The Beach

We have had such a great summer.
We had two wonderful weeks at the beach after our time in Colorado.
We had a packed house for the week of the 4th of July, 8 kids under 3 and 10 adults.
Crazy fun.
Trip had an incredible week at Frontier while we were at the beach and he met us for our second week down there for some good quiet family time.
Brooks doesn't know what to do now that he's at our boring house with nobody to play with.
Brooks has gained a lot of confidence in the pool after some swim lessons and LOVES it.
Although I would hardly call him a swimmer, he loves it so much.
He had a blast playing with his cousins.
He is saying more and more things that he hears from us which is funny and scary at the same time!
His favorite songs right now are "Cruise" and "10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord Oh My Soul).
When he tries to sing "10,000 reasons" it melts my heart. He says "mommy play Oh My Soul" it makes me so happy. He wants to hear it over and over again. Something about a little kid singing worship is just the sweetest.
He also says "is" at the end of every question. "Where is daddy is?"
And he is asking ALOT of questions, "why, why, why?"
Not always sure how to tackle the "why's".
We are constantly amazed at Brooks and how observant he is.
He is incredible with directions in the car. He recognizes how to get places all the time.
He also is great at remembering where stuff is in the house.
He can always tell us where his shoes are or where Bernie is.
Ford is gaining more and more personality. Still super smiley and we have his 6 month appointment coming up!
While the days are long, the months are flying by.
Trying to enjoy these days as I know it's a short season in the blip of life.
Sometimes it feels like we will forever be in car seats and diapers and the task of leaving the house to go somewhere seems monumental but I know it's not forever.
This summer has been special in that I have had a lot of quality time with the boys.
At Crooked Creek I just followed Brooks around camp all day and had no distractions with him,
at the beach we played in the pool together and played on the beach with no distractions.
No errands to run or wasting time on the computer or watching T.V.
Just a lot of time focused on my kids.
Which is hard in so many ways,  exhausting, especially when Trip is out of town or busy working. But I have to be thankful for it because I feel like a really know my kids. I really really do. I am thankful for the time.
Next on the list,
Trip is out of town for 10 days on a hiking trip with YL kids and we are going to tackle potty training!
Yikes!!!!
So many fun memories made this summer!

4th of July parade

wonder what they are talking about?

first time in the pool, loved it!

first time eating baby food, loved it!

brother love

blue eyes

William and Henry in the parade

Ford and Liza in the parade

watching a movie

William showing Ford some love

Home from Crooked Creek

I am sitting in my living room,
reflecting on my time at camp.
We got home last night and I am feeling a little sad.
Although it was great to sleep in my own bed last night,
I already miss my community at Crooked Creek.
Saturday night we watched 205 kids stand up and decide to follow Christ.
205,
that's a beautiful thing.
That's what gives me life.
That's what makes me forget about all the things I don't have,
and makes me remember what I do have.
It makes me thankful for this mission of Young Life.
I am amazed that God still chooses to use it.
It works,
it still works.
God still uses a week at YL camp to brings kids to him.
I have never experienced such a powerful "real life" at camp as I did this past month.
The life stories shared were incredible, and I have no doubt that God used them to bring so many teenagers to him.
To see a room full of leaders with broken stories, changed from death to life and then give their time and energy to a bunch of teenagers is awesome to watch.
One person on our assign team was hiking with a camper and the camper looked at her and said "why are you being so nice to me? Nobody is ever nice to me" and this girl stood up Saturday night and decided to follow Christ. That's just one of example of so many stories like that.
YL is imperfect, run by a bunch of imperfect people but amidst all of it, God shows up and and does incredible things.
I can't really put into words what this past month has meant to me.
But one word comes to mind and that is "thankful".
Thank you God for taking me out of my little world, and placing me in a heavenly place.
Thank you for taking me to a place where I can truly be known, and I can truly be loved.
Thank you for taking me to a place where your hand is so big and your work is so clear.
Thank you for taking me to a place where I am little and you are big.
Thank you for taking me to a place where the conversations are deep and laughter is large!
Thank you for taking me to a place where my mind is clear and my heart is focused on things above.
Thank you for taking me to a place where hearts are broken but given the hope of you.
Thank you for taking me to a place where people graciously serve others with no agenda.
Thank you for taking me to a place where death becomes life and despair becomes hope.
Thank you God.

I haven't had a chance to upload all my pics but here are some.

bath with Fisher McCleskey

taking a stroll by the creek

just being cool

First time on a horse! He was so brave!

Great friends at camp.
Ben David, George, Jacob, Avery Kate, Ellie, and Lincoln

Trip's character. Leroy Hare, the evil Easter bunny.

Crooked Creek week 1

Wow, where to begin?
Life is sweet here,
I am always reminded at camp of the amazing purpose of this mission of Young Life,
it makes all the hard days during the year worth while.
I am so thankful that I get to be a part of this.
Last week before campers got here, I watched some of the maintenance crew work to put up a tree in the club room for Springer's talk.
Few people will ever know their names,
they aren't on the "front lines".
I watched people all over camp property working on little odd jobs to prepare for high school kids coming.
Most kids will never even notice all that has been done around them to give them an amazing week.
And that to me is the beauty of this mission.
The hundreds of people that work to make camp the special and unique experience that it is and all for one purpose.
Everyone here has the same goal in mind.
One simple purpose.
To make Jesus known.
That's it.
That's the only reason.
And I love that.
I love all the different people with unique gifts that contribute their time and effort for that purpose only.
And I am thankful that my kids get to grow up witnessing that.
I can't wait until they are old enough to really understand why we are here.
I wouldn't trade that for anything!
Brooks is having the time of his life at his little age of 2 years.
It's fun to watch him watch everything.
Ford has been super baby, he's just so easy going.
He's sleeping great and smiling lots as usual!
Thank you God for him!
Trip is doing a great job on program despite some health issues going on.
Our assign team is awesome,
I love everyone who is a part of it,
I love hanging out with everyone, it brings me so much joy!
There is something so special about a group with a common bond in Young Life.
These people know my life, they know why we do what we do.
It's a special thing.
And the laughter these people bring to me is so good for my soul!!!!!
We are almost done with week one with campers, can't wait to see the fruit Saturday night.

This is posted in the adult guest lodge, love these words!

It snowed last week! So fun to have snow in May!

fun on playground with new friends!

Welcoming the first campers! Exciting moment

can't get enough of this beautiful view in camp

watching the volleyball match

visiting the horses during the rodeo

dad was the rodeo clown, so silly!

sweet Ford on western nigh

watching tableau 

"wow this is crazy mom!"

just pushing Ford

not a bad place to kick a soccer ball around