The New Gathering Place!!!!

Well, it's not totally finished, but the first session occurred in it on December 28, 2008, with Steve at the sound board. It is great to have a meeting area at camp and it looks so nice! Hopefully you can all see it in person sometime this year! Posted below are some pictures. The ones without people in them were taken by Becky Carpenter.











Don't know about that paper...he must have said something good...

A new season of camping!

Well, we've been (well I've been) lax in posting for the last few months. We did stay busy though, just not with "exciting new things". I really should find pictures of the Women's Retreat in October because it was a great time. I led some pontoon boat rides around the lake (had over 75 people total) and had a wonderful time. One lady actually said she skipped back to her cabin!

The Gathering Place Officially opened tonight for worship. It isn't totally done but getting there. It is great to have a place to gather! Steve is working on getting some pictures that were taken so they can be posted.

We hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and will be writing a letter to update everyone in January. (Sorry, we're not big on the Christmas Card sending...a lot of work for a quick read and toss in most cases).

A great Sunday...

Well, we haven't posted much since last month, but life has been busy! Plenty more family camps coming and going. Finally last Sunday, we got to have a family day and a good day it was...it was baptism Sunday! Our church does a baptism once a year at Crescent Lake Bible camp on Crescent Lake. Both Steve and Sammie got baptized. It was a cold day in the northwoods, but enjoyable. Enjoy the pictures! I'll be back in a few days to post pictures of our fun at the waterfront today during the last Family Camp of the year.

Sammie and Kyle staying warm before the service:


Sammie making a face for the camera before the service started:


Sarah Hall giving her testimony:


Waiting for the last person to get changed:


Sammie was the first one to go (there's an advantage to being the youngest!):


A happy girl - she waded straight to Daddy for a big hug:


Steve's turn:


Don't worry, Pastor Darrell does get him back up:

Ah, where to begin...

While Steve was toiling away at Fort through family camps and kids camps, the rest of us took off. First it was off to Racine to drop off the kids by Grandma Grant.

A little time swimming in the pool:



Then I took off to Chicago for a conference and some training while the kids spent a few days with Jim & Karin and kids. I then came back and spent time with the Sieferts (well the kids more than me...) I was too busy attending a SURPRISE bridal shower for my cousin - she was surprised - wish I had a picture of that face!

We attended the Racine Municipal Band Concert at the zoo. It's hard to believe it was over 15 years ago when I first played with them!



Monday was spent around town. Everything in the city is an adventure to my kids. It was funny to realize how much they don't experience living up here! In the same sense, it was great to realize that too! Also, up here they get to learn things about nature that I'm just learning along with them!

Here was a visit to the park where we took my brother's dog to play:

...and Sammie got to visit Darian whom she hadn't seen in years... (The daughter of my best friend growing up.)




The ride home was warm so Sammie (who has been growing her hair for over a year for Locks of Love) boldly announced, "I want my hair cut short today, ready or not!" We stopped on the way home and it WAS long enough - YEAH! That meant a free haircut and hair sent off to help someone - what she had been planning on doing this past year.

Before:


After (what a cutie!):


Well, after the haircut, we had First Responder training and then right back into work and other activities.

Now, last night was a new adventure...

We bought our house 7 years ago. One spot in our yard was just slightly higher than the rest so one summer Steve dug to even it out...and dug...and dug...
You see, he discovered some tires there. So, tonight we paid for use of a backhoe and Jim and Ryan came over to help. After some time and MUCH digging, we have 120-130 tires stacked in our yard! YIKES! Before our house/basement were built on the property, there was a trailer there. We believe that owner had built a storm shelter out of these tires. Steve found parts that hint to a heater, generator, light and other things. When the house was built, they must have just filled in the hole and buried the shelter. Since we don't have money to spend on fill, we are going to put a little pond there now. (We have all the parts for that.) ...and let me add tire disposal is $3.00 a tire. Sigh... Does anyone need a tire swing?





Well, the good news is our plants are actually growing and the kids are having fun.


Here is Sammie's latest catch - a frog! (Don't worry, she let him go later!)


Well, there is a lot to do before registration tomorrow so we've got to run!

The Two Bears

So, today was Day #2 of camp for the year! There are about 150 Jr. High students that have invaded camp for the week!

After church and town, we packed up, attached the dogs to the bicycle joggers (don't have a picture but it is two metal arms attached to the bike that the dogs hook onto). Then the kids hopped in the kids trailer attached to the back and we headed off to camp for the 3 mile bike ride.

As soon as we got there, the dogs needed to cool off!


It didn't take the kids long to join in! Sammie wanted to take a "swim test" like the kids and she passed the "Intermediate" test. Of course Mom isn't ready to leave her in water over her head without someone watching closely!


Kyle joined our head lifeguard Stephanie in the water.


Sammie then thought it would be fun to ride on Maverick:


After all that exercise, they all needed rest, but Sinjin sat on guard!



The Jr. Highers gathered around the flagpole for dinner...


Steve and Ryan and a few others grilled the chicken...


So, now you're wondering where the two bears come into the day. Although there are an abundance of black bears in the area lately, we didn't see any today.

However, as the kids stayed at camp with Dad, I rode the bike back home with the dogs. More than one person stopped to see if I was o.k.! You see, Maverick has lupus and his paw started acting up on the way home (pads get tender). As we stopped and rested, people would see us from a distance and thought I had two black bears attacking me. Then they would get closer and realize it was just two dogs.

This is not the first time that has happened, but it was still pretty funny!

Well, now we all need a good night's sleep to get ready for the rest of the week!

A little fun...

Well, tonight we had the lifeguards over for dinner. Molly requested spaghetti and Peanut Butter Cup trifle so she got her wish. The kids had a blast and Sammie even made flowers and welcome signs for them. Kyle made each one a paper airplane.

Here is Stephanie our head guard for the year trying to show off those muscles:


Kevin was trying to be serious and watch a movie and can't figure out what Stephanie was really doing:


Here is Sammie and Kyle along with Molly, Craig and Stephanie (I don't know how Craig got lost in there - that's hard to do!):


The guards were all nice enough to stay a little late so Steve and I could run off to a medical call.

The only disappointment? I have more leftovers than normal...I guess we haven't worked them hard enough yet. That comes starting Saturday! Camp begins!!!!

Squirrels and Bunnies and Backboards, Oh My!

Well, one of the joys of living in the northwoods, is that there is no lack of critters to see. We've gotten to see a fox run in front of us more than once this week, unfortunately not when a camera was handy. However, here are the critters the kids experience today and wanted pictures of:

A cute bunny of the normal wild type:





A squirrel eating some sunflower seeds the kids put out for the finches:





After our animal adventures, it was the night for First Responder training. The kids INSISTED on being patients. Here they are bandaged up a bit...


After all that, we all needed a rest!

Look Ma - no hands! (I mean training wheels)

So, we are now on day #3 in a row of no training wheels - for both kids! Kyle is just about too big for his toddler bike so I found him a "boy's bike" at Goodwill for about $5.00 - can't beat that! I figured it would also be good for Sammie to try without training wheels. We've tried a few times before but she'd get frustrated really fast and want her training wheels on. She's just finally getting to enjoy a bike at age 7 unlike Kyle who was already biking almost 2 miles at age 3!

Well, both tried and BOTH are getting the hang of it pretty well. Kyle was actually doing better than Sammie last night, but Sammie was catching up tonight.

Here are some pictures of tonight's efforts:

Safe! (It takes a few falls to get it right...)


Mastering the turn:


Got it down!



...and a special thanks to friends in MN who just sent me their old, but absolutely WONDERFUL digital camera so I can take pictures this summer!!!! Thank you!!!!

A little tired, but we're done!

No pictures on this post, but that's o.k. Steve and I just finished 4 days of teaching our lifeguards for Fort, for Crescent Lake Bible Camp and for HoneyRock. Scott Eppler from HoneyRock helped co-instruct. We had a wonderful group of kids this year training to be lifeguards and they will do great! It sure wore Steve and I out though! Luckily my mom was up for a week to keep the kids occupied while we taught. Guess we're getting old! :)

It's Planting Day!

Well, we stopped in at camp for a brief bit...a lot of summer staff has arrived and they are working and learning. In about a week, we'll be doing a lifeguarding course for the area camps (Fort Wilderness, Honey Rock, and Crescent Lake Bible Camp). Today though, Steve is working hard and we (myself and the kids) came home to plant some things.

The kids have some flowers, I have some veggies, and the kids are now enjoying some reading together in the yard.

We borrowed a camera today for a few shots...Kyle and Sammie took most of the pictures! I only took the ones both of them were in. Enjoy! ...oh, and please note we are VERY novice gardeners. The kids are as good as I am so hopefully some things will grow!

Kids proud of their flowers:


Hanging Tomatoes and Feeders:


Mommy with a dirty Kyle:


Discussing life over a good book:


Some more reading:

Spring is Coming! (We think?!)

So, all the signs of spring are here activity-wise...spring recital for Sammie, birds coming to the feeder (since the bears have been staying in camp), and school coming to an end. The frost the last two nights have almost made us think otherwise though!

Summer staff comes in this weekend so it will be a busy time!

Enjoy the pictures Kyle and Sammie took!

Sammie's Recital Program:


Sammie playing at her recital with teacher Carolyn O'Brien (former Fort Staff) in the background:



Kyle's picture of Herb Olson (husband to Bev Olson - former Fort office staff from about 20 years ago):

Choose what you will say...

This week just seemed to have an abundance of people around experience trials on various levels. While I was at work I had a Passion Worship CD playing and this song came on:

Blessed be your name!

Blessed be your name
In the land that is plentiful
Where the streams of abundance flow
Blessed be your name

Blessed be your name
When I'm found in the desert place
Though I walk through the wilderness
Blessed be your name

Every blessing you pour out,
I turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say...
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be your glorious name

Blessed be your name
When the sun's shining down on me
When the world's all as it should be
Blessed be your name

Blessed be your name
On the road marked with suffering
Though there's pain in the offering
Blessed be your name

Every blessing you pour out,
I turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say...
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be your glorious name

You give and take away
You give and take away
My heart will choose to say
Lord, Blessed be your name


So, choose today what you will say!!!! Your attitude towards life and trials is a choice, just like worshiping God is a choice. God didn't create us to be blind puppets. He created us with the ability to choose to serve Him - what a great relationship that can be!

Oh my!

I just realized it has been over a month since I last posted! Yikes! Believe me, it is not for lack of things happening!

So, where to begin...

Well, the second weekend of April we made a trip down to Milwaukee/Racine. Steve and I had Red Cross Instructor Trainer Training in Pewaukee (our classes to train instructors). I'm already putting mine to use in the month of May by upgrading an instructor at Crescent Lake Bible Camp from being able to teach CPR for the Lay Responder to CPR for the Professional Rescuer. This is what their lifeguards need to renew every year and in the past Steve and I have had to teach it for them. It will be great for them to be able to train all their own staff, not just part. We are very busy getting our staff trained at the same time. Definitely pray for rest and strength for Steve and I June 4th - June 7th. The 4th - 6th we will have our large class of lifeguards and because we do the program in one shot rather than over weeks, it is tiring for us and the kids! On the 7th, I will be taking over the teaching portion to give Steve a rest and doing the First Aid and CPR. Hopefully it will all go well once again.

For the rest of April, it seems to be a blur of activities. Our AWANA finished up on April 22nd with Award Night on April 29th. I had 5 in my small group at the end of the year. We had more leaders this year which was nice. In the past, I had 7-10 kids in book time! This year was those 5 AND a helper!!!! Three of my kids move on from Sparks to T&T. Two finished their books and the third finished his book and book review. I had two other kids that didn't attend every week and were younger and they ALMOST finished their books. Kyle finished his first year of Cubbies and learned about 25 verses for the year. He also can say Psalms 23:1-3 so far - not bad for just turning 4. He loves to learn verses! Sammie finished book 2 in Sparks, her book review and part of her workbook. It was a little behind her pace of last year, but they do a lot of memorization and Bible lessons in school and she also has taken piano lessons this year which she didn't do last year. A six-year-old can only do so much. I want her to enjoy childhood not be pushed and hate it. She did a WONDERFUL job and has a lot of verses in her head. Last night she even tried to witness to a neighbor about a mile from us. She has asked what Sammie learned about in school and the first thing out of her mouth was, "God". She then proceeded to tell her that you need Christ in your heart and ask Him to forgive your sins to go to Heaven. The lady brushed her off saying, "Well some people believe that stuff." She tried to change the topic, but Sammie repeated it to her at least twice before she got the topic changed and tried to push Sammie aside. Sammie was very polite but direct. It was pretty neat to see...and I noticed others paying attention and smiling in approval.

On the weather front here, it has been slightly miserable. A week ago we still had snow flurries and we are supposed to get even more tomorrow. Despite that, we've had a few days get almost to 60 and with the downpour of rain all day yesterday, the grass seems to be perking up finally and starting to green. The deer are out and about in full-force along with TONS of turkeys this year. We also have at least 5 black bear around again. One already carried off a plastic container of mine... I had 2 bird feeders up for the last month, but they may have to come down before the bears may their rounds back through here (about every week or so). This will be about the third year straight of no bird feeders, no garbage sitting out in a can, it has to be inside and nothing with ANY food scent left around. They are quite destructive if anything smells like any food. They've crushed garbage cans, bird feeders, and gotten into our garbage. At other area houses they have wrecked tents, screen doors, feeders, gardens, you name it... Being only 3 miles from camp, it also isn't too fun if they go that way!

Well, there is a small glimpse of April. May for us consists of the last month of school for Sammie (Kyle is SO excited to play all day with her), a piano recital for Sammie, school activities, Fort staff coming and getting trained, and camp getting ready for summer (Steve had to retrieve part of the dock from out on the lake since the water got high and carried it off). We also have to make plans to repair some leaks in our roof in the next month or so and re-shingle it. We are trying to save every penny for materials and will hopefully do the labor with people from camp or friends helping us. Our roof has some leaks starting in late March so we have to repair it soon. The plans to replace the carpet that is 14 years old will have to be postponed until next year now.

Well, off to do the laundry since it is rainy, cold and gloomy outside. Hopefully, we'll all see lots of sunshine soon!

Florida Fun!

Well, as a few of you know, Steve is off on the annual Marine Biology Trip to the Florida Keys with Fort Wilderness!

While the rest of us are getting tired of winter and snow, they are all getting a dose of summer and sun and a bit of nature!

Here is the group enjoying a beautiful sunset:



Here is the boat that was rented to transport the kids to and from the habitats they were studying. It has twin 150hp engines and is 27 feet long. Steve is REALLY wishing he could bring it home!



One of the rooms reserved was given up to an older couple so they were given this houseboat to house some of the kids. According to Steve, some of they guys are staying there because they'd probably shower less! He-he!



The mangroves were one of the habitats studied - here is a view of them - beautiful!!!



The grassflats are another habitat studied:



All is not fun and games - the kids so some serious work and studying:



Along with studying items in the ocean, they also catch some items and put in holding tanks to study or to bring back to the Nature Center at camp. Here are the new stingrays and a baby nurse shark!




Well, there are still a couple days left of Florida sun so we'll be posting some more pictures for Steve before the bus heads back to the cold northwoods!