In July, Sophie went on her very first camping trip, with the kids from church, and came back appropriately filthy. Highlights: s'mores, swimming on the beach, and having a boys vs. girls war, in which either side tried to break into the other's tent. Not only did the girls win (with the help of a couple of turncoat boys), but they had a far superior tent. It had a lock and a fan.
While Soph was out with the big kids, Ryan and Daniel enjoyed "boy time" at Adventure Landing. They ate pizza and played miniature golf. Then Daniel found $20 laying on the floor and treated his dad to the Go Karts.
I don't remember exactly what Mom did while everyone else was busy, but I'm pretty sure whatever it was, it was done inside, with the AC on.
Thanks to everyone who prayed for Ryan's sermon! It went very well, and he continues to get positive feedback from it. The whole experience - from God giving him the message during his devotional time one morning, to the peace and excitement he felt delivering it, to the response from the congregation and the other pastors - really helped reconfirm for Ryan his call to the ministry. After the past year of limbo, he said it felt like reclaiming something he had lost.
At the end of July, the whole family drove up to Asheville, NC for the Vineyard Southeast Region Pastor's retreat, 3 days of worship, mini-seminars, and day camp for the kids. Thanks to a hilly campus, with the kids drop-off point practically up there on Everest, we got reacquainted with muscles we had forgotten existed. (Yes, the South and the suburbs have made us soft. And alliterative.) The kids were happily exhausted by hiking, games, crafts and treats. Daniel especially loved the last night's bbq at a local ranch, with hayrides, horseshoes, fishing and a big bonfire. He wants to go back for his birthday.
On the way back from the conference, we stopped to visit the Ghiradellas, and Ryan spent a whole Saturday in the rain helping Tarik and a neighbor put together a swing set for Izzie. Liz, the kids and I went consignment shopping. I don't know who had more fun, but I do know who looked cuter at the end of the day.
On Sunday, we got to visit Liz and Tarik's church, where Tarik plays drums with the worship team. That, and visiting their fellowship group that evening, brought back fond memories of our ACC days.
In August, Cynthia and her sister Camilia drove up from Orlando for a long weekend and we, being the superior hosts that we are, worked them to the bone. They went for an early morning walk with Sophie and / or Daniel every morning, and taught Ryan to make ginger beer, as well as ginger candy from the leftover root. Cynthia also showed me how to make earrings. Later, Camilia mailed Ryan his very own scotch bonnet pepper plant. He was so proud -- or overcome by the capsaicins -- he nearly cried.
This Monday we officially began homeschooling for the year! Sophie is in 4th grade, Daniel in kindergarten (only because FL law says he MUST enroll in K before 1st Grade, otherwise we'd probably keep things unofficial for another year). We're using a curriculum called Living Books this year: we'll cover the American Civil War, Medieval History, Astronomy, and (gulp) Japanese. As I'm typing this, the kids and Ryan are playing a game that's kind of like "Go Fish," but with Latin and Greek root words written on the cards instead of numbers. To my rather incredulous delight, they are enjoying themselves - and learning vocabulary at the same time. What a concept!
Please keep Ryan in prayer as he begins leading a class at church this month, along with Pastor Mike Townsend. The course is called "Naturally Supernatural," and is about the work of the Holy Spirit in the church today.
Let us know how we can be praying for you! We hope the Lord blesses you all as you head into fall!
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