NLR Family Camp - part 3

CARNIVAL NIGHT is a lot of fun...  games, food, music, etc.

Our "hobbit" loves the food!  Cotton candy... oh yes!

They spent a lot of time on the bounce arounds

Face painting!

There were lots of free time activities.  Here's just a couple pics.

Will played in the pool as much as possible with our counselor, Mr. Brave, (as we call him).  Will adored him and followed him everywhere... he was always in his lap, holding his hand or near him.  And Mr. Brave (Braden) was so kind.  He set such a great example of Christlike servanthood.  We loved having him as a role model for our boys!  He was our co-counselor two years ago, so it was great having him as our counselor again!

Next post:  The rest of the pictures from Family Camp 2012 :)

NLR Family Camp - part 2

The next ropes element that the boys did was the SCREAMER... they love this one, too!!

Pulling Josiah up... up... up...

Shep's turn... going up...

This was Will's first time to do the Screamer, too.  He was fearless.

And he became good friends with Mr. Patton.



Next post:  CARNIVAL NIGHT and FREE TIME

New Life Ranch Family Camp - Summer 2012

The week of July 4th we were at Family Camp at New Life Ranch...

it was SUCH A GREAT TIME!!!!

We love it!

It's not the kind of vacation where you come home rested...  but we are rejuvenated.  It's great to "unplug" from the world and make fun memories as a family.  We were especially encouraged by the staff and their heart to serve the Lord.

So...  now that I am finally caught up on my rest :) I'll post pictures from some of the activities from camp. 

One of the boys' favorites...  the ZIPLINE!

(And this year Will got to do it, too!!)

 Shep climbing up

Will waiting with our counselor, Mr. Brave

 Josiah climbing up

 Will being pulled up...  he was too short to reach the pegs

 It's a long way down!!  They all loved it!

Next post:  the SCREAMER...

iPhone

I'm back to an iPhone...  with hubby's blessing...  because he loves me. :)

Home Canned Tomato Juice

See these wonderful jars of red juice?  It's a labor of love to get all that juice from the tomato into those secure little jars.  It's hot work...  but YUM!! 

I haven't canned anything in a couple of years...  we haven't had a garden in awhile.

But when we moved to our new house, I reserved some empty shelves just for home canned food.  The shelves have stayed empty...  waiting for those sweet jars to come.

I called my mom...  I have tomatoes...  15 lbs...  how much will that can??  She loaded up and came over the mountain and we cut up tomatoes, cooked and stirred, poured and measured, smashing juice through my grandma's old sieve on the day that would have been grandma's 75th wedding anniversary.  And mom and I talked and laughed and shared the afternoon together.  And ended up with 11 pint jars.  I love those beautiful jars setting on my shelf holding hope of more jars to come, but even more I love the time spent with my mom!



The rest of Josiah's birthday pictures

We have lots of fun with birthdays...  lots of family and friends to celebrate with...  we can celebrate for weeks!! 

Here are pictures from the all the rest of Josiah's celebrations...

(Don't skip over this picture without seeing Will...  that's an orange in his mouth!)

Happy 13th!

Me and My Dad

I loved spending some time with my dad one afternoon for Father's Day!

I got to take him for a drive and shop for tools.

He walks around the tool store kinda like I do at Hobby Lobby!  It was fun to watch him!

And we had time to visit...  it was wonderful!

Love you, Dad!

Father's Day 2012

I wish I was a wordsmith and could say what John really means to our family...  what a great dad he is and how grateful we are to celebrate him on Father's Day.

I have some pictures...  of the gift parade tradition.

and of the boys with their dad in the recliner... another Father's Day tradition. :)

And the boys' favorite picture is the one where I finally let them be silly!

However, what is not visible to the camera, but what we really cherish the most is John's heart for us. 

The way he stands in the gap...  his prayers for us...  his humble love.

The way he guides the boys to the Lord...   he mentors...  he disciples.

A father's heart - one that is truly devoted to the Lord - is a treasure... and we are rich in the blessing of belonging to John's family!

Happy 13th Birthday, Josiah!

Our oldest turned 13 today!

It seems like a milestone birthday.  We've begun the TEENS!

But I think 12 might have been the bigger year...  our boy is begining to sound like a man and he just might have outgrown me already.  He loves that and I'm trying to get used to looking up to him.

He makes me laugh like John does.  I love that.

And his smile melts me.

We blinked and our baby is turning into a man.

13 years ago... (before the age of digital photos)

and today...

his request... PLAIN lemon cupcakes with PLAIN lemon icing. :)

We had so much fun celebrating together!

The boys spent the afternoon playing together with the new games.

And I've decided there is just nothing like hearing brothers enjoying being together...  boy laughter and whoops of delight... awesome!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JOSIAH!

We are blessed to have you for a son and so excited to see all that the Lord is doing in your life as you continue to grow in your walk with the one true God!

We are so PROUD of YOU!

Celebrating the End of the School Year

in Eureka Springs at The Great Passion Play!

We've been counting the days...  anxious to end the school year.

We made it!!!

The boys had a great year and we all learned a lot!

To celebrate we took a family field trip to see the life size replica of the Tabernacle at the Passion Play.  It was really neat to see because we had studied it in school this year... we had even made our own miniature replica.

Here we are at the Tabernacle...

And of course we went to see the statue!

And the boys loved the play!

Can you believe this was the first day of June?!?  Look at our clothes...  it was CHILLY and we were sipping hot chocolate...  it was MARVELOUS!!

Well done Wasson Boys!

You've graduated to the next year of school!

Happy Summer...