Home from Camp

Kelsie & Cam made it back safely from camp & had a great time! They both said the slide was one of their favorite things...plus the food, of course :) They even tried a few new things. Then last night, back to mom's...goin' out to eat :) I can't wait to find my cord (or buy a new one, probably more like it) to our camera so I can post some pictures....soon, I hope.

CAMP Pictures!

Ok, well, I still haven't found my camera connector to post my pix from the day the kids left for camp, but 1st Baptist O'Fallon is taking pictures and they finally have Tuesday's pictures up on their site, here is the link:

http://fbcophotos.smugmug.com/Childrens%20Ministry/346347

I saw Kelsie in the distance in one of the cafeteria pictures -- click on picture 35 of 52 to see an awesome pic of Cam :)

Well, 2 out of 3 aint bad...well, really it is AND Happy Belated Birthday Kelly!

Ok, so the Cardinals won't be sweeping the Cubs this week, but, they played a pretty good game last night. They must win the next 2 and sweep the Brewers this w/e. I know, pretty unlikely, but hey, last year was unlikely too.

The word from Best Buy is that our computer is on its way back....I can't wait! Hopefully by the weekend we will be back in business, we'll see.

Yes, I forgot to post a big shout out to my niece Kelly in New York! Last week was her birthday, we hope it was happy!

Mustangs & Camp

Well, I wish I had better news about the Mustangs, but they were upset on Saturday, losing the game 8-2. The picture posting will have to wait; somehow the connector isn't in my camera bag -- this library computer thing is tedious at best. Cam did make a great defensive play in the game. He was playing 2nd base and the throw came down from the catcher, trying to throw out a baserunner trying to steal: the runner beat the throw, but came off the base and Cam applied the tag again, runner out! :) It was a great season, though. The team finished 13-3 and came in 3rd place in the league. Fall ball starts in August.

I dropped the kids off at Church this morning -- they are headed to camp. I also wanted to post some pictures of that; guess those will have to wait too. They were both excited -- last night Kelsie was a little teary -- she misses her mom (& dad :) ) at least til she gets in the van and gets going.

I hope all of you have a great week!

P.S...The Cardinals need a HUGE week against the Cubs...let's hope for the best (a sweep). Series starts on Tuesday.

Getting Ready for Camp

Kelsie and Cam will be heading off to church camp first thing Monday morning. They are SO excited. This is Cameron's first trip. I asked him last night if he thought he would miss us and he quickly said yes. Then he added, "well, it depends on what you mean by 'miss' ". In other words, he will occasionally think of us and figure we are bored because what in the world could we have to do if they are not home? Then, he'll continue having a blast at camp. I wouldn't have it any other way. So, this weekend is going to be filled with catching up on laundry since it hasn't been done since I left for my parent's last Sunday, and hasn't been done since I got home Wednesday night, and running to Target for those last minute items they need for camp.

Cam has a playoff game at 3:00 today -- go Mustangs!!! If they win today, they will play for the championship tomorrow at 4:00 -- go Mustangs!!!

I hope all of you have a great weekend.

Very fast update

Made it back to STL last night about 6:30; made it back to work today -- woo hoo. Pretty bad when you're excited about going back to work, but I think we are all ready for some type of routine. Well, the library boots you out at 8:45, so happy Thursday to everyone out there!

Stranded in the Quad Cities

Well, at 5:35pm tonight when I should have been taking off for STL, the sun was shining and I was sitting at Subway in Coal Valley having dinner. I received a call from American Airlines about 15 mins before leaving for the airport, they cancelled my flight! Bad weather in Chicago??? Hmmm. My husband thinks I planned it because guess what? The last time I got stranded was back in December - I was in Wash DC and there was an ice storm in STL which shut down the airport...and our power was out...well, today, once again, our power was out. He thinks it's awfully convenient that I haven't had to brave the power outage with him and the kids either time. Despite the fact that I really need to be at work tomorrow morning, and I really do miss my loved ones in STL, I did manage to enjoy the evening with my sister and her sister in law at their bunco night! :) Oh, and does anyone know about "Bookworm"? It's a cool computer game my mom plays -- she's got me hooked on it now -- she will be happy for me to go home so she can have her computer and game back!

My 2nd Praise Report

Thank you all for your prayers for my sister. We are back from Univ of Iowa hospitals with a good report. The scans and blood work she had done today came back normal! This, along with the pathology report and report from the surgeon who removed the appendix, indicates that the cancer was confined to the appendix. So, she will go back in 3 months for another scan and blood tests to make sure it doesn't reappear. The doctor said that it might never bother her again, but they will keep a close eye on it. It's such a rare cancer that they don't really have any statistics, but the initial indicators are extremely positive, praise God.

Pics from Branson

Here are some pics from last week's trip. It's funny, my friend Janet B. e-mailed me tonight and asked how in the world I have time to scrapbook. I told her normally I don't, but I do try and work on it during one trip a year. This year was especially successful because I used the creative memories "picfolio" album. Yeah, die hard scrapbookers would call it cheating, but I call it brilliant and successful :)


EEK! This would scare anyone from wanting to scrapbook!

The boys playing ball at the big pool...

I loved how the condo was decorated so I took a few pics of ideas I want to copy...someday...

Nintendo DS lite....

We did break away from scrapbooking one night and took the kids go carting...it was a smash...literally!

One night, about 10 different acts came to the clubhouse and performed a song to entice the vacationers to come to their shows...it was a lot of fun and our show-going for the week. There is a lot of talent in Branson.

Update

Hi all -- well, made it back from Branson, but our computer crashed last night, so the pictures will have to wait. I dropped the computer off at Best Buy this morning and it may be 2 weeks b4 we get it back! Yikes! Talk about unconnected. It's crazy how much we use it too; I had to come to the library to do a few things that I do online (banking, etc). Anyway, I am going up to the Quad Cities tomorrow to hang out with my parents/sister for a couple of days. My sister will be going to the Univ of Iowa Hospital on Monday for some tests. Please keep her in your prayers and thanks! Until next time...hope all of you are doing great!

Unconnected in Branson

Hi -- my friend Vicky and I are in Branson with our kids (2 of Vicky's kids stayed home...are we THAT boring???) Anyway, there is no internet connection in our condo! I hate being unconnected. I escaped from the kids for a few minutes, found a Bread Co. w/internet access so I could check my e-mail, etc, I know, I'm a nut. But, it was raining and everyone wanted a snack, so, I'm bringing back some bagels, etc. Anyway, we are having a good time, it's a great place. Hopefully my scrapbooking will be at least a little more caught up than it was before I left. Hope everyone is doing well out there in the blogosphere!

My first praise report

Ok, so it's 3 days after the initial report of cancer and my sister called me late this afternoon with a praise. The doctor from Univ of Iowa looked at her records/reports and told her that he believes this cancer is the slow growing kind of appendiceal cancer. He told her "not to worry" and to come in on July 16th for her scans and they will meet and determine the course of action. So, needless to say we are very thankful to God for this initial report. My sister asked that we continue in prayer for her, and thanks to all of you for your continued prayers.

"For I know the plans I have for you..."

"declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." Jeremiah 29:11-13

THIS truly is what it's all about. This past Monday, the kids and I drove up to the Quad Cities (IL) to help my parents keep my sister company while she waited for a pathology report from her surgery. Yesterday the doctor called and the news was not what we had hoped and prayed for. My sister has cancer. As she prepares for more tests and surgery, would you please remember to pray for her to be able to claim these verses and for God's peace that passes all understanding? My parents also need prayer as do all of my sister's friends and family who will be supporting her during this difficult time. The people that have already been praying and ministering in her life have already been a blessing and we are all already thankful.

On this 4th of July, I am also thankful that I live in this country. So often I read bumper stickers that say "God bless America". I want to invent the bumper sticker that says "America bless God"!