Camp Nana Papa 2014

It's Year Three - we mentioned to the kids that with Jack coming early August -- Camp needed to be earlier this year if they were going to have their get away while Bethany could still travel.

Mat and Bethany headed out for Austin on Tuesday morning

We started Camp with Campbell Hope in 2012 --

Last year we added Sydney Kate

C was all about looking for God's critters

Next year -- we'll add Jack Tucker

I LOOOOOOVE Camp Nana Papa!  I bought explorer hats and butterfly nets and bug trappers and we were set (Thanks Dollartree!)

This year with a 20 month old and a 4 yr.old,  Papa and I knew we would be on the move the whole time!  
We got ourselves geared up -- tried to rest up and on Sunday got a cutsie video of Campbell doing the Camp Nana Papa Dance.

  Monday night she prayed at dinner "Thank you that Camp Nana Papa starts tomorrow and that Nana and Papa are gonna have fun and get lots of rest."

C & S get up EARLY -- so that means early to bed for them and ME --

They each have their favorite space-- For Sydney it is the glider in the back

 

We HAVE to play in the Sand Castle -- which means catch it in the coolest, shadiest part of the day and then follow it up with bath time to get rid of all the sand.

C caught the tiny tree frog below and was fascinated with ants trying to carry off  a caterpillar

Uncle Marshall and Aunt Katie gave Campbell neon sidewalk paint for her birthday.

 And then they HAD to paint on their castle canvases!

Campbell's words, "Voila!!!"

We made up games

 wore out our playdough and spent  hours with our Fisher Price village.  Campbell talks to all of them making up stories and having conversations.

We had to picnic outside 

 

 Campbell and Papa played baseball and badminton -- She worked so hard at learning to swing the bat 

Routines and traditions are what Campbell is all about -- hot cocoa at 5:45 in the morning while Nana scarfs down as much coffee as she can. 

Most mornings Sydney refused to have her milk in a sippy cup but HAD to have it in a coffee mug like big sis.

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Momma and Daddy leave them little  packages for each day with a little gift and a love message

 

 We baked zuchinni chocolate cupcakes  for Kids University



There were so many special - precious times--
C saying often "It's gonna be a good day"  or "Nana, can I come over and have a loooooooong play day?" (Not sure what you call Camp Nana Papa if it isn't a loooooong  3-day play day?)

Hearing her quickly offering to say a prayer each night at dinner -- thanking God for the simplest things . .  .
Thursday night when she got to stay up late to watch the stars come out with her Papa she sweetly said "I love hanging out with you guys".

Sydney stole our hearts with her funny little antics and the way she would  come running to him  when Papa came in the back door.  She sang and danced swinging her hips saying "Oh yeah!  Oh, yeah!"  Reaching up for you -- wanting to be held ALL the time or wanting your phone to watch movies of herself.

All good times do come to an end and yes, Mommies and Daddies do come home -- so Friday morning we loaded up Harley and toys, and socks and dolls and blankies and took Campbell and Sydney back home, 

Campbell got out of the car and raced around her driveway so excited to be home again.

They giggled and crashed on the floor and two tired grandparents went home  to a very quiet house to relax and miss them like crazy!

Aunt Neta

                Last week my extended family gathered in central Illinois to say goodbye to my Aunt Neta Neese. 

 Traveling there was not going to be possible for me - so I was able to visit her during her last hours in the Wichita Falls Hospice facility where she was confined.  It was important for me to be able to go and sit with her for a short time to speak over her and let her know how she'd blessed my life.  I don't know that she was aware of my presence - but the time to sit with Steven and remember the past and the strong legacy she and Uncle Lowell passed on to our family was so precious to me.  It was a God-gift I knew for certain.

Aunt Neta had just moved to Texas the month before and was getting settled in her new home near her son, Steven,  Two years ago she lost both her son Tony and a few months later my Uncle Lowell, who had fought a lengthy battle with Alzheimers.  Her 89 years were full of service to her family.  She was tiny with an strong and vibrant spirit.

Her faith was evident --  Their fifth son, Tony was born with physical and mental challenges.  She became his advocate and though they were farmers and lived quite far from adequate facilities for his care -- she set about to find a school for him and moved there with him to help his development.  In 1972 their fourth son, Roger suffered a fatal injury at 15.  Aunt Neta faced these crisis with strength and determination. She would think outside the box.  She was such an example for me.

This tiny little woman  had taught school before her marriage, raised their boys, worked hard with Uncle Lowell on the farm, and doted on her grandchildren.  She was a lifelong member of Weight Watchers and was always careful about it -- though she was an excellent cook!

  Years ago when our kids were younger and would be home from Texas, it was important to take our kids to the farm to visit Uncle Lowell and Aunt Neta.

One of my favorite memories was Christmas of 1991 they helped Terry drive Mom and Dad to TX  for them to winter with us -- it was a favorite trip for Mom b/c at every rest stop she got to eat Aunt Neta's yummmy Christmas goodies.
 
20 years later driving their big RV on the way to see their  family in OK and TX  they would stop by Tulsa to visit us 

Her boys said she always said that I was the daughter she never had -- I didn't know that -- I just know that she always took time to come visit me and when I would call (she would make me feel like it had only been two weeks since we'd talked -- not the actual two years).

My first birthday after Mom's death - she called to wish me Happy Birthday -- knowing I wouldn't be getting that call from my mother.

Dad

Father's Day is the holiday we stop to recall our fondest memories of our Dads.

 

This is one of my favorites -- Bible Stories and bedtime prayers were a nightly tradition --

My dad made sure that we took vacations --  camping and going to David Lipscomb College Family Lectures --

Our going to college and getting an education was equally important to both my parents and they would have these family talks with us on Saturday mornings around the breakfast table.

Visiting our extended family was important to him and we would travel the 1 1/2 hours about once a month to visit.


My dad was an elder in our church- led the singing - would teach an adult class when asked -- and made sure that our family was in services three times a week.

I remember those lessons my dad would give me on how to be a "lady" instead of the tom-boy I had turned out to be.  I always liked to stand on my head and climb trees -- one particular lesson I remember involved his teaching me how a lady sat.

He worked for Shell Refinery in human resources for 41 years -- fighting a debilitating disease (muscular dystrophy) for 43+ years

Family visiting Dad when he was confined in later years to his hospital bed.

He set an example for me of self-sacrifice and humility --we never heard him complain about his diminished strength and physical capacity.  As I grew into a wife and mother -- I drew strength from the fact that my dad and my mom saw it as their mission to pray for us every day.  I learned to lean on those prayers.  My Dad didn't dole out empty compliments or gush -- but I remember once when as a minister's wife and mom of two small kids, he said, "Jan, I don't see how you do it all."  It touched my heart.

He always made sure I had enough $$$ in my pocket to travel on when I came home for a visit from Texas with the kids.

As a teenager, he and I would visit -- him at his desk and me lying on their bed talking about life -- and the future and my plans for it.

Hot Spring Get-Away

Quapah baths was dedicated to the native American tribes - we found the baths to be sooooo relaxing

Garvan Gardens is everything and more that it was touted to be in the online advertising--- the University of Arkansas' botanical garden.  It has several different gardens -- we walked an hour and barely saw it all. 

 Koi have always been a special interest of ours. These Japanese fish are some of T's favorites.

 Fairy houses are quite the thing in gardens right now and we loved seeing their version of them.

 The gardens were showcasing five topiaries.one of which was the Satchquatch.  A bit scary if I do say so myself!!!

The fairy gourdmother's topiary -- covered in plants!

 Quite an impressive miniature railway.

Gardens are a must-see for us on any trip!