Her Daddy makes her smile.?? 🙂

I originally titled this post Guns and Roses because I was being ultra witty.?? ;)?? Daddy’s nice arms and pretty little flower.?? Unfortunately, my brother censored my post and so I can’t show you the guns part.?? Too bad too – Brooke and I were quite impressed hee hee.?? I am probably not supposed to say that either but hopefully he won’t read it and you won’t tell.?? Consider this a compromise.?? 😉

This past weekend we were camping up in Strawberry with our family and friends.?? Their were 14 families there and a boatload of kids.?? It was absolutely theraputic for me.?? We had a WONDERFUL time.?? Got some good long talks in with sweet girlfriends that I don’t often get good girl talk time with.?? Got to watch Tori have the time of her life getting absolutely filthy.?? Patted myself on the back for my ingenuity in buying rain boots for the kids because not only did it help with the mud factor, but it was really fantastically easy to get the vomit off both Ty’s and Tori’s boots when Ty lost his lunch after swinging too many times in a circle on the tire swing (David’s camp chair and tarp didn’t clean quite so easily).?? That dang swing proved to be quite the hazard for Karsyn and Ty.?? Tanner rode his bicycle up and down the dirt paths from sunup until sundown and I DELIGHTED in the fact that Ty wandered from campsite to campsite for two days straight getting loved on by all his family and friends.?? Brooke named him the Camp Pirate because he knocked on every RV door about a million times asking if he could see inside and check out what snacks you had.?? (Another reason why he may have thrown up LOL).???? Jim and I are not the only family in our circle going through the process of dealing with disabilities so we had several little therapy sessions with other families.?? One Dad and I were actually reading the same book on Tourette’s.

What a much needed weekend vacation it was.?? Before bed on Saturday night, we all gathered around the fire and sang.?? We took turns talking about all that we were thankful for.?? It was interesting to me that without exception, we all talked about being thankful for one another.?? Most of the people that we camped with this year I have known for more than 20 years.?? I love raising my babies with theirs.?? I love that I was able to send my three kids out to mingle with them and know that they would be loved in every circle they wandered.?? I love that because we are a close knit group, word was already out about Ty’s new dx and the entire clan was “in the know”, “in on the plan”, and ready to love and support (as we are of their little ones).?? I love that I got to sit next to my 8 year old son and listen to him sing every word of Creation to Creator as Ryan played.?? In the dark, Tanner couldn’t tell I was watching and listening to every thing out of his mouth and I was stunned at all the songs he has memorized from children’s church.?? I think his favorite is still Holy Fire (Jeremy Camp).?? That was beyond precious.

Before we left, Darin and John orchestrated a baseball game for the kids.?? Tori decided she wanted to be the pitcher so Uncle Darin carried her while pitching the whole time.?? She loved it.?? Turns out Tanner, is showing some skills in the field and I was so happy to see him jump in and play.?? Karsyn, Braxytn and Zandi were hysterical.?? They enjoyed sharing the bases and socializing.?? Braxtyn even toted her makeup bag on the field – just in case you know.?? :)?? But Ty…oh Ty…he had me laughing the most.?? No one bothered to explain the game to the kids so most of them had no clue (again…Darin and John headed this up – no explanation needed hee hee).?? When it was Ty’s turn at bat, they let him use a t-ball stand.?? After he hit the ball (and stand), he didn’t know what to do next so taking his bat with him, he laughingly charged after the pitcher (Darin).?? We were yelling across the field to him to drop the bat, leave Uncle Darin alone, and get his adorable self to first base.?? When it was time to travel to second, I watched him take off running but then stopped between bases to holler out at the kid standing on second base “Hey!?? Hi!?? I know you!”?? LOL.?? Silly boy.?? When he got to third, it was time for a snack break so he sad down and broke out a pack of smarties and started eating them quite leisurely.?? It was hysterical and I am so sad I didn’t capture it on film.?? I only took 3 pictures when I was up there.?? Too busy talking and enjoying the moment. Can’t wait for next year already.?? This weekend was a picture of what a church without walls looks like.?? Definitely my idea of “church”.?? To love God, to love people – that’s the center of the mark (as FourHim would say).

“From creation to creator I acknowledge you as Lord for without you I would have no life at all.?? Every breath I take to praise drawn only as you have allowed, designer of my heart I love you so…just wanted you to know.”?? – Everybody Duck