Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Juniors Winter Camp
At our church, Dave and I serve in a ministry for 4th-6th graders, called "Juniors". From the minute we stepped in the door several years ago to check out the ministry, we were blown away. The quality of people serving in the ministry is top-notch. The structure, order, and discipline being given to these young people amazed us. And the leadership-loving, humble servants. We knew we just had to be a part of this life-changing ministry.
Every year, Juniors holds both a summer and a winter camp. I have had the privilege of going to Winter Camp three times now. I just got back from another amazing weekend up at Forest Home Camp in the beautiful mountains capped with snow, in a cabin with 8 amazing little young girls who are such a joy to minister to. And you know what? They ministered to me without knowing it. Every Sunday I have a small group of girls that I teach after the main lesson is over. Most of the girls in my cabin come from that small group. So I am familiar with them, making the time together comfortable. Our amazing Childrens' Ministry pastor, Kurt Gebhards came and taught the kids with love, compassion, and power from the Word of God. I pray hearts were softened tenderly to the messages they received. Among the many children in attendance were two of my own, Austin and Luke. This was Austin's last camp as a 6th grader, as he will move into the Junior High department next year. This was Luke's first camp as a 4th grader. So this ministry even serves my own family in a personal way.
Some of the highlights of camp were the quiet times I had with the girls to discuss the lessons, time in the cabin decorating our "Funky Monkey" themed cabin, giggling like a little girl with them, the flashlight hike, the zipline (I went twice, I'm such a kid), the rock climbing wall, and pulling a prank on one of the 6th grade boys' cabin. We decided that while they were away we would take everything (I mean EVERYTHING, including mattresses) out of their cabin and move it to a nearby empty cabin, so that when they returned they would have a nice surprise. The girls absolutely LOVED doing that. It was too fun! It was a long and tiring weekend, but by God's grace, I was able to get through it. In fact, I caught a cold the day after I returned! I'm so thankful it wasn't during camp! Praise God for his many blessings on our camp and I pray for His work to be done through it in the lives of these precious young people in our ministry!
Every year, Juniors holds both a summer and a winter camp. I have had the privilege of going to Winter Camp three times now. I just got back from another amazing weekend up at Forest Home Camp in the beautiful mountains capped with snow, in a cabin with 8 amazing little young girls who are such a joy to minister to. And you know what? They ministered to me without knowing it. Every Sunday I have a small group of girls that I teach after the main lesson is over. Most of the girls in my cabin come from that small group. So I am familiar with them, making the time together comfortable. Our amazing Childrens' Ministry pastor, Kurt Gebhards came and taught the kids with love, compassion, and power from the Word of God. I pray hearts were softened tenderly to the messages they received. Among the many children in attendance were two of my own, Austin and Luke. This was Austin's last camp as a 6th grader, as he will move into the Junior High department next year. This was Luke's first camp as a 4th grader. So this ministry even serves my own family in a personal way.
Some of the highlights of camp were the quiet times I had with the girls to discuss the lessons, time in the cabin decorating our "Funky Monkey" themed cabin, giggling like a little girl with them, the flashlight hike, the zipline (I went twice, I'm such a kid), the rock climbing wall, and pulling a prank on one of the 6th grade boys' cabin. We decided that while they were away we would take everything (I mean EVERYTHING, including mattresses) out of their cabin and move it to a nearby empty cabin, so that when they returned they would have a nice surprise. The girls absolutely LOVED doing that. It was too fun! It was a long and tiring weekend, but by God's grace, I was able to get through it. In fact, I caught a cold the day after I returned! I'm so thankful it wasn't during camp! Praise God for his many blessings on our camp and I pray for His work to be done through it in the lives of these precious young people in our ministry!
Monday, December 1, 2008
Thanksgiving in California City
We at the DeShong home are the unconventional type, I guess you could say. While some prefer to decorate their homes and embellish their dining room table with Fall decorations, serving their Thanksgiving meal all in beautiful crystal and heirloom China, we prefer to take our trailer out to the middle of nowhere. We served our Thanksgiving turkey straight from the deep fryer, and served out of the very best disposable containers, using the finest plastic utensils and paper plates. Oh yeah, baby, it was the 2nd annual Thanksgiving/Dirt bike camping trip. Along with the Harasicks, Tubbs, Berggrens, and Nardones, we enjoyed 4 glorious days out in California City. And don't you dare think that in any way your Thanksgiving was superior (giggle)!
Rich and Robert deep fried two turkeys, and we served all the traditional fixings, as well. Sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes with gravy, cranberries, corn casserole, etc. etc. There was even pumpkin, pecan, and apple pies for dessert. The weather was stunning. No wind. No rain. Just sunny 75 degree skies and beautiful sunsets. It couldn't have been more beautiful.
All three of my boys were on motorcyles this weekend. It was Dave's dream come true. Our dune buggy is broken (so sad), so Austin hopped on the Nardones' 70 and rode it around quite a bit! I was so proud of him. And he actually fell in love with the two wheeled variety! Yippee! Luke's 80 was not running right the entire time, despite Dave's efforts to make adjustments. He also rode the Nardones' 70 until he discovered that he could ride Emma's 100. He said that was pretty much the best bike he has ever ridden. Hey, as long as you can get 1 toe on the ground, why not? He really did amazing with that big bike (well, big for him)! Vance rode the 50 until he discovered the 70, and then there was no turning back to that slow little 50. I have a feeling a couple bigger bikes are in our future (if the money is in our future). Dave took a nice spill on the last day and tore up his forearm pretty good (I guess he will always wear his elbow pads from now on, even when he is just riding up and down the road). We are thankful that there were no other injuries, as there could have been plenty of them.
Other highlights were enjoying a couple of movies outside with the projector, complete with popcorn, snacks, and plenty of sugar. The kids really enjoyed that. We adults prefered to sit in front of the blazing fire in the evening! We also enjoyed onion rings, asparagus, and zucchini in the deep fryer, thanks to Rich and Robert. That was awesome. On the last day, my Dad called and said that the Space Shuttle Endeavor was routed to land at Edwards Air Force Base at 1:30pm that day. We walked up the ridge above our camp and discovered a panoramic view of the dry lake bed at Edwards Air Force Base. We all set up our chairs, listened for the sonic boom, and tried to spot the shuttle coming in with binoculars. Rich saw the whole thing, but the rest of us were a bit disappointed that our view was less than spectacular. It was exciting nevertheless!
So for those of you who enjoy the conventional holiday, you keep on enjoying it! We prefer to sit in the middle of nowhere with all the creature comforts of home and enjoy God's creation amongst wonderful friends and family. Here are some random pics from the trip:
My favorite animal in the world...the lovely tarantula...NOT!!! Especially not in my camp!
A view of Edwards AFB from the ridge above our camp.
Our group all hiked up the ridge to watch the Space Shuttle Endeavor land!
Me and my fuzzy!
Lots of Honda's.
Getting the Thanksgiving meal tables set up.
The feast about to be served. The traditional Thanksgiving meal in a non-traditional setting!
Drew opening a jar of gravy!
Nice, Drew.
Austin in the mining hole the kids found.
The boys climbing rocks.
Their fort.
Our trailers at camp.
Our 5-family camp setup!
Waiting for the exciting space shuttle landing.
The kids had a "fort" that they were playing at all weekend.
The dads happened to match, so we had to take a pic.
A picture of camp.
Luke riding till the sun went down!
The big kids ready for a ride.
Jill, Brenda, and Karen hanging around!
Vance didn't spend much time doing anything but riding.
Vance riding....and riding....and riding....
Dave trying to get Luke's bike started (it had problems all weekend)!
Rich and Robert working hard at that fried food.
The turkey goes in....
Hot steaming frying turkey!
Emily, Stephanie, Cody, and Drew.
Me and my sis!
Yum, yum, yum! Love that deep fryer.
Gene and Brenda Nardone- a true MX family!
Onion rings, fried zucchini, and fried asparagus in the turkey fryer! YUM!
All the Honda's.
Luke taking a little break!
A bunch of red riders.
Robert and Rich testing the turkey.
Could there be a more beautiful thing? Turkey in the deep fryer.
Austin riding on two wheels! We were so proud of him!
Rich and Robert deep fried two turkeys, and we served all the traditional fixings, as well. Sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes with gravy, cranberries, corn casserole, etc. etc. There was even pumpkin, pecan, and apple pies for dessert. The weather was stunning. No wind. No rain. Just sunny 75 degree skies and beautiful sunsets. It couldn't have been more beautiful.
All three of my boys were on motorcyles this weekend. It was Dave's dream come true. Our dune buggy is broken (so sad), so Austin hopped on the Nardones' 70 and rode it around quite a bit! I was so proud of him. And he actually fell in love with the two wheeled variety! Yippee! Luke's 80 was not running right the entire time, despite Dave's efforts to make adjustments. He also rode the Nardones' 70 until he discovered that he could ride Emma's 100. He said that was pretty much the best bike he has ever ridden. Hey, as long as you can get 1 toe on the ground, why not? He really did amazing with that big bike (well, big for him)! Vance rode the 50 until he discovered the 70, and then there was no turning back to that slow little 50. I have a feeling a couple bigger bikes are in our future (if the money is in our future). Dave took a nice spill on the last day and tore up his forearm pretty good (I guess he will always wear his elbow pads from now on, even when he is just riding up and down the road). We are thankful that there were no other injuries, as there could have been plenty of them.
Other highlights were enjoying a couple of movies outside with the projector, complete with popcorn, snacks, and plenty of sugar. The kids really enjoyed that. We adults prefered to sit in front of the blazing fire in the evening! We also enjoyed onion rings, asparagus, and zucchini in the deep fryer, thanks to Rich and Robert. That was awesome. On the last day, my Dad called and said that the Space Shuttle Endeavor was routed to land at Edwards Air Force Base at 1:30pm that day. We walked up the ridge above our camp and discovered a panoramic view of the dry lake bed at Edwards Air Force Base. We all set up our chairs, listened for the sonic boom, and tried to spot the shuttle coming in with binoculars. Rich saw the whole thing, but the rest of us were a bit disappointed that our view was less than spectacular. It was exciting nevertheless!
So for those of you who enjoy the conventional holiday, you keep on enjoying it! We prefer to sit in the middle of nowhere with all the creature comforts of home and enjoy God's creation amongst wonderful friends and family. Here are some random pics from the trip:
My favorite animal in the world...the lovely tarantula...NOT!!! Especially not in my camp!
A view of Edwards AFB from the ridge above our camp.
Our group all hiked up the ridge to watch the Space Shuttle Endeavor land!
Me and my fuzzy!
Lots of Honda's.
Getting the Thanksgiving meal tables set up.
The feast about to be served. The traditional Thanksgiving meal in a non-traditional setting!
Drew opening a jar of gravy!
Nice, Drew.
Austin in the mining hole the kids found.
The boys climbing rocks.
Their fort.
Our trailers at camp.
Our 5-family camp setup!
Waiting for the exciting space shuttle landing.
The kids had a "fort" that they were playing at all weekend.
The dads happened to match, so we had to take a pic.
A picture of camp.
Luke riding till the sun went down!
The big kids ready for a ride.
Jill, Brenda, and Karen hanging around!
Vance didn't spend much time doing anything but riding.
Vance riding....and riding....and riding....
Dave trying to get Luke's bike started (it had problems all weekend)!
Rich and Robert working hard at that fried food.
The turkey goes in....
Hot steaming frying turkey!
Emily, Stephanie, Cody, and Drew.
Me and my sis!
Yum, yum, yum! Love that deep fryer.
Gene and Brenda Nardone- a true MX family!
Onion rings, fried zucchini, and fried asparagus in the turkey fryer! YUM!
All the Honda's.
Luke taking a little break!
A bunch of red riders.
Robert and Rich testing the turkey.
Could there be a more beautiful thing? Turkey in the deep fryer.
Austin riding on two wheels! We were so proud of him!Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Photoshoot with Emma
My niece, Emma is a phenomenal, I mean, PHENOMENAL photographer. At just 15, she is really taking the photography world by storm. I would have no other person ever take my pictures!
We went up to Mentryville and did an awesome family shoot last weekend. Emma has posted the teaser photos on her blog, so go take a look. I will post more when I get them!
http://www.emmaleighphotography.blogspot.com/
We went up to Mentryville and did an awesome family shoot last weekend. Emma has posted the teaser photos on her blog, so go take a look. I will post more when I get them!
http://www.emmaleighphotography.blogspot.com/
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
My Handsome Husband
OK, to most people the following pictures would be something normal. To me, this is the most exciting thing, ever! You see, the last time I saw my husband dressed up like this was my wedding 13 1/2 years ago. Of course, he was wearing a tux, though. The funny thing is, up until now, my husband has had no occasion to warrant owning a suit. We just bought him this handsome suit, and I think he looks phenomenal in it. I was so excited when he put it on today, that I just had to take some pictures. For those of you who know Dave well, the pics will probably excite you, too! To me, it's like one of those makeover shows! He got a fresh haircut and everything!
Monday, November 17, 2008
The Paper Airplane Competition
Last week. the boys had fun setting up a paper airplane test facility here in our home. Is this not such a fun "boy thing" to do? They made airplanes of various styles and sizes and labeled them. They set up a "runway" down the hall, with distances markers at several places. They then tested them for distance, how well they flew, etc. It was just the cutest thing. I had fun being the judge and testing them for myself. I really don't fly paper airplanes well, however. I managed to smack them into the wall practically every time. I did learn you must throw them with a very gentle send off.
Luke standing with the planes, getting ready for testing!
Luke standing with the planes, getting ready for testing!
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