Family Camp 2010

Our church family joins together every August for a summer camp.

It is a key time of envisioning and relationship building that we look forward to every year.

We go Wednesday through Sunday.  We enjoy morning meetings with a guest speaker and free afternoons with organized sports, a swimming pool available, and much more!  The kids tear around on their bicycles while the adults eat foods they don't normally indulge in.  Througout the day (and into the night), are the sounds of laughter, children playing, music, and cheers of card game victories.  We end the week filled up in spirit and exhausted in physical body, eagerly anticipating the next one.  J and I have never missed a year (J for 20+ years and me for 17 years)... until now.  With our new family of four still very much in the early stages of bonding and establishing a schedule for our wee ones, we opted to attend only two days and not stay the night.  We drove the hour to the campground/conference center on Friday and Saturday mornings, stayed for the morning worship, and then walked over to my parents' trailer (EJA calls it a "house makina") for naps.  We then had the afternoons to hang out with people until driving home to sleep in our familiar beds.  Even this limited schedule was over-stimulating for the kids; we don't have serious regrets, but if we had it to do over again, we would cut the schedule down a bit more.  Still, it was great to be with everyone and the kids had fun. 

Riding bikes with god-momma Auntie Katie and baby Joseph.  The helmet is a gift from god-brother Andrew and is a little bit big right now.  By the time he's really riding a bicycle, the helmet should be just right.  Thanks Andrew!

Pastor Michael & Mama Yvonne hit the thrift store and filled up their back seat to bring our boy this very large aircraft carrier, complete with sound effects.  EJA calls it a "big boat."  Who do you think is enjoying it the most?  (At home, this monstrous toy sets in the garden shed for outdoor play.  It took a lot of time to convince our boat-lovin' son that it is TOO BIG for the BATH TUB!)

The aircraft carrier is a 3 year old magnet.  So cute!

The baby doll enjoyed meeting some new friends her own size.

HIGHLIGHT OF FAMILY CAMP 2010:

One year ago exactly, we sat with this couple into the wee hours of the night, sharing and praying together about our dream to be parents and our immediate plans to adopt.  They began their domestic adoption process the same time as us and brought home their son just a month before our trip to Ethiopia!

This year, we are showing off our babies and rejoicing with each other!

We love you guys!

God is good!!!