Only at Sand Creek . . . On a Monday!

Monday we had a group of 33 sixth through ninth graders from a Summer Stretch program out on the course.  We were pre-warned.  The ninth grade boys were already challenging their leaders because they HAD to be there in order to get "service" hours for confirmation.

We randomly divided them up into three groups, separating those dastardly ninth grade boys.  

As the bus pulled out, Scott said, "This was the worst group I have ever had!"  Mark said, "My group was okay at the beginning, but they got progressively worse."  I said, "My group was really fine."  And they were - no challenges we couldn't handle!  Maybe because I had prayed the most before hand . . . 

Mulch Madness!

Since I had Thursday, Friday and Saturday off this week, I convinced Sam it was our hearts' desire to mulch the back yard.  We started at one on Thursday (after we cleaned the house) and ended at three on Saturday (so we could go to Ethan and Grace's wedding reception!).  Check it out!

Starting on the south side (by Don & Bernice) . . .

Going down the trail from the fire pit . . .

On the north side by Tom and Nancy . . .

Heading toward the fire pit . . . 

 If you're wondering why there are no pictures of the fire pit; well, the pit itself is clean, along with rocks around it - but the rest is a disaster for another day!

"Thankful Thursday!" unites with "Only at Sand Creek"

I had the joy of working at Sand Creek the past two days (July 3 and 4).  I am so thankful for . . . 

• The team of co-workers I worked with;
• The excellent people who came;
• No complaints when our first group of zippers were rained out yesterday and our second group started thirty minutes late due to lighting;
• The new first zipline platform - way more fun than the old one!
• The opportunity to zip - always a blast!
• That I have now mastered all of our key knots - stop knot, boline, figure eight and butterfly.  That's how we got paid to work while it rained!
• Nice tips!

Eleven years ago . . .

Eleven years ago this August, we said good-bye to our dear friends, the Chapmans, aboard the m/v Africa Mercy, then stationed in Monrovia, Liberia.  

Yesterday, we said, "Hello!" again, right here in Lakeville, Minnesota!  Kristin arrived first and it was if we'd never been apart!  At 10:30 p.m. (I know - shocking to those of you who know me!), we stopped talking long enough to finally grab some sleep before we picked up her kids at their aunt's house early this morning.  Absolutely wonderful time together!  Oh, so blessed!

Lauren, Taylor, Samuel, Matt and Micah

Kristin, me and Sam

    

Then and Now . . .

In 2007, when we served with Mercy Ships in Liberia,

we took this photo:

Lauren, Anna, Micah and Taylor

 

This afternoon, had Anna not been in England, we could have done it again!

Lauren, Micah and Taylor

GREAT Grad Party!

We had the most wonderful grad party for Micah yesterday!  It actually started with livingWATERS church graciously allowing us to use their building (the air conditioning was definitely a plus!), followed by friends helping us decorate on Friday, friends helping us "man the food" and friends cleaning up yesterday!  We couldn't have done it without them!  We have been beyond blessed!  Here are a few photos from a glorious day . . . 

Lunch at Applebee's first - only Kingsley could get Matt to color!

Micah and Kennedy - the baking sisters!

Four fifths of the family - where's Lincoln?

Kim, Micah and THE cake!  If you didn't have a piece, you truly missed delicious!

Just had to add MY friend from high school who came up!  Thanks, Denise!

 

Aussie on a Beach!

This picture was NOT taken in Australia.  This picture (to the best of my knowledge) contains no Aussies, BUT . . . it just made me laugh!  

Every summer on the ship, the Aussies would cover up in sunscreen (SPF 50 or most likely higher), and put on hats with large brims before they went out in the sun BECAUSE they knew how damaging the sun's rays could be.  This was shown by a friend who will remain anonymous at Micah's grad party yesterday and all I could think was, "Aussie on a beach!"