We Survived Family Camp Part I

We loeft town Friday afternoon which if you live in the Phoenix area you know if it is cooler up north there is a traffic jam to high tail it out of town! We had a nice slow creep over the bridge from the 101 to the 17. We could have walked faster! We finally get moving and get up to the top of the mesa at sunset point and the sky looked like this!



When we got just past the point the rain began, not goo news for TENT campers! I tried to stay positive and just said well it will be more of an adventure, Jim was not as sure of that! We arrived at camp and our good friends where there ready with laterns and a helping hand and we got the tent up in no time! We managed to stay dry all night wiht out any leaks it rained most of the night!

This is Max enjoying a drink in front of Ben and Hollys tent...ain't he so cute!


The "boys" were very concerned about what THEY would do all day while the girls worked on thier badges. Very early they decided they would try to start a fire...this kept them busy ALL day and into the night! Since they were working with well soaked wood and pinecones we all felt fairly safe that a fire was never going to happen in thier ring at least!


Here is Mike ironically helping Abby cut up a cucumber, after her turn Holly took one, and cut her finger pretty well! It took awile to get the bleeding under control but thankfully she was fine.

Here she is with Abby flashing me "the finger" yes the irony was not lost on a bunch of 4th and 5th graders!

Grace...

Grace, it's the name for a girl

It's also a thought that changed the world



......




What once was hurt

What once was friction

What left a mark

No longer stings

Because Grace makes beauty

Out of ugly things

Grace makes beauty

out of ugly things ...U2







Do you ever have days where you feel like this?



I have had a few days like this! I have been sick as a DOG! Can't get out of bed let the kids run wild (if they are screaming they are still alive, right?) kind of sick... I missed work, I still feel yucky, BUT today is a BIG day! Tim made the All Star team and it is their first game! Sick or not that is where I needed and wanted to be!



Here he is in action! The was the staring pitcher tonight! How could a baseball loving mom miss that!


Or these beauties!


It was a long game! It was only 103 so it shouldn't have been too bad but being feverish still it was bad, but I made it through the game! The boys lost 4-7, They play one tomorrow, I hope for a better game.

Okay well what does that all have to do with GRACE?

Literally from Websters it is..



Main Entry:
1 grace
Pronunciation: \ˈgrās\
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French,

from Latin gratia favor, charm, thanks, from gratus pleasing, grateful; akin to



It also happens to be Abby's middle name and the name of one of my favorite great aunts.



You see it is by grace that I was able to go to the game tonight

It is grace that has helped Tim to not beat himself up when his team loses

It is grace that makes me think even on those days when things seem really bad, well the grace turns things around....I like the idea of Grace, it is unconditional, unlike Karma, which is do good so good can be re payed to you, Grace is just there. Like a good friend it is always there. I like the idea it is like doing good things even when you know no one is looking because it feels good!



We were graced tonight with a beautiful summer rain! Rain in the Desert is awe inspiring every time I see it! The smell is amazing and all is right in the world! Here is our Saguaro in our front yard, soaking up the rain!









Grace, it's the name for a girl




It's also a thought that changed the world... u2

Grace to you!