Camping Fun for Gary's Birthday Weekend

It was so much fun to camp together. We literally THREW the weekend together at the last minute, cancelled it, and then re-instated it.  It is really an "updated version" of our old time camping days.  Old days we set up a minimum of five tents, made all our own meals, and just plain got grungy, soaking wet, and poison-ivy'd for a week (or sometimes even two) at a time!  

NOW, our "updated version" includes going to Bally's to work out and get ready, a Starbucks coffee, shopping AFTER we get there, and going out to eat!  Although we keep the hobo pies around (thanks to Gary's efforts), the s'mores, and coffee and hot chocolate and snacks there, the rest of it is really minimum work.  Also, it IS a relief to sleep on cots instead of on the floor!

Although I really miss the old days with all the extraordinary efforts, it IS a relief to be able to just throw a weekend together and still feel we have the "camping experience".  Also, we had to rent a trailer because we sold our mega-trailer that we used to use to haul all our equipment.

Everyone made it up except Danny...  

It was awesome to have everyone together and enjoying "semi-camping" together.  

After the rain finally stopped, we played tennis, football, kickball (and Russell literally got KNOCKED OUT and had to go to the hospital to see if his jaw was broken), rode bikes, sang, did our Bible studies by the fire (awesome), played board games, read books, and just kicked around doing nothing together.  

A mini-vacation -- just enough to add a few more awesome memories to our summer...

Double Wedding Day

“BLESSED (HAPPY, fortunate, to be envied) is everyone who fears, reveres, and worships the Lord, who walks in His ways and lives according to His commandments. For you shall eat [the fruit] of the labor of your hands; happy (blessed, fortunate, enviable) shall you be, and it shall be well with you. Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine in the innermost parts of your house; your children shall be like olive plants round about your table. Behold, thus shall the man be blessed who reverently and worshipfully fears the Lord. May the Lord bless you out of Zion [His sanctuary], and may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem all the days of your life;”
(Psa 128:0-5 AMP)

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.”
(John 12:24 KJVS)

These two verses keep going over and over in my mind as we celebrate TWO MORE weddings!

*The sacrifices made to raise a family requires a lot of work. But Psalm 128 tells us we will enjoy the fruit of our labors. I am truly enjoying the fruit of our labors. And yes, what my Dad told me is so true: my children have given me so much more than I have ever given them.

*So many times my husband and I "died to our selves" to raise a family. But look at the fruit of it!

My girls are marrying two young men that will continue to love them and cherish them the way they have been loved and cherished at home. Both Gabriel and Michael love the Lord with all their hearts and will lead their homes the same way. Both young men have been truly hand-picked by God to be our sons and the husbands to our amazing daughters.

Last year when Jesse and Amber were married we felt the same way. Now, I can't even IMAGINE our family without Amber in it! Because God is sooooo faithful. The fruit that came from us living the way He instructed us to for real joy.

Today I am so happy and excited for Gabriel and Hannah, and Michael and Bethany! They are going to have an amazing day! What a privilege to be their Mom.