LOL.

Aargh!

I have been discovering lately that I have an odd preoccupation concerning pirates(well, treasure, to tell the truth.)

Would any of you happen to know why?

Or perhaps have the same problem yourselves?

New Staff Information

If you haven't yet noticed, the PVM staff website has been updated for this year. It has new dates and details, updated applications to download (for staff, junior staff, and returning staff), and new comments from campers, staff, and parents. Here are some choice morsels from the website to whet your appetite:

Camper Evaluations

"This was the first time at PVM and I absolutely FELL IN LOVE with the camp. I loved the activities and lessons, I made new friends, and I can’t wait until next year!"

-Jane
Summer 2003
Counselor: Esther

"I had a great time at PVM. It’s a great way of praising God and having fun at the same time. It was a so good way to meet new people. Thanks for making my birthday special. (PS. Hi Sam (A+) and Aaron (A+) Miss ya!)"

-Matt
Summer 2003
Counselors: Sam, Aaron, Ben, and Josh (L.I.T.)

Counselor Evaluations

Q: What did you value most about working at Pleasant Vineyard?
A: "RELATIONSHIPS – I remember the people the most. I am amazed at the awesome people who work here and can’t imagine never having the opportunity to meet them. I seriously want to know why the world doesn’t know about the Maynards, because I think their testimony is amazing."

–Lisa, 2003

Q: Do you feel you have grown in your walk with Jesus this summer? If so, how?
A: "YES!!! I know God is in the business of breaking down walls here. He did that with me. I’ve always complained about being stoic and my inability to express strong emotion. I laughed here more than I can remember in recent history and I cried for the first time in more than a decade."

–Mike Westwood, 2003

Parent Evaluations

"Courtney came home from camp a more enthusiastic and more committed Christian. She reads her Bible daily and writes in a journal capturing “The fingerprints of God.” She wants to become a PVM counselor when she gets older because 'PVM rocks!'"

-Courtney’s parents
Summer 2003
Counselors: Kim, Molly (L.I.T.), and Katie (L.I.T.)

"My son talked about his experience all the way home. Told us countless stories about the counselors, religious experiences, and sang every song over and over and over."

-Wil’s parents
Summer 2003
Counselors: Mike and Matt W.

To see more, just go to PVMcamp.com and click on where it says Walk The Plank. And be sure to print out the application materials ... that's the first step to coming back next summer!

*wink wink*

Beautiful People.

Every Inch Helps.

Here are three simple ways you can help promote PVM in the next 5 minutes:

1. GreaterDayton.com has a ranking system for websites and organizations, and PVM is on there! To vote, just go to this website and pick a rating. Also, if you click here (you can click as often as you'd like) it will raise PVM's page rank, making us more visible to any residents of Dayton that visit the website.

2. If you're a parent of a child that has attended one of Pleasant Vineyard's summer camps, you can also fill out an online review of PVM on the Family Education Network (this is a huge network of resources for millions of parents nationwide). This particular area of their website, entitled What Works, also has a rating system.

3. Finally, clicking here will also raise our visibility at the Church At USA web directory (again, click as often as you want/can).

These are small ways that we can increase our visibility in the community ... but even if they help one family find us, they're worth it. Hey, and they're free ... you can't beat that!

A Sneak Peek (again)

Happy New Year

Hola amigos!

I hope that you all had a blessed Christmas and New Year's. No one partied too much, right? I partied hard with a champagne glass of orange soda--I know, I'm such a rebel! *L*

I am excited about the beginning of a new year. I used to see it only as the best way to forget about the mistakes of the past year, but now I see it as an opportunity for God to do something greater in all of us. Last year, God was doing some serious construction work on me, and I am anxious to see what He will do this year. If I keep having good years like the last one, I will forever be on cloud 90!!

Good luck this year to you guys, and all that you are believing God for. I hope to hear from you guys soon. Let me know what resolutions you've already broken! Love ya!

And a Happy New Year!

Stir-frying in a giant wok with 20,000 brothers and sisters while worshipping God through song was how I 'rang in the new year'. Then later on that same day I popped in on a dear gathering of friends named Amber, Shteph, Tiffany, Aaron, James, Lance, Stenger, and Wicker(post-edit~Julie was there too!), bowling for the first time since my personal bowling disaster in May.

Even though Lance and I lost in an intense game of Trivial Pursuit (if anyone was wondering, it's called 'trivial' because if it isn't trivial that 2.6 million pharmacists complained about 380,000 doctors handwriting in 2001 was in the country of China, I don't know what is) we all managed not to get too upset when Aaron and Wicker flew to the finish after 18 hours of play. I thank God for family!

What about y'all?