Purging...

Yesterday Amy attacked her room like a crazy person. She was determined to get rid of anything she didn't plan on needing in the next few years. She knows that once she leaves for college there's a big possibility she'll never live at home again for more than short spurts. Sad, but very possibly true. So she filled a trash bag with academic medals, girly treasures, a partially completed afghan, files, knick-knacks, etc. We put her precious collection of books on the shelves up high in her room and emptied the shelves in the closet for the most part. She made a pile for trash, a pile for Goodwill, and a pile for a little girl in Arkansas whom we send things to from time to time. Nothing was spared! Posters are off the walls and her desk is emptied. This girl is moving on!

Thankful...

Back in the swing of things again...Laura greeted her residents yesterday and is happy things are finally underway at Mines. Amy is counting down the days till she goes to J & W (less than 2 weeks,) and we're spreading her things out and getting them ready to pack up. And Bethany just finished her third week of school and is busier than ever, which she loves. She picked up another volunteer job at the CSFD headquarters on Friday afternoons working in the office. Add to that 6 hours on Saturdays at the hospital and our girl is getting about 9 hours of volunteer time a week! Brian is getting ready for a quick trip to Ohio followed about 36 hours later with a trip to Maui. And me? It's a full-time job just keeping it all straight. I'm the keeper of the calendar, the baker, the taxi driver, the packer, etc. I often wonder how women who work outside the home are able to do it all. I'm thankful for a husband who supports me in staying home. And I realize how blessed we are that we have a roof over our heads and food on the table when so many people are struggling to make it in this crazy economy.

Transformations...

It's been a whirlwind having Laura home for a few short days. We've been to the farmer's market, shopped for formal dresses, fixed food that she likes, made door decorations for her residents, and laughed...a LOT! Rarely do we get to have her home when she's able to relax. Usually her mind is on classes or her job, but this time she was between jobs and doesn't have any classes to think about for a couple more weeks. We just had fun! On Thursday I'll take her back to the campus for her junior year. And just a couple of weeks later I'll take Amy to her campus to begin her freshmen year. How can this be possible? I swear they were just headed off to kindergarten, and now they're growing up so fast! But I guess this is a good thing. They're excited about the days/years ahead. Brian and I must have done something right, I suppose, if they're so eager to fly. I just hope the next 3 years are a bit slower so we can enjoy having Bethany home awhile longer. She is, after all, still a little girl...isn't she?

And my Amy...

Laura's turn...

just for kicks...

For about a year now we've been looking for a time when all 3 girls were home at the same time and had their hair done the way they like it. We finally realized that might never happen. Either they're not all home or their hair isn't "right." Yesterday 2 of the 3 girls were ready and eager to try on my wedding dress, so we pulled it out and unsealed it. It hadn't been out in almost 25 years! As we pulled it out of the box, it took my breath away. It was just as beautiful as I remembered, and the girls were so excited to finally see it for themselves. First Bethany, and then Laura tried it on. I didn't cry, but it really was touching to see them. And it was bittersweet, of course, to realize that it once fit me and now it fits my girls. I don't know if any of our girls will choose to wear it oneday. I don't want them to feel any pressure to do so. But for a few minutes, they each felt like Cinderella, and it was touching to see how beautiful they looked in something that's so special to me. Today, it's Amy's turn!

The happy couple!

3 August 1975

It's been 34 years since I was at Baptist camp in Indiana and made a simple plea..."Lord, please live in my heart." And life has never been the same since! Thank You, Abba Father!

Summer Heat Firecamp

On Friday, Bethany completed her week as a teen volunteer at Summer Heat Firecamp. This is an awesome camp put on by the Colorado Springs Fire Department for young women ages 14-19. Since Bethany attended as a camper last year, she was allowed to help out this time, and boy, did she ever have a blast! She was there by 7:45 every morning and a couple of times didn't get home until almost 8 at night, but not once did she complain (except when she was bummed that the week was over!) She scurried up the 110' ladder and helped out at the propane fire demo. And she got to be the "dummy" the girls dragged from the smoke filled building! The week was filled with fire-fighting activities and competition and I've never seen her happier. This was the highlight of her summer, by far. The recruiting that Bethany did with the firefighters during the school year paid off. This year they actually had a waiting list for the first time in awhile. I'm blown away by the love and dedication of the firefighters who put on this camp. They're amazing women...very inspirational and dedicated to encouraging young women to follow their dreams...to face challenges and conquer their fears. These women don't do this job for the money. Clearly, they do it because it's a passion for them. So thanks, Stacy, Rachael, Becka, Mindy, Wendy, Ruth, etc, for letting Bethany be a part of this journey. It's an experience she hopes to be a part of for many years to come.