Big Fun!!

We are back from our mini-vacation and working through the mountain of laundry. The trip couldn't have gone better- The staff at Camp Bethel made Micah and Leah feel SO WELCOMED at their first Christian camp. Everytime we take the kids to Camp Bethel, I return so thankful for the young men and women who speak TRUTH into our kids. All 5 of our kids that went had a wonderful time, grew closer together (and Olivia, our girls' best friend) and grew closer to the Lord. Isn't it just like God to have another girl from Africa at the camp at the same time? They commented on the way home how they would love to be counselors there someday.

The littles and Mike and I had a blast snowmachining (even at -4 degrees), sledding and hanging out together (thanks, Eldridges for the fun time). I can't wait to see Gavin on skis or snowboard, because he rides the sled like a professional snowboarder- so fun to watch. The Wyoming sun came out on our last day there and the mountain couldn't have been more beautiful. I commented to Gavin that his Mommy loves the mountain because my Mommy loved the mountain. He said, "I love the mountain because you do, Mom.."

After seeing a picture of herself as a baby at my Dad's house, Layne commented that we needed another baby in our house..I love that our kids see babies and other kids as blessings-- not burdens, like they heard from SO MANY people almost everywhere we went. It makes me so sad to hear someone say to us, "Raising 2 was bad enough." I'm learning to smile and just say, "I'm so thankful they are all mine"..and I truly am. And yes, if God decided to bring another baby to our home, it would be well loved by all. For those of you who know my sweet 5 year old, she now wants to be known as Layne (one syllable), not Lay nee as we've called her since birth. I think this request goes hand in hand with wanting another baby in the house- my baby here is growing up and oh what fun she is.

Finally, I wish I had a camera to capture Leah yelling, "BIG FUN!" as she came out of the water slide Weds night. I've never seen her smile so big or see her move so fast as she hopped out to run back up the stairs to do it again..those firsts are fun, no matter what age.