Last weekend A Higher Calling did a camp and boat day with the students from Chorus Church (www.Choruschurch.com).  It all started out at 5pm Friday night when we met up at our house and began the festivities.  First we ate (that is how all good events start), then we played some basketball and messed around in the back yard.  Finally after a few hours all twenty of us ventured over to our neighbors house and had a couple hours of fun in the pool.  I think that we set a new record by having 17 people in a hot tub designed for 5, it was cozy to say the least!!  After the pool we went back to the campsite (my backyard) and roasted marshmallows and ate junk food!!  After a movie it was 2AM and finally time to go to bed.  6AM came in a hurry and we piled into the cars and headed for the lake.

After some debate I was the first one on the water.  It was a postcard morning on the lake.  Not  a ripple on the water and a little bit of steam coming off of it!!  Two jumps in and my run was done as I ripped my shorts from the lower back all the way to the front.  Thank goodness everyone was too tired to have their cameras out yet!!   By the end of the day we had 16 different people wakeboard, many people for their first time.  We did some wakesurfing (the wake was huge with 15 people in the boat), and we spent some time reminding people why not to tube!!   It is sad to say that the highest jump of the day was not done on a wakeboard, but rather a perfectly driven double up with the tube!!

Highlight of the day for me was seeing so many new riders.  Scotty had never got up before, and by the end of his run he was almost clearing the wake and getting some good air!!  Mel and Cassie both set records for the longest runs they have ever had!!  Justin rocked the water and tried to show up his old man from the weekend before!!  Daniel “guitar solo” Reynolds looked like a rockstar as he rode with ease!!  Rumor has it after all the heckling in the boat about the abundance of hair he went home and shaved his legs!!  (it was just jealousy Daniel…)

Awesome day on the water with some of my favorite people in the world.  The boat captain of boat captains was with us this weekend as Dave “Big Kahoona” Axene was at the helm most of the day.  It was a nice break not having to be driving all day long, got to concentrate on teaching and encouraging.  No injuries to report and am so thankful again for a amazing  Vail lake…

God is good and cannot wait to get out on the water again soon!!  We have had different groups out for the last 6 weekends, so this weekend is going to be a weekend off to try to catch up on all the things around the house that I have been putting off!!

Pictures coming soon!!

Had another amazing day out on the water this last weekend.  We had a  boat full of 11 people and a great time.  Water was perfect for most of the day.  We started off with some wakeb0arding, with the highlight being 5 year old Ethan ripping it up on the water!!  (video below).  After wakeboarding for a few hours we did some wakesurfing.  Thanks for Jason, this boat seems to get a lot action wakesurfing now.   If anyone is looking for a good wakesurfboard make sure to check out http://www.inlandsurfer.com (no I was not paid to say that, just really like there boards and they are from Washington too)

We have a few camps planned in the next couple months and also hope to do a trip up the west coast and go back to the lake that this whole idea started on (Lake Sammamish).

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Here is the favorite picture of the day

Memorial weekend is all about friends and family.  Today on the boat we had a little bit of both.  We started off the morning with the boys.  Gordon, Mike, Ethan, and I (emma I know you were there, but then I cannot say the boys).  We went out to the lake at 6:30 and had it all to ourselves for a few hours.  Still not sure how the lake was not busy, but I am not complaining.   There were what seemed like 50 camping trailers on the shore, but I guess they were still all recovering from the night before. 

Around 10Am the ladies joined us.  Tiffany (my wife) and our three girls came with Sarah and Landis.  When we  add up all the people we had 12 of us in the boat (7 of which are under age 5)

Today was a big day for some of our beginers.  Mike got up and rocked it… had a few hard spills, and I am sure when I see him at church he will be walking a little slow!  Highlite of the day was when Ethan (5 yrs.) wakeboarded for the first time.  He got up like a champ, and is going to be amazing in a few short years.  Willing to bet he will be passing up “pop’s” (Gordon) real quick.   Every first time rider gets a shirt, and Ethan is proud owner of one now.

Other riding highlites included Tiffany taking her standard 30 minute run.  We also had  a good hour of wake surfing!!  Am starting to like it more and more… easier on the body and not too big of a chance of hurting when falling.

7 hours in the boat and now going to happily relax on the couch!!  Memorial Monday should be a good time, there is a guys boat run in the works!!

Praise the Lord for another great day on the water!!

We had a great day on the water today.  Cannot complain when it is 85 and sunny.  The boat started right up and ran like a charm.  We started the day off a little old school as Todd Huth did a little bit of knee boarding, he is the first knee boarder above the age of 5 that i have respect for, and that is not just because he is a six foot six cop!!

As the day went on we had a few new riders, a few high school girls got out there a shredded the water!! Mel ripped it up like she has been doing this for years, and Cassie… we will let her tell you how sore she is.  Tyler and Gordon were the next ones to go, Tyler stepped out there and acted like he had not even taken a day off since last season.  Gordon was much the same as he shredded up the water like he owned it.  His smile always reminds me why i love this sport!!  Nothing better than having a great time with friends on the water!!

To finish it off Alex had an epic session that had a few highlights that were poster worthy, and I Josh had some crashes that would make anyone proud!!  Alex had an absolutely insane Indy Tantrum off the double up and a few toe-side rolls that would make anyone jealous!!  I could list all Alex’s tricks but I am too sore as I sit at the computer!!  Oh yeah did I mention that my crashes make me feel like I am an 80 woman!!

Praise the Lord for another day without a single injury!!  Being out on the water reminds me of how amazing nature is and how amazing the God that created it all is!!

More pictures from todays trip can be found on the picture tab!

After much planning, praying, and some great help from Jessica Galbreth we finally have a logo!! Take a look!!  Shirts and Stickers are now available too (buy tab)!!  If you are interested in knowing more please contact me info@a-highercalling.com.  The website will be changing often so please check back soon for more info and details!! 

A new ministy is on its way.  Soon a childhood dream will come alive as A Higher Calling is launched.  A Higher Calling is a camp/ministry for kids to learn about God through the wonderful sport of wakeboarding.   God has changed my life and so has wakeboarding.  Combining two of my passions will hopefully help grow the kingdom of God!!

For great is your love, higher than the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies.  PSALM 108:4