363 days left to go again...

On Friday we packed the van and drove the 1.25 hours to Camp Forest Springs.

Katrina and Samuel helped unload the van.

Note the wicker suitcase Katrina insisted on bringing with her things neatly packed inside and the Barbie backpack Samuel insisted on wheeling into the Maple 1, the cabin we were assigned this year.

After we were settled in Maple we walked to the patio and got on the first hay ride we could.

We took a hay ride at least once each day.

Saturday morning we met again at the patio, got onto the hay wagon and went to a Wrangler Breakfast.

This was the highlight of our time this weekend at CFS.

In the woods there was a campfire with hot coffee brewing over it. At the home-built gas stove, Mike and Herbie, two dear camp staff, were working on hashbrowns with or without onions and bacon. Upon arrival we sat around the campfire and were told that we would have made-to-order eggs with Texas toast and hashbrowns.

It was an absolute delight.

Saturday afternoon Pancho and Fanny went mountain boarding.

They got all geared up with elbow and knee pads, helmets and mountain boards and boarded down the ski hill.

The pictures on the right side of this collage show how tired they were afterwards.

Both really enjoyed the mountain boarding but carrying the board back up the mountain is very hard work and took a lot out of everyone who participated.

They enjoyed some time on top of the boathouse, watching the kids and me as we played at the beach.

Katrina and Samuel enjoyed several hours at the beach while Pancho and Fanny went mountain boarding.

The weather was absolutely gorgeous, almost unseasonable for Memorial Day weekend.

I put sunscreen on the kids but failed to put it on myself.

BIG mistake!

Those two have olive skin.

I do not, to say the least!

Many hours were spent at the park, swinging and playing in the sand.

Katrina enjoyed the mini rock wall and cannot wait to climb the real rock wall in the Rec Barn in a few years!

You all know I am a woman of tradition and last year we made a frame for a family picture from our weekend.

So, this weekend we were in the Handcraft shop creating our second annual family picture frame.

Samuel was quite burned out on Sunday mid-morning so he took a nap while Katrina painted herself a mini serving tray and Pancho painted our frame.

Sunday afternoon Fanny and I participated in the high ropes challenge course.

We did the "leap of faith."

It was quite an experience. When I have more time I will share the story of my "leap."

Hopefully Pancho can help me upload the video he took.

I have nothing to be proud of regarding my jump, but God taught me quite a bit through this experience and I think you would enjoy hearing about it.

Sadly, we have a whole 363 days until we go back to Camp Forest Springs.

We enjoy our time there so much and are so thankful to my parents for blessing us with money to spend on "family betterment." We use this money for our weekend at CFS and there is nothing any of us would rather spend it on.

While we ate the delicious brunch on Monday before leaving Katrina said, "I don't want to leave." I asked her why. "Because here we are always together as a family."

What a beautiful testimony of the importance of family time.

Then last night at dinner she said, "Papa, did you miss going to work when we were at Camp?"

Pancho said no.

"So you really enjoyed being with us all weekend long at Camp? Then I think we should go back!"

I think so too, Katrina, I think so too.