Blessing Bags, Youth Conference, and Much More

Summer is about half way over. It is sad how fast it is flying by. :( This past weekend was our church's annual youth conference (YOCO) and it was so exciting to serve all the leaders and teens. I was so thankful that Zachary did better this year socially- he seemed to enjoy it and had friend to hang out with. The theme was "Break Out" and I think all the workers looked like they were dressed in orange for the prison. This past weekend, we also got together with some neighbors and friends to put together "Blessing Bags"- bags filled with some items for people less fortunate than us. The bags contained water, snacks, deodorant, toothbrush and toothpaste, etc. It also had a note on it about how we are praying for them and how Jesus loves them and they have HOPE! Otherwise, it's been the same 'ol, same 'ol for summer happenings here- baseball, museum, video games, a few naps here and there, and swimming.

Baseball and Haiti

The last week has been soooo LONG! Shawn went to Haiti to work at an orphanage there. We have had Haiti on our hearts for five years and so it was awesome for him to get to travel there and experience their culture and serve in an orphanage. Shawn had some great revelations from God about our call and it was so amazing to hear how God spoke to him during and through the journey. We are so incredibly thankful to have Shawn home. It was a very long week without him. Thankfully, our friends and neighbors were so incredibly helpful with meals and the kids. God's hands and feet in action here as well as in Haiti. . . .


Do you like the palm tree sticking out of Shawn's head? He spent the last day of the vision trip at a resort in Haiti.
While Shawn was gone, our grass got a little tall. Moses and Malachi liked playing in it. I'm guessing Moses thought he was a tiger in hiding.
Shawn was so excited to have American food when he came home!

 As we have been hosting a Larks baseball player this summer, we have enjoyed spending time at the ballpark. The boys are also in baseball so it makes for some very busy evenings. My good friend Sheila has been going to some of the Larks games with us. Thankfully, though, we have decided that next year the boys will NOT be signed up for baseball. It has been stressful this summer to make them attend when they do not really want to. So, we are just going to lessen the load on our schedule next summer and let them do other activities.


The boys have been busy with camps, catching live critters and just generally bugging me. :)


We took Logan to church camp for the week and my sister asked to have Zachary spend the week with her. I was thankful for the break and Zachary has been enjoying time with his cousins.
 
Malachi has been enjoying the summer museum programs.