This was great and it was easy

This week I have been on a crock pot kick. Monday night's was okay but not great. Tuesday's was a hit. I should say that this recipe is to feed 6 t0 8. It feed my family of four with only enough left to make one more fajita.

Fabulous Fajitas Recipe Taste of Home Recipes:
"Ingredients
1-1/2 pounds beef top sirloin steak, cut into thin strips
2 tablespoons canola oil
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 garlic clove, minced
1-1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 teaspoon seasoned salt
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1 large green pepper, julienned
1 large onion, julienned
6 to 8 flour tortillas (8 inches)
Shredded cheddar cheese, salsa, sour cream, lettuce and tomatoes, optional

Directions
In a skillet, brown steak in oil over medium heat. Place steak and drippings in a 3-qt. slow cooker. Stir in the lemon juice, garlic, cumin, salt, chili powder and red pepper flakes.

Cover and cook on high for 2-1/2 to 3 hours or until meat is almost tender. Add green pepper and onion; cover and cook for 1 hour or until meat and vegetables are tender.

Warm tortillas according to package directions; spoon beef and vegetables down the center of tortillas. Top each with cheese, salsa, sour cream, lettuce and tomatoes if desired. Yield: 6-8 servings.

Nutrition Facts: 1 serving (1 each) equals 263 calories, 10 g fat (2 g saturated fat), 47 mg cholesterol, 415 mg sodium, 23 g carbohydrate, 1 g fiber, 20 g protein"

Camp Joy part 2

Well I have told you about the staff here is the camp in action. We enjoyed swimming, lessons and activities centered around the the theme of a Knight's Tale. Our theme verse or knight's code was Micah 6:8 and we also had lessons on following our leader and feasting with our Lord. Here we are listening to Ethel Barrett's version of John Bunyan's Holy War. Here's our campers.

Bryan bravely leading games in the hot weather. We and the freezer pops got friendly.

Our Banner for the week.

Crafts

It was a busy and a fun week with lots of tired staff and I think campers too.

Camp 2010

Camp begins long before it actually happens. After a little time I agreed to direct camp for our Junior/Middler camp. One of the most important things you can do is put together a great staff. I was blessed with a great staff. God puts the right people together to do his work. So here is our staff. I should note I don't have a picture of Pastor Dale or Janet but they made our trips to the swimming pool possible and trust me when it is 90 plus this is very important. Miss Susie who was one of our teacher and group leader and all around encourager.

Bryan the Nubby to the job of being a counselor but a long time camp enthusiast. He did a great job. He was in charge of a work group, recreation and helped in many other ways.

This is the two Amandas. I have had the pleasure of working with Miss Amanda before and she did a great job this year again. She has a gift for working with kids and she has an awesome name.

Miss Peggy was our cook. She put up with our crazy requests and encouraged us to visit the oldest 5 and dime store in America. It happens to be in Harrisonville, WV not far from where we take our kids swimming. No camp happens without the cook.

Finally our camp Pastor Chuck (I worked very hard to remember not to call him Chuckie). He was a great teacher and leader of vespers and music man. He worked hard and put up with all the other assignments I kept giving him and by the end of the week had been dubbed PC3. He is following in the footsteps of PC (Pastor Chuck Graffius) and PC2 (Pastor Chris Mattison).

I was taught by a wise man to put together a good staff and let God use them. And God did use them and me to make a difference in our campers lives. I am just grateful for the opportunity I have had to work with these men and women. I am also grateful for all the men and women who have taught me how to have a camp. I can not name them all but here are a few - Pastor Don Richards - involved in my first camp as 2nd grader. Pastor John Camenga - one of the first I served under as a counselor. My SCSC experiences that included - Pastor David Thorngate and Christina. Pastor Robert and Lana VanHorn. Also working with Marissa VanHorn on her staff. To Mom whose passion for reaching kids for Christ effects how I look at them. Uncle Larry for importance on Bible memory work. I know there are so many I could name but these are a few.

And finally to Grandpa Graffius, it was under him I experienced camp. My understanding of what a camp experience is to be like was shaped by him. I had the joy and pleasure of directing a camp under his guidance and it was a pleasure to learn from one who was and is passionate about camp and God. He taught me to plan for spontaeous moments (like permission to soak the director if you can), to tie all things together to teach - even meals can teach. And finally to teach the word with love and passion. Thank you grandpa for all you have taught me.

Aaron's Birthday continued

As part of Aaron's birthday festivities we went to Legion Park with Anthony, Sophie, Bradley, Nathan and Philip. The kids played and we had cupcakes and koolaid. Aaron thought this was a great birthday. The older boys with Miss Grace.

The birthday boy.

Sophie deciding what she thought of mulch.

Cupcakes and goodies.

The three boy cousins playing the pipes. When all is said and done. A great birthday.

Aaron's birthday

I am finally posting some pictures from Aaron's birthday a month later. For his birthday we went and had quality time with papa and Nana before the days big events. Abuela watched Andrew so he was not heart broken. So here is a little random video from that morning.

Also I made a cake using a picture I had seen in Family fun and this is the result. I was quite happy with the result and there was no cutting to make a fancy cake it is just a 13 by 9 inch pan.

Hershey

I am very slow to post these pictures but here are two from Hershey Park. June 8th we took our teenagers on our yearly trip to an amusement park. They had a good time and Perry and I managed not to get too sick on the rides with Andrew. This is a picture on the free ride at hershey of the chocolate factory which includes a snack size candy bar. Andrew rode twice.

Here's the crew.