Camp Decision

We had one day between our vacation and church camp. This is something that Chase has done the past few years and they have ASKED me for the past few years. I've always wanted to go with the youth. It just never fell at the right time. This year I made the exception. I was sure it was going to be great but we had no idea of the events that would take place and the lives that would be changed.We started off with a group prayer with our friends and family that were not going with us! It was a great send off.

Our first night at camp! We definitely have the best looking kids.....

This was the first morning service. They pulled different people on stage. Joe Mano was the speaker that morning and Daniel Eric Groves lead worship the entire week. They both were awesome. Anyway, they came to Chase and said some things that really hit home with Chase. As you all know, we've had a tough year with Chase-typical teenager JUNK.Starting off on day one, he knows for sure that God is real and that his best days are ahead. God knew that Chase needed to be reassured and I got to witness it first hand.

Church camp is broken down into 3 section. There is team competition. They mix everyone up together and there is different types of things to do. There is a dodge ball and basketball tournament and 2 services a day. Our church won EVERY TOURNAMENT--Boys dodge ball, girls dodge ball and boys basketball!!!

Pictures during dodge ball...

The winner of the tournament gets to play the pastors. Our boys swept them!! It was a fun time.

CHAMPIONS!!!

Daniel was great with the kids. He a man that they can look up to. Go to www.danielericgroves.com to hear his music.

Every night we would end our night in my room. We had some amazing conversations throughout the week. They are wonderful young girls with so much potential. They have lots of issues to deal with but they are doing their best. I love those girls!

I was getting some lovin'

The spirit award.is very important. This is only give to one person on the team. The team leader picks them or the team votes. Chase won this award for his team! This made me very proud. It shows me that other people see what I see in my son....friendly, caring, fun, good leader and the love of Christ.

Basketball Tournament Champions...

If you like Christian music, Daniel Eric Groves is the man. He is so great! We really got to know him and his band. There are plans for him to play a concert in Keystone next year after camp before he leaves Florida. He loves our entire youth group!

This is the gang! I am so proud of the changes that took place this week. Great things are ahead for these young people! They are all so amazing and have so much to offer their school, town and world!

Kids pictures and Sharks teeth

~Our Beautiful Children~

She is gorgeous.........

These are the number of teeth we found each day! Great job Cait and Chase for the presentation.

We had a great time in search of our 'treasures'!!

Summer Vacation Memories

Our vacation started out with my tire completely separating on our way to the beach. LUCKILY, we had both vehicles, John was with me and it didn't happen on one of my MANY trips on HWY 100!!! That was a stressful start! John put on the spare until we could order another one--Thank goodness for my laptop. So that was ok, until Jeff stopped in to look at it and saw that ALL of them were very bad. Sooooo, instead of one tire--we bought 4. We are thankful that there was no accident and no one was stranded. On to the important stuff....

We love playing ladder ball in the late afternoon.

Waiting for the perfect wave...

Chase was trying to be cool and fell over instead.

Not much to say about this one--My baby is BIG!

My other baby is Hotttt :)

Sunrise from our balcony! I loved the way the sun and sky looked that morning!!

Our anniversary was on Monday. John has ALWAYS given me very thoughtful gifts and gives them to me in different ways! Yes, I'm rotten and love it! He made a wedding cake out of presents--love it!!

I gave his new sunglasses that he has been putting off buying. I write all around the box. It was funny watching him turn the box as he read. It went on forever.My parents came over to spoil the kids and we went to dinner. If you know us, we have trouble choosing where to eat. So we decided that we would go to all of our little spots. So we had wings on the balcony of A1A Ale Works, 1905 salad and black bean soap at the Columbia, pizza from Pizza Alley and Key lime pie at Harry's!! Yes, we were stuffed. We walked around in between places!! It took about 2 hours. I love John for just doing whatever---he rocks!! You can refer to June 2009 blog archives if you are not sure how I feel about him :)

G and Pa enjoying the day with us!

Tyler learning to surf...

This is our surfer girl--for sure! We are so proud of her.

Not sure which one of our kids took this, but I am thankful that they caught this moment!

This is the REAL Cait!!!!

As you know, vacation or not--there is exercising! This the bridge that we would run/walk over!!

Chase is leading and you can see John and the kids coming down!

Summer came visit...

The girls had the best seats on the balcony for dinner.

The boys caught some baby sharks during the late afternoon hours.

Chase and Cait excited about being on vacation :)!

My bro stopped by to hang out...

That's them being 'serious' ....

Our children being themselves...

I love our family!!!!!!!!!

John and I were taking our walk at sunrise. He was walking in the ocean along the shelf in hopes of a conch shell and I just stopped and ran my foot across the sand. I saw something but I never expected this. All I could say was, "Babe-Oh my gosh-oh my gosh!!"

This is the GIGANTIC Great White sharks tooth I found on the last day of vacation! I really didn't want my picture taken right then, but Chase didn't care. I WILL FOREVER BE THE CHAMPION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!If you know ANYTHING about us, we are very competitive. I WIN!!!