What a Great Weekend!

We just got back from a great weekend camping at Camp Timber-Lee in East Troy, WI. It's only about an hour and a half away from home so it is far enough to seem like a vacation but not so far that we all dread the ride home. Timber-Lee has both a Christian youth camp (i.e. week long sleep away camp for kids)and also a family campground for RVs and tents. I used to go to camp there with my church youth group when I was a kid (before we moved to Mississippi)and Jacob and Hannah have both gone a few times. This was the first time we ever went camping there as a family. We arrived on Friday afternoon found our campsite. We actually got the best site, but that comes with a price to pay....it overlooked the lake and the beautiful sunsets but was also up a pretty steep hill. Kermit and Jake were gracious enough to do most of the heavy carrying (I love my men!). We set up camp and started making plans for the rest of the weekend. One nice thing about camping at a youth camp is all of the fun activities you can sign up for. Before the weekend was over, at least part of us had gone horseback ridding, gone boating, done leather crafting, played tether ball & volleyball, built sand cakes and pies (Lily's version of sand castles)and done the other normal camping stuff like making smores and playing Uno by the light of a tiny, tiny lantern. The only disappointment of the weekend was that we could not go swimming or kayaking due to them finding "blue algae" in the lake the morning we arrived. Evidently it is toxic to some degree and they didn't want anyone getting sick. Oh, and the hayride was full before we were able to get on so we had to go on a family hike, instead. This wasn't a bad thing, just a change of plans.

Jacob was only partially looking forward to the trip. He has reached that age where he could not imagine the entire weekend without his friends and could not imagine actually enjoying an entire weekend with the family. He was sure he would not have any fun. Well, needless to say he was able to find plenty to do. He really enjoyed horseback riding and boating but was very sad that he could not go kayaking (one of his favorite things to do). But he did enjoy pouring water all over our plastic Uno cards to see if they were really waterproof. Believe me when I tell you that plastic Uno cards stick together when they are wet. In the end he had to admit that he had a lot fun (but it would have been better if he had brought a friend)... good grief!

Hannah had a blast! She loved the giant slip and slide (made out of two full size billboard vinyls) and also enjoyed leather shop where she made a musical note key chain and a coin purse. Her favorite activity was also horseback riding. She is very sore and bruised today from the slip and slide. Her poor hip bones are scraped and blue. She really had fun winning at Uno and canoeing with Jake.

Lily spent the entire weekend on the go. She did not want to stay in camp for more than a minute (we could barely even get her to eat!). Our campsite was close to the playground so when we were not doing everything else, she was down at the playground burying her feet in sand and making friends with everyone she could. Her favorite part was...you guessed it...riding the horse, although she was not old enough to go on the trail ride. She just got to ride the horse as it was led by a farm hand. She also made a pink bracelet at the leather shop and spent hours on the slip and slide.

Kermit had a weekend of relaxation...well, almost. With any camping trip comes work, but I have to say that he has camped enough that he has it down to a science. He and Jake had tents up and down in a flash and fires built from scratch in minutes. Poor Kermit had an earache most of the weekend but was still able to be a enjoy all of the activities. He said his favorite part of the weekend was spending time with the family (but we all know he really enjoyed the horseback riding).

This was the first time that we actually camped as a family alone, without the scouts. It was my first time packing for the trip and then cooking, keeping everything organized, etc. I had such a great time watching the kids play together (without fussing and fighting)and just spending time outside in God's amazing creation(the weather was gorgeous - 80 degrees, light breeze and zero humidity). We saw beautiful sunsets and heard dozens of different birds including loons and wild turkeys. Once again, I just took time to soak it all in and hide it away realizing that times like this with the entire family will be gone before we know it. Below are some pictures of our fun and a video or two.

Our 100th Post!

This is our 100th post (if you didn't catch that in the title). Not that it is important, just thought it was a neat, round number.

Summer break has arrived! The kids are thrilled to be off of school and sleeping in each morning. They are enjoying staying up late and not being held to a strict schedule. Kermit and I are enjoying it, as well. It's really nice not to have to fuss about homework and such.

Jacob is looking forward to high school, sort of. He is glad to be out of junior high but not 100% sure he is ready for the big leagues. We keep assuring him it will be fine. He will be going to wrestling camp in a few weeks to see if that is a sport that he would like to pursue. He has been enjoying hanging out with his friends every day and some extra freedom. He has also been helping watch the girls on days when Papa has to run errands or is sick. He is looking forward to Scout camp in July and then a week in Buffalo, NY on a World Changers mission trip. Oh, almost forgot, he finally got the guitar he has been wanting and started taking lessons this week.

Hannah is halfway happy about being out of school but upset that none of her friends live close by. She was excited to go shopping for summer clothes. She no longer fits the clothes at the consignment shop that we usually go to so we had to buy NEW clothes! This was quite a treat for her. Although she didn't get as many clothes as she would have at our normal shop, she was thrilled to be able to pick new clothes from the latest trends. She was glad to see longer Bermuda shorts coming back into stores since she knows that short shorts are out of the question and we were able to come to a compromise with spaghetti straps which she can now where as long as she wears a t-shirt or high front tank. Oh the things you have to deal with when you have pre-teen girls. She is desperately looking forward to church camp coming up in about a week. She will spend a week in northern Wisconsin doing all the fun things you do at camp. I wonder if we can find somewhere to send the other two for that week????

Lily has been playing outside like crazy! She loves to be out from sun up until sun down. The only kids to play with on our block are boys so she is constantly playing pirates, bad guys and the like. Every once in awhile she is able to talk them into playing house, but it never lasts long. She is constantly singing (to the point of driving me crazy!). She always has something to say and thinks she must have the last word. The other day I sent her to sit on her bed for something she had done and as she was sitting I heard her talking to herself saying "doesn't she know I'm a six year old girl? Six year old girls are grown and can do what they want. She can't tell me anymore! Soon I'll be seven and I will do whatever I want!". We welcome your prayers : )

Kermit has been working like a madman. He is still working full time and then working at the church to try to finish up our remodel project. It looks great and I have been so proud of the work he has done but I will be really happy when it is DONE! I am just so thankful for him. God is good!

I have been working on a temporary project at work which has allowed me to work from home three days a week. It has been so nice to sleep a few minutes later and not have to commute. Even more I have enjoyed just spending time with the kids. I have to admit that I am a bit less productive when they are around, but it is totally worth it.

Looking forward to more summer fun and relaxation!

Fair vs Just

Why is it that life seems so unfair at times? Have you ever noticed how some people move through life with very little resistance while others can't seem to catch a break for anything? I know a few people who just seem to get hit over and over again. Just when things start to seem ok, something else happens.

One of these people is very dear to me and my heart aches for her every time something new happens. She tries very hard to have a positive attitude and to rely on the God that she knows cares for her and is working on her behalf, but sometimes it gets hard for her to handle it all. She had another one of those things happen today....it has been tough on her.

Although I know she has never said "this is not fair", others who know her have said those words for her. In the beginning I was inclined to agree, mostly out of raw, human emotion. But then the Lord helped me remember that His word never describes Him as "fair", but instead describes Him as "just". I believe there is a difference.

Fairness gives evil for evil and plays favorites to those who are favorable. It is tit for tat. It's definition changes from person to person because fairness is always driven by an individual's own perceptions of what is right and equal. Because of this, we often mess up "fairness" because we get our own agendas involved.

Being "just" is a different story. Justice can only be handled by God because it is based on HIS righteousness, not our perception of right. It is based on HIS view of the big picture, not our view of the immediate circumstances that plague us.

If God had been FAIR to us, we would have all been consumed long ago and all of our eternities would be sealed in a devil's hell. BUT PRAISE GOD THAT HE IS NOT FAIR!! Instead, He is compassionate and JUST! His wisdom goes far beyond what we can comprehend so He is able to see beyond the present into eternity to see how all of these "unfair circumstances" will pan out in the end. HE KNOWS WHAT HE IS DOING!

Now, I don't claim that it is always easy and I don't claim that everything that comes our way should make us say "yippee!", but I am sayind that we need to remember that "fair" is a human word. God is in the business of justice!

Observations of an 8th Grade Parent

I am a total people watcher. I enjoy just sitting and observing people's actions, what they are wearing, how they interact with others, etc. Last night was a great opportunity for this as Kermit and I attended Jake's' 8th grade graduation and then chaperoned the 8th grade dance (much to Jacob's horror).

Let me start by saying that the graduation was great. It wasn't too long but still gave credit to those who were deserving. Jacob even won an award! We were shocked when the American Legion Auxiliary named him third place in the "Where Have the Heroes Gone?" essay contest. He didn't know he was getting the award so it was great to see the surprised look on his face. He looked handsome in his cap and gown and he was very excited about not having to ever go to the principals office at Gavin Jr. High, again : ) By the way...when did we start having 8th grade graduation ceremonies? My 8th grade graduation consisted of them handing me a report card on the last day of school and saying "have a great time in high school, now get out" (or something like that).

Then came the dance. Sooooo interesting.

The first thing I noted was that all of the girls seemed much older than 14. I have never seen so many young girls dressing like mature women in my life. Some of there outfits were so revealing that I wouldn't want to see ANYONE wearing them. In stark contrast, the boys were struggling to keep their ties on and some even pulled off their dress shirts so that they could wear their T-shirts to the dance.

Next I watched their dancing. It was interesting to see that some songs immediately got everyone dancing and some made everyone stop. I was impressed that the majority of the dancing was clean and harmless with only one instance in which I had to go over and say "leave some room for Jesus in there". The funniest part was that all the girls really wanted to dance and most of the guys were totally not interested. This meant that most of the girls danced together in big groups while the guys stood in the back of the room doing kung-foo and seeing who could slide the farthest across the floor.

Slow dancing. There was a definite difference in the different versions of slow dancing. Some were very close and some stayed at arms length away. Some were very smooth and some were very stiff legged and awkward. In almost all situations, the girls dragged the guys onto the floor for the slow dances.

You could really see the cliques. It was obvious who were the popular kids and who were not. Jacob is not in the popular group but he is also not completely friendless but you could still see who approved of him and his friends and who did not. He didn't seem to mind.

As I stood guard at the door (so no-one could get out without their parents), I thought:

- What made the popular kids "popular" in a way that they feel it is OK to treat others poorly. What makes the "lessors" feel like they are less?

- What type of home life do these kids have? Do ANY of them know Jesus or even have an idea of basic morality?

- Why do young teens feel the need to be grown up? Could anything have been done to make them see the value in just being 14?

- Why do young teens feel the need to experiment sexually? Do they not understand that when they give themselves away they are literally giving away a part of themselves emotionally that they will never be able to retrieve?

- What can I be doing to make a difference for the ones who obviously need positive attention?

I have to say, I realized that I am just as "un-cool" now as I was when I was in school. I have never been the trend-setter or the trend-follower. I am no more in touch with what is going on with 14 year old culture now than I was in 1986. BUT THAT IS OK! Because the biggest realization I had was that I am OK with never having been "IT"! Having grown up the way that I did I have an appreciation for the every day things in life that others take for granted. I have a heart for people who suffer at the hands of others and a desire to make things better for them. All of this came from at one time being 14 and struggling through everything I observed at this dance.

I would NEVER want to be 14 again, but I sure am thankful for what I learned the first time around! Trust me, I will be praying for these kids as they enter high school in the fall. Most of them have no idea what they are heading for.

Here are some pictures from the evening.

Great Music

Here is Hannah performing "Linus and Lucy" at the school talent show.

Wrapping Up the School Year

Every year I think Kermit and I get more excited about the end of school than the kids do. By the end of May I am just plain tired! When I look at my calendar for this month we have:

- a family dinner for Mother's Day
- a mother/daughter tea at church
- a Scout camp out
- a piano recital
- a band concert
- a talent show
- AWANA awards night
- school awards night
- church work day
- a baby shower (not mine!)
- an 8th grade graduation

I am counting the days until June!

But, so that I don't sound as if I am lamenting my life (because I'm not!) I am also trying to savor every minute I can while I still can. I realize more and more every single day how quickly the kids are growing up! Jake has girls calling (well, one specific girl) and will be in high school in three months, Hannah is wrestling with doing the right thing even when it is tough and Lily is reading like crazy and acting like a grown up.

So...we are plugging away until we get to the fun of summer which is one step closer to them all being grown and out of the house (sentimental sigh).

How Deep The Father's Love For Us

On this glorious Good Friday, I find myself compelled to share one of my favorite songs by Stuart Townend. May you spend time focusing on HIM and HIS SACRIFICE as we go through the next few days coming up to Resurrection Sunday. Thank you God for loving me this much even though you knew I would despise you and reject you.

How deep the Father's love for us,
How vast beyond all measure
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure

How great the pain of searing loss,
The Father turns His face away
As wounds which mar the chosen One,
Bring many sons to glory

Behold the Man upon a cross,
My sin upon His shoulders
Ashamed I hear my mocking voice,
Call out among the scoffers

It was my sin that helf Him there
Until it was accomplished
His dying breath has brought me life
I know that it is finished

I will not boast in anything
No gifts, no power, no wisdom
But I will boast in Jesus Christ
His death and resurrection

Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart
His wounds have paid my ransom