Summer Traveling: Christ In Youth –Move Summer Conference @North Carolina and Tennessee

Chiang helping me pack for the trip

What an amazing trip!! We headed out Sunday morning, June 15, at 6 am. It was fun being in the van with all the high school students (11 of them- 6 girls: Taylor, Amanda, Laurel, Maranda, Adriane, and Kat, and 5 boys: Martin, Nick, Jesse, Chris, and Dillon). I was the female sponsor and Josh and Bryan were the male sponsors. Sunday we drove up to North Carolina. We camped at Deep Creek Tube Center and campground. We had a race, boys vs girls to put up the tents. The girls came in a close 2nd but they had never put up a tent before. Our site was beautiful, right on the river. The next day we went white water tubing. I walked a few of the waterfalls. They were just a little too big for my comfort. Most of the river was pretty gentle with little tiny waterfalls. After tubing, we got on the road again and started towards Tennessee.

hanging out in the bus

No AC on the long bus ride

Smiles for the camera

The camp site and tubing

We stayed on campus at Milligan College, where the CIY Move conference was being held. The girls stayed in dorms and the boys say in the dorm apartments. Dorm living is not one of my favorite things, I have decided, especially sharing it with hundreds of high school girls who don’t sleep much and are very loud most of the time. My girls were great, though. The conference itself was so wonderful, uplifting, inspiring, and very encouraging. The presenters did a great job at having deep and relevant speakers and messages. They also had great videos. There were ones with a guy read verses straight from the Bible, they were my favorite. The kids loved the series with the “Toy Box Gang.” They weren’t my favorite but good at keeping the students attention.



The Chapel where sessions were held.

I thought it was a great idea that CIY added to there conference things to help the students stay on track once they get back to life. There was a 25-30 min quiet time of Bible reading/ devotion time everyday. Also the student had to make a life map contract of the next year on a goal they would work towards. They had to write down things they needed to accomplish each month after the conference to reach the larger year goal. The students, sponsors, and youth pastor then hold them accountable for their goals.

Devotion time

Water Fight

Volley Ball Team

Dodge Ball

Scary Gorilla

Scary Josh!

What a great trip!

We feel very blessed to have been apart CIY with our youth group. We got a lot out of the conference and were challenged as well. The time spent with all the great students of the youth group was amazing. They are such an awesome group of kids. They are very inspiring, to know them and their lives and to see where they can go with their faith.

On the Road again...

Well, Josh and I getting ready to head out on the road for two weeks and two trips. First, we will be joining the youth at Harvest and driving to North Carolina for some sun, water, and conferencing at the Christ In Youth (CIY) conference. We leave tomorrow morning at 6am and return late Saturday night. We get to rest at home and then leave Sunday afternoon for the panhandle of Florida to be the missionary speakers at Tri-State Christian Camp. An added bonus to this trip, which we found out on Monday, is Josh's youngest siblings, Jeremiah and Jamiie are going to be counselors there that week. I let you know how the weeks go when we get back. Keep us in your prayer to have safe and successful trips.

Baby at 26 weeks

Week 26 appointment

I had my appointment for week 26. All went well. The doctor said I have gained a perfect amount of weight 14 pounds total. Dr. Marichal also measured my uterus, by measuring my tummy. I am right where I need to be, another thing he was very happy about. We were able to listen to the heart beat which is always awesome. He said his/her heart beat sounds very strong. On Friday I am having my glucose test. Be praying that I pass. Having a positive result could mean a high chance of a dangerous situation concerning baby and the abnormal umbilical cord. Next month, baby and I are having a stress test. I get to sit and read for about a half hour while they have me connected to some things and listen to baby. I am having this done as a precautionary measure since I have the abnormal umbilical cord. I will also have another sonogram at the end of July or beginning of August to check on Baby’s growth. Dr. Marichal doesn’t really think anything will show up but he is doing it just in case. I have started to have Braxton Hicks. I started having them about 2 weeks ago. It is interesting how I had no idea what is was but everyone who I talk to about it seems to know. Don't forget to take our poll, will it be baby Landon or baby Kylah?

And here are more baby belly pictures, so hopefully it can assist in the voting

The end of school and a trip to North Carolina

Well, school has ended. No more teaching 15-20 different kids every hour for a long time. For the most part I am so glad to be done. I can't wait to focus on my next student my little baby. I am going to miss my students at Westwood Middle School though. Even though they can be a big pain sometimes I really do love them. It is incredible how much they have impacted my life. I still talk to a few of my students from last year that went on to high school. I plan on visited school once the baby is born. I have a lot of teachers and students who will be very disappointed if I don't come and visit. Here are a few pictures from the year and the last two weeks.

Lots of love from my homeroom students

My Homeroom class

My 6th period class, who can all pose at the same time

Josh playing b-ball with a couple of my students during their End of the Year party

After post planning on Friday, we packed up in Josh's parents van and the whole family headed to Cherry Point and New Burn, North Carolina. Jon, Josh's oldest younger brother is stationed there. Jon and his squad were working the air show they had this weekend. Jon invited the family up for a visit and to see the show. I was hoping for some cooler weather but had no such luck. The heat index on Saturday was 109. Needless to say Josh and I didn't get to stay at the air show much more than an hour. Since I really don't sweat it was just too much being out in the heat. We did get to see some awesome stunts. Jon got us great parking it was less than 30 feet from the entrance of the air show. We also got bottles of water and met a lot of Jon's bosses and fellow Marines. Once out on the tarmac, we sat in the revered section so we were sitting on bleachers instead of standing the whole time. Josh and I saw the Army put on there stunts. The Blue Angles were there too. I guess they put on a great show after Josh and I went back to the hotel. While we were at the hotel I took a nice nap. Then the family came back to the hotel we went out to eat. After dinner Jon and his girlfriend came over to the hotel and we played games.
The next day we went to Jon's church. It is a smaller church. All the people were so friendly, I felt very welcomed. The service was very good. After church we headed back to the hotel and eat lunch and went swimming. For dinner, Jon's Young single couple's Bible study had a special dinner for us. They wanted us to have a chance to met Jon's friends at church and they wanted to get to know us. What a great fellowship! The food was yummy and the company was great. We played Taboo, girls vs. boys, after dinner. The girls won by 5 points.

Welcome to Cherry Point

This wasn't for our Jonathan but thought it was funny

The Air Show

A truck that uses Jet fuel

The plane and truck racing- the truck won

Parachuters

Some of Jon's Bible study group and the Williams' family (The girl with the red hair and plaid dress is Jon's girlfriend, Stefany.)

We had a great weekend. I realized traveling and being pregnant is not the most comfortable thing. Trying to sleep is very difficult! On the way back Josh's mom let me ride up front which was a lot better. All the animals were very glad to see us. Now we just have to get ready for next weeks trip to North Carolina for the CIY (Christ in Youth) Conference and then the following week we will be in the panhandle of Florida at Tri-State Christian Camp as the missionary sponsors.