The Jimenez Family

Five minutes to myself and I finally sit down to blog about camp. Wow!!! I could seriously talk about it all afternoon...but too long on the computer make the kids a little crazy, my ankles and feet swollen, and dinner uncooked for the evening! So I will limit my ramblings!!!

Two weeks ago, Jason, myself and nine other adults took eighty-five students to Wake Forest University for an amazing week of worship, fellowship, teaching, and bonding! Student Life is a ministry that puts on different camps all across the States throughout the summer. They provide the teaching, worship, amazing drama, and recreational games throughout the week.

The theme for camp was FLIP...based on Matthew 20:16

"So the last will be first, and the first will be last."

The students were challenged to examine their entire lives...every aspect of them...and consider how this verse fit into their current lifestyle. The teaching was dynamic and there were definitely life-changing decisions made throughout the week!

The most impactful part of the camp for Jason and I is usually how close the students become. Having a large youth group can have its advantages...but it also has its disadvantages! Every youth group battles with cliques. Teenagers struggle so much with insecurity and trying to fit in...youth group tends to be just one more arena in which they battle. But Jason and I look forward to camp all year...praying that God will break down barriers and judgmental attitudes that keep new students at bay! This summer God truly worked throughout the entire youth group!!! It was so humbling to watch students reach out to their fellow students and embrace them and draw them in! There were several teary nights that students shared their initial hesitation to attend youth group...intimidated by the size and closeness of the group....but because of the determination of parents, Jason, or other students they came to camp. And camp changed everything for them!!!

While the theme, FLIP, dealt mostly with changing how you perceive life in general and basing it on losing your life for Christ...I think for our youth group...it meant more about flipping your perspective on those around you. Looking for opportunities to reach out and rescue those that are hurting and alone.

The week will probably be meaningful to some of the girls for a different reason! :-) I made sure I talked about all the negative aspects of pregnancy...ALL of the time! My way of reminding them that marriage is definitely a prerequisite for a baby!!! Although, I could have probably saved my breath...for by the end of the week my feet and ankles were so swollen ALL of the students were so grossed out that I don't think sex and babies will be on their minds for awhile! One can hope! :-)

Here are some pics from camp...btw...our team was the Green Machine...hence the green face paint!

I was so busy getting ready for highschool camp that I didn't get a chance to post about the second half of our trip...and now I would rather post about camp!!! It was AWESOME!!! But I will try and contain the excitement!!!

Here are more pictures from our trip...we had such a good time with the Jimenez side of the family! Tyler and Amy have around twelve cousins (some are second-cousins) ranging in age from a year all the way up to eighteen. It makes family functions crazy, loud, and a ton of fun! Most of the cousins are boys...so there was a lot of wrestling, competition, and a little bit of just good ole "boy-talk"! :-)

We also got to see our close friends...the Rhodes family! They used to live here in Charlotte and just recently moved back to Tucson. The kids picked up right where they left off and had so much fun together! Location meant little to them...friends are friends!
The last day we were there, Jason's parents took the kids on their very first fishing experience! Amy was the only one that actually got a BITE...not a fish...and it was very exciting! Since they've been back they have asked DAILY when we will go fishing again. (Obviously, this HUGE woman will not be fishing anytime soon)
The trip home was worse than the ride over! I had a woman sit down next to me on the plane and tell me that she was a teacher, a mom, and a grandmother...if I needed any help just let her know. I wasn't anticpating needing any help...it was a thirty minute flight...but of course, I didn't want to seem rude. So I smiled and thanked her and told her I would let her know. Well, twenty mintues later...I took her up on her offer as I made a mad dash to the bathroom to be sick!!! She kept Tyler and Amy entertained with stories and made them laugh while I was beyond miserable! Suffice to say, I will NOT be on an airplane again when I am seven or eight months pregnant!!!

All in all though, it was worth it...we had an amazing time and made so many memories. The kids are getting older and changing so much but it was so great to see them jump right back in and feel at home with our families!!! We are so blessed!!!!

Tyler & Amy with their cousins...Ephraim, Keziah and Baby Paul

The kids fishing adventure!

Family time...

Our friends - The Rhodes Family

Unfortunately for me...and all those sitting around me on the plane...I get horribly air sick! So flying by myself with the kids to Tucson was the much anticipated dread for me! How else to get there but fly? If we drove...by the time we got there we'd have to turn around and head back home!!!

I asked the doctor before hand how much Dramamine I could take...and I took about as much as I could. So on the flight over, I was completely drugged up...fighting hard to keep my eyes open while my son peppered me with questions ranging from, "Why do those flaps keep coming up on the side of the airplane?" to a very loud "Mom, is that a boy or a girl in front of us?" Yes, it was a fun flight!!! All the while, I was thinking that at least I had ten days before I had to fly again!!!

Once there...we had the BEST time! Its always a little bit difficult to fit everything in...or should I say everyone...in to the short time we have to stay. I booked this trip for a little bit longer and yet it went by at the same lightning pace!

I spent most of the first few days with my family. It was quite the family reunion - my older brother and his wife and two daughters were there and my younger brother was home after being away for two years. Tyler and Amy had a blast playing with their cousins and of course, my mom - "Grammie" had the house completely stocked full of toys for them to play with. Her house is usually more kid-friendly than adult-friendly!

My sister-in-law Johnna is famous for always making something yummy - this trip was no different! She recruited all FOUR kids to help her make pies and each one of them got a special turn to help out. (She has way more patience then this pregnant woman!!!)

Tyler, for the most part, did great with all the girls! He was completely shadowed by my youngest niece, Riyah - who is almost two years old...she toddled after him wherever he went in the house...arms open to give him a hug! But he was getting ready for some "boy-time" with his other cousins. When I saw him trying to wrestle with Riyah on the floor, I knew it was time to get him around "the guys"! :-)

Amy w/Grammie

My niece - Heaven

Tyler riding the bike IN Grammie's house - yep, no rules for ten days is lots of fun!!!

Amy w/her cousin Riyah

Me with my brothers - Michael & Matthew

The kids w/Grammie & Poppy!

I am so far behind on my blog! Those of you that blog know that there are cute situations or certain events...and you think, "Hm, I should blog about that"...or "that would be a cute picture on the blog." Yes, well...I have about forty of those just sitting on my camera!!! Too many things have happened in the month of May for me to keep up with. Especially given the fact that I am nearing the end of my pregnancy...and all I want to do is lay on the couch and read a book!!!

But, I will try and update to the best of my ability...these pictures are itching to get out into the public...and for my family that lives far away you have waited patiently to hear how the Jimenez family is doing!!! (I'm surprised I didn't get more phone calls!!! :-)

So...lets get started...

First off...we sold our house!!! PRAISE THE LORD!!! Our realtor had us settling in for quite a long wait and we were prepared to keep the house "show-ready" for several months. But the first people that looked at the house made an offer. (These were the people that I cut the grass for...if you remember from a previous post! I'm sure it was the nicely cut grass that sold the house!!! :-) God was so very gracious to us and we received a great offer on the house and a month and a half to get packed up and moved out. I packed a little bit at a time and was ready as could be expected come closing week.

We had several people help us out on the actual moving day...and we definitely couldn't have done it without them. (I did my fair share of moving and don't worry...I also had my fair share of lectures from everyone that saw me with an item over five pounds!!!)

We are currently building a house and it won't be finished until the first week of August. So we had to move into an apartment for the time being. Apartment living has its pros and cons...pros - I don't have to walk up and down the stairs five million times in one day....cons - well, we ALL know the cons of apartment living. But we don't mind it for now and are excited for the house to be done.

Here is the last picture I took of the house...its probably a tiny bit further along than this...

Right after we moved into the apartment...the kids and I were off to Tucson for a visit with family. But that will wait for the next post...

Why is it that when you plan a surprise party...you are the one that ends up surprised? Things generally don't go as planned...well, maybe that's just what happens to me! :-)
I planned a surprise party for Jason's 30th birthday, which was this last Tuesday. I knew that it would be almost impossible to pull it off...surprising him is not one of my strong points. I manage to ruin every birthday present and Christmas present because I just can't wait to tell him what I got him. So to plan for a month in advance and not speak a word of it was quite the daunting task!!!
I had planned to have the party on his actual birthday instead of on the weekend and so it would have to be after work. I called everyone and had some people try and keep Jason at the church till a certain time so everyone could make it on time! I also had planned to have it outside...so that everyone wouldn't have to cram into our tiny house. There were going to be quite a few little ones at the party to help celebrate and they are at their best and loudest when they are OUTSIDE!!!
But of course, the day was super stormy and the clouds were black ALL day. So I quickly switched gears...made sub sandwiches and cleaned out the garage. I set up tables and chairs out in the garage and tried to maximize the space inside.
Then the surprise really flopped...Jason called and said he was going to leave work early and just come home!??? Of course, its his birthday...he can do whatever he wants. Why would any loving wife tell her husband to stay at work? So I scrambled and tried to make excuses for why we wouldn't be here when he got home. (Is lying okay when you're planning a surprise party?)
All in all...there were about four people here when Jason showed up...they surprised him. And he was actually surprised. Then it poured buckets of rain and the rest of the guests sat in their cars waiting for the rain to pass...and then Jason surprised them!
It was a great party and a wonderful celebration for Jason. Probably the last surprise party the Jimenez family will have...but we all got to bless Jay and enjoy the fellowship!!! Happy Birthday, Sweetie!!!

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