Summer..........!

So much is happening that I feel that I get behind in my stories for posting. Since last week Emma and Madison have been to camp and started swimming lessons and today we had a wonderful tea party with friends outside! The weather has been absolutely amazing which has made the garden amazing and producing tomatoes, lettuce, spinach, chives, basil, cilantro, and zucchini! Oh and a beautiful pepper which was so nice and fresh. I have pictures but not loaded onto the computer yet.
This year I planted corn in my green house to see how it will do. So far it is doing great and it is already past my knee, so I just might get some corn this fall! We have had a nice mix of rain and sun, and it makes everyone in such a better mood here in our great state. After last summer with the weather not reaching over 60 more than 5 days out of the entire summer and only that amount in sunny days, we were all depressed and very pessimistic about the outcome of our summer this year. We have already had more sunny days this summer than the last 3 years combined and that is not too much of an exaggeration.

Camp is in its 3rd full week and next week is water ski camp. Today was the end of primary camp, which is what Emma and Madison attended, and tonight started our family camp which gives families a great opportunity to spend a few days together and not have to worry about cooking or cleaning and just do fun things. There are trail rides, boating, swimming, the "country fair", archery, walks, riflery, across the lake swim, and several other activities that families can do together. Chad has been busy getting things ready for volunteer groups that are coming and for the SOWER's (servants on wheels ever ready) that comes for 4 weeks at a time. He and James have to keep them busy and make sure that they have what they need. In addition to that we sometimes play tour guide and fishing guide for them! Chad is also driving the van with all of the campers luggage that follows the bus to Anchorage every weekend. He is also in charge of work crew again this year and meets with them several times a day to keep up with their needs. When he is not busy with that he drives the wilderness group out to the drop off site and picks them up when they are finished every other week. All the work during the summer keeps our full time staff and our volunteer staff hopping! It is the children that come to camp and the difference that we see in their lives that keeps us all going. Knowing that just one child might know Jesus just a little better, or invite Him into their heart makes all the work stuff worth it. This is why we are here....to make a difference in their lives and hopefully in the community.
Please keep these kids in your prayers each day. Please keep our staff, both full and volunteer, in your prayers as well. Pray for their strength to finish the summer strong and not give up because of tiredness.