Camp Rainbow

Camp Rainbow is a camp for mentally and physically disabled individuals. The camp only costs the campers $15-the same it cost them 49 years ago when it started. The workers are all volunteers. It's truly a unique camp.

This will be my 10th year volunteering. I can't believe it's already been 10 years since I was 14 and doing it for the first time. I still love it as much as I did then. Camp starts June 15th and I can't wait. At the end of the week the campers go home, wash their clothes, and pack for next year. They look forward to this all year, they talk about it at least once a week for the entire year. And really, I'm not much different.

People have often asked me how I can volunteer there, or why I keep going back year after year. I usually say the campers keep me coming back. I know they look forward to seeing me. And it's addictive....seeing them so happy and knowing you're making their day. My pastor was saying how he loves to go and just love on the children that come in from the bus ministry. He recognizes that it is very likely the only love they will ever get. When he said this it suddenly struck me that that completely summarizes my reason for going to camp rainbow year after year. Some of the campers come from good, loving, caring group homes or families, but many of them come from group homes that really don't care about them. They're just a job, and a badly taken care of job at that. At camp I can love on them and make them the center of attention, if only for a few days once a year. That is truly why I love camp rainbow. I know that I can make a difference in these campers lives and let them be loved.

Emma Liu

Here's a video of Emma's latest tricks!

Easter Pics #2

Well, I take a lot of pictures so I couldn't fit them all in...and these are just a fraction of what I took!

Hot mama!
Poor baby had a rough day of too much candy and not enough sleep!
Chris and I at Easter dinners at my mom's house.
Dalton and Lorraine...

Jason and K at Hunan's. We ate lunch with them before we headed to the airport.

Easter Pics

As I said before we went home to St. Joe for Easter. And as promised here are a few pictures from the trip!Eli got bored waiting at wal-mart so he figured he should apply for a job!
Opening his cars racetrack, which was his birthday present.
He got pretty excited for the easter egg hunt and his Lightning McQueen basket
Lexi hanging out...
Uncle Chris and Elijah dancing

Camera Found!

So back in November we were at my mom’s celebrating her birthday. Elijah really enjoys playing with cameras and, well mine disappeared. We finally gave in and bought a new one, which was really a good excuse because I’d been wanting one with a docking station as apposed to replacing batteries. Then early this month Tyler calls to let me know the camera was finally found!! More important than finding the camera was finding the 738 pictures inside the camera…..yes I said 738. I wasn’t so good at downloading my pics. Luckily I have gotten really good at it now partially because of all the pictures I thought I had lost. Anyway…Here’s a couple pics from the lost camera from this summer and fall, Enjoy!

We took Eli to the Leblonde carnival...He wasn't big enought to ride this ride but at least we got his picture next to it!He tore up the cotton candy!!This is from one night he stayed with us. He really loves Uncle Chris' gorilla slippers and we pretty excited that he could now also manage to walk in them!

She may look sweet....

So Chris couldn’t stand the thought of Emma locked up in her kennel the entire time when he was at work and I was back in Joe town. So he had a good idea to buy her a baby gate and he trapped her in the kitchen so she could have room to play. But, at the same time, she wouldn’t tear anything up.
We underestimated the beast…..


Yep…she chewed her way out…..


Aaannnddd headed right for the blinds I won’t let her touch.

Update...

Oh my....I think I've been neglecting my blog!
Well we were able to go home to St. Joe for Easter. I flew home on Wednesday and Chris came in on Saturday and we came back to Texas last night. It was really great to see all our family and friends.
And for those of you wondering.....we did not leave little Emma home alone. Emma stayed in a dog motel while we were gone. I picked her up this morning and she acted like she was on speed when we got home. But she quickly calmed down and found her usual spot on the floor basking in the sunlight...isn't that the life?!
I'll post pictures later today or tomorrow!

New Table

We finally got a table yesterday! We're pretty excited since we've been eating on the floor, bed, or kitchen counter while dodging Emma. It's definately not as nice as what Bob could have built, but it will do the trick for now.

Happy Birthday Elijah!

So I'm a couple days late, but better late than never! Eli turned 2 on Friday. I can't believe it's already been two years! I'm adjusting and getting used to being in Texas, but the hardest part is definately being away from family. And I really hate being away from Eli's cute little face. I know he's growing and changing every day so I hate to be away from him!

Luckily, in 7 short days I'm gonna be visiting home! Eli and Alli will be picking me up at the airport and I can't wait to see his reaction!

Oh and the pic is from breakfast at Ryan's the morning we moved. He stole my cup of whip cream and really enjoyed it!

Too Slow Too Furious

Howdy Y'all,
This is how we do it in the Falls. I disguised myself as an undercover underground Street Racer in order to get plugged in to the underground race scene. I wanted to see what high performance parts are being used to soup up these cars. You will be astounded by my findings. Here in the Falls, as I like to call it, Home Depot and Lowe's are the new suppliers for the increasing demand of the underground race scene. Surprisingly, there are no garage sales here in Texas. Actually, it has been outlawed and you will be shot on site. Anyways, why have a garage sale when you can put your junk on your cars. My junk is my treasure. You will not believe this, but this particular car does 0-60 in 5.6 minutes. Wow, that's amazing!! They are even talking about making this car a prototype for the city Street Sweepers. With its powerful hoses, it will literally suck up everything on the road. Yes, even those yellow lines dividing the street.

Apartment!

Sooo by popular demand, here are some pics of our new apartment!

This is the living room...yes we did pull a bob and erin and put the bed in the living room until we get a couch!
Kitchen
Bathroom...it's a pretty good size!
Our laundry room with our brand new washer and dryer!
Our bedroom....basically empty.

We really like our apartment so far. It has a pool (not open right now), a fitness center, and it's a gated community. We also have a fireplace...which I absolutely love!

Food for Thought

Have you ever wonder why things are what they are?
Well, great....we are on the same page.
Let me elaborate!!

Why?......................

Why do nose run and feet smell?

Why do we call it eggplant when there is no egg in it?

Why do we park on a driveway and drive on a parkway?

Why do we call hamburger "hamburger" when there is no ham in it?

Why do Kamakazi pilots wear helmets?

Some of you are asking "Will why not?"
Because it doesn't make sense.

From now on, I'm calling "hamburger" Beefburger and "eggplant" purpleplant and tonight I am parking my car on the parkway. Who's going to join me?