Summer in Ocean City

We've been in Ocean City, NJ for 5 weeks now and we leave 2 weeks from tomorrow. It is flying by! Here's our Top 10 List of what we are enjoying this summer:

1. It's so great being with a staff team of 40 from all over the U.S....some are old friends and some are new to our lives, but we have been enjoying the range of personalities!

2. On the team this summer is a family that used to be on our U of Illinois team. We knew each other before any of our kids were born and it's so fun being here with their 3 kids and our 3. We live right above them and we're having a great time running around together.

3. I've appreciated having a friend to work out with...especially when I don't want to get out and run in the intense humidity. The boardwalk is a great place to run; having the Atlantic Ocean to run alongside isn't too shabby, either.

4. I've loved training one of the staff women and helping her think through both ministry and personal issues she's been grappling with.

5. Living so near the beach has been especially fun for our kids this summer. I think we've spent every Friday morning off there!

6. We have sweet student women who babysit our kids for free in exchange for an opportunity to hang out in an air conditioned apartment and do their laundry. It's a win win!

7. I love the environment we have on summer project....it's one of intense learning, training, grace, people stepping out in faith, living in a community. Awesome.

8. I love east coast pizza, and I probably eat too much of it.

9. We walk almost everywhere.

10. I love that our kids are making memories like this...that their summers are filled with making new friends, having new adventures, being around students that love Jesus, eating at the "big house" with all the students & staff, going on dates with dad that involve crab catching, ice cream, & playing with toys at Air Circus, and going on dates with mom that involve Starbucks, the dollar store, the library, and doing crafts at the Butterfly Boutique.