Camp Dunamis...

...( aka danger camp) has come and gone. They are a very fun group known as much for their love for God and kids as their crazy activities. I should have taken pictures of the inflatable maze, bungee run, adult-sized tricycles, zip line and snow cone machine, but at least I got this great orange punch shot on barbecue day! We had one major collision during week one's capture the flag, but most campers went home unscathed physically, and hopefully, stretched and deepened spiritually. This group's number has outgrown our facility, but instead of changing locations, they have split into two weeks of camp in order to stay here. Much of their leadership stays for the full two week session, which is very cool because usually during the summer the end of the week is when you feel like you have gotten to know a few new people, and then they leave. After twenty six meals though, they feel like family.

Once, there was this kid,

(Theory Test)

Hemet Oddities

So...all of this meat is from America? Maybe the Albertson's butcher is particularly patriotic? Perhaps the results of studies on the subliminal effects of helium + mylar + raw meat on appetite have been favorable?

Hey Sherry...besides pumkin squares, what is a must-have for Family Camp?

Ethan's Visit

Ethan Arrives Tomorrow!

This cute kid is staying with his Auntie Lisa ALL WEEKEND- his first such trip. I am very excited.

Didn't See Much of This in Oxnard

John Fox

On Thursday night after our trip to Hemet, I half-jokingly said to Sarah "Okay, well I guess I'll talk to you later tonight at the hospital." I got the call at 5:36 a.m.



Sarah is amazingly good at being in labor and birthing children, so between contractions we all sang Salt n' Pepa's "Push It" and posed for pictures.









This post comes late because it is difficult to explain being a witness to the birth of a child of two dear friends. It's thrilling. I think I at one point benignly said "you can do it Sarah" (I was never a cheerleader), but other than that I just stood, awed. A child's first seconds of life don't simply point to God, they rip and claw fiercely through any notion of self-reliance. If you are ever asked to take part in it, do. Even if you are ridiculously squeamish, if you rock from side to side, and wring your hands a lot, you'll be fine.




Then, if you happen to be in Palm Springs, go park yourself under some palm trees, and get that mama a steamer!

Eighteen years ago today, two thirds of my family moved to Frazier Park.

Panera

The internet at Jim and Jen's is on the fritz (I probably wore it out), so here we are are Panera for the tomato mozzarella salad and the free Wi-Fi. I am frantically posting all that I can before we are kicked out, so I will blame my lack of planning and my excessive use of the passive voice on the time crunch.

We also went on the giant slide three times! My mother would be jealous, as this is one of her favorite things to do.

We went to the Hawaiian Festival in Northridge today and stood in a loooong line for malasadas which are doughnut-type delights. The booth's attendants were incredibly busy, but moved quickly on this assembly line:

Dinner

After adding our names to the hour wait at B.J.'s Brewery, we walked down the block to The Cheesecake Factory where they sat us immediately. Our server was nice, but slow (and yes, I am overly critical in restaurants, but the others agreed that we sat waiting too long and too often). But the food was great, and the third helping of my dinner waits for me in Jim and Jen's refrigerator. More pictures to come when I have more internet time.

Thursday was my birthday. After a fun brunch with Sarah and company at Cafe Aroma, complete with homemade cards, I packed up for a four-day jaunt in the city. I hope my plant from Nancy lasts until I get back.

June