Candlelighters Shines Again

We spent Labor Day weekend the same way we have for several years now, at Candlelighter's Family Camp just outside Eugene.

The girls had a wonderful time spending most of the weekend with their "buddies" (high school students that came to help out and give the parents a break.) If they were not with their buddies they were constantly asking for them. Rebekah kept saying "buddy come" and signing that she wanted a buddy. They really REALLY had a good time.

Sarah (almost 5) has her first "love," Alex. She has seen him at 3 camps now this summer and she couldn't wait to see him again. They informed us Saturday night that they got married and were going on their honeymoon to Sacramento?!?!?! They were taking toys, swimming suits and a couple of other things and wanted Alex's mommy and daddy to go with them. Alex's mommy was put in the odd position of having to dodge the question from Sarah as to why mommies and daddies couldn't go on your honemoon with you.

Early Monday morning we woke up to Rebekah complaining about their sleeping arrangements. They share an upper twin size bunk bed. Daddy was trying to deal with her and she was saying (to Daddy's ears) "Sarah pee'd on my sleeping bag." Daddy was not at all happy about having to deal with that but after a few times of her saying it mommy piped in and said "She is saying 'Sarah's FEET are on her sleeping bag.'" THAT was a lot easier to deal with! Although it then turned into an argument of "No they are not." "Yes they are." "That's not your sleeping bag." "Yes it is. etc... Loving sisters in action.

Mommy and daddy are on the camp comittee so they worked their tails off; for them camp was a lot of work. It takes a lot of planning and then execution to make a camp work for 300+ people and the comittee that existed this year did a beautiful job, even if we are a bit biased! Sunday night we made 580 donuts and that seemed to go over really well and we are glad.

Mommy spent most of the weekend on a scooter as she is just not able to get around. She was up out of it a few times and during those times she had a few falls; nothing hurt but not what we want. Getting up into the camping trailer is now extremely difficult for her. All of that being said, she had a good time serving the Candlelighter's families and seeing Rebekah and Sarah play until their heart's were content.

It is really difficult to think that something you are doing that you enjoy so much with your family will be the last time you do it. As you go throughout your days with your kiddos please think about that. No matter how trivial or repetitive the task, event, etc. please ask yourself "If this is the very last time I ever get to do this with my kids will we have made the best of it?" Hopefully it will help you enjoy each little thing that much more just like we are trying to do now.

Your continued prayers and support are very much appreciated as we continue along this path.

A late addition. A couple of really awesome professional photographers, Jamie Zanotti (Jaz Photography), and her friend/partner Kim (sorry I don't remember her last name) donated their time and abilities at Family Camp taking pictures of all of the families - THANK YOU JAMIE AND KIM!. They also grabbed a few candids like this one of mommy: