If this photo had a date and time stamp it would say 6/26/07 - 11:45 PM
But how can that be? Jacob was not due to depart camp until 8PM on Friday night!

Last night just before 9PM the phone rang. Gregg snatched it from his office before I could do more then see on the caller ID it was Jacob's camp. That gets your attention!
Tossed from a horse? Bitten by a snake? Fall from his bunk? WHAT?
What? Rain. Lots of it. Flooding. The SOS was come and get your kid now!
Some of the boys cabins had water up to the top bunks. Footbridges were totally submerged and frankly camper safety was now an issue.
Gregg was out the door and to camp in record time. They rolled into the driveway long before I would have ever anticipated and that included a run through McD's for chocolate shakes.
Jacob's first words to me were..."Mom, what day is it?" "Tuesday" Reply, "Oh man, I was not to come home for 3 more days." You got that right I am thinking.

So I have just unpacked the most organized, clean camp trunk in all of the Mattson camper post camp homecomings.
Better luck next year, Jake!

Pick one up...drop one off! Less then 48 hours after Lacey came home Jacob was packed and ready to go. His camo trunk and quilt were in front and on top, respectively, of his favorite bunk. This is his 4th year at camp and the 4th year to score the same bunk location. That is best described as top...on the other side of a wall from the counselors...hmmmm...

The picture session didn't bring a smile, but the card game with a new friend did!
Jacob has a knack for making friends easily and he was quite excited about camp and it's traditions. After a quick peck on the cheek and minimal "bye moms" Lacey and I were back on the road. Lacey...she was designated schlepper and setter upper. She can do amazing things with fans and plastic ties...just like her dad. As I post this Jacob is just over 24 hours at camp. Given my weather reports it is mighty soggy there and his pictures might reveal his rainy weather attire - slightly large rubber boots and a fluorescent orange poncho.

OOPS! Photos in wrong order...that is what I get for hustling through the process. Oh well. Sometimes I am a "settler" and I am settling for this now instead of redoing it all. That ranks up there with doing a suduko. I am not sure how sharp my mind will be in my golden years given the fact I veer away from critical thinking tasks...ha...but I digress.

Last Friday I went to fetch Lacey. Brynne rode along with me. As we were making our way down the long drive she commented that she wished that the closing mass was in Transfig. Sure enough the signs directed us away from the chapel and towards the outdoor location. I am not one to generally disrespect a service with a photo op, but I did quickly snap two from my back row. (We were slightly late due to traffic...a Sonic stop for diet-cherry limeades and a run by the dining hall to drop off Hello Kitty cupcakes.) Thankfully our tardiness did not cause us to miss Lacey's reading. She had been a significant participant in multiple services throughout the week.

Friday was also Lacey's 15th b'day. Although they had a cake for her on Monday, not sure what that was about, I wanted to have my own treat for her camper friends. Why Hello Kitty? They were the new PJ's Lacey got so I figured if Kitty was good enough for pj's then she was good enough for cupcakes. And they made the director's 5 year old daughter really, really happy.

We did presents when we got home. Surprise, surprise Lacey was happy to put "trunk unload" on the back burner for gifts. Clearly her fav was the new phone/camera/MP3/who knows what else it can do gift Dad scooped up for her. She was like a little kid carrying around her favorite blankie...the phone didn't leave her grip for forever! Lacey has a sixth sense when it comes to technology and is able to learn it all without cracking open the owner's manual.

And now camp is but a memory...some photos...a t-shirt and camp music CD...until next year!

Classically trained student with 11 years of lessons is now offering beginning piano lessons at her home or yours. Lessons are available 3 mornings a week or one evening. Starter program has been carefully thought out and books are available for purchase at the first lesson. Flexibility for travel, for both teacher and students, is a must!

Gregg and I are both proud of Brynne's initiative and creativity for her summer employment. She is well on her way to meeting her financial goals for...gulp...college in 2 more years.

Off to camp! Lacey was such a trooper. She did 99.9% of her packing for camp. That is partially explained by the fact that our days have been so busy. Part of it is she is old enough to know what she needs and what she wants to take. Gone are the days of "mom- made journals", zip lock bags packed with daily MATCHING outfits, special surprises for each day and the all important request for the mid-week phone call from the counselor to make sure our camper is A-OK!

Her trunk has held up pretty well for the past 8 years. It's lid lid reads like a sticker road map acknowledging various locales or showcasing other special meanings. Once it gets to camp it is part clothes trunk, part bench and part stepping stool to the preferred top bunk.

Lacey will see many familiar faces at camp, but the 3 beds closest to her are special camp friends who go way back to early St. Vincent school days through current school days. It seems we can pretty much count on one of two things when we make the camper drop...either scorching hot temps or rain. Today it was rain and the girls were wading through the mud in their stylin' boots. My contribution at the last minute was an umbrella on the ride down. Something tells me it will be well worth ever one of the five hundred pennies!!

I am so happy camp has been a part of our kids lives. It was such a fond memory in my own childhood. And now...for the next week I will wonder just how our Lacey-Lace is doing...send her camper e-mails faithfully...pour over the posted online photos...and pray good health, safety and a darn good time down the gravely drive to G3.

Happy Father's Day to all of the Dad's out there!
We are blessed to have our own resident awesome Dad - and I want to give a special shout out to my own Dad, Gil, Scott, Josh and Brian! You are all appreciated!

We had a some quality family time today including breakfast out. That was teetering on being a flop due to the crazy waiting, but in the end it was good. Gregg had some special surprises from each of his kiddos and of course we had to try for the Kodak moment.

Gregg and Jake played some Sunday afternoon basketball and later hit the movies. Lacey and I braved the rain to get her all tucked in at Camp Crucis for the week. More about that shortly!

ROAD TRIP! Lacey and I went to Shreveport this past weekend for a long course swim meet. It was good to be with Lacey, hthe other swimmers and their parents in hot, humid Louisiana! Lacey tried a new event and ol' mom was proud!

The Saturday session was interrupted mid-afternoon due to thunder and lightning. I insisted we wait it out int he car instead of under the tents or large pine trees. Saturday night the kids had a social and the swimmers got to see each other minus swim caps and wet heads. They clean up pretty well!

My only complaint from the weekend is the absence of yield signs on the interstate. Gotta watch thos hauling 18 wheelers! Yikes!!

It is official...I love Texas. I have lived here for a long time now...won't be too many more years before I can claim 20, but it just kind of hit me...
Want to know one of the things that makes Texas great?

Beth Moore! Bet you know her.
She has been writing Bible studies for women for some time now.
She is so gifted...she can write...she can speak...she is hilarious...she is darling...she is genuine...she is real...and she is on Life Today each Wednesday...check your local listing.

You can also check her out online at Living Proof, you can attend Living Proof Live, you can study the Patriarchs, or Daniel, soon the Psalms or Esther...just to name a few. She has books and CD's and once you tap into her knowledge you will be hooked.

The studio where she tapes Wednesdays With Beth is only about 10 minutes from our home. I have felt so privileged to attend many of the tapings. She does 5 hours at a time, which are edited to 15 segments for TV. It is the highlight of my month each and every time I attend. I snag a couple of girlfriends to go with me and I just savor that time. One of these days I hope my mom, Suzanne, Debbie or Miranda can join me...or Brynne or Lacey...or even Gregg, ha!!
Friday night she taught on praise the first session...the power of words for #2 and #3.
The last session was on the Wedding at Cana and I come out feeling full to the brim.
If you have not experienced Beth firsthand seek out a study and let me know what you think!