Each year the staff wives at camp have the opportunity to head up one if the ladies’ events.  This year I had the opportunity to coordinate Ladies’ Retreat.  Our theme was Savor Every Moment.  The entire weekend was based on the idea that God gives us all kinds of circumstances in our lives. Good and bad. And we should learn to trust Him and thank Him for all circumstances. Not just the ones that make us comfortable.  The speaker ( Ann Sullivan) was wonderful.  The ladies were really able to connect with her and appreciated her transparency.  It was encouraging to read on many of the evaluations that her speaking allowed the ladies to open up more with each other and their groups were strengthened because of it.  Through out the weekend we offered a variet of activities geared towards ladies including an evening banquet with a special men’s quartet “seranade”.  It was such a wonderful opportunity to be more closely involved with the ministry than I am usually able to be.  I truly enjoyed my weekend, and continue to pray that the effects of it will be far reaching, and God will continue to use it in the lives of the ladies who attended to strengthen their walk with Him.

This is the Ladies’ Retreat Committee.  Jenn Scott, Joan Points, Ann Sullivan (speaker), and myself

Call me biased but each day Alivia gets cuter and cuter, even the the extent that I some times wonder if I have the cutest daughter in the world.

Easter Weekend 2010 started out in the Wisconsin Dells with Matt’s family.  The weekend was awesome and we were all able to stay in the same suite and share a kitchen to do some cooking of our own.

The weekend included many hours in the Kalahari Waterpark and roaming the halls of the resort. 

Simon loved the waterslides and wanted to try more and more each time.

Hudson on the other hand only wanted to stand in the water and look around.

Alivia was all about getting wet and being wrapped up in a warm towel.

We also introduced Matt’s mom and dad to Paul Bunyans Cook Shanty.  If you have never been there before, they serve their food family style and it is a ton of fun.  Matt’s dad loved dinner so much he wanted to go back for breakfast.  It was a lot of fun for everyone.

Here is Matt’s mom with Simon and Alivia eating dinner.

We left the Kalahari Resort on saturday and headed to Julie’s mom and dads for Easter Sunday.  Julie’s sister’s kids were there for the week so the boys continued in their eventful and fun filled weekend.

We finished the weekend with a morning playing at the park with friends Beth, Rusty and Grace.  It was a great conclusion to a great weekend.  It also helped wear out everybody for the ride home. 

Somebody please tell me when that happened!  I can’t believe she is 5 months already!  Since I have been so terrible at updating since she was born, I thought this was worth postsing.  On the day she turned 5 months she said her first word!!! It was “ma ma”.  Such a smart and beautiful little girl!  Needless to say I was flying high the rest of the day. (the boys both said “da da” first)  She has also been crossing many other mile stones lately.  She is starting to sit up! We haven’t even practiced, and one day last week I sat her up, and she sat there, ALL BY HERSELF!!  Then, this past week she started wanting to eat every two hours, and so we started cereal yesterday!  She’s taking to it like a pro. So, our little girl is growing up.  And here are a few pictures to catch you all up on here progress.

Alivia and mommy. Okay, so even though she was sitting up all by herself, I wouldn’t just leave her there.

And that is what she thought of her first bite of cereal

This one I had to add just because it was so stinkin cute

Same here

I was taking Alivia’s 5 month pictures today, and this was not posed.  The boys just wanted to adore her.  It’s so nice to have boys who love there little sister!

And these last two are her 5 month pictures

Each year the Missionary Staff at Camp Forest Springs travel up to Fort Wilderness in McNoughton, WI for our annual Staff Retreat.  It is a time to get away from camp, away from the hustle and bustle and get away as a staff for refreshment and to work through some much needed camp business that needs to be looked at for the future.  It is a great time to eat great food, lots of fellowship, games around the tables at night and just good times of sharing with one another.  There is usually tons of laughter and occassionaly an embarrassing moment or two. 

This year was another exceptional year and this is a kuddos to the staff of Fort Wilderness for hosting the staff of CFS and for all your hard work as well as the leadership of Camp Forest Springs for the insight, direction and challenges as we look to continue serving in 2010.