Working together . . .

One of the fun things we get to do at the campground is to check people in when they arrive for the weekend.  This year, we are trying to do "express check in" as a family.  There is usually plenty to do - greeting people, directing traffic, retrieving golf carts, filing forms, etc.  The kids are great workers and it is a lot of fun to have them there with us!

There's a 9 year old in the house!

We have a wonderful 9 year old in the house! Our Anna girl's birthday falls in the middle of Memorial Day weekend again this year, we're celebrating in a few weeks, but we squeezed in our traditional birthday donuts, gifts and some fun with friends who were able to have a sleepover!

It is finished!

“It is finished”! . . . school that is.  We finished our school year today with the final chapters of Nate Saint’s biography (we actually read it several years ago, but it’s one of our favorites ~ so it was voted back into our biography rotation).  In a unique collision of timing, we also had the honor of meeting a 91 years old retired WWII fighter pilot, ‘Doc’ Cramer, along with some of his missionary friends, Ed & Debby Capps.  As it turns out they’ve actually collaborated with Steve Saint (Nate’s son) in some of the aviation components of their missionary work.  Small world!  The kids also helped get the pool ready for opening day, even though our CO weather continues in a definite state of confusion – a strange mix of Seattle and late September!  We know you’re out there somewhere summer!

Rubiks Dudes and Magic Show

Daniel and Ryan enjoy delighting groups of kids on Friday nights at the campground with their Rubiks cube prowess and magic tricks!  This crowd was especially fun!

Mother's Day

My sister and her kids were able to come over on Mother's Day.  We enjoyed playing games and eating yummy treats.  Kevin had to work most of the day and we had snow (and LOTS of it!) for the second year in a row!  Later in the evening, I opened some fun gifts.  I especially LOVE my super soft, fuzzy blankie . . . but these five are the best gift of all!

Daniel's half birthday!

We had the chance to celebrate Daniel's half birthday this afternoon/evening.  We indulged ourselves in several hours of an awesome young man - playing "QuizUp" as we drove around town, eating Arby's curly fries, playing dodgeball at JumpStreet (and watching Daniel conquer the mechanical bull and the 'walking sticks' and do flips while shooting baskets!) We also enjoyed the Paddington Bear movie together - and enough popcorn to bury someone alive. Somehow Daniel even saved room for ice cream on the way home!

We continue to be amazed at this young man's intellect.  He recently took the IOWA assessments (standardized tests that our kids take every other year through our enrichment program) and scored a grade equivalent of 13+ (college freshman) in every category.  I don't put great stock in that assessment, because I feel like they are a bit 'dumbed down' in their expectations. However, he is in 7th grade (if we'd stuck with his birthday and the "official cut off date", he's technically supposed to be in 6th grade) . . . we have always marveled at the unique brain that God has gifted him with.  The things he can do (in his head) with ease cause my brain to cramp!  I am praying for him to use that brain to make a meaningful contribution to the world and more importantly for him to remain humble and kind as he walks into the future that God has for him.

sweaty head!!

AWANA awards night

We wrapped up another year of AWANA club tonight.  The kids all earned awards for their hours of commitment to scripture memory.  Emily has also spent part of the year helping with the Sparks class - she is a natural born leader/teacher and is awesome with little kids!  She and a few of her classmates shared the task of presenting the awards.  I thought she did a fabulous job! (that girl is so comfortable with a microphone and has always had a very confident "stage presence" - what a gift!). We are proud of our kids and are so thankful for leaders who invest in them year after year!

Cuties in the kitchen

It has been so much fun this afternoon to have cuties in the kitchen cooking up yummy stuff to take to AWANA tonight.  It's even more fun that they're old enough that all I have to do is show up to sample their creations!  Cookies and cupcakes and popcorn, oh my!!

do you think he has enough chocolate chips in there?

Anna adores making big batches of buttery, salty popcorn to share! 

the frosting is the best part!

hungry yet?

Selena really wanted to help sample the final product

Homeless

Homeless.

Thankfully we aren't.

We aren't even planning to move right away (in fact, we might be approaching record time, for our family, living in the same house!)

The word "homeless", however, evokes a host of feelings and mental images. In our years downtown, we spent plenty of time around those who truly were without a place to lay their heads.  Their worldly possessions were few, their hope and their dignity far less. 

Homeless. It's a word that has danced about in my head throughout the past few years. Not because we've been without a home, but because we've been without a church home.  

I've told friends (on more than one occasion in the past few years) how I am convinced that I'd rather be without a home than without a church.  Really!  If you have never been part of a church family, maybe you just can't relate to that.  If you have, perhaps you share my sentiment.  

For 16 or 17 years we were intimately involved in Open Door Fellowship (downtown Denver), our world revolved around that body of believers, where we served and loved and lived. Where we struggled through years of infertility, where we later brought each of our newborns (when they were just days old) ~ and passed them around to excited friends, where we loved on the mentally ill and the drug addicted, where we served alongside the like-minded, where our daughter danced with passion and abandon during worship and our son tried out the drums after the service . . . where we lived life in community and wept and rejoiced.  Where our family was embraced and we felt accepted and loved and fully alive. 

When we moved to Castle Rock in 2008, we began looking for a church closer to our new home. It took a little while, but eventually we found a wonderful little church, "Generations", which we called home for nearly three years.  We were part of a small group, Emily sang on the worship team, we felt connected, we made some neat friends, we served in meaningful ways. 

Until the summer of 2012, when we moved to Jellystone. As much as 'the spirit was willing', it was very difficult for us to make it to church (consistently) that summer and fall. We returned in the winter, but several months later (on Easter Sunday) Generations held its last service and closed its doors.  Our life & schedule at the campground from May-Oct makes attending church very, very difficult and looking for a new church home nearly impossible.  In the off season, we had a little more freedom. We visited several churches and greatly enjoyed some of them . . . but we just never found one that "fit".  Peak season returned at the campground and our search fell through the cracks once again.  I prayed that somehow, at some point, God would weave us back into a church family again. 

During those busy summer months, we participated in (or led) various devotional services at the campground.  It was something.  It was what we could manage. God was not disappointed (with us). 

But I was.  

An uneasiness was gnawing away at my insides, an uncomfortable reality, an unwelcome truth - we had ended up, much by default, raising our children outside of the church . . . without the benefit of an "extended (church) family" ~ who knew them, loved them, watched them grow and spoke truth, conviction and encouragement into their lives.  

I wanted that for them. 

I wanted that for us. 

We had become an island unto ourselves.  Doing okay, certainly not void of all Christian input or activity, but as a family ~ coming close to starving spiritually. That is NOT where I ever dreamed we'd end up, it was not the vision I had for our family . . . much like I imagine is the story of each tattered soul who stands behind a cardboard sign on the street corner.  This is not what they ever dreamed they would become.    

This past November, once our weekends were freed up a little, we began visiting churches again, intent on finally finding a place to call home. One Saturday night (about five months ago) as we were preparing to return to a church the kids and I had visited the previous week, I decided to do one more (internet) search.  I happened upon a website (I'd actually been there once before, but had dismissed it for whatever reason).  This time the words on that page struck a chord.  The description reminded me of our "home church" in Denver.  We made a last minute decision to visit Pathmakers the next morning, before returning to the 'other' church. 

From the moment we walked through the doors, we felt at ease. Exuberant children greeted ours, friendly faces and open arms embraced us.  Genuine people, Real. Raw. Relevant. Balanced. Servant leaders who refused to talk in titles or advertise (their) positions. Members of a body, working together, serving one another.  Love.

We could be ourselves there.  Our kids told us how much they enjoyed it. We returned the next week. . .  and the following week.  We prayed for strangers, we gushed over newborns. We had real conversations, We stood in the chilly winter air witnessing outdoor baptisms! We made dinner plans with Joe & Beth (and then re-scheduled them at the last minute . . . two or three times). We brought our injured puppy to church! (and no one condemned us).  We participated in outreach events and youth events. We were offered opportunities to serve.  Our kids have shared in that privilege too. They have a role and a purpose. Somewhere as the weeks ran together, we stopped feeling like visitors and began feeling like family.  There are still plenty in the family we haven't met yet, we are looking forward to hearing their stories and getting to know them as the days unfold.  For the first time in (too many) years, we are looking forward to finding a way to continue being part of this family THROUGHOUT the craziness and busyness of 'peak season'.  

THAT is an answer to prayer! 

We have seen God's faithfulness (once again)  

We are no longer homeless.  

We are home

 . . . and home is a wonderful place.

(Oh . . . , and when we finally managed to have that dinner with Joe & Beth and the kids ~ it was genuine and fun and memorable.  And, well, you'll just have to ask Joe how ~ um ~ dog poop made its mark on the evening  smile emoticon   I'm waiting for it to find its way into a sermon!)

Thank you, Pathmakers, for welcoming us into your family!

Auntie Penny's visit

Emily wrote on her Facebook page (earlier today) this quote from Winnie the Pooh!: "How lucky I am to have something (someone) that makes saying goodbye so hard". What a poignant and fitting description. We weren't even back to the car yet after saying goodbye in the airport when Sam said "I miss Auntie Penny, who votes that we go back in and get her?!"

We are so thankful that we were able to have almost a whole week together!  Several of the kids (and Penny too!) commented that it felt 'just like it used to', when she would come visit for a long weekend, tell stories, hang out and we would all enjoy her company greatly.  It's been three years, I think they all felt like too much would have changed to just "pick up right where we'd left off" . . . but God is so sweet and we truly did just pick up where we'd left off.  What a blessing!  (Now to get Grandma Shirley or Taylor out here for a visit . . . )

Some highlight pictures:

Beautiful dancers . . .

Anna's worship dance performance was last night.  We were excited that the timing happened to work out for Penny to be in town for it.  Anna did a wonderful job!  (and she LOVES getting flowers afterward!)  Normally Emily would be dancing in the same performance, but sat this semester out while she continues to work on getting her foot healed from a stress fracture.

It's my "oil-a-versary"!

A year ago today, after weeks and weeks of debating with myself, I took the plunge and ordered a Young Living starter kit,  I am SO glad I did!  I very quickly fell in love with essential oils and all of the possibilities they hold.  It wasn't long before family and friends (and even random strangers on the street!) were hearing "there's an oil for that" in response to every imaginable situation.  I've seen some fun things in the past year and I'm still amazed and learning new uses for oils on a daily basis. God, in His great wisdom, built more healing properties into the humble plant world than most Americans (especially) ever give a second thought to.

Contact me if you want to dive into the super cool, awesomely intriguing world of essential oils . .. if you decide to get your own starter kit, just mention this blog (and my "oil-a-versary"!) for a 10% discount.  With 11 incredible oils, an awesome diffuser, several sample packets, wholesale pricing on future orders and no minimum monthly commitment ~ it's the perfect way to get started!  smile emoticon 

Celebrating our Levi . . . can't believe he's 14!

We had some friends over last night for a belated celebration for Levi's birthday.  Fun at home, at the gaga ball pit, the jumping pillow and with Yogi & Boo Boo!  (See if you can find the birthday boy in the group hug with Boo Boo!)  So thankful for an awesome teenager, good friends, nice weather and such a fun place to live!  No pix of a cake, because Levi wanted homemade fudge instead (and I forgot to get a picture) . . . but it was yummy!