Sunday, July 22, 2012

So...you may have noticed I haven't posted for a while, and even my Devotional Tidbits were short.  I was busy having the time of my life.  Our granddaughters were here for a month, and my life revolved around them.  What a privilege to have them here for a whole month...the longest I've ever had them at one time.  And what a great month it was!!  They left a week ago to go back home, and I have been "adjusting" to not having them here this past week. Even the dogs wonder where their playmates went.  Kefli heads downstairs every now and then to see why they don't come up (their bedroom is in the basement).

I still have my daily devotional reading, but I'm not sure I'm going to post it for now.  I may just make periodic posts that sort of update what I've been up to.  It was fun posting the Route 66 trip, but that is behind us, and it's time to move on.


The girls were delivered to our door by their father back mid-June, in time for our annual Middle School Camp.  Our oldest one attended that camp while the youngest had G'ma Camp (which ended up lasting two weeks).  During High School Camp, following Middle School Camp, our oldest worked in the craft barn helping with ceramics.

This is the third year I have done G'ma Camp for the youngest...who is still too young to attend regular camp (but next year she will be old enough).  This year our theme was "Fruit of the Spirit".  There are nine fruits (Gal 5:22-23), and we focused on one each day.  We had a story about it, a DVD movie, a lesson activity book, and then we did some fun things to go along with each fruit.  


A regular fruit was attached to each fruit of the Spirit...such as love was represented by strawberries...red.  So each day we painted our nails a different color to go along with the color of the fruit for that day.  By the end of the two weeks, we had colorful finger nails and toe nails...and when we were asked about it, or commented on how pretty it was...we then told them how we were learning about the fruit of the Spirit and how our character is being shaped into the character of Christ.


After lunch each day, #2 would help Miss Norma clean tables and chairs in the dining hall, and then they would go to our cottage porch (where we had G'ma Camp) and make play dough fruit to match the fruit of the day.  They made excellent, very realistic looking, fruits.  I would take this time to work at the office (plus I worked early morning hours while #2 slept).

After supper each night, #2 would help Miss Wanda water flowers around the campground and then go to the playground or work on a craft...such as ceramics at the craft barn, or coaster tiles at the cottage.  Again, this was a time I could go to the office to catch up on my work.  It was nice to have G'ma Camp "helpers" that are also #2's good friends, whom she could spend time doing projects with while G'ma kept on top of her office work.  Schedule worked out great...even if I did go to the office at 4 a.m. a time or two.

Both girls have many friends, young and old, here on the campgrounds.  They feel at home here.  #1 had her bike to ride around, and friends to visit, and painting projects.  She helped paint the wishing well at our new Adams Park.  She also helped with the watering at night some times.  

The girls planted several pots of flowers around the house and cottage.

It was over 100 degrees a couple of days, so we made those inside days.  With the help of Miss Wanda, #1 painted her bedroom downstairs.  We arranged all the furniture and hung some sheets so it actually looks like two rooms...each granddaughter having her separate space.  This was something I had told them before they came to visit...this year they could paint their room any color they chose (green), and could rearrange the furniture however they wanted to.  I never thought about it turning into two bedrooms...but how nice it turned out to be!!

One night #1 had a sleep over with three friends at the cottage.  So #2 had a sleep over in her tent with the dogs...only they ended up not staying.  When Daddy came back to pick the girls up at the end of their month, #2 also slept in her tent while Daddy slept in her bed.

We had our annual Family Festival and parade (celebrating July 4th), and the girls rode on the golf cart with Miss Wanda, pulling the new canoe paddles and life vests trailer, which Wanda and Evelyn had painted.  The trailer was made by Wanda's husband, Dave.  This couple are super volunteers here at ILNC.  This is their fourth summer, and we have benefited greatly by their contribution of labor!!  


Here's #2 on one of the activities at the Family Festival: 

We played games together, watched videos and movies and went to the beach a lot...sometimes at 9 a.m. to beat the heat of the day and the crowds from camp.  

One of the hot days we went to the mall to just browse and eat at the food court and ride the carousel.  Another day we had a Girls' Day out with Miss Wanda and went to Three Rivers to shop.  The girls had their own money to spend, so they could choose how they wanted to spend it.  We ate at Arby's.

The last week they were here was Family Camp, and there were activities geared toward each of their ages.  The children sang for us one night in the tabernacle, and #2 did an excellent job with the words and the motions!!  Her sister worked in the infant nursery each night...rocking babies or playing with toddlers.  She had friends in there doing the same, so it was a good place for her.  

We did go fishing one day on the pontoon boat, and #1 and Dad went out on a wave runner their last day here, with Miss Sherry from the office.  They also did some tubing.  What a great way to end a month long stay in Michigan on Indian Lake.  

It was hard to say goodbye, but I told them we had to be thankful for having had a whole month together.  Hopefully we will see them again this fall.  The last night they were here, we had our first real rainfall this summer, and it was a torrential downpour.  The girls decided to go out and dance in the rain with Miss Norma.  Even Dad joined in the fun!

My life is so full when they are around...I love it!!  God is so good to me, He has blessed me with wonderful granddaughters!!


So...that's why I haven't blogged much this past month.  Now we are busy getting ready for the rest of the camps this summer.  This week is Chicago Central District Children's Camp, followed by Girls' Camp (MI District), and then a Free Will Baptist Camp and a football camp, plus a ladies soccer camp.  Still a busy summer ahead.  I like to be busy!!


Time to head to the snack bar!!   There are privileges living on a campground!!