Today is a gift from God...

What a long day! It's been such a fun and exciting week so far. With square dancing and carnivals, movies under the starts, and concerts and horseback riding; It has just been a blast. I can't believe tomorrow is our last full day. Today I was especially blessed in my program area. I was assigned to young adults this year and that's really different for me. The young adult is usually ages 18-25ish and that's my age group so at first I didn't think it was going to be that hard but there's only 3 people in there that fit into that age group and the rest are even older and they all have special needs. I've really never worked much with adults with special needs so this is where I knew God was going to stretch me. It has been a completely different experience because I'm usually in the children's program. Starting out yesterday I was really nervous and I was paired with this woman who's 34 and has autism. It was really hard at first because I didn't know her at all and I didn't know what to expect. But today went much better and I was able to manage the time with her really well. There's only two women in that program and the rest are all guys. The guys are so sweet and I've been really blessed to see them all get along and build relationships so well. Today we also played sand volleyball with them and it was a blast! They had such a great time and I've really been getting to know the woman I'm paired with in that program better. I'm so glad God turned my nerves and doubts around. :)

My family is having a really good time and today they gave Daniel and name sign and then decided to change mine. I like mine even better now. And of course Daniel was thrilled to get his. I've been having more and more conversations with the parents and it's been really cool communicating with them. Sometimes I just watch them sign to each other and try to take it all in. Good thing in signing eaves dropping isn't a big deal. I'm really enjoying all the time with the kids too! They're so great. Everyone's really getting into the signing too. People are really enjoying the interpreters and everyone keeps asking me to show them how to sign things. I've been teaching John Sahhar a ton of signs too. He's actually getting really good. I'm really happy that Haley has gotten to spend so much time learning signs and hanging out with the kids too.

I always feel like part of the family after only spending two days with them. That is what I love about this camp, the family atmosphere.

Well, it's late and I really need sleep. Keep praying for a great last 2 days and for God to keep using us all to make a difference in the lives of these families. The talent show is tomorrow and Tuesday we're having a church service! :)

Day 1 Bison Ranch

Goodness! I don't even know where to start. Today was such a wonderful blessing. I had the best time with all of the other STM's this morning and when the families arrived everything just kept getting better and better. I know God is going to stretch me and pull me out of my comfort zone a few ways this week but that's okay and I just have to keep remembering to trust Him with it. I am so excited about my family. They are great. I'm not sure if I mentioned it but they are best friends with the family I had last year and we'll be doing a lot together. Daniel and Haley are the STM's for the family I had last year. I'm really glad we'll all be spending so much time together. I think I already explained that my family consists of a dad, mom, and four kids. The parents are so sweet and I'm really not having a hard time signing with them. I've communicated pretty well with them without any of the interpreters help. So far my prayers have been answered there! The kids are great too! It's three boys and the youngest is a six year old girl. You can tell she's the baby of the family and that she has a hard time growing up with three older brothers. I can already tell I'll be spending a lot of time with her this week. The boys from both families hang out all the time and are constantly playing basketball and doing all sorts of games and sports with Daniel. So perfect for him! Haley's been getting involved in the basketball too and hanging out with the older girl in her family. It's really cool to see my family from last year again. It's like we just picked up right where we left off and nothing has changed. I really love them all. And I need to really make it a priority to visit them and their church because they barley live 45 minutes away from me. I am so tired but so excited for the week ahead! :) I've posted a few pictures to facebook from earlier today with the other STM's so if you can, take a look at those. No pictures of my family yet, but I'll try to get on that soon. The mom loves taking pictures just as much as me! Also, I finally got a name sign! I am thrilled :) For me that's one of the best moments when you're getting to know deaf individuals - when they give you a name sign. I don't know how else to sum up today other than what I told Morgan earlier. I was having a signing overload and I loved it! Yay! Thank you Jesus for today! :)

Joni and Friends Family Retreat 2013

It's my 4th year in a row at Joni and Friends but this year is a little bit different. We've started an Arizona Family Retreat and it's up in Heber-Overgaard at Bison Ranch. It's so beautiful here and the weather is great! :) It's so nice to take a step back from the city and see God's beautiful creations everywhere.

I'm so glad that God turned my attitude around as soon as I arrived here. I was really stressing about this trip and I didn't know how it was going to go. I'm one of those people who doesn't like change. Well since this is the first time we've had an AZ retreat I had no idea what to expect. Turns out everything is different but not in a better or worse way, just different. The people are still great, the food is still great, it's still a beautiful campus with fun things to do and most importantly I'm still here to do God's work. I'm so glad God has reminded me of that. I'm already full of joy for the week ahead.

All my worries were instantly taken care of almost as soon as I got here. My room mates are awesome. I didn't know either of them before today and usually that would really scare me to room with someone I don't know at all. But the two of them are really great girls and I already have enjoyed getting to know them. It's both of their first times to any Joni and Friends Retreat so I'm excited to see what God has in store for them too.

Tomorrow morning we finish up the training and the families arrive around 3pm. I am going to have a family where both parents are deaf and they have four hearing children! I almost thought I wasn't going to get this family but then it got all worked out and I did. I'm so excited to practice my sign language with them. They are friends of the family I had last year so I'll get to spend time with them as well. Since there are 3 deaf individuals there are also 3 interpreters. The interpreters are amazing ladies by the way. I just love them and they've been helping me practice. Please pray for me that I'm not overwhelmed because I will have the whole family of six to myself and no partner STM like usual. And also pray for the communication barrier. I already feel more confident since I've been practicing my signing but I really want to be able to connect with the family without having to worry about understanding each other too much.

I've already been challenged and blessed so much and the families haven't even arrived yet. We sang the song Words by Hawk Nelson tonight and I've hear it before but I never really paid attention to the lyrics. If you have the time look it up and listen to it. The song really challenged me to make better use of my words. I want everything that comes out of my mouth to be pleasing to God. I know there's a verse about that too! But I really want to make it my goal to speak more uplifting and encouraging words. I am so excited to see what else God has in store for me! Goodnight! :)

Words by Hawk Nelson

They've made me feel like a prisoner They've made me feel set free They've made me feel like a criminal Made me feel like a king

They've lifted my heart To places I'd never been And they've dragged me down Back to where I began

Words can build you up Words can break you down Start a fire in your heart or Put it out

Let my words be life Let my words be truth I don't wanna say a word Unless it points the world back to You

You can heal the heartache Speak over the fear (Speak over the fear) God, Your voice is the only thing We need to hear (We need to hear)

Words can build us up Words can break us down Start a fire in our hearts or Put it out

Let my words be life Let my words be truth I don't wanna say a word Unless it points the world back to You (Back to You)

Let the words I say (Let the words I say) Be the sound of Your grace (Sound like Your grace) I don't wanna say a word Unless it points the world back to You

I wanna speak Your love Not just another noise Oh, I wanna be Your light I wanna be Your voice

Let my words be life Let my words be truth I don't wanna say a word Unless it points the world back to You (Back to You)

Let the words I say (Let the words I say) Be the sound of Your grace (Sound like Your grace) I don't wanna say a word Unless it points the world back to You (Back to You)

Words can build us up Words can break us down Start a fire in our hearts Or put it out

I don't wanna say a word Unless it points the world back to You