Fun In The Sun

This week I have the big privilege of spending lots of time with some 

impressive campers and staff at Maranatha.

It is nice to see children that I have known since they were little bitties growing up 

to be lovely, well-adjusted older children, teens, and young adults.

I am also impressed with the facility at Maranatha. 

 It was improved so much over the last few years since I was here last.

Gene Joiner and his staff have transformed the camp into 

a full outdoor programs camp complete with a terrific high ropes course, 

archery, paintball course, swimming, canoeing, 

knee boarding, and some giant water toys. 

 There is something to keep these kids interested and happy all day long.

It is also fun to watch the kid's confidence grow with the activities that they begin to master.

Big time at Maranatha.

Dad's Garden, Part 6

So - after church today the family and I went to my folks' home to celebrate Father's Day.

Turns out it isn't Father's Day.

Oh well, at least we weren't late.

We enjoyed lunch that included cole slaw, green beans, and squash casserole -

all made with veggies fresh out of the garden.

We might just have to celebrate Father's Day again next week, you know, when it is really Father's Day. 

The green-to-dirt ratio is shifting rapidly.

I love the way the garden looks now.

Very green and orderly.

The tomatoes are coming right along.

When these babies start ripening there are going to be lots of tomatoes to deal with.

Canned tomatoes, stewed tomatoes, sliced tomatoes, BLTs.

Mmmmm, sounds good to me!

This pretty silvery foliage belongs to the broccoli. 

I asked Dad if it was going to be able to head before the heat gets to it. 

He tells me that it is a heat-tolerant variety.

Good thing, it has been crazy hot lately.

Cute, huh?

The Grandma Parham's beans are producing now!

I love these beans.

I think these are the only green beans that I have actually craved.

The Grandmas Parham's beans start off with these cute little flowers...

And turn into these lovely magenta beans.

They turn green when you cook them, but they start off the prettiest color.

Speaking of pretty - this cabbage looks like a giant rose.

Just lovely.

Pretty darn tasty too.

One Tired Counselor

Ben came home Friday evening following his first week at camp with campers. 

He spent the week lifeguarding, helping with the high ropes course,

helping in the kitchen and pretty much else anything else that he was told to do. 

He was tan and tired. 

This is what he looked like for several hours this afternoon.

He started out watching a movie, but once he got still sleep won. 

Haiti Mission Team Reunion

Today most of the Haiti mission team were reunited.

Becca was asked to preach at a local church and as many as could attended.

After church we all came back to my home for lunch.

We had 5 team members, 5 spouses, and 1 teenager, and 8 assorted children.

It was a lively bunch.

We had lots of time to catch up and meet spouses and kids.

This is Karren (aka Karreem) and Becca.

Karreem is our pharmacist extroidinaire and is a very sweet person.

Becca was our math teacher/permetherin application specialist on the trip.

She is the one who preached today - and did a mighty fine job.

Not pictured is Jenny - she was behind the camera today.

Jenny is a physician and she organizes our trips.  Great leader!

Thanks for commandeering the camera Jenny!

Being the one behind the camera, I don't usually appear on my blog.

It figures I would be talking in the one picture that was in focus!

There were fresh pizzas made by yours truly -

and were pretty tasty if I do say so myself.

This is Courtney - one of my new friends from the mission team.

She is a nurse and has become a close friend.

She has a lovely snarky sense of humor - like me!

The team is already talking about out next trip together - probably in September.

I am ready!

Sibling Bonding Time

Ben came home from camp on Thursday evening. 

The camp director wanted all of the counselors to come home and have a weekend at home

before camp begins and kids start showing up in droves. 

A week or so away from home has made Ben appreciate his sister a little more. 

I have always known that they really do like each other, they just forget sometimes.

Given a little time to reset every once in a while isn't a bad thing.

Ben is back to camp on Sunday for the first week with campers.

I won't see him again until next weekend.

Stay safe and have fun son!

Game Night

During the power outage following the tornados last month

hubs and the kids rediscovered how fun board games can be.

Tonight Parcheesi was the game du jour.

It was much fun, although it is one of those games that can go on for hours!

Just when you start thinking that you are rounding the last corner and headed home

someone knocks you out of play and you have to start over. 

Come to think of it, this might not be a bad life lesson.

We have to learn to roll with the punches, huh?

Allison, as usual, feels obligated to give my wine a try.

This is the usual face she makes.

I don't have a problem that she can't stand the stuff.

Nope, not at all.

By the way, was is a coincidence that her game pieces

were the same color of her fingernail polish?

I think not!

And I would like to say that I am thoroughly enjoying having Ben home for the weekend.

He is having a great time at camp, learning so much and gaining confidence in his abilities.

He earned his lifeguard certification last week and

has been doing staff training for the last week.

He isn't a finished product yet, but he is growing and maturing nicely.

I am very proud of him.

OK, and in my usual unbiased fashion, I think this is one handsome kid.

Big Day for a Sweet Girl

Today was a very special day in the life of our family.

Our sweet daughter Allison graduated from the 8th grade.

She was all excited to get gussied up a bit for the occassion.

We rolled her hair, she wore a little makeup, and she got to wear the diamond earrings and necklace

that she received from her Wisconsin grandparents on her first birthday.

She is beautiful, isn't she.

(Okay, okay, I know I am biased.  I am her mother, I get to be biased. I believe it is in my job contract - filled under "Rights, bragging".)

She will miss her little school where she was one of seventeen 8th graders.

She will miss being able to worship at school.

She is a little apprehensive about starting over in a bigger school.

But this young lady is going to do great things.

Just wait and see.