Home From Camp

Freckles made it back home from camp over this last weekend after a week up at Hume Lake. She had so much fun that she gave her time a 10 out of 10. She will definitely go back next year! There were over 1,000 campers up there with her. She enjoyed the speaker, the games, hang out time, coffees at the coffee bar, shaved icee snow cones, swimming, friendship, fellowship and the band that was there all week...Not to forget fancy Friday too!

(The band~ The Procession)

She came back refreshed, happy and in great spirits!

So blessed she had the experience!

An Afternoon In The Redwoods

While Freckles was up at Hume Lake...Mr. Darling and I took an afternoon drive up to a Christian Camp in the Redwood's and spent an afternoon with friends and fellow church groups that are a part of our denomination. We sat under a tree visiting a couple, whom we consider very dear to our hearts and talked for several hours, had dinner together and went to the camps fellowship hall for a time of devotion and the groups talent show.

(Eva & I)

I love this lady. She is a gem...She is my kindred spirit.

What a nice atmosphere spending time with friend's in 

a beautiful setting that is filled with God's handiwork. 

The time there blessed us!

High School Youth Group~ Hume Lake Christian Summer Camp

I have expressed a lot this last year how it has been a huge blessing for our daughter to finally find some fruitful friendships with a handful of girls. She has blossomed in so many ways. Our church plant is very small and does not include young people her age...So she has been attending youth group with her bestie this last year at a community church on Wednesday evenings. A few posts back I shared the lip sync contest fundraiser they did to put funds toward the Hume Lake Summer Camp. They did very well with the fundraiser and gave many kids a nice sum of money toward their trip costs. Another gift/blessing was that an anonymous person wanted to help our daughter with some extra money toward her camp fees. So in the end we were

 able to send her to this great week long Summer Camp.  

We met at the church early Sunday morning to get them all signed in, health screened and to pack up the caravans that were transporting the kids up to the lake. I just look at my girl and can't believe how much she has grown in independence, starting High School this Fall and blooming this delightful character. The excitement of going to this camp was huge for days before the trip. We packed everything she would need! We all prayed together before they left, gave her hugs and kisses and sent her off with the group. I'm eagerly waiting in excitement for her, to hear about the whole trip. They have some awesome activities for these group of kids...

I heard from a gal friend of mine that they actually are using the movie prop Pirate Ship from Pirates of the Caribbean for their set at the camp. How awesome is that!!! They will also be enjoying times of worship, praise and devotions with their groups, and activities like kayaking, boating, swimming, grass games, adventure, team sports/games etc... 

I am so excited for her! 

I just know she's having the time of her life! I miss her at home, 

but this is really good for her! She will return home next Saturday. 

Oh Happy Summer!!!

S'mores...Italian Style

one of our favorite pastimes is making s'mores over an open fire while camping, at the beach or just because. it's a hot, sticky and sometimes, burned mess. yet, that doesn't detour us from enjoying the yummy, ooey gooey goodness of marshmallow, chocolate and graham cracker. okay, so i'm not a huge fan of burning, smokey smoke from a fire...so what to do if you don't like the smoke, or perhaps you don't have a fire pit, but you love making s'mores...or maybe you don't like molting hot marshmallow scorching your tongue?

we have a wonderful idea...which we found ingredients for at World Market.  a lovely package of  Italian Pizzelle cookies, a jar of Italian Nutella and a jar of marshmallow fluff....oh my.... it's easy to make...a little messy, but easy. just spread the fluff and Nutella on one side of
each Pizzelle and sandwich together. then enjoy...

 

 

 

 

Mama Mia....they are delizioso...
Enjoy......
this is also the last installment for our Summertime vintage 1940's posts. but,
will be doing more posts and projects for the 1940's this Fall. Stay tuned.

Fun fact:

              IN THE 1940s

After World War II, America was on the go. More and more families bought cars and began taking family vacations to campgrounds and national parks. Making S'mores over campfires became increasingly popular during this decade.

Take A Hike....

Once again my son was blessed to go on a backpacking trip in the Sierra's for a week. They hiked, camped, slept under the stars and enjoyed God's wondrous beauty in nature. I am so thrilled he had the opportunity to go again...He went a couple years ago and was a huge memorable trip.

  
Everyone had to make meals on different days... Here's my boy cooking some breakfast before a long day hike. By the end of their trip, they had hiked about 30 miles. whew.  
And it sure was beautiful there.

  
He had a great time with his friends and even made a few new friends.
I am sure they all made some awesome memories.   
They even ate fresh caught fish for dinner.
Thankfully this gal really didn't catch his ear.   
And there was a lot of free playtime, cards, swimming, stories by the fire
 and grape flavored snow cones made from some snow left in the mountains.  
And lot's of time spent with besties.

    
And... massages???

 

What a trip...I am so happy for my boy. He has been blessed with some great trips over the years...Back to Washington over a couple Summers, backpacking trips, Winter retreats, a trip to Czech... and more to come I am sure. This kid has traveled more than me. So happy he will be blessed with such great memories of very special moments. thanks for taking the time to visit and see the sights. Have a great week y'all.
Source for art prints shown in this post