Kaylea Hutson's Blog, page 27

Thought for the night

Wondering what God has in store for me at camp this week.

Found this quote tonight as I ponder life.

As your faith is strengthened you will find that there is no longer the need to have a sense of control, that things will flow as they will, and that you will flow with them, to your great delight and benefit. ~Emmanuel

Not sure who Emmanuel is that said this quote but it made me stop and think

So I'm trying to give up control tonight and instead let God work in me and through me.

I'm also letting prayers for my girls who arrive in the morning fill my head.

Blog Tour: The Best Friend (Review)

In her second book in the "Life at Kingston High" series, Melody Carlson dives back into life at the high school.

Through the relationship between Lishia and Riley and their interaction with the cheerleading squad, Carlson peels back the layers of angst that sometimes surround teen girl friendships.

The story is interesting - in a "non preachy" way, Carlson uses fiction to talk about a variety of issues: friendship, integrity, honesty and  more.

In a sea of teen books that seem "dark," this series is a "lighter" read. (No vampires or werewolf here). However, amid the storyline, Carlson unpacks topics like underage drinking, tainted drinks (date rape drugs) and teen blackmail.

In all honesty, the books are written about high school girls - and the things they will do for other people. Especially when they might have a low self confidence.

On the scale of one to five, I give this book a solid three. It's a good follow up to The Jerk Magnet - Chelsea's story (it introduces Lishia as a minor character.). I know from past experience, the tween/teen girls I work with love Carlson's books. So I anticipate this series being popular as well.

More About The Book
(From The Publisher)
Sometimes being popular isn't all it's cracked up to be.

Lishia Vance is totally baffled. One day she has friends. The next day everyone has turned against her. No explanation. Just complete social isolation. Even her best friend Janelle isn't giving her the time of day.

Now she has one goal for her junior year at Kingston High: make a new best friend.

When Lishia makes a connection with Riley Atkins, a popular cheerleader, things start looking up. But is Riley really as good a friend as she seems? Or is Lishia better off without her?

About The Author
Melody Carlson is the award-winning author of over two hundred books with sales of more than five million. She is the author of several Christmas books from Revell, including the bestselling The Christmas Bus, The Christmas Dog, and Christmas at Harrington's, which is being considered for a TV movie.

She is also the author of many teen books, including Just Another Girl, Anything but Normal, Double Take, and the Diary of a Teenage Girl series. She is the winner of a Romantic Times Career Achievement Award in the inspirational market for her many books, including the Diary of a Teenage Girl series and Finding Alice. Melody and her husband live in Oregon.

Online Resources
For more information about Melody visit her website at www.melodycarlson.com.
Read an excerpt online here.
Read my review of The Jerk Magnet - book one in the Life at Kingston High
http://www.myscrappylife.com/2012/01/blog-tour-jerk-magnet-review.html  
Buy it at Amazon

About Revell, The Publisher
Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group, offers practical books that bring the Christian faith to everyday life. They publish resources from a variety of well-known brands and authors, including their partnership with MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) and Hungry Planet. For more information, visit www.RevellBooks.com.

Note: As a freelance journalist, I was provided a copy of this book by Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group. This review was not influenced by a free book - just in case you (or the FTC) were worried about this detail.

April & May in Review

Photos captured for my Project 365 in April & May. I got behind posting these pics, but I keep taking one photo at a time - to capture life. Each represent a moment in time, that reminds me to stop and smell the roses.

A great photograph is a full expression of what one feels about what is being photographed in the deepest sense, and is, thereby, a true expression of what one feels about life in its entirety. ~Ansel Adams

April 2012
May 2012

Can you have too many books?

Cleaning my apartment, and I discovered that when I piled up all of my books in my room, I've read/reviewed a lot of books this  year.
Can you have too many books - ask my mom and a couple of friends, and the answer is YES.
I am in the mood to purge my collection, but the thought crosses my mind.
How do you decide which books are "keepers" and which books "go to new homes?"
I mean, there's a few authors, I can read over and over again (novels), and a few non-fiction books that focus on different areas of interest - like my collection of Henri Nouwen, Thomas Merton, Richard Foster and Brennan Manning books.... and books related to a variety of subjects I've "dug into."
I guess I need to go through my books (including those not unpacked yet) and look at each one without emotion.. 
So how do you decide?

Flashback: Destination: Joplin 2.0 (2009)

Posts from Destination: Joplin 2.0 (2009)
(A look back at the trip - posts I made on a different blog regarding our experiences)

Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Destination: Joplin 2.0 - We're Here!

Well, we're here, and well, It's quite HOT in Joplin.
(and not just because Anna's wearing the coolest green and black socks ever....but that will have to wait for another picture...)

We're about to head out for our prayer tour of Joplin and supper. Tonight's fun activity is the Kangaroo Gym (kinda like Pump it Up in Bentonville) and pizza for supper.

We had a nice welcome waiting for us in the First UMC - Joplin's youth room.

 We left notes of thanks on the dry erase board - for the youth to find on Sunday.

Oh...before we go....
We have an honorary team member "Flame" (think Fla-mae)....last year's VBS mascot has returned to join the mission trip. Look for "flame" sightings throughout the mission trip!

 
We'll have more later.... 

-------------Wednesday, June 24, 2009Destination: Joplin 2.0 - Hangin' at Kangaroo GymThe only cool place in Joplin - in front of the Kangaroo Gym "Big" fans.....



What your children played on for 1 hr 20 minutes....


More tomorrow....good night....
-------------
Thursday, June 25, 2009Destination: Joplin 2.0 - Thursday's updateWell, we've had a full day filled with lots of adventures.

Here's a couple of pictures from our day....

Morning - at the Spring River Christian Village
Cassie made a new friend - they hit it off during the craft time!


Laura and Flame (Fla-mae) made several friends as they talked with the different residents. One of the ladies fell in love with our mascot.
Afternoon - at the Salvation Army Thrift Store
The assistant manager at the SA Thrift Store was very grateful for our gift - a portion of the Chicken on the Run proceeds. We told them we wanted to support their ministry.
Tabitha and the hangers. After sorting more than 10 tubs (huge tubs) of hangers, into three sections - regular hangers, pant hangers and kids hangers, several of the kids have stated they never want to see another hanger again....

We've finished the day with supper and a laid-back night with either a movie, Tale of Despereaux, or reading - several of the girls read a lot!

More tomorrow. We'll try to post, but tomorrow's wifi time is limited...so it may be after we get back from horseback riding.

All is well.
-------------Thursday, June 25, 2009Destination: Joplin 2.0 - Some Humor Unknown person - "Conner why do you need to buy glasses....are you sure they aren't prescription?" After Conner bought a pair of "non-script" glasses at the Salvation Army Thrift Store. - Her response "they were only a $1."

If you don't go to heaven, the girls are pretty sure after sorting a billion clothes hangers today, that the "other place" is full of plastic clothes hangers....

"I know why Men are annoyed by us." - Tanna after the women's prayer group woke us up with their laughter and "cackling" at approx. 6:20 a.m. - for the second year in a row.....they were REALLY loud. (But we love them anyway.)

"Morning comes quickly" - the random cackle from one of the women in the prayer group, when she saw Kaylea and Melissa "freshly woken up" in the bathroom....we wanted to say, ah, yeah, when you're woken up by laughter...it sure does!

"Kaylea, the moped is passing us.....the handicapped van is passing us...please drive faster." (Among the many comments, as we drove down Maiden Lane this afternoon - note I WAS Going the SPEED Limit!)

"Oh, you can drive five miles over" by Megan after I told them I was going the speed limit.

"Um, Kaylea, we have a problem.....um...um..."(Several girls, after they accidentally locked us out of our sleeping room.) "Just tell say it!" Kaylea's response.....(Fortunately, the pastor was just leaving from an evening meeting, and could get us back into the room....) "It will cost you a tootsie roll." (Pastor Dave's request for opening the door for us...)

"Are you having supper at the Golden Corral? I love to go there and pig out." - one of the nursing home residents.

"We're in room 17,"....A women told Melissa as the girls were wheeling them back to their rooms.... "No, we're in 3" (her room mate's response)....actually, they were in room 57....

"Go left here" (one of the residents told Laura and Tabitha...as she directed them to her room...) "What are you girls doing down here....." a nurse said...."she's on the other side - of the building."

A few other notes....
Tabitha doesn't stop moving all day...or night....she "wiggles" in her sleeping bag all night...and talks all night....and eats a million tootsie rolls....(maybe that's where she gets her energy....)

Laura has an air mattress that "toots" every time she rolls over.

Cassie rolled over in the middle of the night, and we found her this morning, head first in her sleeping bag....we're not sure how or why she did this.....

Megan finds the men's bathroom interesting, to say the least......(Note: we're using the boy's bathroom for showers at night, since there's no boys on the trip...) "wouldn't you hate these little tiny walls with people next to you..."

Anna is an expert hanger stacker...."Miss Melissa doesn't know how to do it, so I have to do it." - Anna.

Adrienne - has been attacked today by a plunger, flamingo and a hanger. It's been a long day. Adrienne "knows" that Conner was behind all of the attacks.

In all and all, though, we're having a good time, and lots of laughs, and learning to serve God through humor, and love.

Note: No flamingos were injured in the creation of this blog.

-------------Saturday, June 27, 2009Destination: Joplin 2.0 - A few more quotes & more"If you fall off the ledge, it's not that bad, you wouldn't die, you'd just break a few limbs...." - Laura, as she looked over the creek/ledge behind Watered Gardens (as we asked her and Tabitha to step away from the edge...Note...they did step back....).


"I've made this dish lots of times, but I'm not going to tell you how many, because it would give away my age...." (Wendy, the cook at Watered Gardens). "Let's just say your 27." (Anna's response). "I like this girl!" (Wendy's laughter filled response.)


Several of the girls would like to foster/adopt a few baby goats.....please mom and dad???.....


"We just got back from riding horses and playing with baby goats, guess what the girls want now..." (Melissa's text to Manville last night.....) His response "Absolutely NOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"


On the drive home last night (Friday), while Melissa and Kaylea could not understand the words, (or want to) we heard lots of "cackleling" and roaring laughter from the back of the van...guess what...we've revved them up....now were bringin' them home!


"Do we have to leave? Can't we stay a whole week...." (The query from Saturday morning). Melissa and Kaylea's response at the same time - "Ah NO."

"I can't believe it's already over..." Tanna on Saturday morning.

"You sure are handy with that camera..." Kaylea's dad, Wayne, as he was leading the horses around the arena...."


And the best quote of the week.....

"Thank you, thank you for blessing me today," - one of the men in the line, getting food at Watered Gardens.

-------------Saturday, June 27, 2009Destination: Joplin 2.0 - Friday's ReviewIt was late when we got back from riding yesterday.....so Friday's update waited until this morning.
The girls worked really hard at Watered Gardens. The organization has a clothing bank, shower ministry, offers counseling and on Friday's, offers a hot, home-cooked meal.

Our girls "saw' lots of things yesterday. They worked really hard, without complaint, to help people in a variety of situations.

Some helped in the kitchen, others helped sort clothes and other donations.

Here's a few pictures from the morning.....




We tried to make homemade ice cream as our afternoon treat - but only Laura and Conner's bags froze or "set up." We're not sure why, but it was a lesson in patience for all of the girls...

Here's some pics from the horse arena -starting with The Crew

My Words: Prayers & Food....

Editor's Note: This article appeared in the June 2012 issue of the Arkansas United Methodist newspaper, entitled "Church near Air Force base reaches out to military community." You can download the original pdf here. The Rev. Naomi Rogers presents a patriotic prayer shawl
to AMC Command Chief Andy Kaiser during
the Deployed Airman Family Dinner, held May 1 on the
Little Rock Air Force Base in Jacksonville, Ark. The
event had a “fiesta” theme, complete with a taco meal
provided by members of First UMC Jacksonville.By Kaylea Hutson
Special ContributorPrayer and food. Two simple provisions that can give comfort and support to someone in need.For one church, the two items have become part of the foundation for reaching out to families living and serving within the Little Rock Air Force Base community.In May, volunteers from Jacksonville UMC combined the two acts by providing a taco dinner, complete with a smorgasbord of homemade desserts, and approximately 225 prayer shawls for families attending the Deployed Airmen’s Family Dinner.It’s all part of the church’s military family outreach—a ministry organized in part by the spouses of retired military personnel and veterans, under the direction of the Rev. Naomi Rogers, associate pastor for military families.Rogers said the church has a rich legacy with the base.“It is fitting for our church to provide ongoing support for the families of active duty military on the base,” she continued. “We want them to know that someone outside of the military cares for them.”Approximately 200 people attended the Deployed Airmen’s Family Dinner, including the families of those deployed overseas and members of the base command staff.Organized by the base chaplain’s office, the quarterly event not only offers a meal, but also brings together a variety of services a family member may need to use during a deployment. The meal, provided by a local ministry or group, is served to those in attendance by members of the command staff. In preparation for the May outreach, Rogers challenged members of the church’s prayer shawl ministry to create more than 200 shawls to give away at the meal.Dotty Heckenbach said this was the biggest project the prayer shawl ministry team has undertaken since its formation in 2005. One member, who lives out of state, created more than 20 shawls for the effort.Heckenbach said the effort was a “labor of love,” from prayers over each stitch as the shawls are created, to the prayers given as a shawl is placed around the shoulders of a recipient.“They are covered in prayers,” Heckenbach said. “It lets them know we care.”Lydia Baldwin received one of the church’s prayer shawls when her husband, Joel, deployed last year. She said the purple shawl helped bring her comfort during a vulnerable, emotional time.“This new church, who didn’t know me, had people praying for me. It was very moving,” Baldwin said. “It strengthened my faith. It’s touching that someone cares so much.”Since receiving the shawl, Baldwin has become part of the First UMC Jacksonville community, and helped with additional outreach efforts to the military community.Rogers would like to challenge members of First UMC Jacksonville, along with churches throughout the Arkansas Conference, to create an additional 800 shawls, so more than 1,000 shawls can be distributed by Christmas.She suggests using a “victory” pattern, using a red, white and blue motif. The design and colors provide additional meaning to the shawls.For more information about the prayer shawl ministry, and the church’s outreach to the Little Rock Air Force Base, contact Rogers at naomi.rogers@gmail.com or 501-982-8176.Hutson serves as director of children’s ministries for St. James UMC Little Rock.

Your Laugh For Today

This cartoon makes me think of the phone conversation I had with Denni tonight as she gave kidlet 5 a shower. I think this is part of his motive.....(although he wanted to take a "cold" shower while she kept trying to make it warmer.....)
So here's something to make you laugh today.Sometimes life imitates art...

Take Me Out To The Ballgame

Sunday St. James Kidz headed to the ballpark to see the Arkansas Travelers.
Here are a few scenes from the event.

Mark even made it on the "big screen"with an impromptu interview.


Just another fun event with St. James Kidz!

Flashback: Destination; Joplin (2008)

As I prepare for Destination: Pine Bluff, the seventh Destination: Mission trip (fifth summer trip), I'm reflecting a lot on where it began....

This was the first Destination; Mission team, students from First UMC - Siloam Springs.


This is the post I made, on Thursday morning - the first "full" day of the trip.

We're here, and we're having a good time.
Today (Thursday) We are at the Ronald McDonald House. We'll learn about their services, help them get ready for their 10th anniversary and make supper for the parents/kids staying at the house today. - We're making spaghetti and homemade meatballs!


Here are a few scenes from yesterday (Wednesday).











We're Famous (pt. 1)

We're at the Ronald McDonald House in Joplin and we're famous!
Two tv stations - KSNF and KOAM - came to interview the kids and Tara (the house manager), about younger students doing service projects.
The KOAM reporter - a recent UofA grad - interviewed Scott, Laura and Elizabeth - they were awesome! You would be very proud of their interviews.
(Who knew that Elizabeth plans to go to Africa.....watch the video and see......)

We'll upload more pics from our day this weekend, but here's one of the interview shots!






Half Way ThroughIt's Friday morning, and we're at the half-way point in the trip.
Today we'll go to the Lafayette House, to do a day camp with the students and of course, the beloved water games.

Everyone is looking forward to horseback riding tonight - a good reward after two long days of work.

You would be very proud of your students. I know I am. They worked very hard yesterday. Trust me, It was a LONG day filled with washing white metal fences, pulling weeds, dusting, vacuuming, did I mention dusting?, washing windows, and well, doing everything that needed to be completed on a Thursday as well.

Of course it was fun, they got to stick their hands in raw meat - to make the meatballs. Even Adrianne and Megan did it - groaning all the time - but everyone can say they helped make some part of supper for the RMH guests.

At both the Bridge (Rock Climbing) and yesterday at the RMH, your students have received compliments concerning their attitudes, behavior and work ethic. They are fabulous students - yes a bit annoying at times - but they are a really great group of kids.

From the answers students were giving as they have been talking about the trip to others - outside our group - I can truly say, the message "Not to be served, but to serve" is sinking in.

The posts may come randomly today. I'm not sure a) if we'll have wifi; and b) if Maribeth will let me back on her computer - they made me leave mine at home.....I'll post when I can; and also when we get back home - so you can see pics from today.

Thank you for entrusting your students to us, and letting them have this experience.


(FYI - I'm moving posts from an old blog, to this one to capture the memories of the first few Destination; Trips.)

Movin' on Up.....

Goodbye 3G, hello 4S.... Saved enough mad $ to upgrade my "old" iPhone.It's amazing how fast the new phone "moves"compared to the old one! 
It's going to make updates on the next
Destination: Mission Tripgo tons faster!(I might even leave my laptop at home!)hum....