Learning for Lifetime

The children are nestled all snug in their....

I know it's the wrong season for that, but that's how I feel tonight. Today I took DS 4 to church camp for the first time. He's never been away from us for a week when he wasn't staying with an extended family member. So this is a new experience for him (and for me).

It was interesting because it was a little like trying to separate a spider web from your body after walking through it! I took him and his friend Matt up and got them all signed in and ready to go. We made their beds. I unpacked their clothes. I told them "goodbye" and DS 4 wasn't quite ready for me to go.

We walked back to the common area and he hooked up with some other kids playing four square and then basketball. Then he was happy as a clam to let me go! Now I just pray that all is well tonight and the remainder of the week for him.

DS 1 is away at 2 weeks of training with the Army. Of course, he isn't living here right now, so his absence isn't felt as much. He does, however, text with DH quite a bit when he's not out training. So we'll still miss him.

DS 2 is at school finishing up some summer classes. He, too, is primarily a "texter". I'm sure we'll hear from him as the week progresses.

DS 3 left this morning with 24 or so other kids and chaperones to go to Daytona Beach for Student Life Camp. He will have the pleasure of sitting under the teaching of Louie Giglio and the worship of Chris Tomlin for the entire week. Last night he announced to us rather matter of fact that he has finished reading the Bible. Can I just say that he started around Sept. or Oct??? I haven't even done that. He is an amazing kid and I'm so proud of him.

Of course, I'm proud of all of them!

LG is doing dance camp for another week. This will be her fourth week in a row. She loves it!

This means that my days will be quiet and uncluttered. It'll be a week to recharge my parenting batteries. I love that!

Saturday, I will leave with my brother and three of the kids (DSs 3, 4, and LG) to head to Indiana/Illinois and Ohio. It'll be a great trip as we meet the rest of my family in Ohio for my Grandmother's 90th birthday celebration.

I love my kids and my family more than I could ever say...but I know that we are better parents when we take the time to breathe and relax occasionally. So I'm going to enjoy the peaceful moments that I know this week will bring.