Update

Our 13 month old foster daughter, is in the process of transitioning back home to live with her parents. Her parents have really worked hard to have her return home, and so it's less difficult to see her go when we see how much progress they have made and how much support they have. What makes me feel good is that they are very connected with their church, and knowing that she will have a church family to watch out for her. Also knowing that hopefully she will grow up knowing who God is and that He has a plan for her life. As a part of the transition, she will be spending more and more time with her parents, and less time at our home. So as it is now, she is gone from Monday at 10a.m. to Thursday at 5:30p.m. and again from Saturday at 10a.m. to Sunday at 6:00p.m. Other than a few evenings and mornings, she is really only with us on Fridays. Since Miles is out of town for another 2 weeks it was good timing that this new schedule started so that I can focus on J and not be overwhelmed with both kids all week. Please keep praying for T as she makes her way home. Pray that God will have His hand on her life and that her parents will continue to make wise decisions. Also pray for us as we say goodbye to her and look forward to other kids coming to stay in our home one day.

Crazy Summer

How do our summers always end up so crazy? I was support staff for Royal Family Kids Camp, a camp for foster children, at the end of June. The first week of July, I drove 4 hours to Yakima and met up with my sister Debbie. It was just me and both kids. Considering I was driving alone with 2 children ages 1 and 5 months, the drive wasn't too bad. I stayed in Yakima 2 nights, and then Debbie and I carpooled to our sister Becky's house in McMinnville, OR. Another 4 1/2 hour drive. We stayed there for four days and then I reversed those drives. Only this time I did it both on the same day! I had 2 days to "rest" and repack all of us, get the kids to respite care, and last Sunday morning, the 15th, left to be a counselor for our church's high school camp.

Now let me tell you about our high school camp. It really is more like being on vacation. We rent 7 luxury houseboats on a lake in Canada. Miles & I get to do this camp together every year and every year it is an amazing and fun experience. This year was no exception. Including the 2 lightning storms that hit us, causing us to cancel 2 of the evening worship services and be confined to our boat. There's nothing like making s'mores using rolled up napkins that we light with matches and then roast our marshmallows with them over a trash can!! Unfortunately I have no pictures from camp because I accidentally left my camera's memory card at home. And the other camera on the boat had a dead battery. Good planning on our part!

The day after we got home from camp, Miles left for a 3 week business trip. It's only been 3 days since he left and I have to say that being a single parent is HARD! We were quite the sight in the grocery store this afternoon as I pushed one cart with the kids in it, pulled another cart with groceries, forgot my WIC coupons in the car, and tried to calm a screaming baby who just came from getting his 6 month shots. God bless the wonderful Albertson's checker who saw my plight, opened another checkstand for me, unloaded all of my groceries, separated the WIC from the non-WIC items and then helped me to the car.

Well that is my crazy summer. I can't wait to hit my bed tonight with a good book in hand!