Memorial Day Weekend

This past weekend was a special treat for us. I realized that this was only the third time we have gone on an overnight "vacation" as a family that did not include extended family in some way. We drove to southern Ohio and met friends from Illinois to camp out at Top of the Caves campground in Hocking Hills State Park. Well, technically next to it. Either way, it is a very beautiful place! Once again, the weather was colder than expected, but not so much this time. The first night was a but chilly, not Assateague chilly thankfully, and after that it was really nice camping weather.
Our first excision was to Old Man Cave. After a short hike from our campground, we came out on top of this huge recess cave complete with a trickling waterfall.

We also found a malfunctioning water fountain that shot the water about twenty feet away.  Jason kept trying to get Lyla to put her face down and let him turn it on, but she wouldn't.  Smart girl.

I don't know how I got away from the weekend with only a handful of pictures from the actual campsite.  That's where we spent most of our time.  I guess we were too busy cooking and eating and singing and laughing.  We ate lots of super yummy campfire food and we all agreed that pie irons are the best thing ever! We made pizza pockets, cream cheese blueberry pockets, cinnamon rolls, peanut butter and chocolate chip pockets, even our smores in the irons.  The peanut butter and chocolate chip pockets was my favorite.  Tink went with us and spent her time at the campsite nussled down in the weeds on the edge of the sight or sleeping in someone's lap or sleeping bag.

We also visited Cedar Falls.  There were some unique bridges back and forth across the creek.  And the gorge overlook trail is very nice too.  Lyla kept us all jumping the whole time because she would take off at a run to see over the edge of the various cliffs scaring us all to death.  We thought it appropriate to take her picture with the dangerous cliffs sign.  She, of course also wanted to see very close to a spot called the Devil's Bathtub.  We saw lots of animals over the weekend also: a very pretty snake, interesting moths and spiders, a couple of raccoons who tried to raid our food each night one of whom Will affectionately named "George Cooney."

Our last hike of the trip was to Rock House.  It's hard to envision the huge-ness of this place from the pictures.  It was super cool.  There was an open air cave that you can climb through with enough natural light coming through holes and crevices to see by.  It ends at a step incline that looked like people climb up and down, but it's definitely not the "trail."  So I wouldn't let the girls go out onto the outcrop, but as soon as they walked away I did.  Just to be silly.  Cause it doesn't make my stomach flip to go out there, just to see the girls out there.  The bridge that Robin and Will are standing on is at the bottom of the outcrop.  

We did see nests of swallows and doves nesting with babies up in the cave.  Lyla even got pooped on.  We tried to tell her that it was good luck in some countries, but she would not wear that hoodie the rest of the trip no matter that the poop came off easy.  

 We had a really wonderful weekend.  The girls kept saying "Best Camping Trip Ever!"  And I agree.  Good friends.  Good food.  Good weather.  Good location.  We may just try to make it an annual event!

On With Life

We closed on our house in Champaign last week.  It was not a joyful experience, but we are all just glad to close that chapter of our lives.  It was a pretty stressful couple of days and it came down to the last dollar on whether we would actually be able to close or not.  God provided that last dollar though and it did go smoothly on the day of.  It is disappointing to end up having to pay out money to sell a house, especially when it is selling for more than you owe.  But fees and taxes got us in the end, and we've learned a few things to look out for if there is a next time.  We aren't exactly newbies at selling a house - this was our third - and I still don't know if it was just how things are done in Illinois or a series of decisions based on bad advice, but we are done with it now and it's time to move on.  So we are back to doing the normal.  And we're looking forward to whatever God has for us in the fall, whether that is buying a home here or renting a house.  We are all pretty much agreed that we do not want to stay in the apartment when our lease is up though.  In the meantime, we can enjoy the apartment pool all summer!

We happened to pass by the fairgrounds last week while the horses and jockeys were practicing for the Preakness.  It was really neat to see the difference between race horses (on the right) and normal horses (on the left).  And it was super cool to see the horses running full out.

On Friday the girls once again joined students from the Lamb of God school for a field trip.  This time we went to Walter's Art Gallery for a program on Ancient Greek and Roman art.  Our tour guide was sort of soft spoken and not-so-enthusiastic, but the kids still learned some things and got to see some really spectacular pieces of art.  I was proud of the girls and how much they remembered and made connections with as we went through the exhibits.  At the end they all got to make a statue of a hero like the Greeks and Romans made of their heroes.  Gwyn made one of Jason.  Celee made Superman.  Lyla kept changing who she said hers was.  It varied from me, to various movie characters, to an angel.

Jason's mom got to come visit us for the weekend.  The girls always love to spend time with Monty.  We took her down to the harbor for one afternoon.  We ate at the Cheesecake Factory and got some of the biggest pieces of cheesecake ever!  Then the girls got some balloon creations from a balloon man.  They didn't last long.  I think only Celee's made it home in one piece.

Celee and Lyla tried out for a gymnastics/cheer team this weekend.  Lyla was pretty excited about it as you can tell from her pose.  I don't think they'll actually join the team, but it was fun to try-out.

Gwyn went on a sailing overnight with her Girl Scout troop this weekend.  They sailed out of Baltimore Harbor, spent the night at Camp Whippoorwill  and then sailed back the next afternoon.  They hoisted sails and swabbed decks.  They got to fish and catch crabs and oysters.  Gwyn had an amazing adventure!

Monday the Maryland Zoo had buy one get one free admission for Museum Week so we went.  It is a really nice zoo.  There were lots of kid things to do around the exhibits and the exhibits themselves are pretty large.  It is a breeding zoo too, so we got to see baby prairie dogs and a baby lemur.  We got to see the penguins being fed and one of the zoo keepers gave a talk about them and answered questions.  It was neat because the penguins at this zoo are warm-weather penguins from Africa, so it wasn't the usual.  The farm area of the zoo just made us all want a farm more.  And Lyla was excited to pet the little donkeys.  I don't know why but every since she could say "konkey" she's loved donkeys.  That's on the long list of animals that they'd like to have one day.  This zoo is very spread out and wooded so you feel like you're in a park that happens to have exotic animals around.  We will definitely be going back!

Manna

Today I am thinking of manna in the desert. I am torn between the biblical financial guidelines that say to save, to invest, to prosper, and God's instructions to the Israelites in the desert not to gather more manna than they needed for the present day. When those future-minded individuals did gather more than they needed for the day, it rotted and was useless. Only for the Sabbath could they gather for more than one day and the manna would remain unspoiled. I translate this as if it was for honoring The Lord and bringing Him glory, the manna could be stored. But when it was to allay the people's fears that God may not rain the manna down the next day so better safe than sorry, well, then it spoiled. So today, as my "manna" is completely gone I hope to have the faith that is needed to truly not worry about tomorrow for today has enough worries of its own. God does provide - not necessarily in some worldly material sense, but in what He knows we truly need to be the person who we can best bring Him glory. I am thankful the "manna" was sufficient for this day. I am struggling with the fear of what will happen tomorrow. I pray that God will increase my faith, so that whether tomorrow brings about anything even near to my hopes and dreams or whether it is something completely different, I can have peace knowing His plan is better. And that I can bring Him glory here and now, not pining away over manna that can't be stored. He is good. And His provision is so much more than simply sufficient.

Mother's Day

It was a Happy Mother's Day.  After a very stressful week, we didn't do much this past weekend.  I did finally go get the girls' hair cut.  I really don't make a priority of this as much as I should, mine or theirs.  But it was definitely time.  So we walked down the hill to the Hair Cuttery to get it done.  I had thought to myself that if I thought the ladies did a good job I would get mine cut as well.  Well, I did not get mine cut.  First one of the ladies argued with me about Celee's hair, then cut it shorter than she showed us.  The lady who cut Gwyn's did her bangs weird and then started braiding her hair even after Gwyn said she really didn't want her to.  I guess Lyla's went ok, but overall I am not too impressed with the Hair Cuttery.  I will be making myself an appointment somewhere else.  The girls weren't too keen on getting a picture of their haircuts afterwards.  After Gwyn took her braid out and we walked a bit back to the apartment, I did manage to get one.

I was treated to omelets, sweet cards, and candy for Mother's Day.  Jason got me a lovely corsage too!  I just love a corsage - it just makes me feel special.  Then the girls and I headed to church.  I got to help out with Gwyn's class and then go to worship with Jason later.  It's cool to get to participate with my girls in their Sunday School classes.  It also selfishly helps me to know who is who and what is being said and done.  :)  

After church we got to eat out at Carrabba's.  All the ladies got a white rose for Mother's Day and the girls had a funny time with mine.  Gwyn really wanted me to hold it in my teeth and dance, but I thought she should do it for me since it was Mother's Day.  She didn't exactly dance, but it was fun.  And the food was super yummy as always.  And we were all super full the rest of the day so I didn't have to make supper.  Oh, but we did have cheesecake.  I did make one of those.  Butterscotch cheesecake makes a good Mother's Day dinner I believe.