It has been a long two weeks around our house. I went to girls camp last week and Scott and Blake were at camp this week. To be honest, I am not a huge fan of camping and only went so I could be with my YW. Luckily, it wasn't too hot and we only received a small amount of rain. However, I think our campsite was on top of a nest of daddy longlegs. They were all over our tents. In fact the final night I couldn't stand it any longer and slept in the car. The girls were fun and everything went well. If they will let me sleep in a hotel down the road next year I'll be happy to go again.
The deacons had scout camp this week and just got back today. This was an awful week for camping. The temp was very hot and humid and the mosquitoes were thick. And even though it's not his calling anymore, Scott ended up not only going, but he was the only leader for our group of boys. He felt quite abandoned. The older boys went on high adventure last week and the other leaders used up their vacation time going to that. But, he and the boys survived and actually had a pretty good time. They did take a vote and come back a little early. They had all had enough of mosquitoes.
Now it's just all the unpacking that's left and the mounds of laundry.
June 26, 2009
Camp
June 19, 2009
Ashley & Abby
June 11, 2009
Be Still
Today is My Ashley's 18th birthday and I have lots and lots to say about that and the wonderful person she's become, but today I've become quite concerned about my lack of ability to Be Still. Ever since I started teaching full time life has become more complicated. And although I work very hard to be home when the kids are home and to keep my priorities straight, I have become what I hate the most--a very, very busy person. I have always felt that there is a fine line between being "anxiously engaged" and just busy. Scott and I have tried to follow church leader's counsel to choose activities wisely and not to overschedule our children. We've been really good about that but somehow Scott and I have forgotten to apply the same counsel to ourselves. Between family, extended family, work, and church there is precious little time left for ourselves. Once or twice a year we take a few days just the two of us, but I'm beginning to realize that that's not enough. School has been done for 8 days now and I still haven't been able to Be Still. It's been go, go, go and I keep saying "When I get this taken care of, THEN I can relax". Today I was determined to stay in my jammies all day and just veg on the couch. Then I thought about the camp t-shirts I needed to make, the camp emails and camp packing I needed to do. The camp shopping, the grocery shopping, and the birthday dinner that needed to be planned. So I was out the door and running. It's 10:00 and my brain is still running with all the stuff that needs to get done. So, I think some reevaluation is in order. I need to prioritize, delegate, and just say no. Maybe when camp is done I can do that. Did I mention I'm contemplating grad courses this summer?
June 9, 2009
Why Would You Leave?
I lived in Indiana all of my life, but didn't know many of These........it was sent to me, of course, by another Hoosier.
Tomato juice was first served at a French Lick, Indiana, hotel in 1925. The first tomato juice factory was also in French Lick, IN.
The world's largest orchid species collection is found at Ball State University in Muncie , Indiana.
The first regulated speed limit (20 - 25 mph!) was initiated on Indiana Roads in 1921.
The steepest railroad grade in the world is in Madison, Indiana.
An average of 400 funnel clouds are sighted each year in Indiana.
The city of Gary, Indiana, was built on fill brought from the bottom of Lake Michigan through suction pipes.
There are only two Adams fireplaces in the United States. One is in the White House and the other in the Diner Home in Indiana.
Josie Orr, wife of former Indiana Governor Robert Orr, flew bombers and Cargo planes during World War II.
The Indianapolis Methodist Hospital is the largest Hospital in the Midwest..
One of the first complete bathrooms in Indianapolis was in the home of Hoosier poet, James Whitcomb Riley.
The career of Dorothy Lamour (famous for the Bing Crosby-Bob Hope Road Movies) was launched in Indianapolis.
Aviatrix Amelia Earhart was once a Professor at Purdue University.
Crown Hill Cemetery ( Indianapolis ) is the largest cemetery in the U.S.
The library in Fort Wayne, Allen County, Indiana, houses one of the Largest geneology libraries in America.
Wabash, Indiana, was the first electrified city in the U.S.
Pendleton, Indiana, was the site of the first hanging of a white man for Killing Indians.
The Courthouse roof in Greensburg , Indiana, has a tree growing from it.
The world's first transistor radio was made in Indianapolis.
Clark Gable and wife Carole Lombard (born in Fort Wayne, IN) honeymooned At Lake Barbee near Warsaw, Indiana.
The American Beauty Rose was developed at Richmond, Indiana.
Elkhart, Indiana, is the band instrument capitol of the World.
Frank Sinatra first sang with the Tommy Dorsey band at the Lyric Theater In Indianapolis..
Purdue Alumnus, Earl Butz, served as the Secretary of Agriculture.
U.S. 231 is the longest highway in Indiana (231miles).
Johnny Appleseed is buried at Fort Wayne, Indiana.
The singing McGuire Sisters spent their childhood summers at the Church Of God Campground in Anderson, Indiana.
The main station of the Underground Railroad was in Fountain County, Indiana.
There are 154 acres of sculpture gardens and trails at the Indianapolis Museum of Art.
La Porte County is the only county in America having
2 functioning Courthouses. (I think we can add Vanderburgh and Elkhart Counties in With that also.)
Nancy Hanks Lincoln is buried in Posey County, Indiana.
Crawfordsville , Indiana ( Montgomery County ) is the only site in the World where crinoids are found. (What is a Crinoid, you ask? A form of deep-water marine life that looks something Like a starfish.)
Pendleton, Indiana, was the site of the 'Fall Creek Massacre'. A museum Housing 3500 artifacts of pioneer Heritage now exists on that site.
St. Meinrad Archabbey is located in Spencer County and is one of only 2 Archabbeys in the U.S. And seven in the World. (Abbey Press is an operation of the archabbey.)
A Buzz Bomb (German - WWII), believed to be the only one on public Display in the nation, can be found on the Putnam County Courthouse lawn in Greencastle.
Roberta Turpin Willett was born in Indiana.
James Dean was born and is buried in Indiana.
The world's tallest woman lived in Indiana.
Red Skelton was born in Vincennes, Indiana.
Mae West and Claude Akins were from Bedford , Indiana.
The inventor of the television, Philo T. Farnsworth, lived in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
Forrest Tucker was from Pendleton, Indiana.
You can't ship wine to Indiana. (So how does it get here?)
Bob Greise is from Evansville, Indiana and was quarterback at Purdue University in West Lafayette, IN.
Toni Tenille (of The Captain and Tenille) is from Indiana.
Oprah Winfrey built her residence in N/W Indiana.
Florence Henderson is from Indiana.
The much sought-after Hoosier Cabinets are an Indiana product.
90% of the world's popcorn is grown in Indiana.
The Jackson Five are from Gary, Indiana.
The birthplace of the automobile, the pneumatic rubber tire, The aluminum casting process,
stainless steel and the first Push-button car radio was in Kokomo, Indiana.
Frank Borman, NASA Astronaut, born in Gary, Indiana
Pretty neat, huh? And you thought there was only corn in Indiana
What I did know is:
South Bend is North,
North Vernon is South,
And French Lick isn't what you think it is either!
June 6, 2009
My Dad
Yesterday mom had an appointment at the hospital for a CAT scan to make sure the cancer hasn't returned. While she was away I got to spend time with my dad. Due to poor health he often has bad days, but yesterday was a good day for him. He was like his old self. We laughed and talked and napped.
What a great dad he has always been. He always worked so hard at everything he did. He was blessed to work for the church with the FM group, overseeing the physical facilities in an area. He really loved his job. He loves the church and has a strong testimony that he has shared with his his family through his words and actions. When I moved back to Indiana I was known as Ron and Peggy's daughter. Everywhere I go someone knows my dad and has fond memories to share. I truly believe he home taught every widow in the stake at some point. What I have always admired the most was his love for my mom. He is always so good to her and she to him. They truly love to be together and care more about the other person than themselves.
It has not been easy watching his plans for the future change. He always dreamed of retiring, buying an RV and traveling the US. He would always tell us kids that we had to live in different states so he would have a free place to stay wherever he went. Holly was the only one who took that advice. But, despite the changes he keeps his sense of humor, his love for his family, and for the the gospel. What a blessing to have such a wonderful father.
