Down Mulberry Lane

I am back.../campmeeting

I just thought I'd mention quickly that I have gotten back from our vacation.  Campmeeting was wonderful.  I spent my mornings with my little one in cradle roll.  My afternoons were spent at two classes by Hans Diehl on health while Dh watched Paige.  And the evenings we three spent at the evening meetings.  The older girls had their own classes that they attended.  All enjoyed campmeeting. 

Megan was in earliteen and most of her meetings were on health.  She LOVED it... I thought it was quite interesting that she enjoyed it so much.  I think their theme was Shine for Jesus.  Some parts were on witnessing, but most on how to give your life to Jesus and how to shine for Jesus.  She learned what cigarettes do to your lungs.  She learned about dandelions and some on food choices.  She loved her teachers and enjoyed the singing and all the activities.  The activities were changed a bit from past years, but that didn't bother the kids much.  Megan didn't miss the ball game, she never wanted to go anyways.  And while they still went to V. Fair, Megan opted not to go.  She gets sick on long car rides and was hesitant to once again climb into a bus full of stinky kids.  *grin* 

Chelsea was in Youth and enjoyed her classes.  She said they were very real.  Not way out there as past meetings have been.  They talked in the mornings in small groups and had specific discussions on dating and friendships and witnessing and things like that.  She said they had good discussions and everyone in her group really was honest and the leaders were well appreciated.  She said she even commented on a few things and her thoughts about waiting for the right one... giving your husband something special... not your boyfriend.  And the Pastor appreciated that she was able to voice it without being vulgar, but with being able to make it sound like a "special" way to keep your relationships clean.  The pastors had good thoughts on getting the kids to think when it came to relationships and dating.  We're kinda ... well really close to courtship... I don't like to get in a box and say this is what we are about because simply we aren't so strict to follow all the "rules" some have put on courtship.  We basically follow the courtship principles in dating and really work with the girls to know who they are dating before they are dating.  So far, just my 18yo has been "dating", my other girls are not even ready... my 16yo even said... I am waiting longer... I mean if I found a boyfriend at 16yo... what is that nearly 4 years to wait until marriage... that's WAY TOO LONG (too much temptation).  Amazing.  On the Mom side it has been so neat to talk with my girls and prepare their hearts for relationships... hearing their concerns and their honest thoughts... At times I wondered if I bordered on insanity because of how I was leading them (so different than I was raised), but after their upset outbursts (my friends are dating... there's nothing wrong with dating, I'm GONNA date, etc.), they calm down and rationally think it through and come to the same conclusion and often are more convicted on the thoughts of courtship and I see them sharing them with their friends... they've seen close friends make poor dating choices and they all are seeing how following a pre-thought out course is much better than just jumping in and winging it.  ANYWAYS, the pastors gave each of the kids a fake pearl to represent how they are a pearl of God's.  You've only got one pearl to give away... wouldn't it be neat to give this to your husband and say... it's all yours!  Chelsea thought it was neat.  The pearl sits in a little box on her dresser, now.  Maybe I will consider getting her a nicer pearl... than a plastic one with a bead hole in it!  LOL.  But overall, she enjoyed it.  They did prayer walking this year... on campus and out in town.  She really enjoyed that.  I was so shocked, she is the loud one, but usually more shy when it comes to praying or doing anything in public and she did it.  These Pastors really worked with the kids and helped them learn how to reach out to others and gave them practical things to try and mentored them along the way... terrific.  her class also didn't go to the ball game... Chelsea didn't mind... she only went to be with her friends... she never enjoyed the games.  She did go to v. fair... that was about the only outside activity other than one day of swimming that was off campus and she thought it would be boring that way, but she loved it... really enjoyed her week.  Still is talking about her Pastor's thoughts and now applying them to how they will work for her.  God was there this year! 

My classes with Hans Diehl went over the CHIP program... Coronary Health Improvement program.  I attended some of his the year before, but this year tried to hit everyone, but I did miss one.  Somehow I got out of the aspect that it was meant to improve heart health and just saw the overall picture of improving one's health overall.  As a nurse I had always divided health into categories and even though I thought I understood preventive medicine, I don't think I totally grasped how to relate that to others.  And yet maybe it is because I've had issues with my overall health as of lately that I'm trying to figure out what is wrong and how to fix it and that ISN'T the issue!  DUH!  I shouldn't only choose one thing to get better... but rather make choices to be healthier regardless of what is wrong with me.  I was treating good health like a pill.  Only do part of it as long as I can stay healthy enough and enjoy the rest of my offences until they show up in health disorders down the road.  God created us and gave us the perfect diet... fruits vegetables and grains to keep us healthy.  When meat and dairy were introduced our life expectancy dropped dramatically.  Health problems became an issue and continue to this day.  Good health means good heart health, good lung health, good muscle health, good mental health, etc.  It means I make healthy choices because God told me this was what my body needed.  God didn't create cheetos for a reason... they aren't good for our bodies.  Why do we insist on tantalizing our tastes and feel cheated if we eat the way God created us to eat?  Somehow that sunk in to me and for the first time, going vegan (no meat or dairy or eggs) doesn't sound scary or way out there or even fanatical... it sounds reasonable. (Sounds funny coming from a small farm that raises their own lamb and chickens, eh?)  I understand I will have major challenges in our home as we adapt to eating better, but overall my entire family is receptive of making better food choices... We will take it in steps and our first step is to increase fruits and vegetables and whole grains.  I make whole grain bread, but our french bread and rolls and such have been with white flour... and they are all willing to experiment with recipes to find a whole grain alternative to these items.   Willing by having an open mind about it... before when I've tried, they baulked right from the start.  Give up our white flour cinnamon rolls???  I like what Dr. Diehl said that you are working towards the optimal diet.  The diet that your body runs the best on.  Changes made fast or small, but changes made to eating better.  I saw that not only that, but we also need to have the optimal lifestyle (which he didn't touch on, but due to alot of reading I've been doing lately... I've applied it to the total picture... good food, good lifestyle habits means a healthy person).  I don't want to fix problems one by one as they show up by taking pills and being dependent on surgeries or other fixes that the doctors decide I need to accept and treat my condition... but ultimately never cure it.  What I found out is that health is reversible.  Meaning I can obtain better health and be healthier at 50yo than I am at 39yo by making some better choices and by doing that, I can reverse damage on my heart, my mental health (depression), my physical condition... Wow!  Feel younger, less pain, less foggy brain, less whatevers...  I learned that it isn't about doing it on my own power, but by God empowering me to be more than I am right now.  And why?  Because it will bring Him glory.  If I am healthier, I can do His work much better.  I can reach out, I won't be tired.  I can  also keep my family healthier and raise my kids up with tools that will help their families as well.  Not to my glory, but God alone.   I will share some of the items I am looking at for obtaining better health in another post.  I hope share my journey with you all.  From start to finish in accomplishing better health.  Can you tell I am psyched to get started?  (My family isn't as Xcited as I am, but they are anxious for me to get to feeling better and if it means doing it together... they are OK with it.) 

On arriving home... I found lots for me to do.  I have been busy since arriving back last Sunday.  I still am not caught up.  But overall, I think we will be fine.  The flooding didn't hit us exactly, but it did cause some sifting of the soil and my entire garden has a hard crust on it... not too healthy for growing veggies and fruits.  The hail also did more damage to it than I first thought... we likely lost 50-75% of the plants.   I will likely be busy adding compost to soften things up again.  I am also replanting.  I will give a garden update in another post.  Just wanted to touch.  Several of you have asked how we were doing... and we are doing well.  The town to the south of us has water once again and is functioning again.  I saw yesterday (while going to a dentist appointment) the park hauling away truckload after truckload of dirt.  The city park was completely flooded and it looks more like a sand quarry than a park.  Very dirty, ruined the grass and flowers... and like I said, just piles and piles of mud and dirt and sand.  I see road repairs have been mostly completed while we were away.  Ruts in the roads are filled in and again usable.  Still a few roads closed, but overall, life has returned to normal for most in our area... short of the neighborhoods that were underwater... their homes show piles and piles of garbage out on the front lawns.  My sister got a foot of water in her basement (not as bad as some, but still not good) and it ruined her furniture in the basement (it was a finished basement... the sewer actually backed up in her house, it sounds like).  I will be making a visit out to her in the coming week.  Things are stable as far as her damage goes, clean up is done... she's just got to now replace the lost items.   

Well, thanks for the thoughts and prayers.  I appreciated them.  God is good.  Short of a problem garden, we are doing fine.  

Warmly, ~Melissa

Untitled Comment

10:44 AM, June 27, 2008 .. Posted by safords

Melissa,
I am excited for you! Sounds like campmeeting was very good for all of you and you seem recharged and ready to take on life again! God bless your efforts. He'll work with you as you follow His leading.