Signs of Spring: the photo edition

If I'm not mistaken, signs of spring are showing up all over the place, and so how better to celebrate the first day of spring than to share these unique sights from Camp Joy?

The leaves below are resting on a layer of snow. If it were still autumn, we wouldn't see the snow. If it were winter, we wouldn't see the leaf. But the weather is warming up which makes the snow melt away to reveal the remnant from last autumn.

It must be Spring!

Here are a few more for you.

You can see that it's sinking right through the ice and leaving a leaf-shaped path.

This one has melted all the way down to the gravel.

I think it must be a result of the sunlight -- reflected by the ice, but absorbed by the leaf -- that's causing the leaf to be warm enough to melt its way through.

Spring 

~from Seven Brides for Seven Brothers

Every field wears a bonnet

With some spring daisies on it

Even birds of a feather show their clothes off together

Sun's gettin' shinery, to spotlight the finery

Spring, Spring, Spring

Christmas Bowling Memories

Sorry for the delay folks. You can't rush art!

Bowling is a simple game. Just get a heavy ball...

A group of good friends...

And some schnazzy shoes!

Here are some of our best bowling styles.

Here's one known as "the blur."

You might even offer a prize for the best dressed guest!

Everyone is able to play, no matter your perceived ability…

or skill level.

Warning: Bowling can become a very emotional experience. Bowlers may experience ecstasy, thrill or despair, (sometimes even a few tears.)

In order to have a really memorable time…document everything.

Staff Christmas Outing

 

 

This year, we broke tradition, for the first time in recent history!  Tradition at Camp Joy means a white elephant gift exchange, with um...less than desirable items exchanged!  Tonight, we had our staff Christmas get-together at Rock River Lanes in Fort Atkinson.

 

 

The colorful bowling balls

 

Natalie, the photographer (I'm sure she'll be posting some of her top of the line pics!)

Julia, showing off her bowling style. (sorry so blurry!)

 



Ruth, showing us how the professionals do it. :)  Aunt Carol told her, "It's just like housekeeping-they set all those dirty pins out there, and you just gotta wipe them all out."

 

 

A strike for Daniel. Way to go!



 

 

 

We went to Culvers afterwards. YUM!  Yay for Wisconsin!

A new blog on the block

If anyone is interested, about 2 days ago, I started another blog.  It's called  Cookergirl.  It's a little more of a personal blog, about finding joy in everyday things.  I truly do enjoy life, and want to share it with other people.  Feel free to stop in if you're a blog reader.  The address is cookerrachel.blogspot.com.  I will still continue to post any camp group activities on this blog.

House Full of Strangers

I was getting ready for the morning when I was startled to see someone else enter the room...someone I didn't think I knew but who looked strangely familiar. She said her name was Rachel and that, yes, I did in fact know her. She was my house mate. She said there are two more living in here--Ruth and Angie. I wonder where they are because I never see any housemates. :)

Hurry here and there, work late in the office at camp, plug into the computer to do lesson plans...oh, is there someone else living in this house? That's when I remember how much I like doing ANYTHING if I can interact with people while I do it--cooking, dishes, cleaning, SHOPPING!! I should post a sign on the door. "Strangers welcome. Bring your own windex."

Thanksgiving Break

Hebrews 13:15 "By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name."

 

Thanksgiving is often overlooked with all the busyness and hustle and bustle of everyone getting ready for Christmas, but it is so important to stop and actually take the time to thank God for all that he has done, and all that he will do. 

We are truly blessed.

 

We got to go home Tuesday evening. Dad and I left early (4am) Wednesday morning to go pick up a car I was buying from a lady in Pennsylvania.  We met in Arlington, Ohio, about a 7 hour drive. It was nice to spend some road time with my Dad. He took me to Cracker Barrel for breakfast. Yum! :)

 

 

The navigator

 

 

Happy to finally be getting a car! (That's green apple pull 'n peel licorice :) )

 

 

My Car! It's a 2003 Buick LeSabre. So thankful for God's provision through savings and a very generous anonomous donor!

 (Photo courtesy of Logan's used car lot (c) 2013 :) )

Thanksgiving Day

 

We had my Grandpa Logan, my aunt, Sue, and Sasha and DJ from camp over for this special day.

 

 

Rebekah peeling potatoes

 

Ruth, wondering if her homemade chocolate pudding is "too gloppy." It turned out just fine! Both of the girls worked so hard on the dinner.  It was delicious, too, I might add! :)

 

The table-set and ready to go

 



 

Ruth made these cute little turkey place card holders

 

In keeping with traditions of the very first Thanksgiving and Native American culture, the guys chilled while the squaws worked! No, actually these are some talented fellows, especially the cute one on the right! :)



 Aunt Sue was such a blessing- she did load after load of dishes

 

 

 

This was our first Thanksgiving without Mom. Her little touches are everywhere, like these decorations on a windowsill. She was one of the most special people I have ever known, and though I will always miss her until I get to Heaven, I thank God for the priceless years we had with her, and for how he showed His love through her.

Friday

 



 

Dad, Robbie and I went to the championship football games of some local teams, held at Huskie Stadium on the NIU campus in DeKalb

 

 

 

The Stillman Valley Cardinals.  They played a good game-score was tied 14-14 at halftime. They went into overtime 41-41, and the Cardinals got the 2-point conversion while the other team missed it, so they won 43-41. Yay!

Some of our friends were there also, John Uhlar, Brian and Emily Moritz, and Pastor Clark





The ever-loyal Cardinal fans- at least 1,000 of them!

 

Robbie and Me. It was COLD!!!

 

 

Oh, yeah, about that...

 

We hadn't eaten anything-it was probably about 3 p.m., so Robbie and I went to get some soft cheesy pretzels. When we got back, Robbie held the pretzels while I tucked in my multiple blankets. Well, I lifted my hand up suddenly and knocked the pretzel and nacho cheese all down Robbie's pant leg and shoe, and all over the man sitting in front of us! Can you spell MORTIFIED! He was oblivious of the fact that he had cheese splattered all over his back. I tapped him on the shoulder, "Um, sir...I just spilled cheese sauce all over you...um, I'm gonna clean it off now..." How embarrassing. He was very gracious, thankfully. It was just one of those days! I broke a large mirror that morning all over the floor of Rebekah's room. It was what I term an "Amelia Bedelia" day. (If you've never read Amelia Bedelia books, may I suggest they are good for a laugh :) She is always blundering something! )

A few weeks ago, on a gorgeous, sunny Sunday afternoon, we took some Logan sibling pics.  Daniel Hatchett snapped them for us.  He is a young, budding photographer, and I was impressed by how well he did-Enjoy!

 

 

 Sisters <3 My two favorite people in the whole wide world!

 

 

Another sister pic!

 



 Wow! What a strong guy to hold three girls in one hand! He doesn't even look like he's straining! :)

 

 The fabulous four

 

 

My favorite family picture. I love the fall colors!

 

 

My second fave (ditto on the fall colors!)

 

 

Brother dear decided for some odd, unexplainable reason that it

would be fun to pick me up and put me in the birdbath!

(He didn't make it that far!...I think I deafened him with the blood-curdling scream-

usually anything that sounds like that is fairly dangerous, and not a

force to be reckoned with. :) )