May Update

Summer is kicking off and I'm sure you are busier than ever! Thanks for taking the time to read about how things are at Victory & with our family.
Norah got very sick at the beginning of the month. We never found out what it was, but it resulted in a trip to the emergency room because she had stopped eating or drinking and was becoming dehydrated. Her recovery was slow but she is better now and we're thankful! I just wish we knew what she had. This mother doesn't like the feeling of not knowing!

This is how we take our walks around camp! We have had amazing spring weather and we are thankful for the 2+ weeks of sunshine we had this month before it ever really rained. Evie is officially done with school this week. She had a great school year and learned a lot! Our curriculum for next year is ordered and she is excited to watch the books arrive. Now, I just have to re-organize our schoolroom for next year...thank goodness I have all summer to procrastinate about that. :)

We took a couple of hikes with friends to the top of Teepee Ridge, our favorite family-friendly hike here at camp. The girls bounce to the top and then Norah usually wants carried down. Grady is a champ in the hiking backpack. We are excited for summer here at camp to officially begin. The counselors start coming in this weekend and orientation starts on the 31st. This summer will be a little different with some program changes and we are excited to see how it all plays out!

We took a trip to the Imaginarium with friends in Anchorage on Family Free Day! The girls loved the bubble center. I definitely remember playing there myself as a child. Somehow it's very fulfilling as a parent to watch your children enjoying the very same things you did as a kid.

Grady thought the sticky toys there were awesome.  Or maybe he just loved our reaction when we stuck them on him! He is a very mellow, easygoing little boy with lots of energy to move around. He has been playing around with trying to stand on his own. He hasn't gotten very far with that yet but he is very content to crawl everywhere and walk around furniture! He'll be 9 months old on the 25th.

Norah is our thinker and observer for sure. As she grows we are constantly finding out new things about her personality and I am realizing she is already a very complex person. She is an intellectual and usually keeps her thoughts to herself- but when she shares them they are awfully deep for a 3-year old! We are still struggling to parent her at times as she is incredibly determined and that can cause lots of clashes of will!

One of the interns and our friend here at camp has a cat who had a litter of kittens. We took in the runt of the litter because the mother had rejected him. I hand-fed him for a few days and he was doing well, but the mommy must have known something we didn't because he soon got very sick and died. It was a sad lesson for the girls to see that sometimes life is fragile. But it was definitely exciting while he was with us and the girls didn't seem to take it too hard when he was gone.

This is the view of Victory Peak out the living room window of our house, before the buds on the trees opened all the way. I love being able to see the mountains, and morning time especially is my favorite time of day. I've heard people say that the mountains here look a little bit different every day and I really think it's true! It's so easy to worship God when His amazing creation is right there!

Mercedes is a happiest when she is hiking with us.

Sometimes there is a little too much love going around. (See Grady's face? :) )

The kids at the top of Inspiration Point

 

 

 

Evie was in her last dance recital of the year and she did a great job! She actually "performed", as opposed to going through the motions, which is what she usually does because of stage fright! :) We were pretty proud of her.

We have been seeing God work this month at Victory. We've had a big need for just a few more summer staff and it seemed like nothing was happening. But slowly the holes have started to be filled and we know God is doing some awesome stuff already this summer! It is just so cool to me to watch God answer prayers right before my eyes.
We are so excited for campers to get here and have their lives changed by the One who loves them most!!

Some ways you can be praying right now:

-For the last few summer staff needs to be filled. We are especially in need of front desk & gift shop help.

- For safety during orientation and for the summer staff to learn (and remember!) everything that they will need to know for the summer.

-Just for the opening and softening of hearts. God can't work in someone's life until they realize a need for him. Pray that the staff will learn and grow tremendously during their time here and for seeds to be planted in many, many kids' hearts as a result of being here.

-Some praises! Sergei, the intern who was badly burned in an accident, has returned to camp and is recovering well. God is good!

-We have a new couple here on permanent staff to be Operations Director and head of Housekeeping for guest housing. We are excited to have the Cotes here!
-Outdoor education groups got to enjoy some beautiful weather and hiking trails that were clear of snow (something they didn't get last year!). We are beyond thankful for an early spring!