized playroom is the most popular of my recent posts. Go figure.

I said, in Getting Organized--Playroom that I would post weekly updates on this project, to keep myself on track. So here goes.

Here are some photos from last week.

Now this week's photos:

 

There has been some progress. A week's worth? Maybe not, but in my defenses I was away a few days. 

Several bags that had been near the door have been removed and sorted through with stuff being thrown out or put away. Several books have been donated. Paper has been filed or recycled. Things have been stored.  I am not quite where I want to be, but I am on my way.  

As part of this process a friend suggested that we play the minimalist game. Start on the first of the month and get rid of one thing (donate, return, recycle, or trash as appropriate). On the second day get rid of two things, on the third, three and so on. If I count every piece of paper, I am way ahead. Going by stacks and handfuls, I have kept up.  

Keep up the prayers and encouragement!  

God bless you and many thanks!!

Song for Sunday: Prelude from Bach's Prelude for Cello Suite #1

My most interesting uncle --actually a grand uncle -- passed away this morning at the age of 93 after a long full life 

What made him so interesting? His stories. Often humorous, they dealt with his life working, often overseas, for the phone company, his other travels, and his stint as a chauffeur and household assistant. 

That was for a famous cellist, Mstislav Rostropovich. Here the Maestro, as Uncle Clay called him, plays Bach's Prelude for Cello Suite #1. Uncle Clay wasn't particularly a classical music enthusiast, but I post this in his honor, a nod to his varied and interesting life. He'd probably  laugh. 

Getting Organized --Playroom

Every once in a while I've posted "Getting Organized" articles. They've been my "success stories:"

Getting Organized -- Pantry

Something Accomplished (Garage)
Getting Organized -- Kitchen!
Getting Organized -- Kitchen, Part 2



  Today I am writing about one of my trouble spots. Our "play room".(HELP!!)

It's been in this state for years. Since we moved in, except for an occasional brief period of usability. 

Five years is too long. It's time to stop this "yo-yo diet" style 

of organization and get down to business. 

I think that might take some public accountability. Hence, this post. I'd love it if you'd keep after me. My goal?  A lived in but functional room in one month. July 1. If it's not ready by then, I might have to higher a professional organizer. (Which isn't in my budget.)

But, honestly, this can't go on. 

 

Of course I still have my regular housekeeping and spring cleaning as well, so say a prayer for me. 

I'll post weekly updates, to keep myself on track.

What's your biggest organizing challenge?