A few things I have noticed!

Number one - Canadian's must love Heinz ketchup as much as I do - check out the size of their ketchup packets. I took it next to a hotel card so you could see the size. They are amazing!!!

The second thing - is that most all the houses that I have seen in Maine and in Canada are made of Cedar siding - I wonder if there is a reason - maybe I should google it - or maybe you know the reason already and you just want to message it to me. Either way I still find it interesting.

And lastly - the signs here in Canada are funny! Do you really need a sign to tell you what to do with dog doo doo - isn't it obvious? I guess that we have obvious signs as well - I just found this one humorous!

Back Road Adventures

The quickest route from Bar Harbor to St. John New Brunswick was quite the secluded roadway. We took route 3 then 178 (I think) and then got on Route 9 to Canada. Along the way we had great conversation, much of the conversation included laughter about crazy things that we saw along the way. These sites were so funny to us that we actually stopped in the middle of the road, turned around and drove back just to take a picture. You may or may not find them funny, but just picture yourself driving and looking out your window to see these things.

These are the top four....

Seriously this is one of our favorites...there were no houses for miles, just a road with spruce trees on both sides, then this marsh area....with dead trees every where... there isn't even room to go "swimin" oh my! Seriously!

The second site was this mailbox. Joel found this hilarious! I found it even more funny when we looked at the road after the mailbox - again you must remember that there were no houses for miles.





The third sighting was an outhouse... in a field - with nothing around it - seriously nothing!














And our last sighting - a drilling truck...on a pole in someone's front yard... across the road there were four or five old tractors on poles. And I thought the pink flamingoes in our neighbor's yard were a bad lawn ornament!

















These were just a few of our favorites. Also last night upon arriving in St. John NB - we went to the Reversing Falls and had dinner overlooking this phenomanon where the water actually changes directions - while we were there the current was going in both directions creating whirlpools. Check out www.joelsnyder.net to read about that.

Acadia National Park

Majestic - that is the word that I would use to describe the sites that we saw yesterday. We decided to do an audio tour - it cost $12.95 and it was well worth it - if any of you are coming to Maine we would be happy to share it with you. It let us drive at our own pace and explore as we wished. It was an amazing day - it took us about 5 hours to go through the park. We took a couple little hikes and saw some amazing things that God created. I don't know how you can look at this park and not believe in a God that created this world! Wow - it was amazing. To get a slide show of our trip check out Joel's Blog www.joelsnyder.net It is a video slide show with music and everything. I will just include a couple of my favorite picks of the day. Also check later on facebook for all my pictures.

Vacation - 2010 Maine/Nova Scotia

We have arrived! I took us a bit longer than we anticipated...however, part of the reason is that I really wanted to take the Route 1 Coastal scenic route - at least for a little while.... the view of the ocean was well worth the added three to four hours of our trip. We finally got to Bar Harbor around 7:30 to find our hotel to be top notch! Our pool is on the Ocean - so cool! Can't wait to go for a swim tomorrow - and take a tour of Acadia National Park! Check back for more about our trip!

A tasty treat at Knoebels

Last Friday was WGRC day at Knoebels. It was a perfect day - a nice breeze, the rains held off, and we enjoyed countless hours of music to honor the Creator! During the day the girls that won the Get Real Talent Competition showed their skills, and boy were they awesome!!!

Well later in the day was my time in the spotlight or should I say moment of madness! Because of a little competition I had to get a pie in the face in front of hundreds of onlookers!

Check out the picture, especially if you weren't there to enjoy the fun!

Group Workcamp Variety Shows

Throughout the summer I was able to be a part of four different variety shows at workcamp - each one was drastically different, but utterly amazing! Check out this video of some dueling violins from Brighton TN workcamp.

Check out this other video of what happens when you don't have enough people sign up for the variety show at Scranton Workcamp

Lights out

These girls rock

Check out this sweet lights out video from my sweet crew this week.

MC - Suspect Reporter!

Camp is going well! From the camping standpoint - we seem nice and protected inside the walls of our school, but the outside world seems a little sketchy! I may in fact have a first as an MC. Sunday afternoons it is my job to welcome the campers by sitting at the end of the school by the road with a bright yellow welcome sign (as seen here) and as I was sitting there I was a little nervous I am going to be honest (we aren't in the best part of town) and I saw this guy who was hanging around and it seemed a little odd, but I wasn't going to leave my greeting post. He then left for a few minutes across a field came back and as I was greeting - he disappeared.... about 30 minutes later - the cops showed up at my post and asked me if I had seen a guy with a black hooded sweatshirt - I HAD!!!! Oh my - he just robbed the convient store about 150 yards from the school! And I was a witness - never in my life did I ever imagine such an experience at workcamp! We have also had some other fun times, which I won't mention at this time, but I would be happy to share the stories!

Rochester Workcamp - Work it like it's your job!

Having fun visiting the sites today - check out this cool video that our song leader Michael took while we were hanging out with our new friend Kevin.

Learning cool apps

This has been an apple iPhone filled day!

Brighton Workcamp - Day 2

So we made it through the terrible storms of yesterday and last night - the sun is peeking through the clouds and it looks as though tomorrow is going to be sunny! The down fall - it is supposed to be a heat index of 110 degrees - that is HOT!

We had a bit of fun this morning as we woke up to a power outage - but it did return just before I got to do Wakey Wakey for our workcamps - for those that don't know that is the fun intercom announcement and songs that I get to give each morning. I also include a fun fact about myself and one snapple fact as well as the weather! Fun times!

Yesterday we learned that the average person spends two years of their life on the phone! That is crazy!!!

Todays fact - Mosquitos have 47 teeth (but I think the ones here in Tennessee have at least 50)

You will have to wait and see the fact for the day will be tomorrow! Bring on the fun times!!!

My blogs may be scarce this week because we don't have internet at our school, however there i is a nice McDs about 10 minutes away that has free WiFi and some great greasy food - that is not a deli sandwich - fun times!

Another Week, Another Workcamp!

Jana is at it again!  This week she is emceeing her third Group Workcamp in four weeks.  In this latest installment, Jana flew to Memphis, TN, was picked up by a staff member and rode an hour or so to Brighton, TN.  Here is a little information from Group about this workcamp.  On Suday, Jana told me she didn't have internet at that time, so I will be updating the blog from texts, etc. that she sends my way.  Check back often to see what all they are up to. 

Group Workcamps In the News!

WBRE-TV did a news story about the Workcamp Jana is emceeing in Carbondale/Scranton! The reporter mistakenly called Group Workcamps "Camp works". But, it was nice to see a number of the campers being interviewed. Follow the link to see/watch the story.

http://pahomepage.com/fulltext/?nxd_id=144455

Music Practice at Workcamp

Here are some of the music team practicing for the evening program. It has been a good week here in Scranton.

Hello Posh Workcamp!

So as I began thinking about spending another week at workcamp - there was a little part of me that was not looking forward to sleeping on the floor, being hot in a gym with no air conditioning, and eating another round of camp food.....however....God must have heard my prayers because, I am living first class this week!

My room has air conditioning, I have a real bed, with my own room, and my very own bathroom!

Program area - large room - pretty tight and not your typical room, we are going to have to be very creative as we go through the weekly programs. However - it has air conditioning! Praise the Lord!

And last but not least - the food is amazing!!! Lots of choices, hand dipped ice cream and real lettuce - that is actually green, dark green!

Farewell Clearfield, Hello Scranton!

As the week at Clearfield workcamp has come to a close, I am doing laundry, napping, and getting all the supplies ready for my next camp which starts tomorrow - that's right back to back camps! I can imagine right now you are saying - why on earth would you do that? You need to rest! You are right I do need to rest, however due to an injury this week of another MC (my beloved Stephanie) Group needed to find someone in two days that would be able to do a camp in Pennsylvania. So that's why I am off to do another camp!

A couple of good things - they let me sleep in my own bed tonight and show up early tomorrow morning - that is a praise! This next camp is on a college campus, so I get my own bed (instead of an air mattress!) And best of all the bedrooms have air conditioning! Praise God for that!

It is a bit of a whirlwind, but I have slept a lot today, and I am soon heading to bed, I am all packed, and ready I do believe! My hubby is off at a game with his students, we got to spend a couple hours together - that too was a blessing! He is so supportive of me and my ministry!

Now as I close this blog here are a few pictures from the week!

We collected 4017 cans of food to donate to the local food bank then made a huge chain of students to get it loaded! Super cool!

Doing my MC duties - speaking each morning and night - oh and song leading too - Jori had to leave early because she is a flex - it was a bit tiring, wish I had more energy!

One of the favorites of the week was our bus driver, is name is Ishmeal and he took several crews to their sites daily! When I was talking to him, he mentioned that someone from one of the little towns called Houtzdale - called his company in Chicago and reported that he must be lost because busses don't come to their town - it was so funny!

Checking in at Workcamp

Jana is the queen of giving out candy and I am sure the kids love it!  Jana says this pic was taken at check in today.  As crews return to the school, the staff interviews them to check their progress, find out about their crews' devotions, listen to "God Sightings", etc.  And, Jana always makes sure there is always something sweet to eat available. 

Workcamp Week Update

This week has been amazing, draining, but amazing! It has been great to see how God is working in the lives of our campers and also the residents! I have really enjoyed being here in a town that I used to live. It is fun to see familiar names and faces as I walk through the halls of the school. It brings back some really great memories! Things are going very smoothly for the most part, a few Opportunities (that is what our director calls challenging times - I love it!) but as a whole great times! It is hard to believe that it is Thursday already! Today is a big day as we focus on Faith today. So if you think of it and would like to pray for me as I present the message of Jesus tonight. I am so honored that I get to be part of God's big picture!


I am hoping to have some pictures up in the next few days! So keep checking back! And a big thank you to my wonderful husband who drove to see me on Tuesday - I am blessed. He is also taking care of the kids (Tucker and Boo), or at least I hope he is! He is taking care of the house and watering my flowers! Thanks so much Joel, your support is the backbone of my ministry! Keep checking back for updates!

Video Blog From Camp

Jana sent a video report about Group Workcamps' Clearfield week!

M&Ms and Tiger Lilies

The song from Sound of Music – favorite things just seems to be going through my head as I write this blog, except instead of raindrop on rose and whiskers on kittens.  It would be pretzels in candy & orange on lilies.

As I was driving to workcamp yesterday – I had a nice two hour drive to reflect and think and listen to music and stand in awe of God’s amazing handiwork (okay well I was sitting because I was driving but you know what I mean).  The two things that jump out at me on the trip here were – the new pretzel M & Ms and the tiger lilies. 

I have always loved Tiger Lilies – I had a patch in my back yard at my Lewisburg house.  They are so vibrant and colorful.  The first half of my trip was filled with Tiger Lilies – it is such a happy flower.

Now to the M & Ms – pretzel one – I didn’t even know there was such a thing!  And they are good.  They are in a blue bag and I got mine at Sheetz- you should check them out!