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ummm…. this post has like 100 photos.
you may want to get another cup of coffee!

last week we had our third Camp CREATE!
🙂
we had 17 women in one house from 14 different states.
i love to see God pull people from all over to become friends at the Craft House.
and that is exactly what happens.
they nervously show up by themselves, pick out their beds, not knowing their roommates at all.
And by the time they leave they have real friendships with those who were strangers four days before.

  
the house is prepped for everyone to be comfortable, cozy and creative.

we set all the swag from our awesome sponsors at each work space.
it looks so festive and happy!

Dayspring, Reina’s cookies, Illustrated Faith, Crossway Publishing, Faith & Life Books, Timbabli Crafts, Paperworks, Perfectly Posh, Crave Popcorn Co. and Gracelaced each sent their product to bless the campers.
how awesome is that?!
i will blog all about each one of them in my next post AND i have a BIG giveaway too!

our speaker was author,  Amber Haines.
i read her book “Wild in the Hollow” last summer and asked her right away to speak at camp.
she is a lovely, poetic writer, wonderful speaker and a beautiful person.
we were given topics to work through all week during our quiet times.
she challenged us with reflective questions like “Who are you” ” What do you Desire?” “What name does God call you?”
not easy to answer quickly.
having the time together in such a small group with our speakers at camp is special.
i love how these girls were vulnerable with their answers and their hearts.
i loved every minute of amber teaching us.

kimberlee cooked delicious meals and desserts for us all week.
everything was SO GOOD!
it’s such a treat for the campers (and me too!) to not have to think about meals for several days.
you get to walk in and sit down to an amazing meal!
three times a day!
AND dessert!
that is sooooo not a regular mom’s life!
it is the best!

jeanne oliver and laura kelley each taught a creative workshop during the week.
seriously… WOW!
i loved hearing their stories about how they have each developed their creativity over the years and how they have discovered more about God through out the process.

  
thank goodness jeanne brought enough gesso…

while at camp… we create all day long.

we gave each of our campers an art journal.
it’s great for sketching, journaling, mixed media, writing – anything!
also good for extra creating when projects are finished.

Jeanne taught a workshop called Reflections: Painting your story.
you can get information and details to take this course yourself HERE.

  

the project i taught was painting/designing their own tool bag/art tote.
they were given paint, fabric scraps, trims, glitter, ribbon and stamps and then they were free to create as they pleased.
i envisioned them using it for their bible journaling supplies or art supplies.
this project was inspired by Michelle Allen and Alissa Burke.
this was my bright bright bright bag.  🙂

  
Laura taught a workshop on her style and process of Bible Journaling.
you can get details for her course HERE.
thanks to Crossway Publishing and Faith & Life Bookstores – we got to give everyone their own journaling bible!

you guys… the food.
it was ALL SO CRAZY GOOD!!!

i wish all of you could try kimberlee’s cinnamon rolls.
they are insane.
you can give it a try yourself at home by following her recipe HERE.


there are a lot of pictures of laura eating because she LOVES to eat Kimberlee’s food!
she has been a craft weekend-er, a craft weekend helper and now a Camp Instructor.
the food is her favorite part!
ha ha ha!
    
we always take our girls out to Marion Kansas for some antiquing/junking.
We go to Bearly Makin’ It and to The Mill.
it is my favorite place to shop for the good stuff… chippy painted, rusty and old!
they have EVERYTHING.
and also… anything.  🙂

i brought home this little green piano and these vintage curtain panels!
several girls brought home some great quilts.
there was even an 8 foot tall wind mill that went home with someone!

it was a great day to get out in the fresh air and find some good junk!

dianna was our extra helping hand all week… stepping in everywhere that was needed.
she is the best at seeing things what others miss and at making everyone feel welcome.



everybody loves the rainbow stairs!

 

these women.
they have my heart in a major way.
they love the Lord in the fiercest of ways.
they are have big hearts for serving women… digging into their faith in jesus… and loving everyone around them.
i was truly honored to get to spend 5 days with these really cool chicks.


And these campers?!!  i have all the heart eye emojis for them!
what a special group!
we grew together, created together, prayed together, learned, shared, cried and OH MY WORD did we laugh together?!!!
these women were hysterical!

i am so amazed that God would use the creativity he put in me… to turn into something like Camp CREATE.
He is so good!
i loved listening to the women share on our last night about how they had been changed by being at camp.
how they made meaningful friendships!
they got to learn about and worship God through listening and in their creative time.
and that they were rested an going home inspired.
because THAT is exactly what i have wanted camp to be from the very beginning!
It is seriously so awesome to watch God work through out each camp.

my heart is filled up!
i am so grateful to every camper and helper for all that it took to make last week happen.

and i slept for three days when it was over.
HA!

🙂

details about the next Camp Create will be coming in the next week.
stay tuned!

 

well in case you weren’t sure… Camp CREATE was soooo good!  🙂
we planned and anticipated for months and it was totally worth it!
it was so cool to see what a perfect group God brought together for a week of fellowship, worship & creating.

kimberlee and i kicked off our 5th year of Craft Weekends and 2nd year of Camps this September.
how can it have been that long already?

i have had many questions asking “what is the difference between Craft Weekend and Camp CREATE?”
#1 Camp is Wednesday – Sunday and CW is Friday – Sunday.
#2 At Camp we have a speaker that shares about God, her faith and a relationship with Jesus.
#3 At CW we make several craft projects and at Camp we have instructors to teach workshops that focus on a creative skill or technique.
#4 Camp has A LOT of down time to help with rest, relaxing and creativity.

Both are wonderful but in different ways.   🙂

Our speaker was Stephanie Holden.
she is known by most online as “Honey” Holden.
let me tell you… she was just what this group needed!
she blessed the entire group with teaching us from the bible and through her own stories.
she was open and honest and safe… all with a thick southern accent.
at the end of her speaking time the first night, she read a letter to us that she’d written to her 16 year old self as part of blog project.
and then told us that she would like all of us to write one while we were at camp…and share them!
WOW!
what a powerful tool that was look back on the goodness of God & see all the ways He has worked through our lives!
it was a HARD and emotional project!
but also very freeing to release it all and give God the glory in all of it… the good, the bad, and everything in-between.
if you have never done it… today is the day!
go for it!

our guest Carol made those cookies for us?!!
i couldn’t even believe the awesomeness!
they were so perfectly made and tasted amazing!
i had like… 8.
for reals.

our art instructors Stephanie Ackerman taught a workshop on Art Journaling.
and Jenni Horne taught a technique of whimsical painting.
i filled in a gap of time with a fun wood block heart project.
between those three things there was paint, glue, chalk and stickers EVERYWHERE.
the best kind of mess!
everyone enjoyed learning what was shared and having lots of open ended to keep creating as ideas came during the week.
thank you Stephanie and Jenni!


the idea for the hearts came from @heart_by_cc on IG.

we were excited to celebrate TWO birthdays during our time together!

stephanie teaching how she creates her pages in her art journal.

jenni showing us her painting technique.



kimberlee always spoils us with her delicious meals and desserts.
this week was no exception… enchiladas, cinnamon rolls, ginger snaps, cheesecake, chicken pot pie!!
it is such a treat for ME to not have to think about food while we are at the house.
she makes the week complete by blessing women with thoughtfully prepared food!

Dianna (in the blue stripes) was our official “Helper of All The Things” for the week.
she was SO needed and went way over the top in her job.
i love you Di!
thank you for every single thing you did… seen and unseen.
and how great that this time you didn’t even have to fix a toilet?  🙂

we took our campers out for lunch a sweet new lunch spot in Florence called The Flint Hills Market & Bakery.
if you live anywhere near Florence, Kansas be sure to check it out.
and of course we visited my favorite antique store and barn of antiques!
everyone has to experience those if you come to visit me.
these girls came home with the coolest treasures… even concrete lion statues!
the Camp Create Leaders for the week… Jenni, Kimberlee, Honey, Stephanie and me.
there is a lot of love in that picture.
🙂

my husband had to hang that HUGE sign from The House of Belonging the night before camp… OY!
it’s GIGANTIC!
but i knew that the women who come through the doors at the Craft House need to hear those words.
it needed to be there as a reminder to them.
and me!
Thanks Tiffani for encouraging every Craft House guest!

i asked Honey before camp for a word or phrase to sum up what her time of sharing would be.
she texted this back to me:
I’m focusing on a different part of our identity… a different word for each session so it was hard to come up with one word that encompasses them all. (“Warrior”is my favorite individual study for the week. Eeep! )  Abundant, or Abundance is a good summary. When you pile up all the the things we are in Christ, it is an abundance of goodness. Like.. Blow your mind kind of stuff. Because of who we are in Him, because of what HE has done… He’s created us to never lack in any area. He’s not only given us grace to be sustained but He wants us to live an abundant life… Thriving as the woman He created us to be.  
I’m just praying we all leave with fresh eyes of all that we ARE and all that we DO have in Christ. It’s easy to let our circumstances at times make us forgetful or even feel forgotten by the Lord when He was passing out His goodness for the day or month or year. Regardless of whatever season we are in or what we are facing, He has SO much for us.

and that is exactly what shared over the course of the week.
i loved every word.
we felt encouraged, inspired, understood and loved by God in each of her sessions.

we had a quiet time each morning to reflect on what our speaker had shared or for devotions or just purely for quiet.
to further the relaxing we brought in massage therapists.
everyone had the opportunity to sign up for an hour massage and everyone took it!
quiet time AND massage… does it get better than that?

i just love all these happy faces!

the rainbow stairs were a huge hit!  🙂

the whole week was absolutely wonderful!
i sat at the end of the room watching what God has brought together and felt so seen & known by Him.
i felt so loved!
the way He takes our small offerings of what we have and turns it into something so BIG for his glory.
i like to make things, decorate and talk…. He takes those things i have to offer up and has made such a comforting place for women to hear Him, grow in Him, love Him & to be reminded of how much HE LOVES THEM!
and that is such a sweet spot to be in.
i am so grateful for all Christ has done in me…what he has shown me… and for the ways he continues to pursue me in love.
i just love everything about jesus and how He loves me no matter what. (heart eyes! heart eyes! heart eyes!)

i am still on a Camp Create high a week and half later… it was RAD!
(and my pants still don’t fit after all that yummy food!)

Tammy, Mary, Shelly, Gina, Sherry, Katie, Jenni, Carol, Julie, Janie, Kristin, Honey, Jenni, Dianna, Stephanie and Kimberlee… THANK YOU for  camp… for sharing and being open… for being kind to each other… for everything!
I am thanking God for each one of you today.

i will share this week about our fabulous sponsors that sent fun gifts for us.

 

AND soon i will share about the next Camp CREATE coming in April 2016!!!
woo-hoo!!
I am very excited about it!
🙂

 

i have been hesitant to write this post…it’s taken me an entire month!
camp was SO GOOD and everything i had hoped it would be.
i don’t think my words can describe our time at Camp CREATE well enough.
i don’t want to miss anything.
and during camp i barely took any photos because i was having such a great time i forgot!
so this post is made up of pictures taken by me and the whole group.

it was an awesome group of women.
i kept smiling when i would remember that this was the group God picked to be here.
He put us together.  That meant something.
God is in all the details.

when you bring a group of strangers together who know they are coming to focus on dreams and God’s plans & desires… amazing things happen.
none of the guests knew anyone before coming.
none of them were able to come with a friend because it sold out so quickly.
AND I LOVED THAT!

these girls were vulnerable and strong.
they were asking God “what do you want me to do next?  what is your plan for my life… right now?”
and that is B I G!!!

Each evening and morning our speaker, Holley, talked with us about dreams and God’s purpose for us.

Holley Gerth is the author of “You’re Made for a God-Sized Dream”.
(she has written lots of books and you probably need them all)

she taught us that a “God-sized Dream” means a dream that perfectly fits your heart.  it’s not about how big or small it is, it is about saying YES to the dream God has for you.
she shared with us about “pursuing life with passion and purpose and going with God where he leads.”
those are her exact words.
🙂
i wanted to write down every. single. thing.

we talked about our strengths and our skills.
we discussed how are we using those to serve others?
and where do our dreams fit into that picture?
we talked about fear – the fear of failing… fear of it not working out…. fear of rejection… fear of success.

Holley’s words were just what my own heart needed to hear.
and i’m pretty sure every one in the room was thinking the same thing.

Stephanie Ackerman & Michelle Allen lead our creative workshops.
we created art journals, encouragement cards, carved our own rubber stamps and made ornament pillows from our stamps.
it was relaxing… refreshing… and oh so fun!!

they were both fabulous teachers.
i enjoyed how their style was totally different and i learned so much them both!
i am now a huge fan of art journaling AND i want to carve a million more stamps.

we were spoiled with such wonderful teachers.
it felt great to create projects with endless possibilities for hours at a time.
and then go to bed and be able to leave it all out!!
no kids to come & get into our mess or family needing to eat breakfast on the same table   🙂
getting freedom in the time and mess is so nice.

we shopped at our very favorite barn and antique shop.
some went to other local shops in newton and sonic for happy hour drinks!
some went for a run in the mornings… some went out for evening walks.
we brought in massage therapists for those who wanted massage… oh yeah… ahhhhh-mazing!!!
there was a big focus on RELAXING at camp.

having shannan as our “official helper” for the week made everything EVEN MORE EPIC!
she is as wonderful as she seems on her blog.
she is the real deal.
i like her so dang much.
she’s a writer so i am positive she really liked that last sentence… it’s very professional, intelligent and well written.
shannan… i am so thankful for you.

the week before camp we pushed hard and finished out the backyard area.
we gave away our swing set and cleared out the weeds…
my strong sons and husband did most of the hard stuff.
i hung lights and bunting and made it pretty.

it was perfect for a fire and s’mores for dessert!

kimberlee‘s food was possibly the best it’s ever been.
the way she plans a menu is a creative gift!
we ate like queens.
and in case you didn’t know… kimberlee is the organization behind our events.
she thinks of details in the details.
things i never could come up with and she has ideas and answers.
i love her brain and her giant heart for hospitality.
i am so thrilled we get to work together AND be friends.
she’s rad.

michelle graciously gave us a new sign for the Craft House kitchen!
definitely time well spent.
it was really cool to watch it come together!

for part of the art journaling, stephanie had us cut words from old book pages.
any words that caught our eye… those above were some of my words i cut out.
and i also got caught up  in reading my pages.
mine was about a president that was ill and the wife having to hold it together for everyone… i looked up during our workshop and said “my page is making me cry!”
i was supposed to be looking for words not reading!

Holley found the phrase “Great Jumping Mullets Grandpa!”
what??
it stuck.
we said it all week.

tara took a selfie with everyone at camp.
and i thought it was so adorable to see it all in one collage!

we had some lovely sponsors who sent gifts for our guests………………………………………………..

Faith & Life Bookstore is my local book shop.
they are in Newton, Kansas.
they wanted to give our guests a gift!  It was so kind of them to do!
everyone at camp was able to go home with Holley’s book!

CRAVE Popcorn Company.
they sent their popcorn for our girls to snack on.
oh my goodness i love this stuff!
you can order online and have it shipped right to your door!

Lisa Leonard Designs
Lisa sent this necklace to our guests.
i love that they can wear it and remember their week at Camp and how they ARE loved!
You can order this necklace for yourself too and wear it anytime you need a reminder!

The Honaker HomeMaker
Lauren made a few of these creative signs for Camp Create.
one gets to live at the Craft House forever and two went home with two of our guests!
We love your shop Lauren!

i even got to take them to the sunflower field that i love so much!
i don’t think there could be a better backdrop for pictures.
nothing can compare.

Holley told us that “the Dream itself (whatever it may be for you) is not the point.  The adventure in the relationship with God is what matters. ”
Being together with Him, ready for whatever He asks and brings to you next.
Remembering that we are His, we are loved and we can dream BIG.
Saying your dreams out loud can be a scary thing.
But He has given us what we need to be all that we need to be.

(you should go read Holley’s story about her daughter Lovelle… God is so good!)

this week for me was about giving these women a time and a place for their creative gifts.
time to rest… dig deeper… make friends…. and to be heard.
we shared together what our dreams were and what the next step was.
everyone encouraged each other in so many ways.

having this camp was my God-Sized Dream.
i was scared… scared it was a dumb idea…. that no one would want to come… that i was crazy…
while reading Holley’s book it was made clear to me that this was not something i came up with but that it was God ‘s idea and HE wanted me to do it.
and then at that point… what choice did i have?
to run away scared or say YES to his plans!

it was humbling to see this group of women come together and hear them share so intently.
it was a w e s o m e.
and i am so happy that they could have time to focus on their dreams.

and this may seem silly to some but i felt like that sunflower field was a treat from God for me.
it was breathtaking.
like God was saying “you did what i asked.  you gave me your fears.  you trusted me.  Look Megan, your favorite flower…. a MILLION of them.”

sometimes God choses to practically knock us out with his goodness.

this camp… was one of those times.

if you are interested… here are other camp create recaps.  🙂

michelle –  part one and part two
stephanie  – part one and part two
holley
shannan  
carey
beth