4th Annual Honeyman Camping Trip

In July, we went to Jessie M. Honeyman Memorial State Park and camped at our favorite group site for 3 nights with Jason and 5 other families. We expected cold weather but instead were surprised by a heat wave...which, in my opinion, made it the best Honeyman trip yet.

It's got to be pretty warm if even I can get in the lake and swim. Brrrr at first...but after a few minutes...actually enjoyable. So most of us got in at one point or another. 

 Although swimming was a highlight for me, it's not all we did for the first time this year.

We also...

kayaked,

 used our inflatable boat,

 dissected owl pellets,

 fished,

did some target shooting,

 

 

and thread wrapped the girls' hair.

Even with all these new activities, we did not deviate from our usual course of... 

biking around the little loop,

 roasting marshmallows,

 eating together around the campfire,

 doing a talent show, (here, Lydi's talent is to identify colors ;)

playing soccer in the field, 

 running up and down the dunes,

 

 

 

and acting silly because we are.

 

I'm so thankful for these friends, the memories we make together every year, and the beautiful weather we experienced in Honeyman this year.

I Am the Vine

Our former neighbors, Earl and Judy, gave us a concord grape vine before they moved down to California several years ago. They knew I liked to keep a garden and they knew I'd be tickled to have this vine in our yard.  And I was. We kept it in its lovely Tuscan pot for the first year and finally decided to plant it by our deck near the vegetable garden the following year. Last summer, it finally produced its first cluster of grapes. We were thrilled!  We knew we'd likely get more clusters this year, but had no idea our fruit would multiply as much as it has. We've got near 20 clusters of green grapes growing on our vine! I keep checking on it and marveling. It seems I haven't tended it like I should. It seems the crummy weather this summer should have spoiled our crop. It seems we shouldn't have faired as well as we have.

I couldn't help but think of Jesus' words as I pondered these things.

 John 15:5-11
"I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown in the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you , that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.

Fun Jubilee Pictures

My first post about Jubilee was rather serious as I shared my reflections about the trip. But there's a fun side to our trip I wasn't able to showcase very well, so this post is purely dedicated to that purpose.
The fun to be had at Jubilee Youth Ranch!

Made new friends.

 Learned to have fun while cleaning the dog kennels.

Swam at Fishhook Park.

Got to see Jonas' big guns.

 

Helped weed this garden.

 Found lots of these good lil' helpers.

 Lost a lot of sweat during b-ball.

 Got to ride a go-cart...

 ..thanks to Bradley insisting.

 Got to wear cowboy hats.

 Got to be a toad whisperer...

 ...while sister got to be the kitty's toy (with scratches on the legs to show for it).

 Managed to catch one grasshopper.

Helped out by walking the kenneled dogs.

 

Rode horses. Yeehaw!! 

 

 

 

Got to eat at the cafeteria (nice break for yours truly).

 

Found ways to entertain ourselves the morning we showed up too early.

 

Enjoyed a "friendly" French Toast competition

between two students and one of the cooks.

 Listened to Darren (the cook) trash-talking the whole competition long.

 

There were other memorable moments I wasn't able to capture with the camera:

• Andrew helping kids with math in the classroom.
• Kids watching Sandlot in the guest house.
• Andrew working on irrrigation stuff with the boys.
• Several students sharing their heartbreaking stories during chapel.
• Anne-Marie visiting with the other moms on campus.
• Andrew brushing shoulders with students and staff as they distribute Red Cross flyers in the 'booming' town of Prescott (population: maybe 50).

This was all-around a great trip!