I am so mortified that I have only posted on here once this year...hmm, the pitfalls of Facebook. LOL...couldn't resist. So much has happened and changed in this year.
We have seen growth in our church members and in the number of people attending. Relationships are budding and growing. The process is slow, frustrating, painful, but oh, so joyful. We look back and then see where changes, though subtle, have taken place. That gives us the courage to go forward.
In other news, this mother heart is sad, proud and not a little terrified. My baby girl started kindergarten. Now this is a good thing except that I am her teacher! Not me! But she told my niece the other day after her first class time, "Mommy taught me lots of fun stuff. She's the best teacher in the world." That did my heart good and made me more determined than ever to do right in her education!
We had a back-to-school camp out with the girls from our church group. This was great fun for them and a trial like no other for me. My idea of camping is to sink into a heart shaped jacuzzi (sporting fragrant bubbles up to my chin) to the background of a crackling fire in a stone fireplace in a five star chalet. Preferably this little piece of heaven is nestled in a mountain hideaway with a bubbling little stream dancing merrily alongside the deck (which is equipped with a hot tub).
Somehow, laying on the cold, hard ground outside a tent that is literally about to collapse from the activity and gales of laughter emanating from within its canvas (or whatever it is) walls is not my idea of fun.
Thankfully, our good friend and camper par excellence, Jason, was along. After taking these active little rascals on a terrifying hike through bramble, briers and utter darkness (a trip throughout which I moaned, muttered and threatened great harm to the leader of the pack under my breath) he finally saw my efforts at restoring calm, quiet and sleepiness were failing utterly. Taking pity upon my over-strained equilibrium, he came and sat in the door of the tent while Alan manned the fires and fended off the bears, snakes and other harmful creatures I was sure were about to eat us all. I lay in an exhausted heap on a blanket outside on the ground, while Jason talked in his most calming reasonable voice to these excited (what I now viewed as the wild animals) girls until they literally dropped off mid-sentence. It was funny but much appreciated. Goes to show what a good dad can do. . . and so many of these girls have no father figure in their life. It was heart rending and touching to see how they wanted to be with Alan and Jason at all times.
All in all they had a blast. Jay took them on another grueling hike, gave them rides on an old rope swing in the woods, then took them to KOA to swim and fish. It was fun to watch them having fun. But by the time I got to my bed, I knew I wasn't fifteen anymore! Every one of my 32 years were heavy on me! Oh, and I failed to mention that we never slept till 3 am Sunday morning because Emily got a poisonous bite on her ankle and had to make a trip to the ER late that night. I had only had an hour and half sleep since Thursday night. Alan had none! But it was worth every minute of it for those girls' sake!
So now we are almost to Sunday, September 12,2010. This is the day of celebration for our church. A 60th Anniversary celebration...wow, I am so excited to see all of the people who used to pastor here and attend. We have people coming from Mexico, Colorado, Florida, etc... to join us on this special day.
Now, I am so tired just thinking about that camping trip and all I have to do, I think I'll quit for now and try to do more later!!!! Pics I hope.
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