We LOVE Family Camp!

We were at Family Camp this week, the best way that I can sum it up is to say that it was rejuvenating, exhausting, and amazing!  The speaker taught on Grace Based Parenting where we soaked up so much biblical insight on how to approach the high calling of parenting.   David and I also enjoyed some MUCH needed time together doing everything from a breakfast trail ride and cattle round up to playing pickle ball, baseball, and David making me run soccer drills.  Remember, David is the guy that doesn't know how to rest, so "free time" doesn't ever include relaxing.  Fortunately, I love getting to play sports together, even if it means that I get schooled :-).  

We had the opportunity to spend some precious family time during "family free time," doing everything from morning devotions, with our sweet "fast forward" counselor Pie Fly, whom we adore...

family worship every morning...

zip lining...

the "breath taker" (this was the kids first time) and let's just say that it's name is perfectly suited :-).  We were so very proud of both big kids for showing so much courage!

tubing and wake boarding... 

lots of swimming...

Abby loved her counselor "Sari"...

fun and silly theme nights...

David and Abby participated in the "color war"...

...while Andrew, Grace and I cheered them on!

play in the lagoon...

lots of sports...

dancing is a sport, right? :-)

"Club" where we all spend time dancing around and worshiping the Lord (this is always one of our favorite memories).

Grace LOVED "club" (clearly, her mommy did too :-)

Abigail's class performed in the talent show and it was rad!

The kids loved riding horses and Grace loved getting to meet the horses up close and personal (I'm pretty sure that she thought that they were big dogs).

Grace spent a lot of time with her counselors each day and she did wonderful, which gave us the freedom to truly enjoy ourselves.  While Grace was in her class she fell in love with her new best friend, Bella!  I love these girls as they are such a sweet picture of God's perfect and precious provision for us.  Y'all know Grace's story and sweet Bella was literally adopted off of the streets and is now a member of a fun, loving, and God honoring family.  

Grace loves Bella so much that she has continued to call for her all day since returning home from camp.  Bella has become a very special part of Grace's therapy, since Grace loves to look at this picture of her and Bella, I placed the picture at the end of the couch after she had pulled up and she "cruised" (walked along the side of the couch) for the very first time, so that she could get close enough to the picture to touch and kiss it.

The thing that makes Family Camp so different than any other vacation is the other "campers" (families that you get to see every year at Family Camp)...

We LOVE our Family Camp family!  They have graciously joined us on our Divinely designed roller coaster, since we found out about Grace's broken heart two days before we left for our first year of Family Camp.

The signature of Family Camp is... the AWESOME counselors!  They spend the entire week pouring into your family by serving you sacrificially and joyfully every minute of everyday (that explanation feels like such an understatement, but it's the best that I can do at this moment).  

This has to be our favorite counselor of all time!  "Hunka" has been such a special part of our family for the past 3 years.  I trust that the kids will see to it that we never lose touch with him :-).

The kids made "Hunka" a shirt to let him know how much they love him.

Lastly, we were overwhelmed (in the very best way) as we got to witness the way people (grown ups and kids alike) were drawn to Grace.  We couldn't walk more than a few steps at a time without someone coming up and wanting to talk to Grace.  Our heart would swell every time we got to see the joy that she naturally brings out in others and what the attention and love of others brings out in her (it is the manifestation of unconditional love and vulnerability).  It is unlike anything I've seen before, I'm just grateful that we get to be a small part of something so beautiful.  God is so good!

That just scratches the surface of the sweetness that is Pine Cove Family Camp.  If you have ever considered going and are on the fence, please reach out to me, so that I can convince you to go :-).

PRAYER REQUEST:  Abigail and Grace both have a cardiology appointment tomorrow morning.  Abigail will get an echo to take a closer look at her mitral valve because last time she was at the cardiologist they saw that she has mild mitral regurgitation.  Will you please pray specifically that the anatomy of her mitral valve (and the rest of her heart) looks totally normal and that the regurgitation never becomes a problem?  Please also pray for a good report for Grace.  She isn't getting an echo, this is just a follow up visit from her last hospital stay (from when she had the nasty virus a few weeks ago).

Thank you sweet Village!!!  We love and appreciate you!!!