Roasted Corn & Fireworks

Last night was the first roasted corn/boat races/fireworks show of the summer. Over the last few years, when we've done this night event for the campers, we've served watermelon. But Stephen changed it up this year, and we did roasted corn instead. It was a HUGE hit! The kids loved this snack, plus they got to butter it up and add their own seasoning. It was so state fair-ish!

I've especially loved Youth Camp 1 this year because it's fallen on a weekend. Because I work full time, I only get to hang out with the summer staff and campers in the evenings, which can be hard if I've had a long day at work and just want to crash. But I got to spend all weekend with these awesome people and I've loved every minute of it!  

Hope you've had a fabulous weekend!

Lately.

What's been going on lately around here? Oh let me tell you, there is always something going on with The Hintons! :)

Luke has been working his tail off, prepping for summer. For those of you that don't know, Luke works at Camp Zephyr, a Christian camp/retreat facility. They predominantly host summer camps for kids/youth in the summer and retreats for adults the rest of the year. The hubs has been spending his weekends working with retreat groups and interviewing summer staff for this upcoming summer. 30+ college kids come out each summer to help organize and run program camps for hundreds of kiddos and Zephyr is known for it's amazing summer staff. I'm pretty proud of Luke and the role he plays in choosing/coaching such an amazing staff!

{You know Luke's busy when his desk has an over-abundance of sticky note reminders, ha!}

What have I been up to? Well, working (what else is new?). I've also been trying to keep up with my half-marathon training. I'm not going to lie; it's been tough. I was super motivated the first 8 weeks, but I think I know I'm getting burnt out. I've tried to do a little cross-training to break up the runs, but with my crazy schedule, I've started to slack a little. NO GOOD! The race is 2 weeks from today and I'm just hoping I can hang in there long enough to make it through. This being my first half, I'm not stressing about time. I just want to finish. Please say a prayer for me! I need motivation!!

{These feet are running a half in 2 weeks...yikes!}

Oh, and we bought a new car! It's a long story, but here's the short and sweet: we needed to get out of a sticky situation. You see, about 13 months ago, I leased a 2011 Toyota Rav4. I loved it! But then Luke and I got married and moved out to the camp. This was no bueno for a girl in a 15K miles-per-year lease! We were pretty much shooting ourselves in the foot to let me continue putting an outrageous amount of miles on a leased vehicle. So, we traded it in at the same place we got the Rav4 and bought a 2012 Toyota Camry. They loved that we came back to them to fix this situation and gave us a great deal on the new car. Navigation, touch screen, blue tooth, sunroof, etc...I'm set! Who'd like to go for a ride? :)

{The new ride}

And this is what we've been up to! That and just enjoying this windy weekend. It's time for me to go run a 9-miler (yuck!). Wish me luck! :)

Sometimes, all you have to do is sit on the front porch

 {This is what peace looks like for me this morning}

Do you ever feel like the world is spinning madly around you and that you can't slow your brain down long enough to have one complete thought? This has been me over the last week or so. It is also the reason for my lack of posts. With the craziness of life that I have been encountering recently, I have found it extremely difficult to blog about anything because I haven't fully processed my thoughts. Before I can complete one, a new one is being created. This has been extremely tiring, if you can imagine.

"'Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,' says the LORD, who has compassion on you." 

Isaiah 54:10

At this very moment, I am sitting on the front porch of the Camp Zephyr office and it is a perfect 66 degrees with a light breeze. No words can describe the peace that comes with sitting on this front porch. It is a familiar place to me; a place I've sat and read my Bible, blogged, and had both serious and hysterical conversations with friends and family. Although the world spins madly on, here I find rest. I think this is what I'll love most about living out at camp. I yearn for those mornings of quiet time with my God on the deck in my backyard, Bible and coffee in hand. And from what those who have lived in our house before us have told me, the view of God's majestic, starry sky from our backyard is going to be breath-taking. I know I'll never get enough of this.

"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning."

James 1:7

I woke up at 5:30 a.m. on my own this morning with tears in my eyes. This never happens to me and sort of freaked me out. I don't think I was having a bad dream, but in all honesty, I can't remember. Maybe it's because I have to say goodbye to not only two of my dear friends today (who are moving to East Texas), but two people who have helped mold me into the woman and leader I am today. This couple has been a huge part of my time at Zephyr and I'm really having a tough time accepting that they won't be here as Luke and I move in. It could also be because I haven't slept well the past week or because of the pressure I'm putting on myself to pack/move/figure out our car situation/etc. in just a few short weeks. I don't know why I woke up with tears, but I'm telling you if you ever wake up this way, drive or fly to Zephyr and spend a quiet morning on this porch with me. It will do your soul good.

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

Matthew 11:28-30 

 

Your prayers would be appreciated.  :)

Tape, paint, and outlet covers...oh my!

I just got a very fun call from my husband. It went a little something like this...

Luke: Hey wife.
Me: Hey babe. What's up?
Luke: BJ and I have been walking through the house for the last hour and a half. I'm making a list of all the things we need to get taken care of before the house is ready for move in.
Me: Oh really? What's on the list?
Luke: Paint tape, caulk, foam, cabinet hinges, outlet covers, paint...
Me: Whoa, cool!
Luke: Yeah. Do you know what color paint you want for the different rooms?
Me: Umm...

The answer to that last question sort of turned into an entirely seperate conversation, but the important thing is that we're down to the last little details before move-in begins!!! Paint will be purchased soon, which means painting will begin soon. I will probably be looking at some paint samples by this evening. :)

{Where does one begin??}

I must say, it was a little weird having that conversation with my husband. Weird in a cool way. I mean, we've only ever lived in an apartment where we weren't given the option of paint colors and have never needed to worry about details such as outlet covers. There is definintely something sexy about a man making sure a house is ready for his wife to move into! Luke has made such a sweet effort to make sure I'm happy about moving out to camp since he knows the sacrifice I'll be making to travel an hour to and from work every day. When he started listing all the little details he was taking care of, I giggled outloud to myself just a bit. He sounds so husband-like! But I guess that's the way it should sound, right? He's a cutie.

I'm getting excited!!

Big news!!

So, The Hintons have a pretty cool announcement to make...

WE'RE MOVING!!! 

Yup, Luke and I are moving out of our two bedroom apartment in Corpus Christi and into a house out at Camp Zephyr!! For those of you that don't know, Camp Zephyr is the Christian camp/retreat facility where Luke has been working full-time in guest services since the summer of 2008. Before that, he and I both worked at the camp as summer staffers during our summers in college. This magical place has played a huge role in our lives as Christians and as a couple. We both would not be where we are today without our Zephyr family, both past and present, and can't wait to invest even more into God's ministry at this camp by moving out there. 

Plus, Luke and I will FINALLY be living together in ONE PLACE! This. is. huge! After almost 6 years of long distance dating and now almost three months of marriage while living part-time at camp/part-time in Corpus Christi, we will have one home. We can't wait!!!

"Now, how is this going to work with Sara's job in Corpus?" you may be asking yourself. Well, with this move comes adapting to change in other areas of life as well. Instead of a 15 minute drive to work, I will now have a 50 minute drive to work. At first, I wasn't so thrilled about this part. I mean, come on, what non-morning person would be? But after some calculating, we've learned that this move will still be positive for us financially, despite the gas it will take to get me back and forth. Plus, I have family and friends in CC that will let me crash a night or two during the week at their places to help save on miles. And I must admit, I'm really excited to decorate our first little home. :)

We still don't have a set move-in date, but it will probably be sometime after the 1st of October. It is our plan to be all moved in and settled by the end of October. The more we talk about it, the more excited I get! Camp life, as I've learned from the other camp wives, can be difficult at times. Living at a place like Camp Zephyr takes sacrifice and selfless love. It takes looking at the big picture and putting hundreds of other peoples' needs above your own. It can mean not spending time with your husband for days at a time (mostly during the summer). But ultimately, it means being a part of something so much greater than yourself and having the humbling opportunity to effect the Kingdom of God in a mighty way. It is my current prayer that God would start changing my heart as I move from the mindset of "summer staffer" to that of a "camp wife."

{Summer 2008, as summer staff}

{Dec. 2009, Engagement picture at the gates of Camp Zephyr}

We've always known that God was going to take us, as a couple, on some crazy adventures. I really believe that this move is one of those adventures. Look out Zephyr, here come The Hintons!!

"But Ruth replied, "Don't urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the LORD deal with me, be it ever so severely, if even death separates you and me.”

Ruth 1:16-17

Summer weddings and long weekends

This weekend concluded mine and Luke's summer of weddings! We attended our own (obviously!) on June 25, 2011. Then one month later, I was a bridesmaid in one of my best friend's wedding. The following weekend, I drove to Dallas to see a college friend get married. And finally, this weekend Luke was a groomsman in one of his best friend's wedding. Three of these four weddings were those of "camp couples." Luke and I met at Camp Zephyr back in 2005, I worked there for 4 summers through college, and Luke is currently the camp's full-time staff supervisor. Sarah and Andrew met at camp in 2007 and both of them spent a few summers working there. And Tyler and Aubri practically grew up at camp. Tyler's father is the executive director of Zephyr and both Tyler and Aubri have worked at camp for many summers as kids. It's been such a blessing to watch of all these Zephyr alum grow up, chase new life paths, and fall more in love with the Lord and each other!

{Our wedding 6.25.11}

{Sarah and Andrew 7.30.11}

{Kara and Brett 8.7.11}

{Tyler and Aubri 9.2.11}

Whew! Yes, it was as tiring as it looks!! But we've had an amazing summer celebrating love and God's provision over all of these relationships. This was definitely a summer for the books!

**I must make a quick intervention here to say that while Luke and I were at T&A's wedding, the BAYLOR BEARS kicked some major TCWho's butt on Friday night!!!! I was so proud of my Bears! This game was an amazing way to start off the season and I'm so excited for future games. Rip 'em up, tear 'em up, SIC'EM BU!!!**

Luke and I have also been enjoying our long Labor Day weekend! Aubri and Tyler were married on Friday night, so on Saturday Luke and I drove up to San Antonio for the day. We love getting away every once in a while and SA is the closest "big city." We made a stop by Americus Diamonds to have my engagement ring and wedding bands soldered together, ate lunch at Panda Express, took Brooklyn to PETCO to find a new food/water dish, made a quick stop at The Container Store (LOVE!), and had coffee with some of our best friends, Justin, Michelle, and Gabi Graves. It was a quick trip, but totally worth it!

{Family road trip to San Antonio!}

{Starbucks with Gabbers}

{Brook with her first "puppaccino" from Starbucks!}

{The 3-drawer cart trellis that I bought at The Container Store! Luke put it together for me this evening. Can't wait to organize SOMETHING}

The rest of our weekend has included church and rest. Luke and I are really enjoying attending Yorktown Baptist Church here in Corpus. Worship was amazing today (as always!) and the youth minister, Joel, gave the message this morning. He spoke truth in a very unapologetic way and was so relatable (is this a word?). I would definitely love to hear him speak again! After church, I got to pick up my copy of the book for this fall's women's Bible study. We get started on Sept. 20th and I can't wait to dig into the Word with the ladies of YBC!

I hope you all have had a fabulous long weekend and enjoy your Labor Day tomorrow!!