Father's Day 2014

The kids came home late last night from church camp and today begins our four days of Vacation Bible School and sandwiched in between is Father's Day.  Oh, did I mention that today Abigail also has a tournament softball game and Caleb has to work?! 

We really try not to overbook, but sometimes everything seems to happen all at once!  This weekend was one of those weekends! 

Caleb missed out on the Father's day lunch at Applebee's but we got a to-go box together for him.  Jon said with the exception of Caleb being gone it was a great day, something about any day that included steak and some softball was good!  

In place of your fathers shall be your sons;

    you will make them princes in all the earth.

17 

I will cause your name to be remembered in all generations;

    therefore nations will praise you forever and ever.

Psalm 45:16-17

Camp Blue Haven: They're Back!!

What a welcome sight to see that chartered bus pull into the Brown Trail Church of Christ parking lot!  Ironically, the first kid off the bus was my independent, high-spirited, youngest child!  She got off and came running to see Sissy!  Abigail knew that their being gone was worrisome to Sissy, so she made a be-line to her big sister to show her how much she missed her.  I asked if she was sitting in the front of the bus and she said, 'no, I was in the middle, I'm just fast.'

After another twenty or so kids Caleb came off the bus!  I promise he looked taller and older!  Padme' was very excited to have her 'puppies' back too!  Oh, oh and did you see the blue Camp Blue Haven Master Camper Caleb is wearing?  Yes, he got Master Camper for the boy’s cabins.  It is points accumulated for attitude, cabin cleanliness, memory work, etc.  Funny thing is he never told me about the award.  It was another mom who said she was so proud Caleb won; I had no idea what she was talking about.  Later I asked Caleb and he says, 'oh yeah, I forgot!' 

So happy they are home!  The first they did when they got home was down load all the pictures from their cameras, while sitting on Mom's lap!!   

For when he sees his children,

    the work of my hands, in his midst,

    they will sanctify my name;

they will sanctify the Holy One of Jacob

    and will stand in awe of the God of Israel

Isaiah 29:23

Caleb's Star Wars Room

With all the foundation work we had done to the house almost every room of the house is in need of wall patch, painting and working towards new flooring.  Since the kids have been gone this week I decided to start with Caleb's room.  Yes, he knew I was going to be completely disassembling his room and yes, he didn't care.  In fact his words were, 'if I came home from camp and my room was re-done and I didn't have to any of the work, No, I would not be distraught.'  

The primary wall and window in his room face the south and the room gets very warm in the summer.  Several years ago we painted it a dark blue and it even had LED lights around the ceiling to go with the Star Wars movie posters on the wall.  There was even a Star Wars glow in the dark solar system on one wall.  

However since he's almost seventeen it was time to give the room a more grown up feel. Jon and I moved out all the furniture, patched the walls, re-textured the ceiling where needed and then began to paint.  The ceiling, walls, and trim took two coats of paint.  Frankie doesn't like change and wasn't happy that the kids were out of town and was even less happy about me changing Caleb's room, so she hung out in his room and colored or read a book, but kept an eye on me the whole time! Love that kid! 

When the room was completed in a light gray hue, I hung up all the Star Wars movie posters.  I used his light sabers, laser guns, and fighter ships as wall art around the room.  Caleb has Jon's grandmother’s dresser and we had the mirror replaced in it so it would be more useful.  Jon even got up on a ladder and cleaned the outside of Caleb's window.  

Caleb has a great leather futon gaming couch / bed that I left folded down so that when he gets in late tonight he can crash.  Can't wait for him to get home and see it! 

it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you Luke 1:3

Camp Blue Haven: A Few of Mom's Favorite Things

One of the great things about Camp Blue Haven is that it is there is permanent adult staff and specially selected college staff that remain as counselors throughout the duration of the summer.  The counselors are specially trained and prepared to guide and work with the campers.  These counselors are the cream of the crop from our Christian colleges.  

The camp has a huge spiritual emphasis with morning devotionals, chapel services, classes, Lord's Day Worship, Early Christian Worship, cabin devotionals, and evening worship.  This year four or the kids friends from the McDermott congregation were baptized, Blake, Beau, Tate and Hunter.  

Both of the kids come home amazed at the singing and worship time.  All campers are expected to complete scripture memory work and are encouraged to work on it as a cabin, ensuring success for everyone.  They not only recite the scripture but mus explain in their own words what the passage means.  Each passage is 2-4 verses and the campers memorize six passages.  The passage below is one of the selections for this year's memory work. 

Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.  Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.  And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.  To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen  I Peter 5:8-11

It's a Better Day!

Frankie's day just got much better!  What a rough week with her siblings out of state at church camp this kiddo does not like change!  But just when it was looking pretty bleak, Sissy and I headed to Sonic for some ice cream.   Padme' accompanies Sissy on all outings, so of course she joined us too.  

Armed with chocolate sundae we returned home and checked the mail.  Woo hoo, a letter from Abigail!  What a happy day!  The sun was suddenly shining brighter, the birds were singing, life was looking up!  Only two more days until Caleb and Abigail return home!  

Therefore, my brothers (and sisters), whom I love and long for, my joy and crown,
 stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved. Philippians 4:1

Camp Blue Haven: A Few of Caleb's Favorite Things

What are some of Caleb's favorite things about Camp Blue Haven?  well, this year he came back with great stories about the Zip Line!  He had several campers in his cabin that he's been with the last two years. 

His cabin also participated in an overnight camp out under the stars.  His cabin won the talent show for the boy's cabin.  

Caleb even delivered the message at one of the morning devotionals.

He always comes home with stories about all the wonderful food they are served.  I don't know how they make any money feeding that many teenage boys!
 
For by you I can run against a troop, and by my God I can leap over a wall.  Psalm 19:29

Camp Blue Haven: A Few of Abigail's Favorite Things

This is probably not the first blog post I should make about the kids at Camp Blue Haven, knowing that my target audience is the kids grandparents.  So, Granny, take heart, the babies are fine!  No scratches, scrapes or bruises! Whew, with that out of the way, let's look at what Abigail loves about camp.

Abigail loves hike day!  She said on one hike they went three miles and another day the took out for a seven mile hike.  The camp is surrounded by National Forrest and is just beautiful. 

The camp also has an amazing ropes course that includes a climbing tower, a giant swing,a zip line and a leap of faith! This year Abigail and her cabin went out on the giant swing, she said the best part is to 'scream like a little girl' the entire way down! 

On Monday night Abigail's cabin had their sleep out where instead of sleeping in the cabin they slept out under the stars.  The night time temperature got down into the 30's and she said she woke up with frost on her pillow!  

Two other seventh graders from McDermott were in her cabin, Tate and Abby.  The three dressed alike for Twins Day wearing their McDermott Road Youth Group t-shirts.

Yes coach, she did take a softball with her.  Yes, Grandmother, she did take plenty of sunscreen.  No Granny, Abigail's group did not see any bears!

 Let the mountains bear prosperity for the people, and the hills, in righteousness! Psalm 72:3

Off to Camp Blue Haven

This afternoon Caleb and Abigail took off with youth from the Brown Trail Church of Christ for Camp Blue Haven in Las Vegas, New Mexico.  This was their third year to enjoy church camp up in the mountains.  

When they left Bedford, Texas it was almost a hundred degrees but they were packed for eight days in fifty-five degree weather. They both love the cooler weather and the beautiful mountain scenery!  I know they will come home with lots of great stories that will include zip lines, trust falls, camping out, early Christian worship night and stories of friendships made.  

It will be a long week for Frankie with them gone, but she knows how much they enjoy it.  

Camp Blue Haven Post 2013

Camp Blue Haven Post 2012

What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.  Philippians 4:9

Making Cotton Candy

Today the girls and I headed out see our favorite cotton candy food ambassador at Hawaiian Falls.  I snapped a picture when he wasn’t looking of him spinning the pink sugary goodness.

At one point I went past the cotton candy shack to find a little crowd of kids visiting with Caleb.  He was explaining to them how cotton candy or ‘Fairy Floss’ is made by heating a small bowl of granulated, colored sugar to its melting point.  Heaters then heat the melted sugar through tiny holes by centrifugal force. 

He went on to explain that the molten sugar then solidifies in the air and is caught by the larger bowl that surrounds the spinning head where he gathers it up in plastic bags. 

I wish I would have had my camera with me when he was talking to the kids; unfortunately it was in the locker to keep it dry from the rides the girls and I were riding.

Caleb has collected several cotton candy fun facts like:  machine-spun cotton candy was invented by a dentist in 1897 and introduced to the public at the 1904 World’s Fair; and that the United States celebrates National Cotton Candy Day on December 7.  Who knew?! 

I think it makes his day go a little faster and the kids always seem fascinated to find out how things work! 

the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in all that you undertake.

Deuteronomy 15:10

Post Season Softball Tournament

Our spring softball season has come to close this weekend was our Shock Waves tournament ball games.  I would love to report that the girls played amazing ball, but the truth is they played a good game but were out played and did not advance in the tournament. It was a fun game, wish it had gone better for the girls!  They have really enjoyed playing together this season and know they will look forward to playing together again in the Fall. 

When they finished up the game we headed over the the church building for VBS rehearsal.  Caleb, Abigail and myself are in the four nights performances.  Frankie will be working with her four year old class.  I'll post more pictures from VBS soon! 

I will make every effort so that after my departure you may be able at any time to recall these things.  2 Peter 1:15