Royal Family Kids Camp

We're back from RFKC! Oh my Guinness, it was a long week! Despite being long, tiring, and down right difficult, it was absolutely incredible! Those kids broke my heart... *sigh* They each had so many problems and at such a young age! The youngest children there were 6 years old... one of those little ones had to be sent home on the first day... He had a fit and began to bang his head against the corner of the bed. The poor thing had to be restrained for an hour or two, just so he wouldn't hurt himself further...

I'm really not one to cry at the drop of a pin, but the very thought of all of those children makes my eyes prick. It was tragic, having to see them go home to who knows what. Especially my little boys of cabin 5! Fortunately, Ryan and his sister Emerald are in the process of being adopted, but Axel and Angel just want to go back to their real moms. And Kyler had nothing more to look forward to than returning to a group home... Ms. Micaela and all the counselors were such a blessing in these kids' lives! Thank you all!

I tried to start this post as soon as I got home, but I couldn't write anymore, and now I find it just as difficult. If any of you wants to know more about camp, let me know. And please don't worry. The good far outweighed the bad and there were many ridiculous, funny stories I *could* tell. Maybe later.

Yes, that is my eye.

Music to Grow Up On

Some of you may notice the new playlist of music. I thought I might educate y'all on the songs that I grew up on. Some of my earliest memories are of listening to these songs. It's a pretty fun playlist if you're into that sort of thing. Here's a list of what's there at the moment:

Immigrant Song- Led Zepplin
Come Together- Aerosmith
People Are Strange- The Doors
Heartbeat City- The Cars
Rock the Casbah- The Clash
Walk This Way- Aerosmith
San Francisco- Scott McKenzie
Uneasy Rider- The Charlie Daniels Band*
Life's Been Good- Joe Walsh*
Hotel California- The Eagles*
Jack and Diane- John Mellencamp*
Don't Take the Girl- Tim McGraw*
One Tin Soldier- Coven*
The 59th Street Bridge Song- Simon and Garfunkel*
Piano Man- Billy Joel
California Dreamin'- The Mammas and the Pappas*
I'm Blue (remix)- DJ-Axe
Land Down Under- Men at Work
Eye of the Tiger- Survivor
The Final Countdown- Europe*
The Crocodile Rock- Sir Elton John*
Dream On- Aerosmith*

Note: Songs with *asterisks are the very oldest listening.

Sooo Vogue!

The Inspiration






The Recreation





Mandy and I were very, very bored. After laughing over the insanely inpractical hair-stylings in TeenVogue, we decided to recreate them for ourselves. Naturely, Mandy got to be the model. hehe There were about four curlers and ten million bobby pins in her hair. (okay, maybe not that many) And yes, her eyebrows were extended, thickened, and darkened with eyeliner. (eyebrow pencil comes off too easy) Thank you Mandy for letting me post these!! *muah*

The Wind in the Joshua Trees

The June trip to Lake Mohave is almost always a terribly windy trip. For those of you who have never been to a lake, I should probably clarify what this means. You see, most water sports require relatively flat water to be properly enjoyed. With the interference of wind, inter-tubing becomes even more nerve-wracking, water skiing and wake boarding is all but hateful, and even simple boat rides are bone-rattling, white knuckle experiences. Clearly, anything beyond a gentle breeze is most unwelcome to even the least seasoned of boaters.

This year turned out no better than predicted. Friday through Sunday were absolutely gusty, with Thursday and Monday being the days when most everyone but us was not yet there or had already left. On those windy days we weren't even able to venture out onto the water... Lets just say that we all played far too much poker and read far too much for our own good. I got through a novelty read just Friday and through most of 'Surprised by Joy' by C.S. Lewis (a highly worth while read, by the bye). However, the entire time did not go to waste.

My dear Uncle Gregory and Aunt Julie McGinity (the fantastically politically minded and beautifully conservative ones) and their two charming little girls (adjective overload!!!) joined us for the weekend. Whenever we get to spend time with them, it means a great deal of heavy discussion (with the whole family getting heatedly involved)will be going on. Over dinner we debated my future college plans and current academic and extracurricular choices. ("Is it time to rag on Kait again?!" -Uncle Greg (Don't worry, entirely sarcastically)) While on a boat ride we argued about the founding of America, whether or not Israel is a theocracy (which it most certainly is not!!), and whether or not we should have God's name on our money and in our pledge. You know, light, frivolous topics. Oh my Guinness, I truly love my family!

Fortunately for the sake of that family I so dearly love (Grandmum was getting a little exasperated with all the Republicans...), Monday was beautiful! Erin and Nora both got up on the Skimmer board and, though there were a few tears involved, "it was fun because Uncle Bob went reaaaly reaaaly slow for [them]". We even got Uncle Gregory to ski despite his "delicate tastes" when it comes to water temperature and ideal weather conditions. I still don't think he really figured out "what the heck [was] up with those frickin' crocodiles!". Greg, Julie, Grandpa, Dad, and I all skied but Mum could not be rallied into joining. We'll get her next time! And Jess and Zach both wake boarded. The weekend in entirety ended quite well, now on to Royal Family Kids Camp!

I Promise...

to post as soon as I have time and it won't turn out incoherent from my lack of sleep!

Musings of a Burnt Pagan

Merciful Heavens! Lately, I've been feeling rather heretical! You see, I haven't been to church in quite a long time... Two Wednesdays past, I was unable to attend CSM. Though I did make it to church last Sunday, this past Wednesday I was absent once again. Today, I was out of town. This upcoming Wednesday my sister has a choral performance that my family will be going to see. And lastly, next Sunday my aunt is taking my grandmum, mum, sister, and I out to tea in the morning... But you know what? You don't need to be on the church campus to experience God's Grace and Goodness.

Out here in the desert, sometimes He feels closer than ever. Waterskiing always leaves me awestruck at His Greatness. Flying through the air, clear, blue sky above, and deep, glassy water below, craggy mountains painted the same shades as a sunset, His amazing creation shines forth. Besides the earth itself, aren't we amazing creations? It blows me away how He has created us, human beings, with the intelligence to invent things like boats and skis... with balance and agility to sail above the water with nothing but a plank of fiberglass beneath our feet. And then... I jump, getting that much closer to Heaven.

If it weren't for the sake of "community" and fellowship, I might just begin to think that the Earth itself is all the church we need. Because truly, what is a church besides a place to worship our Lord? Isn't that something we can do anywhere, anytime?

At the moment, I am so sunburnt I can barely move my fingers to type this. I ache all over and my skin feels as dry as the cracked clay that covers the beaches. But God is still good. I forget that sometimes, you know? Getting so wrapped up in the frivolous that we forget the profoud. I wonder how much He misses us, when we his people don't take the time to talk to Him... Do me a favor? Pray.

Fantastic!

We do indeed have both internet and cell connection... in the motorhome. On the lake, just about any device requiring a signal is useless. However, up at the campground it seems to be just fine. If anyone needs to contact me, both my cell phone and e-mail are up and running.