Happy Birthday Russell!

One of his spontaneously fun moments while shopping with me.  LOVE IT!

Two weeks ago, he made a big fuss about my turning 40.  I mentioned that he was just excited that he was no longer alone in that journey.  But today - he continues being ahead of the game.

He stays that way around here.  Always has everything figured out before the rest of us.  But that's the way it's supposed to be, right?
Right. 
I love him for that.
Most of the time.


I admired Russell's qualities long before we were ever serious.  I even told him one night on the phone, in an effort to encourage him, that he was going to make someone a wonderful husband someday.  And I really believed that!  I just had no idea it would be me!  Turns out that I'm the lucky one that got this man and all of his wonderful qualities. 

I can't even begin to tell you what I like most about him.  He is everything I ever prayed for and more.  Even before he was born - 43 years ago - God knew he was my husband.  God has great plans.

Russell - today I celebrate you!

• I am so thankful that your parents were surprised by your presence because God had to add one more to  their family. 

• I'm thankful that you moved to Orange Park and had the passion to start a Bible Study in our High School where you and I would meet.  

• I'm thankful for the 10 years of solid friendship we shared before we ever began dating.  

• I'm thankful that I am that woman that benefits from all of your wonderful qualities. 

• I'm thankful for your passion, your sense of humor, your serious side, your sensitivity, your complexity, your easiness.  

• I'm thankful for you spontaneity, your sense of adventure and your desire to sit at home and do nothing.  

• I'm thankful for your leadership, for your quirks, for the way we can finish each others thoughts. 

• I'm thankful for the way you love people, for your compassion and your mercy. 

• I'm thankful for your doubts and your fears because I know you are real. 

• I'm thankful that you are always three steps ahead of me and are ever so patient while the Lord works in my life to get us back on the same page. 

• I'm thankful for the two beautiful children you have given me and for the way that you love and lead them. 

• I'm thankful that you love our Lord more than you do me because then you love me even better. 

• I'm thankful for your prayers, your faithfulness and your trustworthiness.

• I'm thankful for your restlessness and your desire to just be.

• I'm thankful for your tenderness, your listening ear and your desire to do whatever it takes to provide for us.

I'm just thankful for you.  Everything about you. The good, the not so good - the entire package. 

You were meant specifically for me.  I know this is your birthday - but many people have been blessed because you were born.  Thing is - I made out the best!

I love you, Russell.  Here's to celebrating many more years of "you".......

Russell's Birthday Dinner

Okay - Okay!  Everyone on Facebook has been asking for this recipe so I thought I would put it on the blog so it would be in one central location.  My mom found this recipe years ago and it's probably become Russell's official "Birthday Dinner" for the last 10 years!  It's an absolute favorite around here - along with the dessert recipe I will share as well.

Enjoy!


Seafood Stuffed Shells

1 box pasta shells

5 T Butter

1 onion, chopped fine

1 cup mushrooms, chopped fine

1.5 lbs cooked crab (I use the imitation crab meat) - chopped fine

1 cup Ricotta Cheese

1 egg

pepper

2 T Flour

1 cup half & half

2 cups chicken broth

2/3 cup Parmesan cheese

Cook shells, rinse and drain

Melt 1 T butter - Saute onion, mushrooms - cool

Blend crab meat, ricotta, onion, mushrooms, egg & pepper

Stuff each shell, place in lightly greased 9 x 13 baking dish (I use my large lasagne pan)

Heat 4 T Butter and Flour for 2 minutes on low seat in sauce pan.  Add half & half and chicken broth - thicken. (This takes a while - keep stirring)  Add Parmesan and simmer 2 minutes.  Pour sauce over shells - bake at 350 for about 20 minutes.

Yummmmmm!

Ice Cream Dessert

This is also a favorite - I make it the night before!  It will be a HUGE hit - I promise!!!!!  Recipe compliments of Sasha!  It's been in her family for over 30 years!  Thanks for sharing - it will be in ours forever too!

1 Box Vanilla Waffer or Oreo Cookies (our favorite - but both a great!)

3 - 4 bananas

1/2 gallon vanilla ice cream

1 stick butter

1 cup Chocolate chips

2 cups powdered sugar

1 1/2 cup evaporated milk

1/2 tsp. vanilla

Small Cool Whip

chopped peanuts

Crush cookies and place in the bottom of a 9 x 13 pan

Layer sliced bananas on top of that

Top with ice cream

Place in freezer while to make the chocolate:

In sauce pan mix butter, chocolate chips, powdered sugar and evaporated milk

Bring to a boil and allow to boil for 8 minutes - stirring continually so it doesn't burn

Remove from heat - add vanilla

Let cool completely

Put on top of ice cream

This is where I put everything back in the freezer over night

Before serving add cool whip and chopped nuts.

Will keep in freezer for several days but I promise it won't last that long!

I hope you enjoy these as much as we do!

Until next time.....

Friendship: A Special Gift From God

I am a firm believer that everything in our life has a purpose.  Every event, every obstacle, every person, every friend. 

I have been very blessed that during specific times, God has placed very special women in my life to help encourage, challenge and support me.

Growing up, it was my friend Stacy.  We both moved to Florida when we were in the 6th grade and connected immediately.  We were both in a new state, a new school and the Lord brought us together.  We were inseparable until we married.  Still friends, almost 30 years later, she will always be a vital part of my life.  Friends that have that kind of history with you are a jewel.

After Russ and I married, we moved to Opelika, Alabama so he could serve a church as Student Minister.  I was terrified leaving my home and my family.  I begged God for a friend.  When we arrived in Alabama, many of the people from our new church stopped by our house to help us unload our U-Haul.  Karesa came by that night.  I didn't know it then, but God had already chosen her to be my friend and to love and encourage me while I lived so far from home.  We connected in such a way that I can only explain as a God thing and to this day, we can get on the phone and pick up like we were together yesterday.  Not only was she an answer to prayer for me, but she came with a husband that connected with Russ.  Chuck and Karesa quickly became the couple that you can go on vacation with and still be sad to leave at the end of the week.  Now that is a special gift from God!!!!

Another special gift is when you find a true friend in one of your family members.  My Aunt Marcia is that for me as well.  Affectionately known as "Sasha" around here by my children, she has been in my life since I was a child.  Only 14 years older than me - in the last several years, we have discovered a friendship that goes beyond family.  A connection that I can again only explain as a God thing.  She too knows me, challenges me, encourages me and she loves me and my family.  She is such a gift and I am so thankful for her!

Then about 6 1/2 years ago, God brought Emily into my life. She and her family began attending our church. They accepted Christ and Russell baptized them.  I can't really explain how or when we connected.  I wasn't looking for a friend - it just happened. And now it feels like she has been my friend for my whole life.  I have watched her step out in faith time and time again with everything from leaving work to become a stay at home mom - to the adoption of her 3 youngest boys.  It is an honor to be her friend.  Like the others, she has encouraged me, loved me, supported me, challenged me, laughed with me and cried with me.  We have gone shopping together, had meals together, we have carpooled with our children to and from school.  We have spent countless hours on the phone together.  Sometimes trying to solve all the problems of the world - other times being silly and talking about nothing important at all.  Our husbands roll their eyes when we get together knowing that our family secrets will be exposed and that they will probably be the brunt of some of the conversations.  But, they don't say much because they also know that it makes us better wives and moms when we are done.

Everyone needs a friend who you can have a "Brat Moment" with.  You know, the kind where you can call them up and completely vent and be ugly and say all the things you wanted to say about a current situation in your life - but didn't.  You can totally let your guard down and know you are completely safe and will not be judged or condemned because of your feelings.  Because they know your heart and know that what is being said really isn't meant deep down.  But they are there to listen, encourage, love and sometimes yell at you and straighten you out and point you back in the right direction.  Emily is that kind of friend.  She sees me as me - not as Cami the "Calligrapher" or Cami the "Pastor's Wife".  She knows I don't have it all together and doesn't expect me to.

She is also the friend who has encouraged my "girly" side and has taught me how to accessorize with fun jewelry!  I've never been real great with that.  I tend to find a favorite piece and wear it all the time.  But not with Emily around!  She is so good and mixing and matching and finding the perfect jewelry to go with the outfit.  I have more "bling" because of her - again, our husbands roll their eyes!  For my birthday, she gave me a whole bag full of many new and fun pieces.  I was so excited because she is moving and I can no longer borrow hers.  Ha! Ha!

God has done so many wonderful things in the Bennett family.  Back in November, Bruce accepted a new job in New Hampshire and the Lord blew all the doors wide open for them to go.  Emily stayed behind while the adoption of Carter was finalized.  Each month, she went to court and things would be postponed a little.  She would call me so upset.  This was hard on her - their family was separated and she was caring for 3 little ones by herself.  I would comfort and encourage her although being secretly happy that this meant she would be staying her a little longer.  At last they were given a final court date for the adoption.  This long time of separation for their family was over. But now the count down for our separation had begun.  I'd known for 9 months that moving day was coming but it was always "out there" - never finalized.  I wouldn't let my mind wrap around it.

The movers came and  everything became real.  We spent as much time together last week as possible.  Going to lunch, getting our nails done.  All the while  ignoring the inevitable. Not wanting to go there just yet. I drove to her house on Friday for one last goodbye and passed the moving van in the neighborhood.  I burst into tears.  This was really happening.  I walked into an empty house.  So many memories for us.  Small groups, birthday parties, the kid's sleepovers, my babysitting the boys, game nights, Halloween parties, New Year's parties, baby showers, ugh!  The list goes on.

Saying good bye to a friend is hard.  Knowing that your relationship will change - but also knowing that you were blessed to have it to begin with.  Friends like this are a gift from God. I have no doubt about that.  He always knows exactly what I need, when I need it.  For the past 6 1/2 years - I've needed Emily in my life. 

I realize that as I typed that - it sounded like our friendship is over. But it's not.  Like the other friends that I have listed, it's only just begun.  It will take on a new shape - a new form - but it will always be there.  When you connect with someone like this - you connect for life.

Know that you are loved deeply, Emily.  You have been an answer to prayer and my special gift from God.  You will always hold a special place in my heart. You will be missed greatly - but thank God for cell phones and computers.  We WILL stay connected and in the mean time - I'll be online shopping for flights!

I love you, my sweet friend!

Turning 40

It's been approaching all year.  Sneaking up on me.  Sometimes quietly - sometimes loudly.  Mentioned often by my husband.  He's just excited that it finally came.  He's been jealous of my still being in the 30's for the last 3 years.  There is no stopping time.  It came.  I rolled into a new decade this past Saturday.

Russ allowed me to sleep late.  Because we all know that you need more sleep when you get older, right?



Then I had lunch with my best friend, Emily, who is moving away FOREVER.  But we won't go there yet.  Nope.  Not yet.  There will probably be a blog about that later - but not today.  Not ready to go there yet.

Anyway - we were only going to be gone a little while as they are moving after all and she left her husband home with the 4 kids and a list of things to do.

We were able to sit and talk almost uninterrupted for about 3 hours. We only received one phone call.  I won't tell you which husband it was - but I will tell you that it had something to do with not being able to find the list. 

But we forgive him because that's what us girls do. 

 I came home in time to change and get ready for dinner out with my wonderful hubby!

We took the kids to stay with Nana and Papa (a.k.a. Russell's parents) and we drove to St. Augustine for the evening.  One of our favorite places to escape to.

Russ took me to Creekside Dinery and the weather was so nice we were able to sit on the patio.  That NEVER happens for my birthday!  Florida - in JULY?  Hello?  Keep me in the a/c please.  I'm all dressed up and do not want to wilt.

But we had some rain during the day and it stayed overcast.  With the nice breeze coming off the creek - we had an enjoyable dinner outside - and didn't even get sticky!  That's awesome!!!

Not sure why this photo looks blurry.  I think the lens on my phone was smudged.  Russ thinks it's a filter.  Now that I'm 40 I need that Dorris Day thing to help me out.  Humph.  It does add a softness though, don't you think?

Ahem.....Continuing with my weekend - we went for a leisurely stroll through downtown St. Augustine.  Stopped and had dessert and drove home.

We eat out every Sunday.  Mainly because we are all the way at the beaches for church and it's silly to drive home and then back again for the evening activities.  So we just stay there.  Because it was my birthday - I got to choose.  I love Cruisers Grill.  Marinated Chicken Chunks.  That's all I have to say.  Love them.  I think they remind me of my mom.  Regardless that's what I wanted on Sunday.



Marc, Sam and Chloe joined us.  The other really fun thing about Cruisers is that they bring everyone Tootsie Pops when they bring you your bill.  How cool is that?

Loved this picture of Chloe enjoying her Tootsie Pop!  How cute is she????

We have a wonderful couple in our church who travel during the summer.  We miss them terribly when they are gone as they are always such a huge encouragement to both Russ and I.  Big supporters.  But they allow us to crash at their house on Sundays when they are away.  Russ can study - take a nap.  The kids and I enjoy the pool.

This past weekend - since it WAS my birthday - Marc, Sam and Chloe joined us at the pool.  Our schedules have been so crazy for the past several months that it had been a while since we were all able to hang out and enjoy one another.  It was so much fun!  And it created photos like this:

 This was an attempt to throw Jarod - he's just too big now.  LOL!

 

 Taking a break.  Love it - Russ is reading "Lord of the Rings" for the bazillionth time and Jarod is reading "The Hobbit"   That's my boys!!!!

I love hanging out with friends and family.  It was a nice weekend.  Many have made a big deal about "turning 40" but I have to say that it's been fun.  This past year has been a really great year for me.  I've learned a lot about myself.  My business has grown and so has my confidence.  I am somewhat content with my life.  I say somewhat because you can always be growing and learning.  I always want to be willing to do what God calls me to.  Being too content can be dangerous.  But I do feel as though I have "arrived".  Now please don't take that as an "I've got it all together" comment.  More like an "I'm on the verge of something really big and I'm ready to move forward" comment. Or an "I'm right where God wants me" comment.  I've let go of a lot of the "stuff" that has been keeping me from moving forward.  Besides, isn't 40 supposed to be the age of wisdom and experience in life? That's what Russ keep telling me. 

The last few years have been difficult.  Lot's of changes, lot's of busy-ness.  It took a big toll on me.  I often felt very out of control.  Once things calmed down and we found a good routine that fit our family, things started to fall into place.  Ya know, when you are running like that, it's very hard to hear God.  It's very hard to take your focus off the next thing.  You just keep doing the next thing and the next thing but then you find that none of it is getting done well because you are so busy and so focused on doing the next thing.  UGH!  It makes me tired to just think about it.  

Back in December, when God was really working in my life about Haiti and the ApParent Project, he was also working on getting me out of the "next thing" cycle.  Slowing down, making goals, looking beyond myself to the future.  He has humbled me in many areas, he has shown me life beyond me and my family again.   He helped me to find a balance. I set a goal then to loose 40 pounds by my Birthday and on Saturday when I got on the scale, it said 41 pounds were gone!  How awesome is that?

For the first time in a really long time - I like me.  I feel good about myself.  I feel confident as a person.  I know that God still has great plans for me.  He's not finished with me yet.  In some ways I feel like I'm just beginning.  I have experience and my "stepping stones of faith" behind me and I am ready to move forward to the next thing.  I have a wonderful marriage, an awesome husband, two beautiful children who know the Lord and a God who loves me beyond my understanding.  I feel like I am sitting on the edge of something great!  I don't know what or when or how - I only know that I don't want to miss out!  Being in God's plan is the absolute best place to be!  Turning 40 - BRING IT!!!!  I'm excited!

To The Praise of His Glorious Grace

"But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation." Psalm 13:5

Let's see if I can write this without tears.  I seriously doubt it.  But you don't know that - you are on that end, reading the finished product.  I sit hear thinking over my daughter's life and my answered prayers, and cannot help but weep.  But - that's me.  I'm her mom.  I'm supposed to be that way.

When you have your first child, you understand - a little more - God's great love for us.  You love this tiny life that has just been placed in your arms with a love that you never even comprehended until that moment.  You are overwhelmed by emotion and responsibility.  As a mom, this protective tigress comes out in you and you flip out over the craziest things.  You desire to love, nurture, protect, teach, and guide in a way you never have before.  But - you also pray in a way you never have before.  You realize very quickly how ill-equipped you are and how much you need God to help you look after this child that He has intrusted to you.  All of the responsibility that comes with being a parent is overwhelming.  And it never goes away.  I'm learning even now that I only thought it was difficult when they were babies.  God knew what he was doing when he gives them to you as infants and we have to work up to the hard stuff.

Anyway - for me - the absolute biggest prayer for both of my children has been for their salvation.  Knowing that they are safe in the Lord's protection - knowing that they love the Lord - knowing that they understand His authority in our lives.  Salvation is a process that takes place throughout our lives.  God is constantly growing us and changing us.  But that first moment of realization that you are a sinner and in desperate need of His grace - His salvation - that is where it begins.

For Jarod, that happened when he was 4 1/2.  Having been around the death of my mother, and Russell's sister,  he had hard eternal questions early and his faith was incredible.  He had been asking so many questions and Russ and I were very cautious as children are so easily influenced.  We wanted him to come into it on his own.  He was watching the Jesus Film for Children and at the end it tells about repenting of your sin and asking Jesus into your heart.  Jarod came running into our bedroom and shouted, "Mom! Did you know that all you have to do is ask God to forgive your sins and ask him into your heart and you will be a Christian and get to go to heaven?!"  I, of course, said yes and he shouted, "I'm going to go do that right now!" and he ran to his bedroom, knelt down and prayed.  I stood outside of his room and listened to a sweet, 4 1/2 year old boy receive Christ.  Russ and I stood there looking at each other dumbfounded.  What just happened?  We spoke with him further, watched him for a few days and noticed a heart change.  It was incredible!  Jarod's New Birthday was March 8, 2004. We waited a year or so and Jarod was baptized on Easter Sunday in 2005.

What a special day that was.  We have continued to watch him grow in his faith over the past several years.  We've even heard him share his faith with his friends at school.  We know that he is saved and that the Lord has great plans for him.

Anne has been a different story.  Fortunately, she has not been influenced by the death of family members so her understanding has been on a much different level.  Her journey has been similar in that a few years ago - when she was also 4, the kids stuck in the Jesus Film for Children again.  Anne watched it and also - by herself - prayed at the end of the movie.  She's been telling us all this time that she is saved and could not understand why she had not been baptized yet.  Again - this was done on her own (my kids are so independent!) and Russ and I did not want to influence anything so we have just been watching and listening over the past few years.  The talk of the beach baptism yesterday started a whole lot of conversation around here and we sat down with her yesterday before church to answer some questions and talk further about it.  Russ was able to pray with her and we were able to see her heart.  Whenever asked about salvation, she would go back to the time she prayed 2 years ago - she was adamant about it.  But yesterday after talking with us and praying with Daddy, she said, "Mommy - when I prayed before, I don't think I really felt anything - but today I did."  I asked her what she meant - what she felt.  She said, "I cannot explain it - but I think I felt Jesus come in my heart."  Then she rolled her eyes at me because I was crying!  :-)  I, of course, explained to her that they were happy tears because the biggest and most important prayer that mommy's and daddy's pray for their children is that they come to Christ and that God had answered my prayer.  She understood. 

We rejoiced with her and started making phone calls!  Our family rejoiced with us as well and she went forward during church yesterday to let everyone know.

A little nervous, of course - (Don't you love the VBS set up in the background? That started today)

Last night before the baptism - sharing her testimony.  So proud of her!

 

 

 What a special honor and privilege for Daddy

 

 

 

 

 Happy girl!  So proud of her!

 

Love this!

Marc, Sam and Chloe were able to join us for the celebration!  What an awesome day!!!

Anne's New Birthday is July 10, 2011.  I cannot wait to see all that God is going to do in her life.  The journey will be hard - God never promised us it would be easy.  But He did promise to be with us.  I know that God has awesome plans for both of my children.  He has already been very busy in preparing them for it. It is so incredible to know that your children know and love the Lord.  I'm also very thankful to have the peace in knowing that they will spend eternity with us in Heaven.  What more could a mom ask for?

If you are reading this and have any questions about salvation and knowing Jesus Christ as your Savior - please contact us!  We would be more than happy to help you!  Franklin4@truevine.net

Until next time......

Another Adoption Day for the Bennetts

In order to have all of the back story on this post - read my original post here:

Adoption Day for the Bennetts  (You will be blessed - I promise!)

Now - to bring you up to date......

This is Carter.  Isn't he adorable?  He came to the Emily and Bruce as a Foster child when he was just a few weeks old.

I'll admit - we thought they were crazy.  This made 4 boys in the house.  Their biological son, Zander, was 10, their adopted son, William, was 2 and they had another Foster child, Oliver, who was 18 months at the time.  Now they were adding an infant!  This was a busy house!

Carter was such a good and easy baby.  Russ and I had been fingerprinted so we could help them and would often go over and watch the boys so that Bruce and Emily could go to appointments or just have a night out. 

 
The boys all bonded very quickly.  William especially LOVED his baby brother!   As Carter grew, he fit right into the Bennett clan and kept up with Will and Ollie - no problem!

Ollie was officially adopted and made a Bennett in May of last year and they wanted to add Carter to the "official" list as well.  Last Fall, after a series of many God moments, Bruce was offered a new job in New Hampshire.  They knew that they were supposed to take the position but what about Carter?  They couldn't leave the state with him.  He was still a Foster Child and if they all moved, he would go back into the system.

After much prayer, Bruce accepted the job in New Hampshire and began work November 1.  He went ahead, leaving Emily and the four boys here in Florida.  At this time, things were working in their favor and it looked as if the adoption would be final by the first of the year.  Any of you who are familiar with adoption and the "system" know that that is not always the case.  Lots can happen to slow things down and get everything complicated.  Zander, their oldest, moved to New Hampshire with Bruce in January.  Things had been postponed again and they wanted to allow him to get into the school system during the Christmas Break.  At this point, they still thought the adoption would be late winter, early spring.

This left Emily here in Florida with the 3 babies.  3 boys - 3 and under in age.  Alone.  Need I say more??

This has been one incredibly long emotional roller coaster for them.  Emily and I have spent many hours on the phone talking through and processing all the crazy things that have happened.  Their family has been physically separated and undergone emotional stress and financial sacrifice for 9 long months in order to adopt Carter.

That is what I call unconditional love!  There were so many times when Emily was tired, lonely and just plain done.  There were even times that they wanted to give up because it became so very difficult.  But they knew that giving up meant giving up Carter all together and they simply could not do that.  There were times when it all seemed in vain - things were not going in their favor and he would be taken away anyway.  Was all of this sacrifice in vain?

I am proud to have the Bennett's as my friends.  This past year they have been an example of faith and unconditional love.  They have sacrificed and have thrown up their hands to God.  They have begged and pleaded and prayed and loved and let go.  They have willingly let go of their plans, their ideas, and their will. They have walked this journey and brought honor and glory to God.  They have continually worked to enhance His reputation - to let Him work.

I am so happy to say that yesterday - ALL of their prayers were answered.  ALL of their sacrifice was worth it!  All of their hardship is finally over.  After a few words from a kind judge, Carter is now officially Carter Ashton Bennett.

Russ and I again had the wonderful privilege of standing up with them and being a witness to the adoption yesterday.  What an honor it was.

William 4, Oliver 3 1/2, Carter 2

These 3 adopted boys will now grow up together in a loving, Christian home.  Each one has his own unique story about how he was loved and wanted deeply by Bruce and Emily.    

Adoption is such a beautiful process.  But it is not without pain and much sacrifice.  I look at the photo of these three and think of their stories.  Funny how God works to build our faith.  Will's adoption was private and very uneventful.  There was much prayer that went into it - but compared to the others, it was very easy.  Oliver's was a little harder.  A longer process - somewhat of a roller coaster - but mostly a waiting game.  But it didn't matter as much (looking at it now) because the family was all together.  Then there was Carter.  Much more of a fight - more of a roller coaster - more of a sacrifice because everyone was separated.  I can see each one as stepping stones of faith.  God working in each adoption - little things to prepare Bruce and Emily for the next.  New things each time to trust God with.  New things that were out of their control.  If Will's adoption would have been this difficult, I wonder if there would have been an Ollie and a Carter?

God is so good.  It has been amazing to watch Him work in this - to see Bruce and Emily's faith grow before my very eyes.  To watch them trust Him with things that were out of control and then to see God reward them so magnificently!  I have been able to be a close part of their lives as they went from Emily being a business woman - to her desire to stay home - then their desire to adopt a child - then two - then three.  God has used this to grow them and shape them.  What a wonderful testimony they have.  It has been a long journey.  5 years.  And I have to sit back and say, "What's next God?"  You have built this faith in them for a reason.  Everything has a purpose - everything builds on the next thing you have for us.  They have proven themselves to be faithful and obedient.  I am excited to see what is to come!  It won't be easy - but you have prepared them and you will continue to be with them.  

As an outsider, looking in - it's awesome to see a family who has completely trusted God, allowed Him to do his work - no matter how difficult - and then watched the outcome be so rewarding.  Please don't get me wrong - there have been tears, there has been anger, there has been frustration.  But - if all of us could have this kind of faith - this kind of stamina - this kind of willingness to allow God to do whatever he needs to do to grow and change our lives.  What an impact we could all have on the world.  He loves us - Oh how He loves us!

For now, their next journey is New Hampshire.  I'm not even going to attempt to go there right now.  My heart breaks at the thought. The movers are coming and they will be leaving in 2 weeks.  I am excited for them and the next chapter God has called them to - as a family of 6.

Scout Camp - Troop 650

Many of you helped Jarod raise his money to go to Scout Camp this year.  This was his first year and he was very excited.  Troop 650 went to Camp Rainey Mountain in North Georgia for 7 days.  Russ was asked to help chaperone and I don't know who was more excited!  I had to follow the week via Facebook - many thanks to Kevin Brown in keeping us up to date.  I thought I would share his week in photos......

All packed up and ready to go!

 Lunch stop

All fed and ready to go again!

Made it to camp!

Hiking Black Rock Mountain

Love this pic!

Home away from home for a week

Campfire

Breakfast

Working on his First Aid Merit Badge

Energy Merit Badge

Morning Flag Ceremony

Helping prepare dinner - love his face in this pic!

Russ and Mr. Haynes

Whittling

Last Flag Ceremony

Jarod, Issak, A.J. and Bryan Building a Bridge

Russ testing it out.

Great job guys!!!

Thanks to everyone who bought Camp Cards to Jarod raise the money to go.  It was an awesome week and he is looking forward to next year!

Until next time......