The Epic Ellerslie Games!

Last Sunday, my family and I went over to the Ellerslie campus, for the
Epic Ellerslie Games!  It was a fun day!  Ben, the "Student Life" director, split us up into six teams, and we each had bandannas to show which team we were on. 
Orange - the Efficacious Orange-atanges
Yellow - the Jawbones (me!)
Green - the Kosher Pickles (Shane happened to be wearing his Larry the cucumber t-shirt :P)
White - Sod-Pottage (an Ellerslie inside joke)
Blue - the Blue Ospreys (Doesn't that just make you cringe in fear?! Yeah, me too. :P) 
and
Red - the Avengers

Let me tell ya, these people at Ellerslie come up with some creative, fun games...just saying. ;) 

The first game - The Shoe Toss! It was a relay.  You had to run to the end of the field, take off one shoe, and hope on one foot back to your team, and then once everybody made it back, your whole team had to run down to the pile of shoes, put on your shoe, and run back.  Let's just say I was ready to throw-up after that.  (Sorry, TMI.)

Everybody getting pumped for the big games!

the enemy, A.K.A. Shane.

"Just keep hopping, just keep hopping!"

The next game, which happens to be my favorite, was Fish in a Barrel!  They made a little circle of cones, and all 50+ people had to cram into this little circle, and then Ben had one of the hugs balls, and what he would do, is just roll the ball in there and whoever got touched by it was out.  Now, it sounds simple, and not very fun, but it was hilarious!  People were jumping over people, stepping on people, jumping over the ball.....it was chaos!

Sorry, this pic isn't that good, but hopefully you can get the idea.

The next game was another relay - the one where you have to spin your head around on the bat, and then run to the goal and back....yeah, not my favorite, but at least they only had us spin three times.  Oh, and they had us use really short bats. :P

It's kinda funny watching people run fast. *giggles*  (that's why you'll rarely see a pic of me on this post.) =)

Then next Epic Ellerslie game, was Dodge-ball with those squishy little water balls.  We lost. :'(  and I got out like right away, which was sad, but, that's life, I guess.  Oh!  Then, with the winning teams, they had a three-way game of Dodge-ball!  It looked really fun!

the Kosher Pickles against Sod-Pottage. 





Charlie and Hudson: New best friends!

Oh yeah!! Then there was:  The Mattress Game!! This sounded so hard, but it actually was hilarious, and fun.   You had to pick one team member, (preferably the smallest) to put on top of the mattress, while the rest of the team was on their backs, and they had to use their hands and knees to get the mattress to the end of the field.  Wow, we had four tiny girls, (not including me) and one guy, who happened to be tiny himself.  Things were not looking promising, but we did come in third! =)

Liv and I were so ready! 

Go Jawbones!!

Second to last, was the Log Toss.  This was for guys only, and we actually didn't have a log, it was a 2x4.  And it actually broke a couple times. :P  Shane got the furthest, and actually hit the camera man in the head!

Ahhh.....and last, but not least:  The Shaving Cream Race!! :P   One guy from each team had to sit at the end of the field, and then the rest of the team had to be spread across the field.  One person had a can of shaving cream, they would spray some into the next persons hands, and then you had to pass it all the way down to the last person, and that person would pile it on top of the guys head.  And whoever had the tallest pile won.  It was fun, and creamy. :P  Oh yeah, we won. =)

the guys waiting at the end of the field.

I have no idea how she got that to stay. 

looks like it's falling :S  btw, I love that little kid!! =)

had to get the Bailey Pose in there!


Winners!

Oh yes, and then it started.....the shaving cream fight.  =)  'Twas fun to behold!
 

Charlie was asking people to put shaving cream on him; he just had to get in the fun!


Yeah, that's Ben.  He was everyone's target.

the Kosher Pickles



Sod-Pottage


that's everybody =)

The Efficacious Orange-atanges won, and that was the end to the Epic Ellerslie Games!  It was pretty epic. =) 

Are You Washed?

Have you ever stopped to listen to the words of old hymns?  Recently I have been doing just that -  listening to the words, and the meanings of some of the common hymns that we sing. And I have heard and learned such amazing truths from them!  
Take some time to reflect upon the meaning of the words and all the depth behind them! 
   
Are You Washed?

Have you been to Jesus for the cleansing power?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

Are you fully trusting in His grace this hour?
Are you washed in the blood of the lamb?

Are you washed in the blood,
in the soul-cleansing blood of the lamb?
Are you garments spotless, are they white as snow?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

Are you walking daily by the Savior's side?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
Do you rest each moment in the Crucified?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

Are you washed in the blood,
in the soul-cleansing blood of the lamb?
Are you garments spotless, are they white as snow?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

When the Bridegroom cometh will your robes be white?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
Will your soul be ready for the mansions bright/
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb? 

Are you washed in the blood,
in the soul-cleansing blood of the lamb?
Are you garments spotless, are they white as snow?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

Lay aside the garments that are stained with sin,
and be washed in the blood of the Lamb!
There's a fountain flowing for the soul unclean,

O be washed in the blood of the Lamb! 

Are you washed in the blood,
in the soul-cleansing blood of the lamb?
Are you garments spotless, are they white as snow?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

          .~.~.~.~.~.~.~.

This song really challenged me to "rest each moment in the Crucified!"  
Every moment in Jesus Christ!! 


Are you washed?
 

Rock of Ages

Rock of Ages, cleft for me, 
let me hide myself in thee; 

let the water and the blood

from thy wounded side which flowed, 
be of sin the double cure; 
save from wrath and make me pure. 
        
Not the labors of my hands 
can fulfill thy law's commands; 
could my zeal no respite know, 
could my tears forever flow, 
all for sin could not atone; 
thou must save, and thou alone. 
     
Nothing in my hand I bring, 
simply to the cross I cling; 
naked, come to thee for dress; 
helpless, look to thee for grace; 
foul, I to the fountain fly; 
wash me, Savior, or I die! 

While I draw this fleeting breath, 
when mine eyes shall close in death, 
when I soar to worlds unknown, 
see thee on thy judgment throne, 
Rock of Ages, cleft for me, 
let me hide myself in thee. 

---

Charlieism of the Week

"Plane and plain sound alike. 
Plane, like the thing that flies in the sky.
And plain, like fries without ketchup."


:)

A Day in the Rockies

Psalm 121:1-2 "I will lift up mine eyes unto the mountains,
from whence cometh my help. 

My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth."

It all started last Wednesday.  My mom was seeking the Lord about the schooling for the day, and He brought her to this verse.  She took it as, "Forget the books for the day, and take the kids up to the mountains for the day."  She shared this with us, and of course, we all were enthusiastic about it, for who would rather spend a day doing math, then hiking in the Rockies?!  Within an hour we were on our way up to Rocky Mountain National Park.  It was the perfect day for our outing - sunny and fifty, with hardly a cloud in the sky.  This time we were prepared for the cold weather; we brought layers, winter hats, and mittens! 

We started on the path that we had barely gotten onto our previous trip.  We got a lot farther this time!  We stopped along the way, viewing the mountains, taking pictures, looking at a chipmunk, taking pictures, etc....
We got to this one spot, I don't know the name, but there was a lake with a mountain in the background.  It was beautiful!  We continued our journey upward and all of a sudden Shane and Anna were climbing this HUGE rock, (I don't know what you would call it, cause it's not just a rock, but it's not big enough to be called a hill, but it was big enough to fall off of and die).  Shane got to the top and then yelled down, "Bailey! You HAVE to come up and get a picture of this!"  So, with camera in pocket, I started climbing up the rock.  Then Charlie started following me, unaware of the danger. :S  Even though Mom walked behind him, it was a little unnerving, cause again, he didn't know the danger of falling.  Alas, we made it to the top (alive) and were stunned at the beauty!  I saw for miles, the mountains, the valleys, the lake - it was breathtaking!! 

And people actually think this happened by chance!!!

We were trying to set up the camera for a self-timer pic, but alas, rocks being, well, "rocky" it wasn't working. :P  All of a sudden we heard voices and then saw a bald head, climbing on the mountain.  So, he took our picture for us! =)

 

 

Anyhoo....we stayed on the huge rock, for a few more minutes, then made the "dangerous" decent down (alive) and started hiking again. About twenty feet up the path we took a fifteen minute break, and in that time Shane went ahead, and then all of a sudden he was a tiny speck on top of a mountain!  It was so cool!

see him doing the muscle pose? :P

After that glorious view, we started hiking again.  Around every corner was a new view of the majesty, and around each turn there was the anticipation of  "What are we going to see next?"  We got off the trail, and climbed down the rocks to find a mountain creek!

Then we got back on the path and climbed for ten more minutes, and then we saw it - Andrew's Glacier!
Funny story:  Charlie was look at a book about the Rocky Mountains, and he flipped to a page, and there was a picture of a glacier.  And I saw it and thought, I'm pretty sure I have seen that before!  And I think I know right where that is!   So, we were driving through Rocky Mountain National Park, and sure enough, we come to a field with a view of the mountains, and right there is Andrew's Glacier - the picture that was in the book!  (I just thought that was kinda funny)  Anyways, back to the story......where was I?  Oh, Andrew's Glacier.  A little bit past the glacier was our destination:  Dream Lake.  We got there, and it was breathtaking!  I don't know if I liked the view of the mountains on the HUGE rock, or the view of Dream Lake better, it's a hard decision!  Oh......it is SO GORGEOUS!!! 

OK, so that actually isn't the place we visited, it was WAY more pretty! A camera just can't capture all the splendor! (I'm just kidding, that is the place we went.)

there's me. =)

I took a couple's picture for them, and then decided that is where I want to take my engagement pictures! Definitely!  After a few minutes of basking in the beauty, we made our way back to the bottom of the mountain. :(    On our way down we got a different view of the lake, and while the others wanted a picture on the rock, Charlie wanted a pic of him laying on the log.  :P

Oh yeah! I almost forgot to tell you about the chipmunk!  All of a sudden there was this little chipmunk, and Shane put out his hand, and the chipmunk grabbed him!!  He was so startled he let go.  And I got my camera ready, but I was out of memory, so I couldn't delete fast enough to get the second time when the chipmunk grabbed him!  It was so funny!! 
Alas, that was the end to our amazingly-fantabulous-fun day!!  I guess the moral of the story is this:
When God tells you to do something, you should do it, cause it's way better than any of our plans!

Practicing Thankfulness

One of my blogging friends often writes on her blog, things that she is grateful for.  I am always blessed by her attitude of gratitude and decided that I want to do the same thing - list the things that I am grateful for today.  So today I start something new.... =) 

Today I am thankful for:

a warm cup of coffee in the afternoon

the peace God gives when I cast my cares upon Him

the vibrant colors of the trees, and soft petals of roses

friends that seek Christ 

a pastor that is not politically correct, and anointed by God

a coffee shop less than a mile away :P 

God's unfailing goodness to me 


the majesty and beauty of the mountains

my camera

my parents, that want to teach me to love Christ with ALL my heart

God is good!

A Thrilling Adventure

Last week my family and I decided that we were going to go to the Mountains for the day.  I had never seen the mountains before so I was super excited!  We got to Estes Park, and then continued driving through the winding roads, and cliffs, and rivers...it was SO COOL!  (The annoying thing was that for fifteen minutes there was a garbage truck right in front of us which prohibited my picture taking of the beautiful scenery. Oh well. :P)  Just to let ya'll know, if you want to have an exciting vacation/day in the Rockies, take Charlie with you.  It is way more fun to have a six year old screaming at everything, from the backseat, then just the oohing and ahhing of the older children.  *clears throat*  We were curving down the windy road when Charlie informed us, "I am NOT going to climb that mountain! That mountain is over freaky!"  (gotta love him!) 

Need I point out the garbage truck? I don't think so. 

Anyhooo.....we got to Rocky Mountain National Park, but to be more specific, Bear Lake.  Oh, by the way, the mountains are GORGEOUS!!!   So, we got out of the van, and while we are waiting to use the bathroom before our long trek up the mountain, we discover that it's really cold!   Somewhere in our drive from the bottom of the mountains, to Bear Lake it had dropped twenty degrees, plus it was windy.  And us amateur mountain climbers forgot that it's always colder the higher you go. :P  So we get there unprepared for the cold weather, but nothing is going to stop us! *giggles* 
We start our journey on the winding trail, oohing and ahhing at the sites, and Charlie screaming at everything.  And it got harder to breathe!  It was kinda funny actually, I started laughing at myself.

Charlie had to bring his backpack cause, "All mountain climbers wear backpacks!"

One view of the majesty.

the winding trail

my family and the mountain

we saw a few of these cool-looking birds!  I found out they are called, "Steller-jays."

Yup, that's my heroic brother.

About ten minutes  into our hike we hear thunder.  But remember - nothing is going to stop the O'Briens from mountain climbing!! So, we continue up the path, having lots of fun, and in awe of the beauty.  Then it starts to snow.  Big snow flakes.  And we get really excited, and keep hiking....but it didn't take us too long to realize that we were in possible danger.  So, as the flakes get bigger, and the thunder gets louder my dad decides that needed to get off the mountain.   Convinced of the danger, we turn around and high-tail it down the mountain.   Then I came up with this great idea, "Oh! We need to get a family picture!"  and of course, my mom agreed with me.  =)  But, my dad was like,  "No!  We're on a mountain in the middle of a storm - we're not taking a picture!"   (Probably a smart idea. :P)

the size of the snowflakes

Well, we made it to the bottom of the mountain, alive, and so my dad said we could take a picture then.  So, this was our attempt, (we like trying to fit all of us into the pic).

I love this one!

Isn't that incredible?!?!

Of course, after we drive for ten minutes it decides to get gorgeous out, but, at least we were still near the mountains so I could get a couple shot so of them under blue skies.   =)
Anyhooo.....it was an awesome day just hanging with my family, getting caught in a storm in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado!!

God is good.