Wow. That was a long break. Lots of stuff happened. Let me let you in on the highlights.

The week of July 17th was a church week. I spent every moment not at my job at the church directing our Vacation Bible School. A week of train whistles, songs and candy. It was a great enjoyment, but a lot of work. All of the kids seemed to love their time and I pray they took home a story or two.

I remember going to every local church VBS when I was growing up. From the Lutherans to the Methodists and around to the Baptists, I experienced them all. I think it was so my mom got a break from the 24/7 of three young children home from school in the summer.

Anyway, OUR VBS was successful. We had about 125 kids and 55 volunteers participating. We were able to do the VBS for free for the first year since I have been going to the church. Yeah!

I slept almost the whole day on Saturday AFTER I cleaned up the remnants at the church. Sunday, we met my family in Dayton to retrieve our kids. We were overjoyed to see them with their slightly golden skin. They were gone so long. Charlie says that they can't go back again for that long. We will do our own family vacation next year. Where we will go and where we will get the money are their own mysteries.

Monday night, Charlie's brother and sister in law, Mike and Roxanne, stopped by for a short visit. They live in Charlotte and were in town for the weekend. All of Roxanne's family live here in the area and they usually stop to see us for a while. You can read about their lives on their website www.mikeandrox.com.

The family spent the rest of the week getting back into a routine of sorts. We had suitcases to unpack and new clothes from Grandma and Grandpa to put away. Then we had to turn around and pack suitcases for Charlie and Ethan as they set off for the wilds of Ironton, Ohio to work with a mission team.

My two men left on Saturday embarking on their adventure. They are not to return until August 5th. Hope reminded me that "we are girls" and she asserted that "we don't need any boys." I disagree, but it's nice to have girl time for a while.

Amazing insights... I am reading confessions from an honest wife by Sarah Zacharias Davis which I highly suggest that you check out at http://www.revellbooks.com. The chapter on the "trinity of marriage" was so "me." Well actually the whole book so far is me. It's what I think and how I feel in marvelously crafted words which didn't flow from my mouth or fingers. This quote is what I just read and I had to post.

She writes, "I must approach God as I am. I must ask him to purge my current way of thinking and being ...... My dilemma is making this head knowledge real in the practical workings of my life. I must also learn to be, not only do ...... But I know that I have to work and to try -- and I know God will somehow meet me where I am every single time. "

That MY dilemma.... how can all of this knowledge that I read, hear and digest translate into action. I guess I just need to keep trying and trust that God is in it if I ask Him to be.

Charlie asked me this morning who had a meeting tonight. Neither of us do which is unusual lately. We will be home together, which should be a time to connect and talk. It probably won't be though. We each have so many projects that we are working on.... that sounds like an excuse. Maybe it is. I want to want to spend time with him. Just like I want to want to spend time with God. Some days it just isn't that easy. It's a choice that has to be made.

I will make some tortillas for dinner to eat together and we can decompress the day. Maybe I will suggest a short walk around the neighborhood unless it's raining again. Try not to nag, try to be energetic, try to smile, try to be positive, listen, don't offer too many suggestions, be ready for physical intimacy. All that running around in my head non stop...... and have FUN.

Sometime soon I will figure out how to post pictures here and find our digital camera in the area in our house known as "dad's desk." I will brave it soon, I promise.

Yesterday evening I spent time sorting through school supplies with another lady from church for the Mission Trip to Ironton that our church is taking in 2 weeks. That particular area of Ohio is pretty economically depressed and we are collecting supplies to fill backpacks for the kids in the area. It's amazing to me that God always seems to work it out. He puts on one person's heart to bring crayons and another scissors. There is nothing more miraculous than having a project from God come together because of His leading the people in His kingdom.

Later in the evening, when she should have been asleep, I chatted with Hope in Florida. She told me all about their trip to Silver Springs, the glass bottom boat she rode in, the bell on the boat that she rang and that she ate and ate and ate. She informed me about riding the big ride high in the air with Grandpa, Ethan and Maddy. She told me that Aunt Sarah rode with Grandma because Grandma was scared of heights. She also said that she rode the bear on the merry go round and waved to Grandma every time she went by her. She forgets nothing and fascinates in everything. What a gift I have been given. God is SO GREAT!

They are gone. My kids. Away in Florida in the heat, which I probably couldn't handle. They are having a great time. I have been able to go hours without talking to them. I only check in once or twice a day.

Hope got in trouble on Saturday. It seems that the crayons I sent caused a problem when she used them on the kitchen floor. "Grandpa was mad," she said. She also told Charlie that she "was naughty." I'm pretty sure she learned her lesson, at least at Grandma's house.

They went to the ocean Saturday afternoon to swim. Hope in her Elmo bathing suit and Elmo water socks. Ethan with his boogie board, able to swim without the life jacket. They searched for shells, swam and played in the sprinklers at the beach to get off the salt.

Hope told me Sunday morning that they wouldn't be going back to the beach because they had already been there. She called me later to tell me that she was back at the ocean and running with Grandma.

There was an interesting development. There is at least one rule now at Grandma's house. A one taste/try rule. Ethan informed me that he tried salsa, blueberries and cucumbers, which according to him taste just like watermelon. Hmmmmm..... Not so much.

We here, the ones left in Ohio, are taking it easy. Finishing up VBS stuff, watching movies together and talking in quiet. Charlie will be at Promise Keepers on Friday and Saturday. Maybe I will have the gumption to get a garage sale ready. Then again, maybe not.

This morning I am in awe of silence.

Well, they are off. The kids I mean. My lovely friend and child care provider, Kristie (who is also 8 months pregnant), met my mom and her husband in Dayton to transfer the kids for the long drive to Florida. They will stay tonight somewhere in the great state of Georgia. Another place I have never been.

It's amazing to me that people still do long road trips. I used to hate them as a child. My 2 sisters and I squished into the back seat fighting about who has crossed over the imaginary line we had drawn to give ourselves personal space. Not that we had ever heard "personal space" before. I remember every trip seemed like it would never end and yet the destination was usually less than 2 hours away.

Grandma Cathy and Grandpa actually purchased a new vehicle 2 years ago before the first big trip so that Ethan and Maddy would have the ability to watch movies. I remember watching the trees fly by.

It's also interesting to me that my 8 year old son has been to Florida and DisneyWorld 3 times and I have never had the pleasure. I suppose it probably has something to do with money and vacation time management. And, I'm not sure I would really like the hot of Florida in July anyway.

I prayed for their safety and my mom's sanity. I also pray for expanding their food choices. At lunch today, Ethan had chicken nuggets and Hope had a cheeseburger. Ethan ate chicken nuggets and french fries at every dinner meal last year and was instructed that "chicken was not on the menu." Although, grandma repeatedly tells me that "there are no rules at grandma's house." Let's hope that she gives them their Flintstones at least.

Today is the first day of this new venture in my life. What will it become. It's slightly mysterious to me this journaling where others might read it and opening myself up for comments.

I wonder how long my excitement about it will last. Probably until another new volunteer opportunity comes my way and I am unable to say no. I am overwhelmed repeatedly as I overcommit myself to projects.

Currently, I am in the final two weeks of planning VBS at our church. Something I love, as I am a planner. But, not so great when the last minutes are ticking away. I am also in the midst of packing my two darling children for their 2 week vacation in Florida with my mom. Which, you might think would be something to look forward to for me. Being childless and therefore supposedly more FREE. I, however, find myself missing them already.

God allows me all the time I need. But, I seem to fight Him for the right to plan it according to my schedule and my priorities. My new goal is to spend some of that time in meditation and listening to His voice. The small still voice that exists in my soul.

Pray for my mom and her husband. Ethan, Maddy and Hope are sure to be a handful.