Category Archives: Family

Daniel, David, Project 365, Sarah

Camp Kids Come Home

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This year the middle school and high school winter camps were the same weekend. Stop and read that again. The Same Weekend. As in, the same weekend.

Note to the church youth leaders -

I LOVE YOU SO MUCH!!! You are the best ever. Thank you for loving my (occasionally? often?) moody, goofy, beloved children. Thank you for playing crazy games with them. Thank you for modeling a Christ-centered life before them. Thank you for listening to them and rebuking them and leading them. Thank you for being serious at times and wild and messy at other times.

Thank you for scheduling things so all three of my children went to camp at the same time.

I wish I could pay you each a million dollars each. Or at least bring you a basket of apples

Buying apples on the way to pick up the kids.

I should have bought this whole basket of apples and the flowers.

I was gone on Friday when Daniel, David and Sarah were dropped off at church. Normally I follow them around and take pictures of the groups of eager students and all the piles of sleeping bags and suitcases. Thankfully one of the other moms snapped a quick shot in the parking lot and forwarded it to me.

A forwarded picture, however, can only capture so much. My little mama’s heart wanted to be there when the kids came home. Normally I’m more than willing to let Tim run and pick up the children from church events or have Daniel drive everyone. But I missed those rascals. I’m not ready for an empty house. A weekend was long enough (well, almost). I knew they would be coming home, tired and wearing their camp shirts, surrounded by their friends. I wanted to hug them and take pictures of them and stand around with other moms and dads, eager to have their weary (and potentially 3 days unshowered) kids home.

My sweetie - picking out some fresh tomatoes for dinner.

My sweetie – picking out some fresh tomatoes for dinner.

Tim was very kind and took me off on a little date to buy some fruits and veggies on our way to pick up the children at church. I love that man! He is so kind and patient with me, especially when I am sentimental and silly at times.

Shopping for fruits and veggies with my sweetie makes me happy.

Shopping for fruits and veggies with my sweetie makes me happy.

And there they were. Just as I expected. Tired and sweet. Thankful to be picked up. Suitcases full of dirty clothes. Ragged plastic bags holding sleeping bags. Vans of leaders and teens. Parents emerging from waiting cars. Lots of hugs.

David and Zachary - too tired to stand up.

David and Zachary – too tired to stand up.

Love these two kids!

Love these two kids!

Daniel and Jordan - glad to be home!

Daniel and Jordan – glad to be home!

Beautiful middle school girls!

Beautiful middle school girls!

At home Daniel went for a walk – needed some alone time. David and Sarah ate supper, started laundry, took showers. We listened to stories, looked at their camp journals, and listened some more.

My sweet Sarah

My sweet Sarah

Later Rachel called and had a LONG talk with David and Sarah while they unpacked and settled down for the night. I love hearing their voices as they connect with their big sister. Then Daniel got on the computer and Joshua popped online. The boys went on to have a LONG conversation. Oh my word, my heart is full to the brim. To see my older children pour into their younger siblings. To trust that they give godly counsel and encouragement. To know that they want them to love the Lord and serve Him. To know that they want to hear the details and know what questions to ask.

Blessings Abundant.
Welcome home, Camp Kids. Sleep well.

Project 365 – Day 53
Kathy

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Kathy, Project 365

Love Box

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Kathy spent the last couple of days at a Beth Moore conference in Redmond, and I have missed her quite a bit. I spent part of the time assembling a belated Christmas present that never quite got finished — a Love Box.

Fireproof for up to a half-hour, the box says. I sure hope our house burns quickly, if we have a fire ...

Fireproof for up to a half-hour, the box says. I sure hope our house burns quickly, if we have a fire …

The basic idea is to have a central place to store important documents and instructions in case something happens to me. It was a little weird to assemble all this information — planning for my own self to be out of the picture. A lot of the details (things about bank accounts, assets, retirement accounts, life insurance) was scattered all over the place, and some of it was only in my head. I feel better about having it written down, in case the Lord calls me home early.

Remembering Kathy’s Dad’s sudden illness and death four years ago, it seems the sort of thing I should do, just in case. I only hope that I can be anywhere near as careful in providing for Kathy as Granddad was, in his financial provision for Mamie.

Pretty in Pink

Pretty in Pink

It was a gorgeous afternoon here — temperatures in the 60′s, with clear blue skies. Kathy and I went for a walk along the waterfront in Steilacoom, and she chattered away about the conference and a myriad of other things. That girl can really talk, when we’ve been apart for a few days!

Fortunately, I am a pretty good listener, and very glad to have her home.

Project 365, Day 52
Tim

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Project Tyranny

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When I agreed with Kathy to restart our blog with Project 365, I didn’t think she would be quite so … relentless about it.

My share of the project sounded like not such a big deal — just post a quick picture every other day — what could possibly go wrong?

I didn’t know there would be all kinds of rules.

Today is an odd-numbered day, so I’m responsible to uphold the sanctity of the Project. Never mind that I’m tired, and my bus was late, so I missed my train. Never mind that I spent all day in a 5th floor cubicle, and that I didn’t take any pictures today. Never mind that it is 10:40 pm, and I have to be up at 5:30 tomorrow morning.

“I’ll just use one of the great pictures I took yesterday,” I told Kathy, confidently. I took 87 pictures yesterday while we visited Mount Rainier for David’s birthday. A number of them were pretty darn good pictures, if I do say so myself.

“No, you can’t do that!” Kathy was aghast. “You have to take a picture today!”

“Since when?” I challenged, lamely.

“That’s what Project 365 means,” Kathy insisted, rather scornfully.

Fine. She doesn’t want one of my great pictures from yesterday, and hogged the day for her own pictures of that glorious mountain? I can roll with that.

This is the face of a man who forgot to take a picture today.

This is the face of a man who forgot to take a picture today.

Today is also an historic moment in the life of our blog — with this blog we will exceed (in 2015) the number of postings from all of 2014, so some might say we have already succeeded in our effort to enhance our blog-writing.

It looks like it might be a pretty good year, for blog-writing.

It looks like it might be a pretty good year, for blog-writing.

Project 365, Day 48
Tim

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David, Family, Project 365

Happy 14th Birthday, David!

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Today is David’s birthday, and what a glorious day we had.

Awaiting his birthday breakfast.

Awaiting his birthday breakfast.

Next weekend all three children will be heading off to winter camp with the church middle and high school youth groups. Normally they can count on plenty of snow with sledding and outdoor games to fill their happy hearts. This year, however, it’s been unseasonably warm, and the kids are starting to panic in the fear that there won’t be any snow at camp.

Cue – snow starved, sad, pathetic, worried faces.

I know, I know, obviously we do not live on the east coast. Sorry Boston, but here in Washington we have NO snow anywhere in sight, and the kids fear spring is rapidly approaching.

David decided he didn’t want a big birthday party this year. When he turned thirteen last year, we celebrated in style with an Olympic Theme. There were games, friends, pizza and an entire sundae bar.

How to make this year special without a party?

Snow! That seemed a pretty obvious answer. In the summer the answer is usually the beach or lake or pool or some combination. But, with camp looming SNOWLESS in sight, we definitely needed to do something.

Thankfully we live near an incredible mountain. “The Mountain” as folks call it around here.

If I would let him, Tim would pretty much take pictures of Mt Rainier ALL DAY!

If I would let him, Tim would pretty much take pictures of Mt Rainier ALL DAY!

The weather promised to be good. The Mt Rainier webcam promised some sort of snow. Even if it was just along the edges of the parking lot, I was determined to go. Daniel suggested everyone bring a friend on our mountain adventure. Smart idea! So James, Eli and Julia joined us. I brought Tim as my bff. ;) I also let him drive and treat us all to food on the way home. I’m smart too.

Friends – check
Boots – check
Snow pants – check
Gloves, scarves, hats – check
Picnic lunch & sodas – check
Sleds (borrowed from friends) – check

And off we went. The drive was beautiful. It was sunny and warm without a hint of snow except for glimpses up on the mountain. Uh oh.

No jacket needed until we get to the mountain on this gorgeous Feb day.

No jacket needed until we get to the mountain on this gorgeous Feb day.

On the way to the lodge - sunny and mild.

On the way to the lodge – sunny and mild.

We walked the trail around Longmire – beautiful, but still no snow! Thankfully we “adventure” with the best group ever. And they know how to find fun in every aspect of the day.

The birthday crowd!

The birthday crowd!

Climbing a tree

Climbing a tree

Upon reaching Paradise Lodge we discovered the sledding was closed (not enough snow), but, oh my, there was definitely plenty of snow! We bundled up in our assorted winter gear and set off to explore. The kids were soon way beyond us on the slope. Tim and I clambered, slid, climbed, and walked alongside the Lodge and up into the mountain snow enjoying the gorgeous day for ourselves.

Julia and Sarah

Julia and Sarah

Run up that hill or slide down it - all fun!

Run up that hill or slide down it – all fun!

At one point, we saw the birthday group – WAY up on the top of a snowy spot. We were down below, on a walking trail of some sort. The kids had climbed up from the other side.

Look closely - you can see them.

Look closely – you can see them.

They had discovered a way to “sled” without sleds – basically going down on their backs with a “catcher” at the end of the hill. Thankful they weren’t careening wildly off the mountain, Tim and I climbed up to join them.

The kids are "thatta way."

The kids are “thatta way.”

Or you could try sledding face down.

Or you could try sledding face down.

“This is the happiest I’ve ever been,” David exclaimed at one point.

My birthday boy!

My birthday boy!

That’s a pretty good thing to be able to say on your 14th birthday.

As always, I wish I had taken dozens (hundreds?) more pictures of our wonderful Birthday Celebration. But all that means, I’ve decided, is that we need to go back for another adventure soon!

Project 365 – Day 47
Kathy

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A Home for the Heart

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From March of 2000 until September of 2004, our family lived in a green house, tucked in a small clearing in the forest about two miles up the Duckabush valley. Although our time there ended in difficulty and sorrow, I still remember being astonished almost every day that we were allowed to live in such a beautiful place.

Our little green house in the forest.

Our little green house in the forest — there was a family staying there, so I had to take my picture rather stealthily, so as not to disturb them.

Personally, I really liked living there. Now we reside in the suburbs, but there is a part of my heart that still yearns to wake up each morning in the Duckabush. There is something about the tranquility of the valley that seeps into my soul — I feel like I can let my breath out … all the way out, and really be at peace.

Unlike Boston, we've had very little snow, this winter -- Mt. Jupiter is bare in February -- very unusual.

Unlike Boston, we’ve had very little snow, this winter — Mt. Jupiter is bare in February! Very unusual.

That isn’t hard to imagine on a day like today. As occasionally happens in February, we’re experiencing a warm and sunny spell these days, and the whole valley was flooded with golden sunshine and blue skies, promising that Spring will come soon. (Of course, such days of promise are lying through their metaphorical teeth — Spring in Washington means rain, and lots of it.)

I never get tired of taking pictures of the gold leaf Refuge sign at the top of the driveway.

I never get tired of taking pictures of the gold leaf Refuge sign at the top of the driveway.

There was a Counselors in Training (CIT) meeting this afternoon at Wilderness Northwest (WNW) and I was the designated adult driver for the Lakewood contingent (we brought ten kids out in two cars). The meeting lasted for about three hours this afternoon, so I had some time to kill. Unfortunately, I neglected to tell my parents I would be coming, so they were away for most of the afternoon. I only got a few minutes to visit with them, which seemed rather ironic, after such a long drive.

The main lodge of the Refuge -- locked, so all my pictures today are of the outside.

The main lodge of the Refuge — locked, so all my pictures today are of the outside.

So I spent the hours being reflective. I reflected on how beautiful the Refuge is, and how much I miss living in the valley. I reflected on God’s goodness to me over the years, and how my eyes delight to soak in the gold and brown and blue and green of God’s creation. And I reflected on how I really should have brought a book with me, or at least a laptop.

The view from our road -- such a pretty blue sky -- what a treat, in February!

The view from our road — such a pretty blue sky — what a treat, in February!

Being reflective is good for me. It gives me the time I need to shake all the thoughts in my head so that they fall down into their proper places, sort of like one of those toys for toddlers with progressive-diameter sieves, so that different sized pieces can sort themselves into discrete layers by size.

Like this toy, my brain needs time (or some pretty brisk shaking) to properly sort its thoughts properly.

Like this toy, my brain needs time (or some pretty brisk shaking) to properly sort its thoughts properly.

I admit, some of my thoughts get stuck in the wrong layer, and then the metaphor breaks down pretty quickly.

One of the little 'camping cabins' that my parents have added, to expand the capacity of The Refuge.

One of the little ‘camping cabins’ that my parents have added, to expand the capacity of The Refuge.

It was a lovely afternoon, and I was a more than a little sorry to dispel the peace of the day by piling back into the car with six teenagers for the drive home. But we sang and joked and wended our way back to Lakewood, where I am also very much at home. Maybe my heart can learn to live with two homes, and take joy in both.

Project 365, Day 46
Tim

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