Two Kids

I am experiencing a very strange phenomena....having two kids! With MacKenzie in New York and Joseph at Camp Bighorn life is very quiet here, still busy, but quiet.  We have baked cookies, played tickle monster, colored, and gone out to eat.  You would think there would be alot less fighting but that does not seem to be the case?  I am enjoying some good conversations with these two little ones and they are enjoying having a slumber party every night.  We have not heard from MacKenzie since Monday, no news is good news.  They started taking the phones yesterday so I am sure she will call when she is allowed.  But I still miss her!  Joseph made it to the Camp Bighorn Facebook page- looks like all is good there.

The good and the bad

It is so difficult to deal with emotions.  I have been crying alot this morning....she is gone!  It is so hard to understand that things are good when they hurt so much.  She is in good hands, God has called her, she is safe, and her experiences will change her life....yet it doesn't feel so good!  All I have to say- I am so glad we believe in a loving and protecting God, One who loves my child more than I do!  I trust in His calling and His sovereignty, I trust in His love and in His grace.  I have never been away from one of my children for this long but I trust that she will have the time of her life!! Now if I could just stop crying!!!!  It may have something to do with the fact that we have all been up since 3am....yeah... that's it!!!!!

our 3am morning...ready to go!

I know she is on there

Bye sis!!!

The braces are off and so is she!!

Looks like a beautiful smile.  MacKenzie was thrilled to get her braces off before her mission trip.  We leave today for Spokane for a 6 am flight tomorrow and then she is off.  Emotions have been high all week, in all directions! It has taken us days to pack and make sure she has everything she needs.  I am by no means wanting her to be gone...but I am ready for some relaxation after all this preparation!  She is excited and nervous but we are so thrilled about her trip and cannot wait to hear how each day goes.  She got a cell phone for her birthday (early present...birthday is on the trip)  and we are so glad for modern conveniences!

Isn't she beautiful!

Long awaited pictures

I have finally taken a  moment to post some Camp Bighorn  pics.  July have flown by- lots of fun but crazy busy!  MacKenzie leaves for her mission trip in NYC in 3 days, Annabelle has been at Tall Timber camp and Joseph goes back to Camp Bighorn next week.  So----crazy busy!

They remind me of the VanTrapp children



Getting ready

Joseph

Annabelle- she looks sooo little

MacKEnzie- climbed more thatn everyone and did the hardest climb......took her some time but would not give up!

Well deserved break

Lots of problem solving and fun family dynamics

I think after the 12 mile bike ride the day before and the hiking through boulder fields for a couple of hours, this face says it all- what a little trooper

It was beautiful!

After 3 tries on the high ropes.....this became the Sammy size ropes course/zip line-- he was thrilled! ( I think he was just relieved he didn't have to think about it anymore)

On the way to white water rafting





Rediscovering...

 

We spent the week at Camp Bighorn last week...in Montana.  It was beautiful and wonderful and more than we hoped for.  We will have pictures to come!  It was a great week to reflect on where God has taken us the past 15 years.  I feel the word "rediscovering" is appropriate for many reasons.  One being I read a book about my old friend Sam Gribley, and I rediscovered him and how much I loved the books about him in the past.  I was so happy and captivated by Elizabeth Craighead George's book "Fightful's Mountain:"

I also rediscovered things about my kids, my husband, and myself....like how much we all love the outdoors and miss it so much!! Trees...oh how I miss trees.  A passion for adventure, I used to have that but somehow have lost it in my middle age!!!  The ropes course and zipline are just not what they used to be! As for the children.....it was more like a "discovery" of adventure. I will have to continue to rediscover that!  Endurance...boy some of my kids have amazing endurance.  A passion for Jesus!!!!!  Where has that gone in my life?  It was good to recapture a bit of that.  The guidance of my husband...we had an exercise in the woods in which I was blind and he was deaf and dumb....hmmmmmm....his presence guided me through it and I rediscovered the comfort of his love.  I could go on and on, it was a wonderfully reflective time and I am thankful for rediscoveries, this may have to be a "to be continued post."

The Fairy Garden

Annabelle got beautiful wonderful presents for her birthday...but her favorite was her fairy garden.  I saw the idea for the fairy garden about 6 months ago in the middle of winter on a wonderful blog http://themagiconions.blogspot.com/ I was so impressed and knew it would be perfect for Annabelle.  We only gave her the supplies and we spent her birthday making it:

painting the fairy house

Everyone joined in

I kept hearing.."Oh Daddy that's perfect!"

Stones for the paths



So cute!



The final product

A swing and a pond!

Happy Birthday Annabelle!

Well- our sweetie is 9! I am so thankful that the Lord brought this child to us- she is such a delight!  This little girl wakes up with a smile everyday and spreads sunshine all day.  She loves to work and serve others, she is such a great friend to others, and her diligence is amazing----we are so blessed by her!  Who would have known that the baby who screamed all the time, the toddler who refused to talk to anyone, and the little tike with such EXTREME emotions would grow to be such a beautiful young lady??  I hope you enjoy her birthday pictures:

4th of July birthday theme...Annabelle planned the whole party (food and all)

Seven beautiful and crazy girls

Trying to get them to pose in the pool- impossible!

Noodle hockey

Well- she still shows an awful lot of emotion

Proud brother

And- 4th of July toes

Lifeguard on duty