thankful thursday

Today I'm thankful for the fabulous time we had at Family Camp at Trout last week. Last year was our first time at Family Camp and we had the best time. So, nearly 6 months ago we signed up to go again this summer. I will admit that family camp is more fun when you are not pregnant and when it's not super hot and extra humid. But, even so, we had a great time once again. A few of us weren't 100% health-wise while we were there, which was kind of a bummer, but we made the best of it and all had a great time anyway! I really do think that family camp is the best family vacation around!

The kids loved their classes. Joey even "performed" in the 4's & 5's program this year (rather than standing on the stage looking extremely grumpy) and was a complete ham. Anna was quite a bit more of a participant than she was last year and felt completely comfortable at Trout by the time our week was up. A tad too comfortable at times . . . like when she just decided -- more than once -- to take off on her own. Once we found her in the chapel (which reminded us of this passage), once she was heading back to our cabin and sometimes she was just out for a leisurely stroll. Thankfully, we never found her in the lake! We played in the water, we ate lots, we sang crazy camp songs, we learned lots, we mini golfed . . . and after one extremely uncomfortable, really hot night we even (we, meaning Kirb!) commandeered a fan for our cabin (thanks to my large belly and current "state"). What a blessing!

Speaking of the heat, when we returned home after being gone for 5 days we turned our air back on (no sense spending a fortune cooling a house no one is in) only to find that it didn't work. It was 87 degrees in our house and we were all crabby and miserable (and, need I mention . . . overtired!). We still have to get another opinion, but it pretty much looks like it's shot and we might as well just replace the whole business. Not a huge surprise, since the AC is probably between 15 and 20 years old. But a bummer nonetheless! So I am very thankful for the drop in temps we had overnight on Tuesday and the lower humidity too. The weather yesterday was about as close to ideal as you can get, if you ask me.

I won't make you look through all of them, but here are a few pictures highlighting our time at Trout (I am thankful that I have any pictures at all, since our camera had a little run-in with some water and was completely out of commission for about 24 hours. But, it seems to be back to something close to 100% given a few days of "healing" time). Enjoy::

sisterly love::

{if you look carefully, you can see Anna about to go down the slide}::

our cabin is right through those trees
{obscured from view by our enormous van}::

my extra-brave, adventurous husband climbing to the top of a telephone pole for "The Leap of Faith" {you climb to the top -- harnessed in, don't worry! -- and then steady yourself on the top of the pole with no platform or anything, then you jump off and try to catch yourself on a trapeze bar, then you let go and they lower you down} This is something I will not be trying. Ever. Watching him was more than enough adventure and nervousness for me!::

Adventurous activity #2, the "Zip Line".
Climb the platform {harnessed, once again} and jump off and "zip" down a cable where you go for a long ways and drop about 70 feet in the process. Kirb is the guy on the far right and the building on top of the hill is the new Timber Ridge dining hall. My dad has done probably 95% of the masonry work on it -- foundation, block work, fireplaces, a huge chimney on the opposite side of the building and all the exterior stonework.
I believe I will try out the "Zip Line" the next time I am at Trout in a non-pregnant state. It looks like fun! Both Jacob and Lydia did the zip line too {they have a slightly smaller scale one for anyone over 8 to try) and they LOVED it, but that was during the cameras recovery time, so we haven't got any photographic evidence of their bravery::

Anna at the beach
{the last picture taken before the camera troubles began}::

Jacob on the rock climbing wall::

and back at the bottom::

Jacob & Lydia climbing {I think Jacob got to the top 4 times and Lydia did it 5 or 6 times . . . the little monkey!}::

Rebekah's climb::

Joey and his class performing "I am H-A-P-P-Y"::

Hot chocolate is a great way to start the day::

View of the lake on the boat dock side::

All the kids by the sign . . . notice how torn up Anna is about leaving camp::

It was a great week and we all look forward to next time!!

. . . and in other news:

1. The blanket of clean, fresh, beautiful whiteness that fell last night is SO much prettier than what it is covering up! It makes me happy! Thanks, Lord, for the fresh new look you gave my world [I'll appreciate it while I can, I know it won't be this beautiful for too long.] We happened to be coming home last night right when it was falling. It was absolutely everywhere in the sky, the whole world seemed to be thick and heavy with the snow . . . just completely full of it. It was the most beautiful thing I'd seen in a while. The kids hung out in the dark when we arrived at home catching big, huge flakes of it on their sweet little tongues. What a fun way to end the day! [Which unfortunately was followed by some parental nagging . . . and yelling about brushing teeth and cooperation and other bedtime-related things!!]

2. We've caught 6 mice to date, but haven't caught one in 3 or 4 days even with multiple baited traps in the basement. I'm starting to get hopeful that we've got them all, but I won't hold my breath quite yet.

3. This week marks the 5th anniversary of Evelyn's new heart. How happy and deeply grateful we are to have her in our lives! Happy Heart Day, sweet girl! You are definitely one in a million. [In case you don't know, Evelyn is the daughter of my good friend Ing and also Rebekah's BFF.]

4. The kid's had Monday and Tuesday off of school. Monday for President's Day and Tuesday for workshops and conference prep. It was very fun [mostly] to have them home a little extra. We mainly hung out and relaxed at home: played outside, watched movies, read some great books and just loved the extra time together! Today it's back to reality.

5. We [Kirbs & me] were wounded and hurt by someone's words the other day. Both of us are feeling all torn up inside over it and generally just pretty yucky. It makes me sad . . . good thing for the pretty snow! The first part of the adage "sticks and stones can break my bones" is true, but the reality is that the second part is not. The words hurt just as much and, unfortunately, don't heal as quickly or completely in most cases. What I wouldn't give for a broken arm instead of this yucky feeling in my gut. It is a good reminder to me of the power of our words and the care I need to take with mine.

The tongue is a small things, but what enormous damage it can do. A great forest can be set on fire by one tiny spark. (James 3:5 TLB)

I hope I will, from now on, be even more mindful of what I say. Of it's necessity [let's face it, I say tons of stuff each day that I just plain don't even need to say in the first place] and of it's impact on those who hear it [or hear of it, even]. I'm putting my hope on the fact that good will come out of this ickiness somehow, even if only in my own actions.

6. We got our [pretty significant] tax return the other day. I was thrilled to feel like we had no money worries, even for just a couple days . . . it's expensive raising 5 kiddos! It's pretty much all gone now, [the money, that is] but the good news is that we were able to pay off a couple of long-term capital campaign pledges that we pretty much made in faith, since they were kind of [seemingly] beyond our means. But we felt really lead to make these pledges anyway [one to CSC and one to Northwestern] The pledges weren't "due" for over a year, but now they are all "paid off". [which in turn will significantly boost our charitable giving for 2009 and get us another nifty refund next year . . . but that is just a nice perk/benefit and was not, at all, the goal in all of this] It feels terrific to know that these fabulous ministries have a little more money to work with now and that I won't have to think about those extra commitments again in the months to come when money might be a little tight! And if we can just hold on for less than a decade, [which I know will go super fast] by the time Jacob graduates from high school we should be mortgageless if we keep at it! What a day that will be. You think I'm excited now, just you wait!!!

7. Valentine's Day was great! The red, pink & white party at my mom's was extra fun. We did not eat a single thing that wasn't red, pink or white. The kids had fun and there was lot of love!!

The wonderful host & hostess of the evening

The Valentine-y Stoll's (all in red, pink & white!)

Lydia's Valentine hair [you know, since hair is one of my greatest talents!!]

8. I have a few friends [which is a few too many!] who have really sick kids right now. In and out of the hospital trying to get things figured out. My heart is heavy for them and I'm trying to remember to pray for them all the time. Having sick kids is a terrible feeling. So helpless and painful!

9. The 3 big kids were invited by my grandma [their piano teacher, who they call GG . . . for great grandma] to give a little mini concert/recital yesterday at the nursing home where she volunteers. [yup, I do realize it seems a little funny that a lady in her 80's would be volunteering at a nursing home where I'm sure some of the residents are younger than she is, but hey, good for her!] They each played a piece or two and did a great job. I think the residents appreciated it too. [In case you know her, that's Elaine DeYoe's head there, front and center.]


10. Sleep update: Joe still makes his way up to join us in our bed most every night. Anna is getting better lately . . . at least a little. She usually gets up once [about 3ish] to eat a little, snuggle, have me find her nuk and just generally be assured that we're still there. I'm feeling hopeful that by her birthday she might be sleeping all night . . . at least once in a while!

11. I signed us up for family camp at Trout! I think it will be tons of fun and that we will all love it. This was our one fun, family splurge out of our short-lived wealth [see #6]. It will be the perfect vacation for us . . . no planning on our part and an already-scheduled babysitter for each and every evening so mom & dad can have a little fun! All without having to step foot in the van or buckle anyone up for 5 whole days! Plus, there's a lake . . . swimming is always a hit!

My Hero

This morning mouse #4 was in his trap right at the bottom of the basement steps (that's not where we put the trap last night, he must have drug it over there after getting himself -- or herself, I guess -- caught in it.) Anyway, I have laundry to do today and the thought of stepping over it each time I came downstairs creeped me out . . . but even creepier was the thought of doing something about it myself! Yuck! So Jacob stepped up to the plate and took over as my hero since Kirbs is at work . . . I told him he should check on these things before he leaves in the morning, but alas . . .


Thanks Jacob, you are my hero today! And quite brave too, I might add!

Update on life

#1. I had a wonderful, wonderful weekend! We laughed so long and hard and late into the night early into the morning that I'm sure it counted as a workout!

#2. Anna got a fever (101.7) sometime during the night and started throwing up . . . poor girl! So we're laying low and sticking close to home today. Plus, when I took her downstairs at about 3 to check her temp I missed the bottom 2 steps and fell . . . thankfully the baby hardly noticed it even happened and I landed on my knee [which hurts a little]. But it could have been MUCH worse! Thank the Lord for His protection and watch over sleep deprived mommas who are stumbling around in the middle of the night holding precious cargo!

#3. We're up to 3 mice caught so far in the traps since Friday (one each night . . . even though we have more than one trap set . . . we still just catch one per night, funny!) It kind of grosses me out to think that there were [at least] that many in my house, but at the same time I'm glad we've got 3 less than we did the other day. We just keep settin' them and waiting to see what comes of it!

#4. Kirb did a bang-up job of holding down the fort over the weekend, AND he finished most of the kitchen project by paining the last 2 walls. He did a splendid job!

#5. I had a super fantastic time with my "peeps"! . . . oops, did I already mention that one? Sorry! Mel, Bridge, Sarah, Al & Nancy: thanks for the fun time. I love you! Can't wait 'til next year!

Rodent update

One mouse dead in the trap in the basement! Whoo Hoo! We (we meaning KIRBY!) will empty it and bait it again and see what else we can get. I was just thrilled it wasn't a rat . . . at least not yet, anyway!