Revolving Children

My daughter-16 has been on a church youth group retreat in another state this week. This is a time for her to grow, learn, and have her spirit refreshed. This retreat is mission-minded and more focused on having the kids see where they are at spiritually and how they can communicate with others about the Lord. Even though it is a serious week, I am sure she is meeting new people and having fun too. She will be flying home tomorrow and should be home by about 9pm tomorrow night.

Son-12 is headed to Boy Scout summer camp on Catalina Island on Sunday. One comes home and the other leaves, thus the title of this post. His time at camp will be focused on earning merit badges and hopefully getting some rank advancement requirements done too. He is doing the Swimming, Orienteering, and Archaeology merit badges. We are really hoping he can pass the swimming merit badge class - this would allow him to go on the week-long spring canoe trip next year. Of course there are lots of fun things happening and downtime to hang with friends or go swimming too. He will be gone a week and come home on Saturday, 7/25.

Daughter-16 leaves again on the Sunday after son-12 comes home from camp. She leaves for Teen Bible Camp and this is just a week of fun, fun, fun. This is her third year at this summer camp and she just loves it.

On the Wednesday daughter is at this camp, son-13 leaves for Africa with his Boy Scout Kilimanjaro crew. He will be gone 19 days, hike Kilimanjaro, take a safari on the Serengeti, do two service projects in Africa, and spend a couple of days in London.

There is never a time that all the kids are gone at once, but I have made arrangements that the day son-13 goes to Africa my dad will take son-12 for a few days. My hubby and I will be alone for 2 nights - we are both very excited.