Home.

Aug 10, 2015 /

Home.

Have you ever had a really long and crazy summer? I have, and I am happy to report that ours is finally over.

August 8th was our finish line and I honestly never thought we would make it. It felt like decades away. And then last week it was just two days away and we were packing our bags for one last trip. Home.

Our two weeks at Northern Pines were so great. We got to serve alongside some of our best friends and we got to reunite with so many people that we love.

It was so much fun. But also exhausting, weird, challenging, and filled with laughter (and tears). Mike does such a great job teaching the wilderness program about Jesus. I love being able to serve alongside him.

But now we’re home and I am so hopeful for routine, a schedule. I’m hopeful to unpack our bags and put them in the closet for longer than two weeks. I’m hopeful to spend extra time snuggling our dog and more time using the creative side of my brain. I’m hopeful that this blog will get a little more love, some good changes.

Two of our very best friends moved to Wichita while we were away. I am so excited to see them, to do life with them.

There is so much hope for the future right now. But first, I go back to work and figure out our new normal. A normal that doesn’t involve traveling or sleeping in a bed that isn’t my own.

Happy Day!

We are Home and Happy

Aug 13, 2014 /

We are home! We have actually been home since Saturday evening//Sunday morning, but I didn’t feel that my mind was sane enough to blog until this evening. It also helps that Mike just brought home Good & Plenty and Milk Duds for me to enjoy. Candy is my brain food… I’m not lying.

Anyways, our time away from home was wonderful. It wasn’t a vacation of any sort, but it was so much fun doing ministry together. For those that don’t know, Mike’s parents are the executive directors of a family camp that gathers every year for two weeks in Green Lake, WI. Mike and I are the directors of the 4th-6th grade program, the Wilderness. We spent our two weeks away with little hilariously frustrating children. Every year we have a blast and thankfully every year that we direct the program it gets a little bit easier.

We are still tired though. Really tired.

Northern Pines is the bookend to our “year”. Don’t get me wrong, I love a good new years celebration, but I really feel like our “new year” begins when we get home from Pines. August is when the year begins at our house (and the house of those with school children ha). But anyways – where I’m going with this is that I feel like I have all these goals and ideas in my head and I’m so excited to be home to start implementing change – this is the time of year that feels like a fresh start. I’m so excited for Fall, for the weather to change, for the projects we have planned, and for a more consistent schedule.

Now, what you’re really here for… the pictures. I’ll try to explain all things “wilderness” the best that I can.

#carrideswithmike

And welcome to the White House. The house that Mike and I get to stay in with all our staff is called the White house – probably because it’s completely white on the outside, but they also themed the rooms on past presidents. It’s luxurious (as you can see) and we have not one complaint about it. After spending 13+ hours with kiddos everyday – this little sanctuary of a bedroom is just what we need.

The wilderness field has a large ship in the middle of it. Every morning Mike walks through and wakes up the kids and they come outside and do something called Ship Shape. It’s led by Mike and all the kids just follow along – no silly dance move is off limits. It’s a great way to start the day.

We end each day with Tabernacle. It’s worship and a message around a campfire. It’s one of my favorite times of day.

And now just some silly and amazing memories…

#NP2014, it’s been real, until next year!!

Home again

Jul 8, 2013 /

Mike and I skipped town on Saturday evening to get some quality time away and to celebrate our anniversary for a quick 24 hours before reporting back for duty in Sterling. It was a great time away from home. The Alf man stayed with my inlaws so we were completely stress free. It’s funny to me that we went on “vacation” just one hour away from our home but sometimes it’s what you have to do. We shut our phones down, rented a movie, ordered food to our hotel room, and rested together. Much needed rest.

I’m not sure if I mentioned on here last week that Mike was battling a sickness. We went into the doctor last week and were told it was an upper respiratory infection that should last a week. We have both now come down with this sickness and he is still running a fever after 8 days of being sick. It was a sour ending to our time away, but I’m glad to be home and in our own bed. We’d love prayers for wise doctors tomorrow and hopefully a remedy for this pain Mike is feeling. It’s not ideal that sickness hit 1 week before camps begin, but we are trusting that our things will get done. We did successfully purchase snacks for 110 little kiddos today so I am pleased with that. One less thing we need to do this week.

Thanks for keeping updated with our lives.
There is much more to say but I will say it when I am thinking more clearly and not so worried about the fever my husband is running or the piles of dishes that need to get scrubbed.
Many blessings,
The Jaderstons