Camp Nana Pawpaw -- Where the Answer is Always "YES"

Working throughout the school year --During the summer months our g'kids are top priority! 

This year I told Bethany that I wanted 1:1 time with each of her 3.  We coordinated schedules when they didn't have a special activity and worked out days for each.  The kids were to decide 3 things they wanted to do on their special day before they came to their camp day.   We just wanted the time to focus on each of them and hear their hearts.

Camp Sydney was our first day.  Syd wanted to go to the playground at the school, make cookies, get a slushie and play on the slip and slide.  Syd came all dressed up in a pretty dress and beads -- (Queen Sydney is all about dresses!)

This little gal LOVES to color!

Sydney and I found a way to make the slip n' slide really slick!

Camp Campbell

Working around Campbell's camp schedule, her day was the following Monday and her list included:

a trip to Sonic and Dollar Tree, doing a chore to earn money, making a dessert and learning to knit.

 

We've exhausted the best options at Dollar Tree this summer.  Some of our "finds" didn't last much longer than our trip home.

Camp Jack

Jack was bummed he couldn't stay with Sydney on her special day and started making his plans so on Wednesday his day finally came!  Jack wanted to get a "Shushee", play in the sand castle, go to Dollar Tree and make an apple pie!  'Don't know where that came from -- but he made one awesome apple pie.

It was more of a cloudy stay-inside-type of day and so we made a ramp for our Dollar Tree find!

The leftover guttering from our recent paint job came in handy for Jack's car ramp.  He whooped, hollered and had the best of times for hours!

Wearing an apron of Uncle Marshall's - Jack started .

Jack made one fantastic pie and you can see how proud he was of his efforts

Camp Clara & Charlie

While mommy and daddy interviewed, Camp Clara and Charlie was held in OKC at the Homewood Suites Hotel.

Pawpaw is the Camp go-to Mr. Fun Guy -- he's always making up silly songs and fun games.  He loves getting a romp going .

 

Good cousins and Bell cousins got a 24-hour sleepover Sat/Sunday and it was so special having all five of our little ones together!

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Splash time at the Hampton Suites next door

The girls were so taken with Charlie and he LOVED them

Movies and Pizza

Cuddling with Aunt Bethany

Celebrating Katie's Birthday together

Four of our five - minus JACK - who wasn't havin' it-- he was done!
We are so blessed!

GOD'S LOVE --- i am getting a glimpse

I am beginning to understand God's love!!!
OK - I know all the verses -- but to really UNDERSTAND it-- 
SPENDING TIME WITH OUR G'KIDS-- seeing how quickly they are growing up touches my heart down deep.  When we face-time CO cuties or have sleepovers with our Goodletts and look in those precious faces -- we melt!!!!

I THINK I FINALLY GET IT -- THE WAY I FEEL ABOUT THEM IS HOW GOD FEELS ABOUT ME.  I can ALWAYS make an excuse for their behavior -- "they're hungry, tired, or sleepy". 
God does that for me but in an even bigger way -- he covered all my bad behaviors with Jesus.

FOR NOW- MY TREASURES INCLUDE:

The precious things they say . . .

Sydney finding a bug and saying, "Oh look -- I found a carnivore" and "Nana, will you hold my roly poly for me while I play?"
Jack asking after seeing the depiction of Christ hanging on the cross -- "Did Jesus die in here?"
Campbell -now that she's home from camp - weighing everything against "J-O-Y" Jesus first, Yourself last and others in between.  Talking of her upcoming baptism when she is 9. 
Clara nurturing Charlie -- sharing her much loved yogurt with him.
Charlie making faces at Pawpaw on Face-time.  

and what they do . . .
Sydney bringing the old doll high chair down -- sitting it at the table and feeding her baby dolls my boiled eggs for breakfast.
The 3 kids launching rockets with slingshots and Jack pointing towards his face.
Clara dropping food on the floor for their dog who died the day before -- not understanding he wasn't coming to clean it up any longer.  
Sweet bedtime conversations about people in the Bible -- Jonah who did make good choices and ended up in that big fish and the guy who built the boat and God's rainbow promise.  
Then the bedtime routine of a hug, a kiss and a question:

"Why is Pawpaw's hair not as grey?"
"Why do you wear glasses?"

Two little Bells with their backpacks on ready to board the flight this week for OKC!

We are so looking forward to our time with the two of them next weekend ! 

Ron

Another of our Life Park Family went home to Jesus this week, a silent serving gentleman, Ron Woodward.  Ron was the one who would show up to help fix something at the church building.  You could find him on a ladder hanging the Christmas decorations for Letha.  He was the one who would pick up the communion cups in the pews after services.  Never one to make a fuss or call attention to himself- seeing what needed to be done and doing it.  He was quiet -- and would sit towards the back of the sanctuary.

Ron and I fought the "C" battle at the same time 3 years ago -- we would remind each other we were praying for the other and we both got our reprieve and graduated and got to ring the bell for completing treatments.  However, a few months ago Ron encountered some suspicious results on his tests and it all moved very quickly.
The Word says - "precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints."  That has been my prayer for him and Cheri.

On the day we were celebrating our country's freedom -- Ron was finally free of this dreadful disease.

I just left a meeting with church staff where people were processing their last moments with Ron.
I remember just about 6 weeks ago when his strength was failing -- he could sit up for one hour a day -- and this particular Sunday -- he wanted to spend that hour at Life Park in worship.

 -- I sort of saw us as soldiers together waging the C War.  His wife, Cheri, organized a hat day at Church when I was bald as a doorknob.  That is Ron on the front row -- the far right.



 I don't think there are repairs that need to be done in Heaven

 -- nothing to fix -- but that's okay because he is now with the Master Carpenter -- smiling that sweet, unassuming grin he gave to his family and friends.

God's Supper

Communion, the Eucharist, The Lord's Supper -- whatever you call it --is a special time for me and our Church Family.  To get to preside at this table is an honor -- we do it all different sorts of ways.

Today in Sunday school a thought was triggered by our teacher, Preston Hemphill.  He said -- we often make it a discourse about the heinous crucifixion -- it's about love. -- reminding us that this sacrifice was about the extravagant love of our God pursuing us at the expense of His Son.

I thought about family meals when you go home, sit down and are reaffirmed for just being YOU.  .  . that everyone there loves it that you're with them and one of them.  On those times with family --  I would leave there is a deeper sense of who I am having connected with my roots.

God's Supper is a lot like that -- we celebrate it each week in our Church family and for that time it's a HOMECOMING MEAL that connects us to WHOSE we are and that we are LOVED, FORGIVEN and HAVE AN ETERNAL FUTURE.  .   . an infusion of HOPE for the week.

ROAD TRIP: TWO WOMEN IN WACO or 2 Chics in a Pick-up

Early in the Spring, Marinelle and I decided we wanted to see Waco and all the "Fixer Upper" venue.  We set our calendars with the BLESSING of our husbands, (who clearly were NOT interested in seeing Magnolia Market and the Silos).  With debit and credit cards in hand, we took off Wednesday at noon after one of us (clearly it was M) had an appointment with our hair stylist and got a new "do" and looked great the whole time.

Never mind that we ended up having to drive a big loaner 2018 Chevy pick-up because Marinelle's suburban was on the blink.  I'm just saying -- she navigated Dallas rush hour like a pro in that big old thing!  

We checked in to our motel about 7 Wed. night and hit the market early on Thursday morning. 

 We oooh and aaaah over all the neat stuff that Joanna decorates all the houses with -- only they were new items -- clearly for sale-- not the ones she resurrects from the junk markets in town.

My favorite -- reminded me of our old airstream!

I found some cone flower seeds that I want to plant.

The whole thing is laid out well with parking in 1st Baptist's parking lot complete with a trolley that will take you to the major shops and boutiques.  Wednesday's shopping was mostly trendy mercantile spots --

Spice Village was loaded with stall after stall of jewelry, decorator items, clothes, and seasonals.  We found favorite signs --

 . . . laughed until we cried, 

We got lots of ideas for using our old things still lying around our own houses. . .  took selfies . . . got to see Clint's wood shop.

Thursday we got down to business hitting the real antique spots

We bought little - tried to stay on our diets and had a great time -- picking up where we left off the last time we were together. 

Through our 13 years of teaching side by side and doing life together, we got our kids married, ushered our parents through difficult stages, shared our souls and enlarged our spirit as we grew older.  I'm thankful for this dear sweet friend!  As my kids say of her, "Everyone needs a Marinelle in their life!"

Every road trip has a story!!!  

Marshall called us "Thelma and Louise"