CI 2013, New Year's Eve, New Year's Day/Grandpa's 95th Birthday

CI 2013:
it was an absolute blessing to serve w/ Jape for our 11th/12th family group, Star Wars Episode 6: Chase of the Jedi.

These are my kids: i loved laughing with them. we had such a great group dynamic and i am so thankful God made them all and put them together in this family group.

1. April—i am amazed by the bold words this soft-spoken angel says! you're so dynamic and i'm excited to learn more about you.
2. Bryant—so smart; takes the initiative and gets people to work together. i'm glad i had the opportunity to pray for you; keep feeding that heart that seeks God.
3. Matt—your input and openness did amazing things for our group. there's going to be a lot of work and blessing out there for you. 
4. Michael—you are finding your way, Balong, keep moving forward. i appreciate you sharing because in all the years i've 'known' you, i didn't really know you.
5. Juevy—quiet confidence and leadership. you will do great things. your smile and your face, and your nature were all welcoming. 
6. Austin—my smiley, bubbly and enthusiastic one! i'm glad i got to pray for you too! you were the first to call me "Ate Joyce" which touched my heart because no one calls me that except my cousins. 
7. Kyle—my little brother of the group; he thinks i speak eloquently and i'm touched by how he trusts me enough to confide in me.
8. Emily—my blunt and honest, fresh personality! your full of opinions and aren't afraid to express them. you make me smile
9. Richard—everytime you spoke i really listened. you do so much and excel! God is definitely using you.
10. Josh—it was beautiful to see his vulnerability and a wall break down. i believe in you, Josh!

To be able to open up to them, have them actually listen to me, and to be blessed by their stories and be able to counsel and pray for them was such a blessing. My heart overflows.

Mantras/meditations from Praise&Worship (one of my favorite parts of CI), when God spoke: 

• the battle is the LORD's. there is victory in Him for Jesus has overcome the grave.
• my hands are open and my heart is full.

Praise&Worship was en pointe. Amy did amazingly; the praise team was definitely doing God's work and the Holy Spirit moved just as it did when we had the crazy expensive rented sound, light, and video equipment. hearts bowed and arms were lifted in surrender to a great and powerful and all-loving God. 

creative team was amazing too. these presentations always do great things for God's glory. God, thank you for this ministry. my sister, Jaimee, worked on the videos presented and the CI shirt. 

Kat was an amazing director! she's definitely a leader and does so many great things. i'm glad the godly man she chose was Jape because he'll take care of her.

staff&counselors were a great group this year. each one has a heart to serve God and i'm glad i got to meet most of them. these great young people bless my heart, and i respect so many of them because i can see that their walk is strong with the LORD and they're definitely chasing Him. 

PS: i saw My Friend at CI :) of all the places on the floor he could've sat, he chose to sit next to me. this single event was like, thee coolest thing ever!! haha okay, gotta put the giddiness away because it makes me look hecka stupid. 

At Brenda's:

after getting back from CI, eating at a bomb buffet w/ tito jerry and tita joann, i visited Brenda, Aubrey, and Ady Maeve. it was fun hanging out at their house, as always. we talked and talked and are planning on reading a book called "Desiring God" by John Piper. the girls also asked me about the man i wanted to meet and marry. they were supposed to attend a wedding a few days ago and they couldn't recall whose wedding it was. Ady Mave says, "I think it was Joyce's." anyway, i told them i wanted the man i want to meet and marry to: love God, love dogs, love food, love kids, and have a heart that loves to serve God. they smiled. they asked me if i meet him, "Are you gonna marry him?". i told them, "If he asks me and God tells me 'it's okay.'" they smiled again. Ady Maeve told me she thinks i'm gonna meet him soon!! haha fun, funny conversations with a 3 and 4 year old. their birthdays are coming up too; it's gonna be a Fancy Nancy Tea Party!

New Year's Eve/New Year's Day:

did nothing but stay home w/ my family and hang out with my sisters. we ate hecka nachos. watched Pitch Perfect. and today, we're watching Looper w/ JGL <3 p="p">

today is grandpa's 95th birthday! :) #blessed