"I'll be right back!"

Just the other day, my eldest was wondering out loud, "Do you think we had tails at one point?". And he went on to say, "If I had a tail, I'd use it to hang on to a tree -- to swing from one to another!".


I knew there was some reason why we parents sometimes refer to our children as monkeys! ;p 


Before long, Jon had swung his way to the scouts' summer camp -- one whole week, no phones allowed, and a 4h drive quite far away in the next state!

It was the longest time and furthest he'd stayed away from home. The hardest part for me was the no communications with him at all, unless you count the mass email that another parent there sent to let us know the campers were well. 

There was that empty feeling. Mealtimes I found myself doling out food and praying for this son to be eating well.  The hubby was stifling a laugh when I went, "This is torturous!" by midweek. Meimei also was asking for him, "Where's Jon? I miss him!". Younger brother, too, although not admitting it, said it was the most boring day ever -- even after I'd taken them out to play and play.


Kait helped me make a cute paper-plate snake card to mail to Jon, wishing him a SSSSSuper fun time at camp. Ben agreed that we should add, "Beware of snakes!" because of the roughing it out not just fun his brother was up for ;p.


"I'll be right back!"
Finally Day 7 came, and Jon returned -- tanned, tired, and thought he would win the "most injured camper" award! The Montana waters were terribly chilly, but that also did not stop him from giving the camp a 10/10!


Glad he did it, and really thank God for His protection. The hypothermia, and Jon also survived quite the bump on his head from a flying rock. He also slid and fell from a tree, and had other cuts and scrapes from more adventures we were excited to hear, not just eager to feed him dinner. 


He really enjoyed the different and more outdoor opportunities than he got to do on weekend campouts, "It was sweeeeeet! I swam, kayaked, shot rifles, climbed trees and went on nature hikes!". The summer campout was also not without more roughing it out (the toilet was in the bushes), and learning to take care of himself.  


The things to toughen our children up. And I guess us moms, too. There was Yan's reminder to "let go, let God" watch over them when we can't be there, and the support from you faraway friends, that helped me hang in there till Jon got back.  


Only then could I say, the week has flown by! ;p


("I'll be right back!" has got to be my fave phrase last week, of all the phrases my youngest has picked up from her two brothers.  And this one happened to be from Jon. The up-on-the-tree picture was from May.).

Summer brings...

Summer has brought us
pretty peony blooms,
strawberries ready for the picking,
and busy friends popping in for lunch!


There's the arrival of a friend's new addition;
more news -- another's loved one is well,
and answered prayers for still another family
whose lovely child I hold close to my heart.


Praise the Lord!
Let's keep trusting,
hanging on to His promises,
and blessings on those we love and care about.


As I swished my brush up and down the fence 

for that family project, thankful for teamwork,

I'm grateful too for precious friends and loved ones --

someone to paint with, through life's ups and downs.

***

It's here! An old friend's great news update this morning got me all excited about God's love that never ceases and His faithfulness that reaches to the skies! 


Incidentally, this also just came...

Our photobook, with the stop-and-gaze moments from that recent family campout under the big sky that let me see He is so big! Never mind it took me more sleeplessness to put together than when I do an ironing-and-movie marathon after the children are in bed.  

Don't you love to make fun memories with families and friends?  

What are you excited about and thankful for today? 

***

Life surprises, not always in a nice way though. I don't want to forget to delight in the little joys and count my blessings. I know I'm already trying to say so much in this one entry, don't mind how my words just come tumbling out. Will like to also share this post I stumbled on, especially love the picture/analogy the writer drew. That's so true we need each other through the good and trying times: When you need a little extra strength Because someone prayed, it keeps us going; we pray also for those we love and care about. 

Paint and paint

The hubby gave our eldest the enormous task of painting the fence. The fence that wraps around the backyard -- it's huge!


Frankly, I was a bit worried. Especially when our tween did not need to do a Tom Sawyer for his younger brother and sister to want in on the fun. 


But it was more than just FUN, or FUNNY:
"Look, it's raining (dripping) paint!  Hahaha!"


It was TIRING:

"Are you aching all over like me, mom?"

Not to mention TEDIOUS:

"How much more, dad? Are we done yet?"

And the kids just wanted to go and play once they realized what A LOT OF WORK it was:

"I need a(nother) break!"

Still, every bit of help was appreciated! Cooperation, too, like relying on the younger son to play with his Meimei, when it was getting a little too messy. Think paint sploshing on every body, not just on the grass, and you aren't even thinking try-and-do-even-strokes anymore. More like, Are we (ever) going to get this done?  

It really helped also when the hubby set aside Saturday afternoon yesterday, putting aside his work for awhile. We managed to paint and paint a lot more fence altogether, than the different days before that added up. 

"It is finished!" That sounded so good.  I must be the most relieved one, hehe! 

Hopefully in the process, we also learned something about having to FOLLOW THROUGH what we started. It helped me see (beyond my pampered children) and be thankful for every willing heart and helping hand.


The fence painting helps with its maintenance. It's also the deal our scout struck with his dad for the hammock he wants to supplement the camping needs he's already equipped with. Thanks to all the teamwork, the hammock will be a shared one... sweet! :)