Fall Festivities

We joined some friends at Riley Farms for apple picking.  It was a great time.   Charlie & Gracie are still so excited every time they eat one of the apples they picked from the trees.

The kids also enjoyed carving pumpkins.  Really they weren't too sure about the insides, but they had fun with dad.



We have a Kindergartener!!!

Can you believe it!  Charlie started school August 23, 2010.  He has been so excited, even counting down the days until he would go to school.  Now it is finally here.  There are 25 children in his class and his teacher's name is Mrs. Gray.  So far so good! 

Kids at Camp

Here is Gracie attempting to be in a skit.  When the time came to perform, she got stage fright!

This butterfly was attracted to many campers because they had just gotten wet in a fun water game.  I love Charlie's face!

Sad News

It was finally time!  Sierra, one of our dogs, needed to be put down on August 23, 2010.  She had been growing increasingly sick over the summer months.  It was so sad to watch her.  She seemingly had a tumor above her left eye.  It was growing bigger and pressing in on her eye, so much so that she was unable to see clearly.  She was not eating and had lost a lot of weight.  We were trying to hold off as long as possible with the hope that she would just get better. But the time came and we knew what needed to be done. We have enjoyed Sierra's love and sneakiness for the last ten years. She was a great dog and is greatly missed!

From July 19-23

This last week of camp was quite a blessing! We were short a few counselors and staff too. Of course, God took care of everything. The campers He brought for this week were just super sweet. Overall, they wanted to participate in all the activities, they asked great and deep questions about the Lord, and were a real joy to spend time with. However, personally, I felt disconnected from the campers to a degree because I was in the house often doing a lot of behind the scenes jobs. Honestly, I was getting grumpy because I wasn’t able to engage with the campers as much. I was feeling selfish and the whole “oh, woe is me” attitude set in. I was ready to eat a worm when God reminded me what camp is all about…HIM! It was Thursday night, the last night at camp; we had just sent all the campers off to bed, when Carrie came in the house with her counselor, Melissa. Melissa told me that Carrie wanted to pray to receive Christ into her heart, and she wanted me to pray with her!!! Was I ever blown away! What a blessing to be a part of this great moment. The three of us went out front to a bench and sat down together. I asked Carrie if she knew what she was doing and if she understood it all. She replied with a great big yes, with a great big smile on her face. So we prayed something like this… Dear Jesus, Thank you for loving me so much. Thank you that you died on the cross for me. Please forgive me of my sins. Please come into my life make me a new creation. Help me to grow in you and to live for you for all of my days. Amen. Melissa and I both grabbed Carrie and gave her the biggest hug. Carrie was excited. She believed that God has an amazing plan for her life and she wants to live for him and share him with others. Thank you God for this opportunity! Thank you for helping me take my eyes off of me and see you and your wonderful works!

Some Recent Pictures!

Oh, The Kids Are Growing!

The other morning I went into Charlie's room to get him up.  He was already awake, but he was pretending to be snoring under the covers.  It was quite a sight and sound!  I sat down on the bed and gave him a little tickle.  He came out of the covers with the biggest smile on his face, and boy, he can make it from ear to ear!  I grabbed him and cuddled him in my arms, which is pretty difficult now that he is as big as he is.  I asked him if he knew that there was a time when he was only 10 pounds, when he couldn't walk or talk, or even go potty on the potty?  Of course, missing the point, he reminded me, that he used to go potty back then, it was just into a diaper!  I kind of got teary eyed thinking about how much he has grown, that he is a big boy now and he is only going to get bigger!  And Grace is a whole other story.  This girl, let me tell you, is becoming a little girl!  She was so tiny for so long and really she still is.  She is thin and petite and just so cute.  But all of a sudden her legs look longer and she seems taller.  Really it's her big personality that stands out so much.  She has a joy about her that fills a room in seconds. And she is a smart cookie.  Just about the time I think I can stump her, she comes up with  the most brilliant answers.  Lately, it has been, "I'm just kidding!", "Are you sure?" and "God made me!" She's good!  It is a blessing to be a parent, to watch the milestones, and to see the ah ha moments.  Thank you Lord for the opportunity to be a parent and to have so much joy because of the children!