HAPPY CAMPER

Well, we had a party over the weekend for my little birthday boy! I'm not sure what I was thinking when I decided to throw him a party, we've been so busy this month without a single free weekend and several out of town trips, but I love him and I'm a little crazy. As we all know, we do crazy things for those we love. But we pulled it off, in two days and one very late night before the party, we were able to print, cut, glue, dye, paint, nail and create "Camp Henry" As  you'll see by my little happy campers, it was worth it! Some quick details for those curious...I'm cheap and so is my husband, so we made just about all the decorations and utilized our own camping gear for the party. My parents were gracious enough to open up their beautiful backyard as the setting of our "campground" and hands down, the best smore combination is Mr.Goodbar + Marshmallow + original graham cracker...at least in my humble opinion it is!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    

   

 

  

  

 

 

 

and there you have it..."Camp Henry"

Today's Reflection:
We tried to make use of what we had for the party, talents, location, supplies and materials... Sometimes you can have everything you need just sitting in your garage. In a world where you can see the best party money can buy on a pinterest board, it's easy to get jaded and distracted with what others are doing, that you underestimate what you can do. There are some pretty incredible things that you and I can do, if we just looked in our garage...of course, you know I'm no longer talking about a party...I'm talking about the incredible things we can do, the good works we can achieve if we just looked at all the talents and skills and circumstances God's placed before us. There is a scripture that we have written on our Prayer board right now...I hope it can bring you a little encouragement as it has me...

"Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. "
-Philippians 4:8

Meditate on these things. You might even find some of them in that "garage" of yours!

CAMPING AGAIN!

So we just got back from our annual camping trip. Sorry for not posting but every time I sat down and opened the computer it felt wrong...just wrong. Staring at the screen like I do at home just took away from being in the great outdoors. Every year we go I have a list of things I want to do while away. First, take a long walk to the beach just me and my hubby. Second, take a little morning jog and end it with a little devotional. Third, nature/photo walk. Fourth, spend a lot of time playing on the beach with my kids. Sounds great right? Unfortunately, I forgot to pack the list and so once we got their a new list was re-written which included, freezing my butt off and getting sick. Despite all that we had such a great trip!

I'll be back with more pictures and post later, but for now, loads of camp laundry are calling me and I am still a little under the weather.

I'll leave you with this...We stopped on our caravan home to take a group shot under the redwoods. I think we all imagined that beautiful money shot you see in magazines. Unfortunately we are not the group that ends up in magazines. So this is what we got...

trying for a little organization, I shout "Let's do a jump shot!" and unfortunately, we are not a "Jump Shot" group either, so here is what we got...

However, the genuine smiles and laughing that came with each shot was priceless and I'm so happy that we got each one!

Today's Reflection:

Sometimes we try to go for picture perfect, but picture perfect, although lovely hanging on your wall is not always as great in your heart. Picture perfect can sound nice, but sometimes it's those bloopers in life that we remember always. The camping trip was not exactly how I pictured, but it was still so much fun. Besides, who ever says "Hey remember that time everything went right?"

Lord, thank you for a safe trip. Thank you for joy and bloopers. Thank you for your presence, yesterday, today and tomorrow. Thank you for the joy you bring to even those who are not picture perfect!



IN THE MORNING

Joy came in the morning...well, after a little waking up, joy came...

 and coffee...and pure camping deliciousness...

and bubbles...

and nothing interupting or distracting us from the beauty of the morning and togetherness

Today's Reflection:

"You formed the mountains by your power and armed yourself with mighty strength. You quieted the raging oceans with their pounding waves and silenced the shouting of the nations. Those who live at the ends of the earth stand in awe of your wonders. From where the sun rises to where it sets, you inspire shouts of joy."

-Psalm 65:6-8

How beautiful is that? The sun rose and with it came the inspiration for shouts of joy. It was easy to see how amazing God is and how wonderfully crafted the world around me and people around me are. What joy the morning brings when nothing interupts or distracts you from the wonders of God!

THE ADVENTURES OF A YOUNG FAMILY

...and that's just what they did! It doesn't happen very often but every now and then Steve and I find that we have a weekend free of any responsibilities or plans. We both love camping, I think you could call us 'camping folk'. Normally we go in a group or at least with one other couple, but this weekend we decided we'd adventure off on our own. The adventures of a young family! Does it get any better?

The adventure itself was to Rollins Lake, a short hour drive from home and absolutely beautiful! The real adventure was doing it on our own with two wee little ones in tow! Oh, and did I mention it was all done last minute? An idea, spoken aloud and accepted...accepted like I imagine the first shuttle mission to the moon was...okay well maybe not to that extent.

Now, normally we tent it, but not wanting to make it even more of a challenge, we seized the opportunity to take a small little cabin (don't worry, there was no potty or running water in the cabin...what are we camping sissies?).

However, there was plenty to do for a little boy who loves camping!

and best of all we were together...soaking it all in!

A girl could get use to this! After all, it was one small step for mommy, one giant leap for motherhood!

Today's Reflection:

I am always Mom, but when I am somewhere new with my children, showing them and teaching them new things, I learn what a responsibility being 'Mom' is. I am reminded how these two little lives are looking to Steve and I for direction, the world they know is the world we show them.

"Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Write them on the door frames of your houses and on your gates, so that your days and the days of your children may be many in the land the Lord swore to give your ancestors, as many as the days that the heavens are above the earth."

-Deuteronomy 11:18-21