mmm, I want to linger, a little longer...

Well, I'm back from Camp Classen. I've checked my phone messages (just junk), sorted through the mail (lots of more junk with an assortment of somewhat important stuff), checked my emails (a lot for one sitting), read the blogs (so fun!), caught up on life in the real world ( so there was a protest???) and started to unpack and do laundry (not fun).
Camp was great. I absolutely loved being around the fifth graders. We went to Turner Falls in Oklahoma the first day to do a scavenger hunt. My part was to station myself at a certain point, wait to be found, and hand out a rock with the word "survivor" written on it. I was given the spot at the Chapel. So I set up my chair on the wooden porch and enjoyed the tranquility of the surroundings. That is until the noise of running, screaming fifth graders came down the road to find me. The next three days were non-stop. We hiked the trails. Up and down, then up and down again. I kept hoping to see some wildlife, but I only saw some in the form of fifth grade boys. Oh well...We went to the archery range. I hadn't shot an arrow in years. I'll have you know, I got two bullseyes in six attempts! I won't tell you where the other four arrows are, though. They may still be looking for them. The "snake man" came one night. The room was filled with 100 screaming kids and probably 15 snakes, two of which were very, very long boas. I don't know which were more afraid, the snakes or the students. And no, I didn't touch the snakes, but I would have, really! I took some groups of students through a "challenge course." The "giant's finger" was a favorite. The objective was to lift a tire up and over a telephone pole, touch the ground, and back over again. All the while someone had to be touching the tire. Of course, the pole was much, much higher than the students. And they couldn't use the pole as a support. They were supposed to act as a team, without my input. Watching the students through this course was so much fun. There were times when we were all doubled over in laughter. We first went on Tuesday and they all had so much fun, they couldn't wait to go back on Thursday. On the way back from the course, one boy said to me that this was the best week of school ever! One of my jobs this week was to give out medications, both morning and night. I felt like a mom to these kids. The best part of the week for me was getting to know the names of more than 120 fifth-graders. And not just the names, but the personalities of some of these kids. It made me sad to think that I only have two months more to spend with these students. I felt like I built some relationships with them. Every night at bed check, around 10:00 pm, the teachers went from cabin to cabin ( 14 in all!) and sang the same song to them. We even had a little dance movement going on. The song started " mmm, I want to linger, a little longer, a little longer here with you." By the end of the week, we had added a few more verses. They all looked forward to having us come in and hug them goodnight. Even the boys. Maybe even more so. It's funny. I was a little anxious about going to camp for the first time. I didn't go with Pam and Becca.. though I went up for parents' day when Pam was there, 11 years ago. (Can't believe it was that long ago. The place looked the same.) But after having spent a week with these fifth-graders who just love on you, I can't imagine not going again. The song will be playing through my head for a while, "mmm, I want to linger, a little longer, a little longer here with you."

Hi! Ho! Hi! Ho! It's Off to Camp I Go!

Well, I go to fifth grade science camp next week. For the first time. Ever. I didn't even go with my girls. Bob went with Steve. I declined. But here I am, years later, going to Camp Classen. I get to be in charge of handing out medications. I have a feeling that there's alot more meds going around these days than when Steve was in fifth grade. I'm going to be a very important person. Either that, or a very busy person. Going as a teacher, I don't have to room with the kids. Actually I think I would rather do that than room with some adults. Atleast I know I would probably have the bathroom to myself. Remember, these are just fifth graders, not high schoolers. I haven't started packing yet. I'm waiting for this Texas weather to make up it's mind. Is it spring or is it still winter?? I want to pack some good treats in case I need to do some bribing for good behavior. Any suggestions? Yeah, it will be fun. I've got a group of students that, though they are a handful at times, are funny and good-natured. They get my jokes. I like that. So yes, it's off to camp I go. I'm just glad it's not bathing suit weather.

Amazing Grace

Tonight I heard an amazing story. Amazing in many ways. I heard it from Katherine Riskey as she told it to my sophomore girls at bible study. A story about a young girl, the summer before her eighth grade year. This girl had come to Pine Cove Camp and was to have Katherine as her cabin counselor. Katherine was briefed about her and tried to prepare her heart for this camper. What Katherine didn't know yet was that this young camper would have such an impact on her life that it would resonate from Pine Cove and touch many other lives. Their roles at camp would be reversed, and this young girl would minister to Katherine in a way only the Lord could orchestrate. You see, this young girl had just lost her father one week prior, to a drowning off the beach in Florida. Yet she came to camp filled with a sense of peace, knowing God is in control of everything. She told Katherine that she could actually feel God's peace flow through her body, physically feeling that sensation. She said that scripture she never had memorized was all of a sudden brought to mind. The right scripture (I know. It's all right.) at just the right time. She was able to praise and worship God and be joyous after this heart-wrenching tragedy. Her story is truly amazing. It is a great testimony of how God works.

All of us will suffer at some time in our lives. That is a fact. It's biblical, whether we like it or not. I have been learning in my lifetime that I can not depend on myself to get me through the crises. I absolutely need to depend on God. Only He can give me the strength. I can identify with this young camper in the sense that I, too, felt a physical sense of peace flow through my body at a time of trouble. It was about six weeks after Pam's diagnosis. I had been praying daily, multiple times during the day, for Pam and her recovery. I remember having this sense of peace come over me like nothing before, and I just knew then that God was telling me over and over that Pam was going to be alright. It was like a weight had been lifted from me. It may have been me finally giving over control to God. But I clearly remember that sense of peace knowing that God was in total control of Pam. And He loved her dearly. And He knew that I loved her too.

Phillipians 4:6-7

Davises Do Disney

Okay, because you asked...Disney was alot of fun, but different this time around. Bob and I got to cover ALOT of ground. We motored through the parks at a pretty fast clip. Since we'd been there before several times, we knew what we wanted to see. We got pretty good at maneuvering in and around double-wide strollers. We went to four parks in 2 1/2 days. The weather was sunny, but pretty warm. Since it was a spring break week, it was crowded. But we utilized the "Fast Pass" and didn't have to wait too long anywhere. We went to the Magic Kingdom first and did our favorites. We went on Buzz Lightyear four times!! We tried to better our score each time. I swear my laser gun wasn't working as fast as Bob's! Bob had to do better than the little kid in the seat in front of us. So he knocked him out of his seat half way through the ride! No, not really. Have to say, there really is something magical about the Magic Kingdom. I think that park had the most energy. The next day we went to Epcot and Animal Kingdom. Last time we were at Animal Kingdom, it had just opened and was not full of animals yet. This time the Jungle Safari was much more interesting. The newest ride, Everest, had a long line. And since I'm not a roller coaster girl, Bob didn't want to wait to go on alone. I told him to just snag a kid to ride with, but he might have been arrested for that. We went to Epcot next, and by special recommendation, tried the margaritas outside the Mexico pavillion. Bob decided to throw mine out after having to retrieve me from the lake! Man, they were potent! Seriously Pam, did you really finish yours??? Our favorite place to eat was in France. And what did we eat, sitting outside at a table, but cheese and grapes and our favorite, a chocolate croissant! It reminded us so much of France. I got up enough courage to go on the Soarin' ride. It was fun and I'd go on it again. Of course, next time I'll open my eyes. The next day we went to MGM and probably got to do the most at that park. The weather was perfect, not too warm. The crowds were manageable. We got to play "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, Play It!" That was fun!!!!We were competing with the young couple next to us. He was beating Bob, so Bob knocked him out of his chair. No, not really. We spent the last night, St. Patty's Day, sitting at a table along the water in Downtown Disney, drinking wine and a rum runner. After I pulled Bob out of the lake, we went back to the hotel. No, not really. All in all, it was a fun trip. It was a bit different going without children. So much of Disney's magic is seen through the joy of children. But Bob and I had fun on our own time. There were many couples just like us there. Empty-nesters. Having a great time. Will we go back anytime soon?? Only with grandchildren. But no rush...

The eyes of Texas just dimmed

Okay, this post will not be very insightful but rather a venting...28 years ago, Bob and I came to Texas and fell in love with this state. The sky seemed always blue, the people were friendly, housing was cheap. Lots of reasons. After growing up an Oakland Raiders fan (George Blanda had the same last name as my family, so we always thought there was a chance we were related!), I became a Cowboys fan. What was not to like? They had a great coach in Tom Landry, a superb quarterback in Roger Staubach and hey, they were America's team. We were proud to be Texans. But sad to say, today I am embarrassed. Embarrassed by an owner who puts winning above the dignity and character of a team. T.O....need I say more?

Our Very First Post

Well, we finally did it! We decided to join in on our family of bloggers. We created a blog. I'm not sure how long the labor was, but it was intense. This is what we delivered. Now, as with children, this is a work in progress (borrowing from Pam's blog). We will be remodeling this off and on. Something we have experience in. With a little help from Steve, we should have this baby up and running smoothly soon. But in the meantime, please be patient with us. We are looking forward to this new adventure.