August Birthday celebration

Today was the celebration of oldest niece's birthday. She wasn't as concerned about it not actually being her birthday as her youngest sister was. Uncle John decorated the spaceship cake. I insisted on a chocolate cake so the white icing didn't go on as smooth...the chocolate cake could be seen through the icing. But she loved the cake. Youngest niece was concerned about the red 40 in the decorations but didn't have to have any.

The luncheon included grilled hamburgers & trimmings, potato salad, baked beans, fruit salad, potato chips, birthday cake & 4 different varieties of ice cream - vanilla, chocolate, cookies & cream, and black raspberry truffle. It was delicious. Youngest niece ate a cheese & lettuce sandwich b/c she doesn't care for hamburgers. She put quite a few of her mother's homemade pickles on her sandwich. Also had to have 2 tomatoes on there. The one tomato ended before her sandwich did.

We sat in our usual places. Both sets of grandparents, honorary grandparents, one set of great-grandparents, parents, 1 sister, 3 aunts, 3 uncles, 1 cousin & then 1 little brother joined us at the end of the celebration. He was very interested in what was going on. Of course everyone wanted to hold him. And most everyone was able to. He started crying at the end. I don't know if he were tired of being passed around, realized someone almost dropped him or a little of both.

While we were eating, birthday girl leaned over & whispered to me, "Aunt K, I love having birthday celebrations. Both sides of our family are able to get together & visit. That is very nice." I agreed with her that it was - albeit loud but nice. She also said, "I wish you had children." I said, "you would have some cousins to play with wouldn't you?" "Yes, " she replied, "but I would be able to come over to your house more & play on the playground." The playground to which she refers is the swing/slide set here at camp.

She told me that Grampa Larry & Gramma Jan would give her a music card - they always do. Younger sister said Grampa Larry & Gramma Jan always give something soft & cuddly. She liked every present opened. Uncle John helped her open the space Barbie which her sister gave her. Ana copied a book which Ana's mother had received as a prize for being the best speller during the school term '17-'18. Birthday girl was very appreciative of all the presents received.

This being race weekend, we were concerned that Mimi, Papaw & the rest of the gang would need more time to get to the house, but they were able to get there earlier than expected.

After we came home, John got on the lawn mower & was able to get some of the yard mowed. I tried to work on my Sunday School lesson for tomorrow - finishing touches - but fell asleep. I think I will sleep good tonight. Hopefully I won't hear the bus when it pulls in tonight. We have 3 different groups staying here while they work the races. One of the groups has a bus. It's rather noisy. Last night it pulled in around 3 - actually I guess you would say this morning. It woke me up.

Going to get to bed. Am very tired. Hopefully I will be able to stay awake in church tomorrow.

Well done

This morning I attended a friend's burial. He was a Pearl Harbor survivor - making him a veteran of World War 2. The burial was a quiet family and friends event. No big fanfare - no 21 gun salute - just a quiet tribute to this American hero.

But I know he didn't care. Monday evening he received the only fanfare he longed for when he heard the words, "Well done My good and faithful servant".

The Beginning of Fall

Our fall Bible study starts this evening. We are excited to get back into studying the Word of God with our Bible study group. This fall we will be studying 1 John. John & I have been reading one chapter of this book every night since July 1. Those of you familiar with 1 John might say, "well it only has 5 chapters." Well my reply to you is we've read it & then re-read it. If I've done my math correctly, we've read 1 John through 8 times since July 1. We are eager to get deeper into this book. If you're in the Kingsport area & would like to come to this study, it begins tonight at 6.30 at Indian Springs Baptist Church. Look for the cars between the "old" sanctuary & the metal building we refer to as the CLC. This evening we have both a men's study & women's study which combine for the video lecture time. The study will be offered again tomorrow morning - maybe 9.30. This is a co-ed group.

I have spent 2 partial days in the office. I'm getting back to full-time slowly. I got the checks deposited before it started raining. John came up to the office & got me then. I was glad he did because the lights above my desk had given out. He pulled the 2 bulbs out of the other fixture - which had been working. But as soon as he put them in the fixture above my desk, they did not work. We hope to get to Lowe's soon & check if a fixture or ballast is cheaper.

John cleaned out the cooler today. He then took all the food to the garbage and washed all the dishes that had been holding the food items. Next week he plans on making one more trip to Sam's to purchase cookie dough. Then will make cookies for the races for the weekend. He will also make a cake for niece who will turn 7 the following week. We will celebrate her birthday the day of the race. She & younger sister are all excited. Younger sister has already told me to make a space cake. Uncle John thought a rocket cake would be good. We'll see what kind of a cake we end up with.

Another Summer Is Over

The summer has come and gone. Well the calendar says it is still summer but summer vacation is over for most children in our area. City schools started back last Monday (8/3). County schools start back Monday (8/10). The Christian schools start back the end of August.

You might wonder what we have done since camp is over? Well, we took a week of vacation. We didn't go anywhere - just stayed at home. But it was so needed. We wandered around in kind of a fog until Thursday.

Monday we purchased a new air conditioner for our home. One (which had been in the garage/basement when we arrived) had finally given up. I'm not sure if it worked at 100% but it did keep the office/computer room fairly comfortable. While we were looking for the a/c, my cousin called. He & his family were in the area & would like to see us. After calling sisters & checking schedules, we invited them to come on Tuesday.

So Tuesday we ordered pizza from Little Caesar's and looked forward to cousins' arrival. We had a lovely meal...probably not the most nutritious...my one sister did bring fresh veggies...but the company far outweighed the meal's non-nutritional value. After eating we showed everyone around & then my nieces & my cousin's sons went swimming. The one "exciting" part of the afternoon swimming was that my youngest niece lost her footing in the pool. She did have her life jacket on but in her fear, she couldn't get her footing. She started turning somersaults in the pool. Fortunately it was the kiddie pool so I walked to her and picked her up. She was a little scared at first but then it became a big adventure. She told her experience to all who would listen.

Wednesday evening we went to church...preaching for about 30 minutes and then choir & orchestra practice. Thursday we stayed home all day. Friday my nieces & their dad (my brother-in-law) came to swim. They stayed for a while & had a great time.

Today we took John's mom to Sam's. John purchased some cookies to bake for the races later this month. Our church is involved with Raceway Ministries. We (the church) are responsible for one campground. People will go door to door to visit. They deliver a pre-packed baggie of 2-3 cookies per camper/family. Some families are very excited to talk with church people. Others are not so excited.

Tomorrow we will attend church. I look forward to meeting my new Sunday School students. Last Sunday was the first Sunday with the new class but there were still many out of town on vacation. One little boy's birthday is Monday. He's bringing cupcakes so we can celebrate.

Monday I will go back to the office. I am ready. This week of vacation has helped. It will seem very strange though to not hear voices on campus. Especially voices screaming because they are having such a good time. I pray they have a good first week of school

You Know It's The Last Days When...

You know it's the last few days of camp when....

• after going through the serving line, you get back to the table sandwich in hand & wonder what you have done with your plate (you discover it on the counter where you set it down)
• you fold the aluminum foil used to cover the sandwiches & try to decide whether it's a hat or a boat - it fits on your head perfectly and after testing it in the dish water you realize it also floats
• before the campers come into the dining room you look and see there are no cups on the table
• after the campers have come into the dining room, the song has been sung & the prayer is getting ready to be said, you realize there are no drinks on the table
• you just sit and stare.....
• you start a conversation with someone and 1/2 way through forget who or what you were discussing
• you realize that next week you can think in days and not in meals to be fixed (i.e. today is Thursday compared to today is scrambled eggs, bacon & cinnamon rolls)

Yes, the summer camping program is essentially over. Tomorrow is the last day. The campers who have come all summer (or most of the summer) will be sad when it's time to go home. We will be sad to see the camp season end. We love the opportunity the Lord has given us to minister to these children. We are thankful we can be His servants and show His love to the children. We pray that as they start back to school (some on Monday) they will be bold enough to stand up for Him.

The Beginning of the End...

Tomorrow is the start of the last week of camp. It is viewed with mixed emotions on my part.

Sorrow because it means the summer is almost over. Summer being over means school is starting. School starting means the campers will be thrust back into an environment in which they will be ridiculed for their beliefs.

Excitement because it means I'll be able to have a few days rest. Now I have to admit that after 2 days of rest, I'm ready for camp to start back up. I'm glad we're able to minister to the campers during the summer. I sometimes wish we could have a 2 day rest in the middle of the camping program.

Excitement also because we're able to start Bible Club back at the Girls Inc. Excitement because the Precepts Bible study with which we're involved will start back up - we're students.

Of course I'll still be in the office - my home away from home, as John refers to it. John will go back to the print shop. He has 5 orders waiting to be filled. We thank the Lord for these opportunities to serve Him.

My niece is planning on coming to camp this week. She is excited about it but is sure she'll miss her mother & sister. We pray she has a good time & that all the campers are kept safe this week. Her sister will probably come & spend one afternoon with her Aunt Kathy. I'm looking forward to that.

58+108=Family Night

The scrambled eggs, bacon & cinnamon rolls turned out wonderful. One little boy said that Bancroft's cinnamon rolls were the best and that was because they were homemade. Little does he know that we buy the canned cinnamon rolls from Save-A-Lot. They are good. This morning they were extra cinnamon-y. Lunch was taco salad and then pork barbecue for supper. Not too many pb&j sandwiches today. I did make a few more than yesterday.

Tomorrow morning is french toast for breakfast. Lunch is leftovers and the donated chips & cheese dip. Supper will be the family hot dog night. So far we have had 58 responses. Now the question is how many of those will actually stay and eat hot dogs? And how many others will just show up without having called ahead?

We have 9 children signed up to come to camp next week. We may end up with a few others before the week begins. Next week is only a day camp week...so it will be easier all around. 9 campers compared to 73 & day camp compared to night camp. I pray that next week the children will see staff as excited to be there as we were at the beginning of the summer. I also pray that my excitement about the chores to be completed after camp will not be greater than my excitement to be at camp. After camp chores such as cleaning the room beside the office more, going through the "room over the kitchen" as I call it, cleaning my house, etc.