Cool waters, Hot days, Good friends!

On Saturday we were blessed to spend the day with another fun adoptive family (The Summers-10+)playing in the freezing cold McCloud River with water run straight off Mt. Shasta. 

 What a crew of boys!  and Yes I do consider my husband one of the boys, just missing Jeff!

 Amani catching his breath with a smile in the freezing water.

 Fani smiling, thinking, no way!  I did eventually chase him in once, for which my husband threw me in full clothed!  It actually felt great.

 Our beautiful Hannah Belle did eventually get in too.

 Most of the boys lined up trying to decide who was going to go first off the bridge.

 So they decided on the pilings first.

 Amani's launch.

 Amani mid-air.

 Amani with touch down. 

 Caleb with a two footed launch.

 Caleb mid-air.

 Caleb in what he calls his Karate-Kid pose, mid-air.

 Caleb touch down.

 Caleb thinking that was not too bad.

 Up to the bridge for a second look.

 and Caleb took off so fast to keep from backing out, David missed it.

 Amani launch

 Mid-air Amani

 Amani preparing for touch down.

 Good-bye Amani.

 Most of the day Fani was happy to watch rather than be a dare devil and he did not really enjoy that cold water--still to much Africa in him:)

 My and my wonderful husband.

 Part of the crew of 15 on a walk down the river.  

What a day!  What a blessing to spend the day talking with dear friends who understand the love and passion for orphans and the hurting as we do.  A safe place to talk trauma, love, healing, compassion, and grace lived out daily.  Real life!

 

May God bless your week as you seek to be His hands and feet in a hurting world.

Caleb is 14!

 Our Caleb turned 14 on the  22nd when we were camping, so yesterday we celebrated with an evening of fun and games at the park with lots of friends.  This group also contains part of what David and I have lovingly come to call Caleb's team, a group of families who have come along side to encourage, love, support, cheer on, and pour the Word of Truth on to Caleb.  A Whole Village if you like.  Though I have never liked the governmental control theme of that statement, I have come to realize there are many times in the lives of a child with a hard beginning that others  pouring into them is not only a nice break, but needed in their lives.  More on that another time.  Suffice it to say, for this group we are very thankful and Caleb knows it, because this mixed group is who he chose to come to his special day.

 Ultimate Frisbee was the game of the evening.

 A whole bunch of dads joined the game with the kids, and were great players.

 Amani and Fani are really getting the hang of it since they also play many weeks at youth group.

 

 My handsome husband showing the kids how to do it.

 And Courtney always showing the boys how to do it well and gracefully!

 We are soooooo loving having Drew home.

 

 Caleb surrounded, but not intimidated.

 Caleb and his friend, Joshua, they have a special bond that reaches beyond age and race.

 Did I mention we love having Drew and Courtney here?

 Drew kept passing it to Hannah over and over hoping she would catch it, not sure if she ever did but she loved having her brother pull her into the game.

 

 This man is a wonderful father!

 Did I mention....Oh yeah.......We love having Drew home, if only for a few days.

 My home made Pinterest Scrabble game was a fun diversion.

And the last one of our handsome Caleb.  Praying this year leads you closer and closer to the Lord as you seek Him in all your ways!

Picture Update

 Picture overload from last week which uploaded in a crazy order!  Oh well we are going to go with it since I had surprise visitors last night and want to get off the computer:)

 Hannah showing off our Pinterest creations.  Packaged biscuit dough wrapped around a marshmallow and chocolate chips and roasted over the fire.  Yummy!

 The boys 'trying' to smile for Caleb's birthday dinner.  I would put the rest of the pictures on too, but I am using them as leverage for good behavior---HaHa---got some good ones that they do not want published!

 Fani caught by Ms. Jennifer at the church campout.  He was hiding from her as much as he could, but I do not think he knew her lens could get him from so far away.

 Amani showing the silly side that he likes to hide.

 Caleb probably thinking of the next trouble they can get into---which ended up being getting on the  floating trampoline and having it float off into the mud flats and taking a half an hour to get it out.

 Dutch Blitz the game of the weekend.  I saw up to 12 players playing at one time.

 David with all the kids on Father's Day.  He is an amazing dad!!!!

 Having a discussion of lake rules with the boys before they take off into the extremely low muddy lake.

 Caleb presenting his dramatization by Micah Bournes called 'Confident Uncertainty' at camp.  He has a real gift.

 Part of teen central that hung out at our campsite all weekend.  It was fun.

 What is a campfire without hotdogs which were then smothered in chili. 

 Amani and Fani enjoyed their first camping trip with swimming, kayaking, sling-shot paintball fights, rowing to the island for a  picnic, cards, food, and naps.

 Hannah the quiet one always sweetly following along with all the craziness.

 Hard to get good pictures sometimes, but this was our dinner of meatloaf, potatoes, onion, and carrots cooked in the fire.  Another pinterest success.

 David coming back after his 5k race to finish with our friend Will who was doing his first race ever.

 We were so proud of Will and his accomplishment o finishing this race.  I must say knowing there was pizza at the end was a great encourager.  Amani and Caleb both came back to help encourage him in too.

 Fani finishing up his 5K.  sorry don't remember times or places.

 Caleb in the shadows under the bridge finishing up.

 Couldn't get the editing to work to pull this picture of Amani in.  He won his age group.

 David beat all the boys after chasing Caleb and Amani down.  With his fastest 5k in a while.  He is so thankful for the years of running when he thought his diagnosis 10 years ago might be an end to his running career.

 The Crew before race time.

 Hannah with her sweet friend Bethany.

 The boys at the trampoline park on the basketball court.

 Our precious Hannah liked the trampolines too.

 David the activities director for these crazy boys.  I think he loves it.

Have a blessed weekend.

Now off to spend time with Drew and Courtney who came two days early!!!!!