Top 10 Reasons why we love Family Camp at IRBC!

I had every intention to do a Top 10 list at least once a week. I must say that by the end of the day, as busy as my days have been, I just want to sleep and cannot create. BUT I am so excited that it is almost time to sign up for Family Camp 2010 that I can think of no better theme for this, my second top ten list. BTW--If you join the camp club you too can sign up for Family Camp 2010 at the end of April. If you need more information let me know. We are going for Family 4, Salvation 1 again!!

10. It is a true vacation for me, the mom! No cooking, cleaning, or really any other domestic work to speak of. Unlike traveling where you have to pack/unpack and still worry about meals it is all taken care of for you!! WOOO-HOOO

9. The kids are taken care of during morning chapel and evening chapel by the FBBC Contenders. They do a really fun VBS type of class with them in the morning and they learn amazing songs they will sing ALL YEAR LONG! "Oh, I had a little chicken....doo whop...some egg..."

8. It is financially feasible for a one salary family to go to camp. You can make payments all year long if need be. We've done it!

7. You get to hang out with your family and your friends and meet new friends.

6. You can float the week away in the pool if you want or spend time with the Jet Skis, Jumbo Dog, Zip Line, canoes, paddle boats, archery, mini golf, climbing wall, craft shack, playing games indoor and out, snack shack, playing gaga ball, playing squinny ball....ah I'm exhausted to think of more.

5. It is spiritually refreshing. You are fed in the morning and in the evening.

4. Adult time and date night!

3. My kids love it and talk about it all year. In fact, earlier this week Tabitha was trying to figure out how many days until Family Camp. Of all things to look forward to, they look forward to camp.

2. The staff is fabulous! I mean above and beyond what could ever have been expected.

1. Being away from the distractions of the world and allowing your mind, spirit and body to decompress and focus on what is important. In fact, this very reason why we go to camp is something that our family has tried to hang onto since we left our first year at camp. We have made the commitment to have "camp" at home. Maybe I'll share more on that later!

So there you have it, WE LOVE CAMP! I thing we'd live there if they'd let us!! =)

Stacey's Top 10 Painting Tips

Over the next few weeks you will find a series of top 10 lists. I am a big fan of these and in an effort to both entertain you and keep you in touch with my activities I think these lists will be a fun and creative way to express myself right now. So out from the gallons of paint comes....

Stacey's Top 10 Painting Tips

10. Mask or tape off EVERYTHING and put down drop cloths--you can be sloppy and drips happen.

9. Buy proper paint brushes and rollers for the job--It is amazing how different an oil brush works in oil paint.

8. Wear clothes that can also be used as paint rags or towels for painty fingers--you can be sloppy and drips happen.

7. Buy disposable paint tray liners. They're cheap and make clean up easier.

6. Find a painting partner who likes to cut so you can roll or visa versa.

5. Check the bottom of your shoes, socks or feet BEFORE stepping off the drop cloth you put down in tip #10. This will help you avoid foot prints on the floor.--You may like the color you choose but the purple on the living room carpet will get old after awhile.

4. Leave "presents" in each room you paint. For further information on this tip I suggest speaking with Erin.

3. Your friends who don't know how to paint but really want to help get to paint closets.

2. Oil based paint does not wash out of your hair. Gasoline or a new haircut will work.

1. Always paint a big initial on your shirt your wearing from tip #8 so you can feel like a painting superhero. I like the letter S but any letter will do!

If you have any questions about these tips or any other painting questions---POST A COMMENT!!

~Stacey

Updating...

Well, I keep thinking I need to post SOMETHING!! Well, you all should go to Erin's blog to see photos of her day with Tabitha and of some of our recent adventures with the Ventura Vikings.

Comment from ME! Homeschooling, painting, packing, laundry, spring chores, work, and the daily grind has kept me pretty busy. Pray for us as we have a long road ahead and we are still very much at the bottom of the hill. Pray that even now God will bring buyers for our house. Additionally, I am beginning a ladies bible study at our house on Monday and am a bit nervous. Pray that God will use me to glorify Him and to help lead our group as we strive to grow as women of His.

Who knows, maybe more later!! ~Stacey

My Labor of Love :)

As many of you know by now we are moving. It has been a busy here at the Ryal household since Christmas. We are working hard on both the new house and the current house to get them all ready. The below photo is of Tabitha's room in the new house. It had stripe wallpaper on all 4 walls--what is it with stripes?? In our current house 3 rooms had stripe wallpaper...anyhoo--photo of taking it down.
Tabitha picked a pinkish purplish color for her room. She got the paint the closet. She actually did quite a fine job. She didn't even get any paint on her.

3 or the walls in the room are the orchid color and the 4th wall, well see the following photos.

The blue and green are shiny here because the paint is still wet, in fact VERY wet. And for Heidi, the masking and plastic is on the window because I often drip when cutting. Do you know how hard it is to get paint off of glass??

Next came the masking for the picket fence. The wall is 152" long so there is a vertical strip of tape every 3" + the horizontal lines + the removal of the tape lines that you actually want paint under= 1 roll of painter's tape + 6 hours of work.

This is me removing the painter's tape. I did it immediately after painting the top coat of the fence. Prime then paint then get the tape off is my motto!

Finished product of the fence. I think it turned out pretty great.

We only have a bed and curtains in her room. In the future the white fence wall will have butterflies and flowers but I spent 1 week on this room and have 7 others to work on. The quilt on the bed was one that my great grandma George made for my mom's room when she was a little girl. Now it is Tabitha's.

Leave of Absence

I am taking a temporary leave of absence from Blogging. I don't want to "get rid" of it yet but I just don't have the time. Until later.... Stacey

Living by the Spirit

I began this amazing new bible study book. It is amazing in two ways. Firstly, the bible study is written by one of my close friend's father. She even got her dad to sign the book! :) But secondly, because, though I purchased the book last summer with every intent to begin the study then, for whatever reason, probably God, I didn't begin the study until last week. God knew I would need this study now, not last summer/fall.

The book is: Living by the Spirit by Greg White. It is part of the "Build UP" to spiritual maturity series of Regular Baptist Press. I think it is amazing that the Lord led me to begin this study at the same time He brought people into my life that I would be encouraging to do the very thing that the book is about. Just another way that God works everything together!

The book is about living by the spirit and learning to be control ed by the fruits of the spirit. So, I am only in study lesson 2, but I must share what I've learned thus far. I am going to quote a couple of Pastor White's sentences that spoke to me so personally.

The first lesson is about the interwar between the old nature and the new nature (that which was given to you when you become a child of God). Listen to this, "Our fleshly desires were not eradicated at salvation." Not only is eradicate one of my favorite words, but when considering our daily battle with doing what we don't want to do and not doing what we should (see Romans 7) the word eradicate not only describes the fact that we still have the sin nature but that we should be trying to "eradicate" it from our daily living. "Every true believer wrestles in this lifelong spiritual conflict. Meditate on this truth: as you rely upon the empowering of the Holy Spirit and obey the teaching of Scripture, you WILL experience daily victories." Or daily eradication :).

Wow!! Lesson 2 is about Love, one of the fruits of the spirit. Since I am not entirely through it yet and this post has already become long....You'll have to wait, or buy the book yourself!! Until later..... ME!

for whatever reason i can't get the paragraphs to publish correctly--sorry, i will try to fix it later!

Quick Update:

God had been doing amazing things in my life already this year and brought a lot of changes. I will highlight some of my biggest blessings and then sometime will get into the changes. (This is for you Erin, you'd better comment.)

Firstly, I have been given the privilege to lead a Ladies Bible Study on Mondays at noon. God had brought 3 women into my life that have not only been a joy to be friends with but they have given me the opportunity to graciously let me lead the bible study. All of us hare in very different areas of our Christian walk. The first studies were amazing and I am looking forward to seeing them grow as they learn more about God!

Secondly, due to Jeremy's job change I am now getting up earlier in the morning to do my devos. I have always waited until the end of the day and done them but I WAS usually alone then without distraction. Now, I do them while Jeremy is in the shower. What an awesome way to start the day! I have been pleasantly surprised at how much less stress is in my day. Why haven't I done this before?? Creature of habit, I guess.

Thirdly, our 20/20 Faith class is going smoothly and we are seeing some real growth in the lives of some of the members. It was awesome this morning to see the Spirit of the Lord to lead one of the guys to share the plan of salvation around the breakfast table. He did such an excellent job. Thanks Kyle!!

TTFN!! God is GOOD!! Stacey