It was the best of times, it was the worst of times!

Well, we've just entered that week of the year that is one of the best and worst of the whole summer. David just took off for a whole week of being a counselor at the High School camp my parents run. I worked at the camp as well for years and would still love to do so, but during this season of life God has called me elsewhere (namely home!) and I love being a mom even more. I am one who hates being away from her husband. Yes, I still even cry when he leaves!

The good news is, my youngest sister, Anna (13), comes to stay with us during this week and we have fabulous time together. Our favorite pastime is pedicures!!!

Please pray for us this week, that we will have a wonderful week just being together as girls, that I wont miss my husband too terribly much, and that his time at camp will be mightily used by the Lord!

Camping!!!!

We decided to go camping this past weekend with my two youngest sisters. We were long overdue for a camping trip so we were all so excited to go! It was such an amazingly refreshing time and God was so faithful the entire way. We decided to head up to Yellowbottom campground. I had never been there before but David had camped there as a boy. The campground doesn't take reservations though and we had to leave later in the day so we were rather nervous about getting a place. It was a long winding road and we were rather slow going ( pulling a trailer with our minivan and have to pull over for car sick girls) so we got passed a few times. The whole way up I was praying " Lord, please just keep one place for us!". God was so faithful and as we pulled around the campground we found the last site in the whole place! Several cars pulled through right after us but had to leave. We were so thankful!

Set out some chairs and then you're officially camping! Havi is still not walking and so she was mostly confined to a chair the whole trip. As bad as that sounds, she really had fun!

Building our first fire!



Setting up camp

Let me tell you, camping with a ratio of 4 big people to 3 little people is AMAZING!!!

Making doughboys for breakfast

Bethany was declared the doughboy queen. " Doughboys are my favorite favorite BEST food!"

Checking out the river

I LOVE OREGON!!!!

"Still here in my chair, passing the day!"

It was Rachel's sixteenth birthday while we were camping!

Nothing like birthday cream puffs and frappicinos!

Heading down for some serious swimming

Auntie Rachel with Bethany Rachel

Our one injury of the trip. Lydia stubbed her toe really badly but was very brave about it. Another moment were God was great: We couldn't find the keys anywhere to unlock the car and get the first aid kit. David and the girls were searching while Lydia, Bethany and I prayed together. As soon as we said "Amen" we heard the keys jingling!

"Yep, still here!"

Some marshmallow roasting lessons

Yummy!!!

It was such a wonderful trip. We love spending time with our sisters! Rachel and Anna are so much fun and so helpful! We love spending time together! It is such a blessing to have time to remember how much fun it is to just be together and have adventures. It is so much fun to watch the girls loving life, exploring and learning. Makes us want to go back next weekend!

Beautiful

Beautiful. Beautiful. Jesus is Beautiful.

And Jesus makes beautiful things of my life.

Carefully touching me. Causing my eyes to see.

And Jesus makes beautiful things of my life.

I have had this short little chorus stuck in my head all week. I don't know where I learned it or who sings it. It's one of those that I just grew up with. I challenge you to get a song like this stuck in your head for a few days! Something to keep you reminded at all times how beautiful Jesus is and how He is making your life into something beautiful for Him.

I know sometimes it is easy for me to go through life completely blind to how beautiful Jesus really is, and yet sometimes there is no way that I can escape it. I know that none of that has to do with Jesus, as He never changes, but with me and where my heart is at.

The world around us proclaims every moment of every day how beautiful our Lord is. The other night I woke to the windows in my house rattling as a huge thunder storm came through. The lightning was so bright that it made me flinch even with my eyes closed. Laying there and listening that night got me to thinking once again. God's beauty overwhelms every piece of His creation. Whether it's the thunder storm, the flowers blooming brightly, the ocean crashing, the stars shining, the crickets chirping or the wind blowing, let us never forget to see in all these things the beautiful Jesus who we serve who created all these things and is Himself more beautiful than we can imagine. I have some built in reminders that are to me, the most beautiful of His creations!

Thankful, inspired, ready for another round!

Whew! What a couple of weeks it's been! I've been dragging lately. And I mean seriously d-r-a-g-g-i-n-g! Physically and emotionally I've just felt absolutely spent. Yesterday it hit me, "Where has my smile gone?". I could just feel my face clenched in a big old scowl. Not a pretty picture!

I knew that something needed to change, but honestly I felt a little stuck and I didn't know what to do! The Lord is so gracious though and is always faithful to bring us just what we need when we need it! Without going into great detail let me just say that I am abundantly thankful for:

The Word~ I am continually amazed at how the Bible speaks to me in all areas. The joy of the Lord truly is my strength!

Encouragement~Even from unexpected sources. People I've never even met in real life! For all of you who read my blog, you are an encouragement to me!

Inspiration~ I just found a new blog that I could spend about two months on and still not have gleaned enough from it! Check it out if you get the chance.http://proverbs14verse1.blogspot.com/

Today I feel a spring in my step, a smile on my face and a song in my heart. I know that this is prime time for the enemy to try and drag me down again, so please pray that I will keep my eyes fixed where they should be. I'm ready for life now!

Drive-In Fun!!

Last night we decided to join my sisters, dad and cousin and go to the drive-in! Believe me, we don't do this sort of thing very often! Bethany and Havilah had a slumber party at Grandma's house, but we let Lydia come with us since we were going to watch "Up".

She was one excited girl!!! It was quite the adventure for her and she was full of questions!

It was lots of fun but we are all very tired, hence the short post! My brain is till not functioning well!

Hmm. Not too much.

Well, I've come on here every day since my last post and tried to think if there was anything interesting going on to write about. I just couldn't really come up with anything. It's not as if life has been on hold or anything, but we are busily carrying on with our everyday activities.

Lydia attended VBS last week but unfortunately I didn't get any pictures!!! She had such a fun time. That sort of stuff is right up her alley. She's been singing to songs constantly now ad even Bethany is catching on.

We attempted potty training with Bethany while Lydia was at VBS, but we didn't get very far! Daddy really doesn't want to do the baby potty chair thing this time, but she was very uncomfortable on the big potty, so after getting some wise advice I decided to invest in a "Cushie-Tushie".

We'll see how it goes!

Havilah is still refusing to walk although just in the last few days she has decided to try standing on her own. I think we're close!

I went in today to have my hair cut. This is one of those luxuries that I absolutely adore! In an attempt to save some money, my darling husband has cut my hair the last two times. I must say he does quite a good job. Something for him to fall back on at least if the whole police business doesn't work out! Nevertheless, there is nothing so wonderful as sitting in that chair, having your hair washed, combed, cut and styled. Bliss itself!






Nothing too dramatic, just a trim. Nearly as good a job as my husband!

One lesson down. Many more to come!

The other night I got the urge to teach Lydia some more skills that will benefit her ( and me (sheepish grin!)) in the future. I decided to tackle the dreaded "knife lesson", with the firm resolution that if things didn't go well ( you know, blood, missing fingers etc.) we would stop.

My first born displayed her first born qualities and took to it amazingly well. She was very cautious and meticulous as she sliced her strawberries and celery into perfect, uniform pieces. I also let her have a hand in grating the cheese. It was such a fun evening and she was so proud of herself!

Bethany got to be the official "Pick up the celery and put it in the bowl girl". Anything to make her feel important and as far away from a knife as I can get her!

The next task that I'm dreading to teach: "How to crack an egg". I don't even know where to begin!