Slip-n-Slide Fun

Tuesday was a crazy day for me at Horizons. We were having a drive-in movie by the tennis courts. 10 of us spent all afternoon putting things together for the screen and other items needed for that night. I wanted to come home for a little break before it was time to go back to pop popcorn. When I did, I was greeted by the kids saying they were going to slip and slide. I was hot, sweaty, hot, gross and hot. My first thought was, "I am going with them!!" They thought it was great that Momma was slip-n-sliding with them. It was a great way to relax, to spend quality time with the kids, cool off and get rid of some stress. You will NOT see a picture of me slip-n-sliding. I am not THAT brave to give my kids my camera!!!

Got to Love a Rain Puddle!!

The kids are such good sports when we have to go down for night activities at Horizons. On Monday, we held an outdoor concert and went down early to help decorate the commons area. While Damon and I were inside blowing up balloons and setting out things for Coke floats, the kids discovered this puddle from the earlier rain storm. They took great delight in jumping in and out of it. I never have my camera when they do this, so I loved catching these moments. It reminds me you have to take time to enjoy the simple joy of things, even in the midst of a crazy week!! I look at these pictures and just smile . . . . . and remember why I do what I do.
Moments later (when the camera had been put away) Carter came in soaking wet - in the front only. I asked him what he had done, and he smiled his biggest smile replying, "I slid into home plate and was safe!!!" Yes, he slid head first on the concrete into this puddle!! Where was my camera when THAT happened?

Finally, I Finished It!!!

My dear friend, Kristi, had a little girl almost 2 years ago. I made my traditional baby gift for her - an ABC book (I will blog about that later). However, I wanted to do something else for her. Kristi and her husband, Doug, are living in Baton Rouge, LA, while Doug is working on his PhD. Kristi and I share a love for many things, including Alabama football!!! My heart has just gone out to Kristi as she is having to live in LSU territory. I found a smocking pattern that had elephants holding footballs and crimson banners and knew I had to make this for her little one (and mine!!). I wanted to have it done last year for Miss Eden's first birthday, but that did not happen. I am proud to say that this year when Kristi came to Horizons I was able to give it to her. This was my first picture smocking attempt, and I was pretty proud of the way it turned out. Now, I have to start on Laura Beth's so it is ready for football season.

Horizons, Yo!!!!!!!!!!

I have been blessed for 17 years now to be involved with a camp at Freed-Hardeman called Horizons. I took 2 years off - one in college and another to get married, but other than that I have found myself at FHU's campus no matter where I have lived on the first full week of July. My role has changed each year with the camp from being a camper, to counselor, to teacher, to now being in charge of teachers and night activities. I have seen the camp grow from one full dorm and one floor of another dorm my first year to 2 weeks with 2 1/2 dorms full each week. While the time before Horizons is pretty stressful (a complete understatement!), the days of Horizons are full of great times. Sometimes Horizons is the only time I get to see special people that have helped me grow as a Christian.
My kids and wonderful husband were great helpers yesterday as we were getting preparations ready for the girls to come today. The kids and I put name tags on the doors of the 2 1/2 dorms. They did a great job pitching in and helping Momma. Damon has a huge help as usual, lugging boxes and bottled water all over campus for Mrs. Hope.
You may not hear much from me this next two weeks. Please keep us and the precious souls coming to Horizons in your prayers.

Happy 4th of July 2008!

As we ended our family dinner and cleaned up, the kids could not wait until it was dark to set off the fireworks they had bought earlier today. They also wanted to do it while Papa was still with us and before the Braves game! So we headed out to the front of the house to see what kind of special effects we would see on this special holiday. Damon setting out the fireworks for our viewing pleasure. What a great guy!
Carter, Laura Beth and Papa stand by watching.
Laura Beth declared them to be loud - just like herself some would say!!
Precious Carter
One of the fireworks shot up an American flag after all the sparklers and smoke. The kids loved that declaring it "very cool."

Happy Birthday, Papa Whittle!

At our 4th of July family BBQ supper tonight, we celebrated Papa Whittle's (J. Walker Whittle) 87th birthday! What a blessing this man has been to all of us! He has taught us the value of a dollar, the faithfulness to stay by your spouse when she does not even know him some days, to love of God and His word and how to pitch a baseball!!! To help fight against his diabetes, he still walks 2 miles almost every day and will most always stop by the house to say hi or watch the Braves, if he is walking outside. A love for those who are lost and for the God who can save them, he has taught so many about the way back home. To the grandkids (of which I am his oldest one and only girl!), we always love his stories of growing up on a farm in Georgia during the depression and his "coaching" in sports, as well as in life. To the great grandkids, they always know Pop is up for playing outside, rides in the wagon and strawberries and cool whip for a treat!

We love you, Pop!! Happy 87th Birthday on Sunday!

Opening one of his gifts.
Papa Whittle and Laura Beth
Papa Whittle and Carter discussing baseball - a favorite subject for both
Pop with 2 of the great grandkids, Carter and Laura Beth

Can I Have a Friend Come to Play?

Laura Beth is my social butterfly and is always ready to go or to have someone come over. Last night she looked at me and asked if she could have a friend come over to play the next day (today). Don't they always ask at the most inappropriate times? I asked her who she wanted to come over, thinking it would be one of her friends her age, and she quickly replied, "Jessica and Anna Catherine because they don't have to babysit tomorrow!!" I told her I would email them to see if they could, but, since they were about to leave on a mission trip, they might not be able to come. I did as I said and asked the girls if they had some spare time if they could come over for a little while to play. This morning when I checked I had emails back from them saying they would love to come. What a surprise for Laura Beth this afternoon when the girls pulled in the driveway!! They were so sweet to spend the nextt 2 hours playing Wii, Uno Attack and just hanging out with my kids. These two young ladies have always been special to our family. They were our flower girls in our wedding and were amoung Laura Beth's first visitors after she was born. I am so glad that our lives have been filled with these 2 lovely ladies and thank God that my children have them as role models. I will always remember special things about these two, but the 4th of July - the day before they left for the Guyana mission trip - when they came over to play, will always be a special memory for me. Thank you, Jessica and AC for all you do for and mean to my family!

FHU Soccer Cub Camp

This past week Laura Beth and Carter were able to attend FHU's Soccer Cub Camp. This was Carter's first time to be able to go to camp and loved it!! Laura Beth also enjoyed herself seeing as soccer is probably her first love when it comes to playing sports. Carter getting some action.
Good block, Laura Beth!
Her goalie stance - her daddy thinks she will be a natural defender!!
Cade and Carter

The kids had a great time and we are looking forward to both of them beginning to play soccer within the next month!

Oh How We Shone in VBS!!!!

What a wonderful 4 days of VBS we have had this year! Yes, we are all tired and feel like we could not move if we had to, but it was deemed a great success!!! The last night of VBS this year we learned about how an angel helped Peter escape from jail in Acts 12. Peter came one, last time, to tell the story. Then we made angels, acted out the story and dressed up like angels. The kids adored Peter and always looked forwards to seeing him.
In our drama center, we had one child be Paul asleep in the jail. One child, being the angel, would go into the jail and wake him up. We took pictures in the drama center each night and turned them into a paper bag scrapbook for the kids to take home. You can click here to see how to make the paper bag scrapbooks. They are always a huge hit with the parents and the kids!!
Peter with his favorite 3 year olds!!!
My sweet Laura Beth was a good friend to Lexie this week at VBS. Lexie has brittle bone disease and has to be careful. Laura Beth helped her go up and down the stairs slowly. It made my heart smile to see her be such a good friend.
These 2 little angels look like they are up to something!!! Carter and Lawson were so good during VBS. They are wonderful helpers.

We made these angel wings for all the 2s, 3s, and 4s to help them remember how the angel helped Peter out of jail.

Shine Like Stars - Day 3

Tonight was our 3rd night in VBS and we focused our study on Dorcas. We did go see a puppet show to review our lesson from last night's lesson on the crippled man being cured. When we go back from the puppet show, we had another visit from Peter telling us about the time he healed Dorcas. The kids did such a good job listening to him and remembered so much information just from Peter!! We all enjoyed button cookies to help us remember that Dorcas sewed clothes for the poor. We took sugar cookies, baked them and then poked holes in them with a straw to look like a button.
Our drama center for the night was sewing like Dorcas. We made lacing cards for each child to sew and then take home.
Each child made a potholder with their handprint and name on one side. The other side said, "I am a helper. VBS 2008." We talked about how Dorcas was a helper and how we can help. We bought the potholders from Oriental Trading.
We also made paper doll keychains. We had the children color the clothes on them to help us remember how Dorcas made clothes for others. We found the keychains from Oriental Trading, also.
We played a game where we had different color robes. They played a matching game finding their special color robe that Dorcas made for them. Then, while we reviewed, my helpers hid them all over the room. The kids went looking for the clothes Dorcas had made.

We have had a good time with these precious little souls this week. Tomorrow will conclude our VBS Shine Like Stars 2008.