words

Funny stories from this weekend:

i don't have time to do a 6 day journal entry, so i'll try to recreate some 'moments' for y'all.

1) The woodpecker.

this is my favorite story. I wasn't present for this one, but man, if you call Rico (Tim) he tells it the best. Julia, Dave, and Tim-Rico were building our fire for the evening when Julia let out the BIGGEST fart (i can't vouch for that part, since i wasn't there, and have more experience in Julia-gas-passing).
She glances up from her place in the sand, and with a half-smile says, "I think that was a woodpecker".
Dave replies (with great difficulty, while trying to not laugh during the 'lesson'), "Now Julia, don't lie, you know that was not a woodpecker". (Tim-Rico and Dave attempting to not laugh) Julia says, "okay. but can we PRETEND it was a woodpecker??"

Really, i need Rico to tell this story. we were all laughing so hard we were crying. I just can't convey the story as well.....

2) Sand - les. (there is a picture of this story in the beach shots.)

Julia wore her brand new sandles for the wedding. This was a moment long awaited. She has been asking to wear them ever since we purchased them. During the photo's the girls waited in the sand and Julia plopped down and began to play. Thankfully i was watching, because soon the game was "bury the sandles" and mommy had to rescue them from disappearing. ha. i can see it now - the wedding begins and Julia frantically searches for her shoes.... where could they be??? perhaps somewhere along the beach....buried beneath the sands.... anyway. it was a moment.

3) Community.

I love that we could reserve a cabin, plan a menu and get a crowd to come for a weekend of fellowship. The blessing of being together, finding out what has changed, what we are learning about God and His great plan for us, and seeing the great connection we have because God has purposefully put us in each others' lives - amazing. I was so blessed by how my kids found special places in different people's hearts. Rico (Tim) was special buddies with Sam, and it was precious to watch how he would come and scoop him up whenever he saw Sam scooting around. Julia attached herself to everyone (my goodness this one is a people person), but i found she really felt a strong love for Amy and Rachel in particular. Mostly because during prayer, she was run and hold amy's hand, or randomly come and cuddle with Rachel, or ask her to read or play Trouble. She also connected with Robyn, Mere, and pretty much everyone who gave her some of their time and energy. her love language isn't too hard to figure out. :) ha. i found it hilarious that when we arrived for the wedding rehearsal, Julia ran off into the park-beach area and started introducing herself to people and talking to them. People i didn't know, people we had never seen before ever, yet they were 'at the wedding' so we must know them! :) hahaha. at least, she was thinking that.

4) sunday morning.

i don't know about the rest of the gang. but sunday morning we did our own 'church' and it was refreshing to my heart. We watched a sermon on Faith and Works, by mark driscoll, and just learning together again was awesome. Then as each person left for their journey home, we prayed together for them, circling them in prayer and fellowship. it was AWESOME! :)


that's all for now folks. time to go play.
su