Alot to be thankful for!!!

Hey, guys! I hope that each of you had a blessed Turkey Day. I hope that you were able to spend it with friends or family, but if not, I hope that you still took the time to think of how God has blessed your life. I was most thankful for my sanity because those of us that live at college, you know how hard it is to go back to your parents house and be around each other 24/7, so I always have to pray for my sanity! You should hear how people in my Sunday school class used to laugh at me when I requested prayer for that before each break!

Anywho, I just wanted to pop in to say *hello* and to thank all of you that remembered my birthday! Lance, happy belated to you, as well. I love you guys!

PVMcamp.com Brainstorming

Guys and gals, we're in the process of doing a slight overhaul of the PVM website (www.pvmcamp.com). We'll be doing some reorganization, adding a couple of sections, updating some information that's changed, and maybe even doing some redesign.

Before we go and do all that, however, I wanted to solicit your feedback and ideas. What do you think could be changed to make the site better? Is there certain information we could add? Anything on there we should get rid of? How about design ... is it usable and attractive the way it is now, or do you have any suggestions for improvement?

Ultimately, we'd like the website to have a purpose ... sure, it's great to post information there, but that sort of one-way communciation doesn't exactly reflect the kind of relationships that PVM is all about (face it, this place is family). Instead, a warm and interactive climate (as well as some practical use) is what we're going for. Things like this blog and the daily posting of photos in the summer move in this direction ... do you have any other ideas of how we can use the benefits of the web to enhance our community?

Just glance at the PVMcamp.com website then leave any comments here in the Staff Lounge. Perhaps we can all come up with some good stuff together. Thanks!

How about you?

This time of year we remember, give thanks, eat (well maybe not just this time of year,) watch football, chill with family, and watch parades. (this is getting to sound a lot like Christmas!)

I especially like to think about the past year and recall what was memorable. There are more than a few great things about the year that just passed, I realize if I hadn't already; and it's neat to see what others have been thankful for as well.

I'll go first, since I'm the one writing the entry :)

I'm thankful for the friends that God has added to my life this year.

Now it's your turn. Think about it. I love you guys- have a blessed Thanksgiving, filled with glory to God.

A Prayer Request

There are two summer day camps in Cincinnati that need our prayers. The first is held at the Clifton Recreational Center (Clifton is a very low-income part of Cincy ... it's where the riots broke out last year). This building had a fire on October 19th that caused $250,000 of damage, and as of now they probably aren't going to get the place rebuilt before they need it for their summer camps.

Another summer day camp in Mt. Healthy might also be closing their doors this summer. They simply aren't getting enough people to come, and they're losing a lot of money (because they have to hire staff, etc).

Guys, these camps play a vital role in the families of Cincinnati ... many have no other safe place to send their kids. Imagine a single mother who works two jobs to support her young girls: she might be forced to leave them with an irresponsible relative or to leave them to fend for themselves during the summer days. It happens all the time.

Let's cover these two camps and their leaders in prayer this week ... they're going to have some tough decisions coming up. It's pretty sobering to think about, especially as we celebrate how thankful we are God's blessings on our families, homes, and our even our own summer camp.

Free Summer Camp?!

There's something amazing happening over in Great Britain ... the government has noticed and acknowledged the importance and impact of summer camps on children's development, so they're considering offering a place at an American-style summer camp (that's us!) for every British child.

Each child would get one trip between the ages of 11-16 (in the year of their choice). Families with low income would get a free ride, while other families would have to contribute something. Isn't that awesome? I can see some U.S. states (ahem, Ohio) taking note ...

See these BBC and CBBC Newsround articles for more information.

Yeeeehawww

Hey Guys! Sorry I dropped the ball on the supposed "visit" a few weekends ago.
I miss the mess out of you guys! I'm definitely planning on coming up to camp this summer for two weeks with my little sister. Hopefully some of you crazy cats will still be around! If not, I'm sure I'll have loads of fun volunteering in the kitchen--WOOT. Where it's at!!!
I'm sure you've all noticed LSU is #3 in the country! GEAUX TIGERS!! I'm a big Texan now, but I know what's up with College football.
God's so good dudes--He's everywhere...even in Houston, which I wasn't completely sure about at first. :)
I love you guys. This site is excellent.

Hey folks!

I hope that you are all doing well. I miss you guys tons--I mean, I am constantly saying "What up, Yo!" or "Yeah!" You guys definitely corrupted me this summer! *S* Turkey Day is almost approaching, so I want to wish each of you a Happy T-giving, and for you to use that time to count your blessings! We serve a MIGHTY God, so take a few moments to think of what God has done in your life and what He has meant to you. You'll be surprised at just how blessed you REALLy are! I love you guys--God Bless!

Val's 2002 PVM Pics

I just ran across this website of PVM photos taken by our very own Valerie Peeler.

Val's been a camper at PVM longer than most of us have known it existed, surviving all those tee-pee spiders, the occasional camper conflicts, "forbidden" cabin prank wars, the progression of camp themes, and all of us crazy counselors.

Sometimes it's hard to really understand the camper experience (probably because I'm so old). But God is doing a work in their lives, and it's neat to see small examples of how He's used PVM to do his thing. Thanks, Val.

Perhaps we can encourage them to share more of their stories and experiences. But how? Is there a way we can do this here? We have those camper evaluations on paper that we get in the mail every year ... I suppose we could post some of them here, as we run across good stories and such. But it would be great to have direct input from the campers ...

hey guys... this is pretty cool.

belay on!

this is for the staff locals out there...last chance of the year to help belay our wonderful hawk's nest, catch some zippers, and watch some ants fall off a log. we need a few helpers this saturday November 22 for climbing and challenge course from 1-3 and zip 3-5. any takers?

What A Corndog.

You'll like this one

I run a junior high club up here in 'ole MI and on more than one occasion I have had a kid get excited at the prospect of being able to share a joke with me.

Of course you have no idea what the joke was, so I shall enlighten you. It begins with these two muffins that are hangin' out in a microwave, see...

I think they will never stop telling me the joke because it gets me laughing a good minute each time- I'm sure I do wonders for their egos :-)

i'm blogging...heheheheehe

Whoever started this had a wonderful idea!! What a great way to keep in touch with everyone!!
I have to keep this blog short...its time for bed soon!! I have one question though....I keep getting emails of blogs, but nothing is on them...can anyone help me out with this? -julie d.

Haha:)

Steph pushed the send button twice. Hey this blogger blog stuff's kinda neat. I've never been a part of a blog or blogger or whatever. This could be more addicting than AIM. Hmmm.

I'd just like to say that I've been hankerin (sp?) to take a road trip for a while now. Bloggers, I haven't been more than an hour away from Oxford or Cincy in about 8 months. I may have been outside of that radius only once this entire year. Quite honestly, that's terrible. With a wife and kids on the way, I need to make good use of this singleness. ;) Who's with me?

Lisa, I've said it before and I'll say it again: I'd love to visitgood ole TN sometime. When would be good/best?

Reunion

I personally have a very busy winter schedule- exams end Dec. 11, Bowl Game sometime at end of Dec. or beginning of Jan., mission trip to NYC Jan 2-9 as long as the game does not interfere, and then classes start Jan 12. I would totally try to come if I could, but I don't suggest trying to work around my schedule. HOWEVER, anyone is more than welcome to come to Nashville sometime in Dec. if you wanna take a roadtrip. =) We have plenty of space to host people, and my parents are laid-back anyway.

Winter Reunion

Hello all....ok, so Beckita told me I am in charge of organizing a winter staff retreat. I think it would be great to get everyone together again, any thoughts? I was thinking maybe New Year's Eve, but the more I think about it, I don't think that would be good....I would be in Charlotte, NC until late on the 30th and would have to drive all day on the 31st to get to camp. What sayeth everyone else? Anyone have any ideas?

What's a blog?

Hey everyone! I've never heard of a blog, but this is pretty cool. Sarah, I hope your wisdom teeth removal went well and you took to the anesthesia better than you have in the past (I will never fail to laugh when I think of that video....). Aww, I just looked up from my computer and I have some cute pictures from the staff reunion hanging on my wall, and you guys make me smile. =) Ya'll, please pray that I will do well in Physiology this semester, because it directly affects my ability to return to camp this summer. I have to have all of my pre-nursing classes done before next fall so I can start in the main program at that time, which means I need to do well in all my classes so I don't have to take any over the summer. I'm not too worried, because all my other classes are going great, but it's still important for me to do well in this one. My lab final is tomorrow and the final exam is in early December. I love you all! (Oh, and did you like that "ya'll" I threw in there? I thought ya'lld 'preciate sum south'n talkin')

24-Hour Retreat

This last weekend Pleasant Vineyard held a 24-hour teen retreat. I wasn't one of the people who organized it (Amber and Steph were in charge), but I had the pleasure of being a part of it as one of the counselors. And it was simply a blast. Paintball, rock climbing, zipline, jeopardy, the price is right, a SLAM Jam party, panels, speakers, and a hot tub.

Oh, wait ... the hot tub was after the retreat.

One of the neatest things about the weekend was the fact that it (possibly for the first time) merged PVM's summer camp and PVM's SLAM program. Young men and women from both programs were invited and showed up, and it seemed that they really enjoyed each other's company and learned a lot from each other. The SLAM mentors even came out Friday night to meet a lot of the kids and run some great games and activities.

Personally, I was in a cabin with 12 awesome guys. Sure, we stayed up a little too late (stealing pillows, telling ADD jokes, doing "what guys do"), but I really appreciated these guys' honesty, vulnerability, and ability to have fun. Absolutely hilarious. Wanna go ride bikes?

What do you think? Were you there? Did you want to be? Any thoughts or suggestions?

Just a thought...

Hey Lance great job getting this up and running- It made my evening (and that's hard for me to say as I did get to watch a snippet of Pride and Prejudice tonight)

I'm having trouble with a transition here so I'll just jump.

I'm getting my 6 wisdom teeth pulled tomorrow, and would appreciate your prayers and donations for my resulting bedrest and recovery. I have 4 impacted teeth, only two have erupted, and one of the impacted teeth is coming in horizontal (they call that vertical impaction.) I find it terribly interesting, of course, as it is my mouth we're talking about here.

Nonetheless, prayers (and alms) are greatly appreciated.

Have a great weekend- I don't know how web-bound I will be. Oh woe is me.

Getting The Word Out

Hey there y'alls ... sorry the layout of the Staff Lounge currently looks so bad. I was just trying to get it up today, fully working and ready to take posts and comments and such. I promise the font will be much more legible and the layout will fit this frame a little better.

In the meantime, what do you think is the best way of letting people know about this blog? Should we just start posting things and let them discover it? Should we email people specifically? Should we offer money?

about bloggin' time

so this is my first ever blogger entry, i'm so happy to share this moment with you all. good times.

a sarah test message

weee! So there are these two muffins, see..

what's up, blog?

dig it. i'm in.