SO, this is VBS week. And so far, its been fabulous. I have 15 2nd graders. They actually put a limit as to how many children could be in each class this year. Part of me cringes at the thought of turning kids away, but the other part of me is good about it, specially since there have been many a VBS when I have 22+ kids, and kind of not personal at all! It was alot of crowd control, with the hope of something of Jesus getting in their little hearts.

And my nephew Stephen is here for 2 weeks! He is 17 years old, and he is autistic. He comes every summer for 2 weeks, which is nice because it gives my sister a break, not that she doesn't love him dearly, but you get my drift. AND he is such a joy to have. Yes it could get difficult sometimes, but totally worth it all. Samuel adores him, but he does not like Samuel. Its okay, though,Samuel adores him anyway.

And we got the house in Rockport!! I don't know if I mentioned it before, but we were hoping to rent a house in Rockport, MA (Cape Ann) for the week. We got it!! Its official! I am soooo happy. We are 3 houses away from the beach. John needs a break so badly. And we promised Chloe we could take the train down to Boston for her birthday. I think Boston about an hour south of Rockport. Anyway, Boston is her favorite city, and she is delighted. We will be leaving the 24 of August and coming back Sept. 1. Just in time for everyone to get their laundry done, and start school again. :)

So, I didn't lose as much weight as I had hoped for the trip. Oh well. It will still be great.

AND, Maria is here!!!! Enough said...... :)

Maria is coming!

So, I have this friend. We have been friends for about 8 years.

I knew her in-laws for years and years. In fact, I went to high school with her husband's twin siblings! Bryan was my physics partner!

I didn't meet Maria until one month before they moved to TN. Yet it seems like thats all it took.

We are dear friends. In fact, I would say we are sister-like friends. Everytime we call each other, it is HOURS before we hang up. When she comes to NJ to visit, it is HOURS of DAYS till she goes home again. When I have to cry or to let it out, or when I am questioning everything, she is the shoulder-through-the-phone that I cry on, let it all out to, and laugh with and vice versa.

She will be here tomorrow for 2 weeks!!!!!

She is the mom of 6 boys. And I have given Chloe permission to marry any of those boys. From Joshua who is 21 to Issac who is 10. Chloe perty much said, its like marrying your cousin, mom. She gets along famously with all of them.. How could she not, Maria & Stephen have done a fabulous job or raising sons of God. Sometimes I call, and one of the boys answers the phone, and we could talk for a long time, or at least until Maria realizes its me, and demands the phone. :)

But ......she comes tomroow!!! For 2 weeks!! Life is good.

Me & my cluelessness

One of my kids asked me why I never put a picture of me on the blog. Its because I am always the one taking the pictures. So there are hardly any of me!! Of course I say this tuonge in cheek. I am the one who tries to REMEMBER to take pictures.

So I found one. Its a funny story. I dragged Chloe to a country music concert. No one else would go with me. Remember this in New Jersey. Country music is about as popular as Boxing Day. .....Exactly.

Anyway, we went, and we had to park in the next county ( or least it felt like it with the amount of walking we had to do) because the way this place is built, you had no choice. Some rocket scientist must have design it. You know, keep everyone and their cars away from the lift off area. I mean the concert area.

Anyway. We were walking, and a whole lot of people were looking at me funny. Chloe finally made a comment as to why, as she giggled.

See, everyone was dressed in cowboy boots, jeans something and cowboy hats. You know. country.

Then there is me. I wasn't even thinking. I had my Brooks Brothers pink & mint green madras skirt, with my Polo t-shirt,(you know, to make it casual) and since it looked like it was going to be a little nippy that evening, and the concert is outside, I had my pink sweater ready to go. Oh! And I had my lime green Crocs that match beautifully!

All I can say is, at least I didn't wear my pearls. (which is a miracle because I ALWAYS wear my pearls)

Everyone says Chloe looks like me. Don't believe them. She looks like John. She just has my coloring. :)

PS Notice she is wearing demin. She got the 411 email. lol.

Hoops

My oldest son has been such a joy in my life. He has been the most difficult creature ever to walk this earth. I know, I know.....an oxymoron.

But if you knew all the big AND little details of his life, you would understand.

2+ weeks ago, he asked me to pray about something. (He has been a believer for about a year and a half. He will be turning 22 this fall. He was raised in the church and homeschooled his whole life.) Anyway, back to the prayer request:

He asked me to pray about him going to college out in British Columbia. As in the other side of this great big nation. As in ........another country!!!!! It is a school run by Mennonites. He has been praying for months.

Mind you, this will be his 5th college in 4 years.

Since we are no longer paying for his schooling, and he is almost 22.....

Well, I did pray, and I wasn't sure about the answer. I kept putting him off and telling him not to pressure me about an answer. 2 nights ago, he came into my room at about 11:30ish. He knew I would be up reading and John would be sleeping. He kind of leaned against my dresser and looked at me without saying anything. The question was in his eyes, though. I think he knew I would say no. I think I knew I would say no. We kind of looked at each other for a few seconds, and then he asked me anyway.

I told him it was a good idea. Even as the words were coming out of my mouth, I was shocked. Yet, at peace. He was floored. He was so happy, but asked me again, to make sure he heard me right. I still can't believe I said that. And I still can't believe I am totally at peace about it.

He will be going to Washington state next month, and driving up to BC with a friend to check out the school. He may not go tot he school, but he has our blessing. And I will continue to pray.

P.s. his real name is not Hoops, and he has never played basketball. I don't even remember how we got that name. lol. But Hoops he is.

Dave & Rock Gyms

So, can I just say, Dave Barry is one funny guy. If you ever need to just laugh, pick up his " Dave Barry Turns 50" book at your library.

Samuel started Rock Climbing camp again, and to my mortification the camp ends at 1:30. Why is this terrible?? Because I have been picking him up at 2 (which is what the lady told me on the phone) . I started to wonder how on earth all the parents got there kids out of there so quick. Well, maybe because THEY PICKED UP THEIR KIDS ON TIME??????

Samuel on the other hand is bummed I found out the real time. He was enjoying all the extra time on the walls. I felt like the world's worst mom. The people at the gym were totally okay and not concerned. Still, no more 2 pm pick up, no siree.

Internationals

My daughter had 2 days off this past week. She opted to come home instead of stay at the camp grounds. She appeared at the front door with 4 other councelors.

They were internationals. They were from Wales. England and Northern Ireland. They were delightful!! I mean how bad can you be, when you come to America to minister to inner city kids. ( and trust me, the pay is next to nothing) The campers are from rough neighborhoods. All 5 of the kids that came home were emotionally, spiritually and physically exhausted. It was wonderfull to feed them real food, to comfort them, and to serve them.

So....the camp is in West New Jersey, which is absolutely gorgeous. It all rolling hills and beautiful landscape. The internationals fell in love with it. The only other place they have been to other then the campgrounds so far is WalMart. They felt as though they had hit the jackpot. All they talked about was WalMart. Chloe looked at me as if to say, they don't get out much. lol. We took them to the mall. I almost had to scrape them off the floor. They were so funny, I mean, here are 20 & 21 year olds, with faces like 5 years olds, in wonder of it all. They really were cute. And the funny part is that they are not from, like, deepest darkest Africa. They are from the UK!! Sheesh.

Our Lord is so good to me. I love having people over. He just allowed me to do what I love best. So many times, I feel like unless it is hard and miserable, I can't possible be doing the right thing. A good friend showed me how stupid that thinking was, and now I get it!!

On another note, Samuel starts rock climbing camp next week. He went last year and loved it. He is fearless and reckless, which according to his councelor and the 2 key ingredients to being a good rock climber. This may sound like a cool thing, to have a kid be the cool one who achieves what no one else in camp could do, unless you are his mom. And you remember going to the ER 7 times in 10 months. Then its not so cool. Then you remember you put him in this camp, so he can get the discipline and knowledge, so you are not running to the ER.

Yeah.

He loves it.

My friend sent my this. Its the best under-5-minutes spent to honor our sericemen.

Lizzie Palmer is 15.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ervaMPt4Ha0

Please consider watching it......

Wooten

Maybe I should give those of you a clue as to why I wish I was more like Wooten.


Hmmm.... maybe next time :)

We are getting another computer!!! YAY!! This one is becoming like the apostle Paul. As my daughter says, " You know, Paul was wanting to just die & go to heaven and be with Jesus so badly, and God didn't let him, He had more work for him to do"

Yeah.

But we are now in the market for a new one. We have a Dell PC. We are most likely getting an Apple. I am highly impressed with Apples. I'm not sure if the switch will be difficult for us, but supposebly, Apples are pretty idiot proof. Which is good for us.

I went to the Apple store by myself a few days ago. I had to put my name on the waiting list!! But that because of the iphone. When I finally got to talk the the guy, he wanted to know if I wanted an iphone also. I told him I don't even have a camera phone. He laughed at me. I'm good with that.

I had no need to be connected at all times, though it feels like I am. I did get to play with this phone, though. I have to admit, it was kinda cool, but not for me. My daughter's friend wants one so bad, it hurts. He has been talking it up for months. He still has his old phone plan, so....wait, he must.

I took John yesterday to go see the computer. He was pretty impressed.

So, soon enough I will be writing to you all on our Apple!

I am thinking by the fall we will have the money to buy it. Till then, Paul will just have to keep working.....

Summer

Its summer time. And you know what that means!!



SLEEP TILL 8!!!!!! I went to wake Samuel up, and his room get SO COLD from the AC in his room, he still sleeps with his fannel pajamas and his down comforter. Poor kid, either we don't put the AC on and its 110 in there, or we put it on low cool, and it 40 degrees.




My niece graduated high school this year. She is my cousin's daughter. But my cousin is more like my sister. My parents bought her up here and the 3 of us girls grew up together like sisters. So, they are my nieces. Natalie, the one in the middle graduated, Alexis is her sister, and Chloe is in the back.



And last but not least, this is Lance at the beach. It is one of the best pictures of my son, as it shows how much he has changed since becoming a believer this past year. His smile is so true & genuine. His heart is at peace. His friend who took this picture is an amature photgrapher. I think she should go for being a proffesional.



Next week, we start doing some school work. But we won't call it school work, we will call it jump starting next year. Just some reading and math. If you hear groans coming from the Northeast, its Samuel.....

time of sorrow.

My mom-in-law passed away in her sleep last night.

My dad-in-law passed away a year ago Memorial Day.

My dear husband is going to need alot of prayer.

We will miss them both terribly.