A&J.

J&A

Happy last day of July! Summer is coming to a close and school is coming to an open for most of you...so sorry. But, guess what I get to do today?...Does this picture help? That's Josiah on the left...and me on the right. 

I am super pumped because today, straight from work (please help it go fast), I get to drive to Josiah's house and have our very own sleep over! Josiah is my little cousin, but he calls my Auntie Manda...love it...and he will be 2 in November!

Josiah copies what I say, tells me yes or no, points at me and says, "Stay!", gives a sad face on command, and happy face when you ask for one, laughs and points at whoever burps or...you know whats, gives slobbery, open mouth kisses, and one of the favs...when he stares at me while I'm talking to him and gently places his tiny, baby hands on my face to feel me blink or speak! He basically melts me. So I get to play house for an evening and a Sunday morning at church! Can. Not. Wait. 

Top-Naps.
I was thinking today, that lately especially, an afternoon nap each day would be oh so desirable. I wish I wouldn't have to eat lunch so I could just come home from work and get a quick 40 minute "top-nap" in. My sister introduced me to the "top-nap". Maybe not the actual idea of one, but the name really. I've always done it, I just never had a name for it.
Where does that name come from you ask? Well, this is how...when your bed is all made, and it's time for napping, and you want to cozy up on your bed...you do...but on top of the covers instead of under. You use a lighter blanket to cuddle with and there you have it...a "top-nap". Clever, clever name, Audra. So this is a tribute to all those "top-nappers"! I intend to celebrate this love sometime this coming week! You know you want to, too!

Camp Shetek.
This past Monday marks the end of my summer at Camp Shetek. I had the privilege of spending my few days off of work out at Camp Shetek as a "Kitchen Girl"! I loved it. I helped prepare meals for 70 campers to 150 campers...it was so fun to experience what it's like to cook, bake, and clean up after such large groups. It was such a blessing to spend the little time I could with my Camp family! And to be there with friends for the massive July 17th thunderstorm was a big highlight! I don't think I've ever witnessed one quite like that. One thing I missed most about being out a camp, was watching sunset on Lake Shetek. Those are always a favorite of mine out at Camp. This photo is from my disposable camera when I was in 5th grade...still one of my favorites from Camp. 

Shetek Sunset

Storms.
It's 12:25am and so past my bedtime. Lately the Midwest has been the victim of some AWE-mazing thunderstorms! Humidity has been deadly during the day and the temperatures have been high 80's. Now, if you know me at all, you know I love a good thunder storm (with the lightning and rain too, of course)! They're probably my fav. Tonight was the second of these thunderstorms this week. And these weren't just mild, a little lightning here, a little thunder there, oh no no no...massive, high winds, and flood people's basements amount of rain! One of the coolest, indescribable things happened tonight though...I will try my best to depict it for you...

My parents and I went outside to watch the storm coming. There was no sound, just lightning. No wind or even a breeze. The lighting that flashed lit up the whole sky...the kind that if there would have been no clouds, it would have made the sky look like it was still daytime...we walked into the middle of our cul-de-sac to see over the houses. It was lightning like crazy. It lit up the edge of a dark big cloud that looked like it was low enough to touch. We continued to watch the storm heading our way for another two minutes roughly. All of a sudden I thought the edge of this big cloud seemed nearer than it had just 30 seconds ago. As soon I said, "Dad look at that cloud!" we started to feel a breeze. Soon this breeze picked up to a wind and then gusts that made you lose your stance. This whole time we were watching this cloud move with this wind right past our eyes. It was the wierdest thing...I have seen clouds move through the sky before, but this was different. As the cloud started to float over our heads the wind picked up and the thunder instantly started along with some big rain drops. I had never seen anything like it before. It all happened within one minute. This cloud carried behind it a massive storm that caught everyone and everything off guard. It took a minute to come but it was mighty.

God knows when I need to be reminded of his magnificent power and might. And He knows just the way to do it.

Psalm 18

1 I love you, O LORD, my strength.

2 The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge.  He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

3 I call to the LORD, who is worthy of praise, and I am saved from my enemies.

11 He made darkness his covering, his canopy around him— the dark rain clouds of the sky.

12 Out of the brightness of his presence clouds advanced, with hailstones and bolts of lightning.

13 The LORD thundered from heaven; the voice of the Most High resounded.

14 He shot his arrows and scattered the enemies, great bolts of lightning and routed them.

49 Therefore I will praise you among the nations, O LORD; I will sing praises to your name.