Back to Real Life

School is in full swing at Mississippi State University. This semester might be the death of me. However, I think I say that every semester. I'm taking 18 hours and it is A LOT of work! Plus I am a family group leader, which is going wonderfullly. I love having that "motherly" aspect. I am also in charge of the drama team this year at BSU. I made sure to start off right by doing some skits for everyone to see that we have fun and present the Gospel. I've had a lot of people come for the auditions. So that will be starting up soon, too. My living/roommate situation is wonderful. I'm excited for this year!

A month and a half ago I was in Kissimmee, Florida loving on children at Give Kids the World. I think about that place each and every day. I am bound and determined to go back sometime this year. Hopefully, it'll be during Spring Break. So if you are interested in going, holla at me! I would love for any and everyone to come and experience it.

Well, that's about it for now.
Love y'all!

There's No Place Like Home

My last week at GKTW were absolutely amazing! Thursday I was a Bunny Buddy for Mayor Clayton. I drove him to his venue for the night, made sure he was okay, and took care of him. I was basically security. We did 3 tuck-ins that night. What's a tuck-in? Parents can schedule for any of the characters at GKTW to come at a certain time one night and tuck in all the kids. The parents of the second family expressed their gratitude for all the volunteers to us. It was so heart felt. The third family had 2 younger girls and 2 teenage boys. Mayor picked on the boys, made them get tucked in, and would hit them with a pillow. The girls laughed SO hard at this. That was so much fun!

My last shift was in the Ice Cream Palace, which is awesome. It's usually really hard to get a shift there because everyone loves working there. So I'm glad I got to work there one last time. I put in 182 hours at GKTW this summer. I got to meet some amazing families and I got to know a lot of the staff there. It was so hard to say goodbye to the people and that place.

Sunday the whole team went to church together. That afternoon we went to the lake and a man brought his boat and another man brought his sea-do. We went tubing, threw frisbees, and hung out. It started thundering and lightening a little then WHAM! Lightening struck a tree within 30 yards of us. It caught the tree on fire, but it wasn't bad. It was loud, scary, and pretty cool actually.

Monday was Disney day! We got there at 8:30 am and didn't leave until around 1 am. We did all 4 parks in 1 day. Whew! We were so very worn out.

Tuesday we were up at 8:30 am to clean up the camp. That took a few hours. That night we had our end of the summer banquet. FBC fed us and we watched a video one of our teammates put together of pictures from the summer. We all got a copy of that. Earlier that week, we got a sheet with different awards that were to be given out at the banquet. We all voted and turned it in. So at the banquet, the awards were given. Most were goofy awards like "most likely to be left" or "most likely to get lost in Orlando". I received the best laugh award. I wasn't expecting it.

Cyle got tired of taking pictures with me, but I talked him into one more! :)

This is Mr. Brian and Mrs. Suzette. They were our "bosses" for the summer. They are doing great things in Orlando.

Then Wednesday we started flying home. Cyle and I landed in Memphis around 3:30 pm. My parents were right there waiting on me. We went to the escalator to get our bags, but Daddy said we had to go a different route for some reason. (He's not a good liar.) So we come around the corner and Carlye Carpenter, Will Simmons, and Ashley Farris were all there holding signs that said "Welcome Home Claire". It was the most precious thing ever. I had no idea they were going to be there. I have some amazing best friends! This just made the day even better!

It's so nice to be home. I've missed small town life. I don't see how people live in such a large touristy city. I like going to restaurants and them knowing what we're going to order. I like going from Aberdeen straight to Starkville on one road...no exits to interstates or merging to highway 349473902. I can see the sky, stars, and moon so much better here. So very, very nice.

Saturday I'm leaving again. I know! I just can't stay still for very long. Haha! I'm going on a road trip with 6 other girls. Our first stop in Savannah, Georgia. Then we'll go to Charelston, South Carolina. Then Asheville, North Carolina. Finally, Nashville, Tennessee. We'll be back on Wednesday. Other than our night in Savannah, we'll be camping in tents at camp grounds all the other nights. I am really excited about this trip. I've always wanted to go on a road trip and now I am!

Thank you for all your prayers and for reading my blog! I hope I have kept you up to date on everything! Love you all!

Having Fun!

So have you heard of the show Survivor? What about Big Brother? Surely you've heard of The Amazing Race...Well, tonight at GKTW, cast members from all 3 of those shows were at the Village! I was a photographer tonight so I got to rub elbows with the big shots. It was so much fun! I got a few pictures with some of them on my camera. I also got a poster to get autographs on. It was quite exciting!

Last week I decided to go ahead and make out my schedule at GKTW for the rest of my time here. We get a lot of youth groups during the summer, so the good positions get taken quickly. I realized then that after this week, I only have next week to work. Saturday will be my last day of work at GKTW and my last Kids Club. Cyle and I have gotten to know a lot of the staff at GKTW, so when we tell them we're almost done they don't take it too well. We've been bribed and given places to stay, but when I ask them if they can pay us and they say no, I have to say no as well. Ha! So don't worry, I will be coming home. :)

So this coming week I'm going to soak it all up. It's going to be really sad to leave GKTW. It is such an amazing place and I feel right at home there. I definitely plan on coming back whenever I can to volunteer some more.

Hope all is well back home. Love and miss you all!

Happiness Inspires Hope

To make up for my lack of update, how about a few pictures first? :)

Doing child care of Church of Life. This is Gracie.

We get to know our kids really well at Kids Club. This is Jacob and he is from Scotland. We played the ABC game a lot this day!

This is my team.

Yellow Shirt = Innovators that work at Fun Spot

Red Shirt = Creative Arts Team

Cyle and I are in different colors.

I was really nervous when I found out my partner for the summer would be some guy I've never met before. He's turned out to be a great partner. He's very sarcastic and we're mean to each other, but when it comes down to it, we love each other (even if he won't admit it, ha!)

Now, what have I been up to?!

It's pretty much been the same ole thing. I work at GKTW as much as I can. I still go to Quality Inn Plaza on International Drive every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday morning for Kids Club. If I'm not doing one of those two things, I go with the rest of my team. I have helped with child care at a church, been a fill in puppeter, and tonight, I'll be face painting at Fun Spot.

For a while I was struggling with the thought of I'm not doing anything to further God's Kingdom here. I don't get to really talk to and get to know the people I work with because I work with someone different everytime I go in. And the families at GKTW are definitely too busy to sit down and chat with me. Kids Club is going well, but I mean, I haven't had any kids make a profession of faith. Then one day, after many prayers, God opened my eyes. In the Volunteer Services office at GKTW, where I sign in everyday, there is a bookshelf with some of the merchandise for sale. I had a shirt picked out from the very beginning. It's purple, has the logo on it, and says "Happiness Inspires Hope". I've seen it everyday, but one day I finally understood what it meant. Later I worked with a family who's daughter was a wish child and they all came to GKTW 5 or 6 years ago for her wish. Now, she is fully recovered and they all came back to volunteer. The mom told me that this place really helped her in her recovery. So even though I feel like all I do is push a button to make a carousel start, scoop ice cream, take pictures, or paint on airbrush tattoos, it makes these children and their families so incredibely happy. That, in turn, helps them medically. Having a week of pure fun and enjoyment gives them the strength and endurance to keep fighting whatever disease it is that they are fighting.

Kids Club can be frustrating some days. However, it's the kids like Stevie, who came to Kids Club for about 2 weeks. She and I bonded. We played torpedo every time. She told us one day that she and her mom were going to another hotel so it would be her last day. We said our goodbyes, took a few pictures, and got contact information. The next Kids Club, I was doing what I normally do with a new batch of kids. We were making our craft when I turned around to see who else walking up, but Stevie?! She ran over to me and told me that her mom brought her back to this hotel so she could come to Kids Club once more before going home to England. That filled my heart with so much joy, I cannot express. Since then, I've had other kids that have left some kind of impact on me like that.

I know God has me here for a reason. Even though I don't see the fruits of my labor, He does. He isn't wasting any time working through me. I think so often people look at summer missions and the only thing they want to know is "How many people did you lead to the Lord this summer?". It is not about numbers. He has this all under control. I could have been a seed planter or a waterer for the people I've met.

Continue to keep us in your prayers. I don't feel like my team is really a team, it's more like some of us are just all living together. There has been too much drama going on and I think it's silly. Some days I feel like the focus is on who said what to who and what dumb thing happened today. It shouldn't be like that. It's hard to stay positive in the midst of a lot of negativity. I want to finish this summer with as much joy and excitement as I started it.

I hope all is well back home! See you soon. Love you all!

1 Peter 5:10

Right now I am at GKTW sitting in the Welcome Hut. I get to flick some switches to let the cross bar up and open the gate. I'm in here from 6-9, so I thought I'd bring my computer and catch up on some things. Smart, I know. :)

I'm still doing my regular schedule of volunteering at GKTW, Kids Club, and going to FBC Kissimmee each week. Some new things I've volunteered for is the La Ti Da Spa-Here, children can get airbrush tattoos, fingernails painted, face painted, and their makeup done. It's really fun! Pirates and Princesses-At the pool there is a huge pirate ship which serves as a stage. Here, the children can decide to either be a pirate or a princess. They are given certificates, tiaras, swords, tattoos, and makeup. They are then presented as Princess _____ or Pirate ____ from the stage. Then, of course, there is a big dance party. Cyle and I were lucky enough to get to be characters that night. We were both pirates. It was reallly hot! I have pictures, don't worry. It was quite funny. One morning I was a gift giver. Everyday the families receive a gift delivered to their villa. So I, along with 3 other volunteers, went door to door delivering Pictureka puzzles. Also, if a family checked out that day, we would go in after they left and restock the fridge with cokes, waters, and a cake. We would also leave a big gift bag filled with all kinds of toys. I've gotten to where I enjoy doing the Welcome Hut just to have some time to read, write letters, and just be alone for a little while. Haha!

Other than that, everything has been pretty much the same. For the most part, my team is getting along. We've had some problems, but we're trying to handle it all like adults. Thankfully, I don't really know much about it because I'm at GKTW all day, which I am perfectly fine with!

God is continually revealing Himself to me. Yes, He has brought some hard times/days my way, but I have learned to simply "let go and let God". If something is meant to happen, then it will. If it wasn't meant to happen, then it's for the best. Some days I've had to tell Satan to get behind me. He tries to distract me, steal my joy, and fill me with negative thoughts/attitudes. I know I'm working for the Lord and growing closer to Him when Satan tries harder to bring me down.
So I just ask that you continue to pray for me and my team. We've been here for a month now and we're getting tired. Pray for the fire in our hearts to keep growing and doesn't go out and for strength. Some of my teammates are stuggling with being homesick. I'm sure that's hard for them. Thankfully, I was exposed to being gone a lot growing up. Yes, I miss my family and my house, but I know it'll all be there when I return. Like Moma said, "As long as you can call home, you'll be okay." I'm pretty sure she meant that for herself rather than for me. She misses her baby girl. :)

Love and miss y'all!

He must become greater, I must become less.

Saturday I got to help with Mayor Clayton's birthday party. I got to cut and serve the cake. There was a big section of games like life-size checkers, Jenga, and Dominoes. There was a face painting table, the cake, and dippin dots ice cream. Everyone hid outside when we got word that Mayor was coming up, then we all jumped out and yelled surprise! Anyone who has a birthday in this month got to go up on stage, tell everyone their name and age, and we sung Happy Birthday to them. Then we had a big dance party in the avenue. It was lots of fun!

Sunday I was at FBC Kissimmee for 3 services helping with the children. For the first 2 services I was with the babies. This morning was my first encounter with a fussy baby boy who drank a little bit of his bottle, then decided to spew it all back up later all over me. Yum... :( Then I went to a 1-3rd grade classroom for the 3rd service. Then I got back to camp and took a looooong nap!

Monday was our day off, so some of us went to a nearby neighboorhood and played tennis (not for long though, it was SO hot!) then went swimming. That night the whole team went out to eat then some of us went to the outlet mall.

Tuesday was Kids Club. My partner, Allie had to work so I was by myself. A youth group was here from West Virgina so I had 2 youth helping me that day. However, I didn't need them because we didn't have any kids that day! It was sad. I got some sun though! :)
Tuesday night is our worship time. Mr. Brian (our supervisor's husband) led us in our devotional that night. It was really good. Then he got up walked outside and said we were going to be doing something different tonight. He came back in with 2 coolers of bottled water, 5 buckets, and a pile of wash cloths. We talked about Jesus washing the disciples feet. Mr. Brian told us that while we are here serving Christ and others, we are also here to serve each other, our teammates. So he let us do whatever we fell led to do. I washed feet and had my feet washed. This experience was absolutely amazing. Even though I truly dislike feet, I would have much rather washed than to be washed. It's such a humbling experience. I enjoyed it thouroughly.

Wednesday Cyle and I tagged along with the CA Team to a senior citizens home for a performance. I was a fill in puppetteer. It went well the first time, then they called me back to do another one...Let me back up and tell you about the stage that they use. It's made out of pvc pipe and black cloth. There are 2 levels so that people can be sitting in front and do puppets and also people can be standing in the back to do puppets without being seen. I was in the front being the paws of a lion puppet. We were almost through with the song when *WHAM*! The pipes holding up the curtain infront of us came apart and fell to the ground. I felt like a deer in headlights! Of course, I was mortified, but everyone else thought it was so funny, including the people on the CA Team. I think that was the beginning and end of my puppet career.
That night we all went to the Southern Baptist Convention. Never thought I'd say that. It wasn't too bad. We weren't there for long. Casting Crowns performed a few songs and we got to be right in front of the stage for that, so that was really cool. However, we did receive some bad news that night. On my team, there are 5 people from Tennessee. There is also a traveling team in Maine of 4 people all from Tennessee. We got word that the Maine team had been in a car accident that night. One member passed away and the rest were okay, but in the hospital. It was really hard on our TN people. This was also a wake up call for me. Life is so precious and the Lord can take us at any time. We need to treasure what we have right now. I remembered that night that when I was choosing my 3 places to serve this summer that Maine traveling team was one of my choices. I could have been there. Then I think about right now and that basically everyday I am driving a huge 12 passenger van, filled with my teammates, driving through crazy Orlando traffic. I am safe when I drive that thing, but it's the other drivers that scare me. Just the other day another large van cut me off, and if I hadn't had slammed on my brakes to let them in, it could have ended badly. Please, continue to pray for us and remember those from Tennessee who were in the wreck. I can only imagine the pain their family and friends are going through right now.

Love and miss you all!

Updates!

Let's see, what have I been doing since my last update?

Friday Barney came to GKTW. I was a scribe again, helping the photographer as she took pictures of the families.

Saturday I worked in the Spa. Kids can get airbrush tattoos, fingernails painted, and their makeup done. It was really cute.

Sunday I was a scribe again. We went to the Candyland Party. GKTW has the largest Candyland game in the world. So the kids played that, then we had a dance party in the street.
Monday was our day off so we went to the beach. It was glorious. We met a family while there and later the dad and daughter taught some of us how to surf. I can write that on my bucket list and check it off. It took me a few times, but I finally stood all the way up on the board. No, I don't have any pictures, you'll just have to take my word on it. However, the other people that were there can vouche for me. :)

Tuesday was our first Kids Club. Allie and I are partners and we work the Quality Inn Plaza pool. We got there and there was only 1 child in the pool and she was playing with her mom. As time passed, we were getting kind of down. I sent my supervisor, Mrs. Suzette, a text message telling her our predicament. She never wrote me back and a few minutes passed and more kids started showing up. So I wrote her again and told her nevermind. Later, Mrs. Suzette made her rounds to the different pools. She came and saw Allie and I at our pool. She asked me if I sent her 2 messages back to back. I told her I did and what they said. She said she only got the "nevermind" message because she was on the phone earlier with the woman from FBC Kissimmee who adopted me. Her name is Mrs. Betty. Mrs. Suzette was telling Mrs. Betty what all I had going on today and that it was our first Kids Club so to please be in prayer for me. Mrs. Betty asked Mrs. Suzette if we could pray right now for me, so they did. And as soon as Mrs. Suzette got off the phone, she got the "nevermind" message. Wow. Prayer is so powerful. It gave me chills when Mrs. Suzette told me that.

Wednesday I was a scribe for another photographer. That night I did Kids Night Out. I had a little girl, Kaitlyn. She's blind, but oh can she sing! We had a great night together.

Thursday morning we had Kids Club again. We had about 10 kids. Most of them are from England so we love hearing them talk. Then I went to work at GKTW and was in Amberville for a few hours. I got to drive a train around the building for some kids. That was about it, Amberville is not a very demanding job. After that, I got trained in photography. So I got to actually take pictures of the families myself at the Winter Wonderland Parade. I really enjoyed that.

Today, Friday, I worked the Carousel and will go back tonight to work at Katie's Kitchen. At the Carousel, I was talking to one mom. She was saying how much fun they were having and how magical GKTW is. I agreed and told her I was loving being there as well. She thanked me and told me that the volunteers really make this place enjoyable. That was the first time I heard from a family how much they appreciated us. So even though some days all I do is push a button or snap pictures, these families truly appreciate everything I do. That was such an encouragement to me today. I am so excited to see what else God has planned for me.

I am having an amazing time. Continue to pray for us! Miss and love you all!