What an Encouragement

Last weekend we served a group of college students from Cornell University. Throughout their retreat the students drop encouraging notes to other students in their bags placed around the game room. The group made a "staff" bag and at the end of the weekend they gave it to us as an encouraging thank you.

Check it out: you can click on the picture to enlarge it.

Do You See It?

This morning Natalie said to Kelly, "I don't like the man. I don't like him." With a puzzled look Kelly asked, "What man?" "The man in my bedroom. I don't like that man." Natalie said.

It's one of those times as a parents (or perhaps just as a dad) when you're not sure if you have a dilemma. Is this really an issue? What if she doesn't sleep at night? What if she has nightmares? I certainly don't like the idea of that. Can I cover it with a towel? I can't hack saw the thing off of there...we're borrowing the bed from our close friends.

It's kind of cute and serious at the same time.

Errowhead Eggrolls

We had our first retreat of the new year (and the winter season) this past week. The group has a crazy schedule and we only serve them breakfast and snack...so, I did the cooking for the weekend. I decided to try a new recipe that I had over Christmas. I'm happy to report that my Egg Rolls were a hit. The campers ate them as fast as I could make them and send them out to the line.

Check out the Arrowhead Recipe Book
(click on the link to right, in the blue box).

Night Rider

All week Natalie has been asking to go on a hayride...just her and I. She tells anyone she talks to on the phone that she is going on a hayride.

So...the other day I got the tractor out to drive the camp road in an effort to break up the ice that had just started to soften. However, by the time I got things settled in the camp office and had the tire chains in place...it was dark. But that was no reason to cancel the "night ride" as we dubbed it. Down the driveway, all the way to the mailboxes, and back again. As we left camp Natalie's first questions was, "Can we see the llamas and horses down the road?" After explaining that it was too dark she realized the error of your question. On the plus side though we did see Christmas lights on the neighbor's house at the end of the road. Nothing screams "Merry Christmas!" like blue icicle lights.

Here's Natalie and I on our Night Ride.

Ducks and Tigers and Bears...Oh My!

As many of you know Kelly and I were with McKenna at University Hospital in Syracuse for the whole month of November. We are so very grateful to be back home as a family to enjoy the time we have with McKenna. Our goal is to continue caring for her, keeping her as healthy as possible...which as you can see, is going pretty well. Kelly and I will be sending out family updates from two sources.

1) This blog
2) McKenna's "Care Page" at www.carepages.com.

You will need to sign in (create an account - which is free and safe). Then you can visit McKenna's care page any time you would like and when we make updates to the care page you will receive an email automatically.
McKenna's Care Page is listed under "McKenna Joy".

Our Fall Retreat

A Fantastic Fall Retreat!
Wow what a turn out! Everything from the campers and staff, to the weather was AMAZING! We had an overwhelming response to this fall's Shepherds Retreat. Thanks to all of our local counselors and a bunch of out-of-state counselors, 66 campers attended the retreat! What's even more amazing is that we had another 16 campers on the waiting list who were unable to come to the retreat. You can bet that we will be ready with more counselors for our spring retreat this April. We also had a huge amount of staff including counselors, program, service staff, leadership staff, and volunteers. We had 30 students and young adults serving at Shepherds Camp. That's AWESOME! As I mentioned before even the weather was a great turnout. Sure, it was a little chilly and even rainy on Friday...BUT, the sky cleared up, the sun came out, and the temperature rose a bit on Saturday allowing us to go on a few hayrides. Comfortable hayrides in late October...now that's a turn out. The campers and staff also had a great time weaving baskets and crosses for crafts, singing all of our favorite songs from the summer, and as always - enjoying some really good food.

What a blessing to see many of our friends from the summer. We love these retreat opportunities to reconnect and continue presenting the good news of Jesus Christ. From crazy games in the gymnasium to evening chapel...it was a GREAT weekend at camp.

Hayrides & Hot Cider

It Really is Fall.
Last Thursday we invited all of our Day Camp kids from this summer to join us for a evening of fall fun. The main event of the evening was a hay ride down the road, through the woods, and around the lake. We also enjoyed hot cider, marshmallow roasting by the fireplace, and games in the main building. We had a good turnout with a dozen campers, parents, some friends from our neighborhood, and a few new faces too. It was a great time to reconnect with our campers and meet some parents, while having a blast at camp. And of course (and I don't mean to rub it in), the weather was unseasonably beautiful.