In a nutshell it was a week of nature, rest, play, adventure, high ropes course time, lake time, hiking, swimming pool, crafts, coffee, picking blackberries, quality time with family/friends, connection with God, speakers for adults, kids programming, child care counselor assigned to each family, 2 fancy adult dinners, 3 yummy meals a day, laughing, making memories, and celebrating Hannah's 3rd birthday!
Oh, and multiple encounters with bears this year! Bonus!
Forest Home runs family camp for 9 weeks each summer. Just pick a week.
Go on your own as a family, or invite other friends/family/church members to go with you.
You will LOVE it! It is vacation time and money well spent.
Did I mention that our child care counselor put our kids to bed for us every night?
Find another vacation with THAT service.
Here is a video of our specific week. Can you find my family members? Family Camp Video
Last mellow days of summer. On this day my little ladies requested haircuts and a nail salon - homestyle.
First day of school! 3rd grade, Kindergarten, and Preschool.
I now have 2 GLORIOUS kid-free mornings per week. Aside from the SILENCE, I am enjoying a little me-time for things like reading and training for my next thing (more on that later).
This month ended with a BANG…a girls weekend in Chicago where we celebrated sisterhood in all its forms.
We had time in the (BEST) city…a few hours in Wheaton where we grew up (we even got a full tour of one of our childhood homes)…and some relaxation at my parents home in the country (they were in Europe).
It was a weekend full of laughter and conversation and gratitude. And candy, lots of candy.
It is worth noting that this is my first post centered on WORDS and not pictures since this one in January 2014. Is it a coincidence that I actually WROTE SOME WORDS, and my kids started school (3rd, Kindergarten, and Preschool) in the same week? I THINK NOT. But I digress...
TODAY Jen Hatmaker's new book "For the Love: Fighting for Grace in a World of Impossible Standards" released. I've already read this lovely book twice, and I'd love to tell you about it, and share how it impacted me, because I really think you will enjoy and be impacted by it too.
The book came out TODAY and you've already read it TWICE?, you might ask. How observant of you! Here's the scoop.
Back in March I saw an invite to be part of a Launch Team for Jen Hatmaker's new book, coming out in August. I applied and I got a spot on the team, which was a fun little gift for me at a time when I was feeling kind of low and useless as I often do during my bi-annual stay-at-home-mom identity crisis. This Launch Team is basically a brilliant marketing approach where 500 women (of 5,000 applicants) were given an opportunity to get an advanced copy of the book so we could read it, create some buzz, and spread the word.
Hmmmm, read a book by an author I really enjoy and tell people about it…well, that's an easy gig. I'm in.
I haven't read any of Jen Hatmaker's 6 older books, but I was introduced to her a few years ago through "Out of the Spin Cycle", then my life was ROCKED by "Interrupted" (my favorite of her books!), and I was challenged and inspired by "Seven" (her most well-known). I recently had the opportunity to hear Jen at a women's conference in Santa Barbara and I am definitely a fan of her writing and speaking. She has a deep faith, a passion for Jesus, a gift for writing, she is honest and thought-provoking, and most importantly, SHE IS FUNNY. If you can speak about deep stuff and make me laugh while doing it, I like you.
Here is a sampling of a few of my favorite chapters in For the Love:
- Chapter 3: On Calling and Haitian Moms. In this chapter she basically encourages us to BE ALL THERE (doesn't that sound familiar, Emily?). "You don't need to wait another day to figure out your calling. You're living it, dear one. Your gifts have a place right now, in the job you have, in your stage of life, with the people who surround you. Calling is virtually never big or famous work; that is rarely the way the kingdom comes. It shows up quietly, subversively, almost invisibly. Half the time, it is unplanned - just the stuff of life in which a precious human steps in, the good news personified." (pg. 21)
- Chapter 5: Run Your Race. This chapter really made an impact on me and has encouraged me to write again. Jen Hatmaker challenges the reader to reflect on what they love to do and what they are good at…and to do it. Her encouragement helped me to think about writing a little differently. I have always written for a purpose…for school, a letter intended to accomplish or express something, an article to submit…but I want to get back to writing simply because I love to write. People who love to take pictures, take pictures. Those who love to run (not me!), run. People who enjoy painting, paint. Well, I love writing. Writing helps me think, and process, and honestly, I find it fun and energizing. I know talk is cheap, and words are everywhere, but no one can write my words but me. I'm not going to wait for someone to ask me to write, or pay me to write, I'm just going to write. FOR THE LOVE of it. This blog seems like as good a place as any to start, so I have made a goal to get back to writing at least one post a month. Since I officially have two in all-day school, and two mornings a week with my littlest in preschool, this goal seems attainable once more. I'm excited. Thanks, Jen Hatmaker.
- Chapter 9: Hope for Spicy Families. I need hope for my Spicy Family and I will re-read this chapter regularly…for encouragement like this…
- Chapter 11: Dear Kids. In this chapter she sums up her biggest hopes for her kids, which are truly the same as mine. "Be kind. Be you. Love Jesus."
- Chapter 12: Marriage: Have Fun and Stuff. Advice in this chapter includes 10 helpful things she has learned in 20 years of marriage: "1. You are not good at the same things and this is okay. 2. I'm all for honesty, but pretending has its place. 3. I'm all for pretending, but honesty has its place. 4. Find best couple friends. 5. Lighten up. 6. Be nice. 7. Stick together spiritually. 8. Stop trying to change each other. 9. Have fun. 10. Have lots of sex." Enough said.
- Chapter 25: Dear Christians, Please Stop Being Crappy. Just YES! to everything in this chapter.
- Chapters 8, 14, 20 and 24: Thank You Notes. These chapters made me laugh to tears while sitting alone in Starbucks. (Crazy lady!) The chapters are full of simple and hilarious notes of appreciation to things like Amazon Prime, Maxi Dresses, Daylight Savings, Siri, Target, Autocorrect, Spanx, Dry Shampoo, Automatic Flushing Toilets, School Fund-raisers, etc etc etc. You know…like on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon. Here is what I'm talking about: "Thank you, Gym Childcare, for giving me the opportunity to watch TV, take a shower by myself, and drink a smoothie while reading a magazine. Oh! And work out too, but let's be honest, that's not the main reason I'm there. (And did I once check in my offspring, then scoot next door for sushi? Just let it go. YOU DON'T KNOW MY LIFE.) (p. 51)
- And then there is this little gem straight from Chapter 4: Fashion Concerns.
You guys, those are just a few of the 26 brief and delightful chapters that fill this book. Topics include: balance in life, pursuing your calling, marriage, school, kids, fashion, church, difficult people, turning forty, friendship, loving and serving others well. Honestly, reading this book is like sitting down to coffee with a friend. If Jen Hatmaker is already your friend, I guarantee you will love this read. If you don't know her yet, I think you will really like her after you spend time in this book, and then you will probably go on to read more of her stuff (may I recommend reading "Interrupted" next).
Trust me. Get the book. Read it with a pen in hand. Be challenged, be encouraged, and LAUGH.
So there it is. I have read the book (twice), I have endorsed it (heavily), I bought a few copies and am excited for them to arrive today so I can start giving them away here and there.
Launch little book, LAUNCH.
If you made it this far…thank you…also, first three people to comment get a free book from me. Ready, go.
My favorite endorsement:
"If Jimmy Fallon and Ann Voskamp birthed a literary love child they'd have to name it For the Love."
- Danielle Brower, wife, mom, lover of love, orphan advocate
The end of another school year, the start of Summer.
The 2nd grade musical "Go Fish" was absolutely darling.
My spotted zebra fish (IRONY!) is front and center in this class pic.
First day/Last day picture.
They are getting so big.
The days are long, the years are short. Indeed.
Father's Day was a little weird this year.
Chris tore his MCL while surfing that morning and he was one sad dad all day.
We rallied and had a park picnic at the end of the day to celebrate him.
I got brave enough to volunteer for all 5 days this year at Kids Games.
444 kids and 286 student/adult volunteers. It is a well-oiled-machine.
Kids Games also confirms for me every year that I think teachers are the most amazing people on the planet. Although I love being a mom, I don't have a teacher-bone in my body.
Annual "Judge Family" summer vacation was in Oceanside this year.
More pictures and stories to come about this trip, but here is a cute shot of the big kids getting slurpees for Quinn's 9th birthday. Slurpees are serious business.
May was a month full of firsts, lasts, adventure, and celebration.
My AMAZING Tuesday night small group did a mini retreat together. Planned and put on just by us.
Some hiking, some yoga, some solitude, lunch, rest, and laughter.
A few hours to BE STILL and KNOW He is God.
After 8 straight years, I tearfully said good-bye to MOPS. It was time.
There are no words to adequately express what MOPS has meant in my life.
I am beyond thankful for this amazing group at our church.
Mother's Day feels like a more significant day to me than my birthday.
It's the biggest and hardest job I have ever done and it both sucks me dry and fills me up every single day.
I love adventure.
2 moms, 7 kids, and 2 straight days of cold rainy weather in the mountains was definitely an adventure. My friend Karen and I went to Julian while our husbands were building houses in Mexico with church. We had a blast and made memories, and no one was terribly injured. A total success!
(Yes, it is July, and I am about to post about Spring Break. Life is rolling FAST these days, and I am WAY behind. C'est la vie.)
Going into Spring Break this year I was VERY intimidated. I was staring down two weeks with all three kids home…and basically no plans. It had the potential to be great, and it had the potential to be a disaster by day 2.
I made a choice to use social media to help me this year. Since I was off Facebook for Lent, I turned to Instagram and vowed to myself to post one picture everyday of what we were doing. My intention and hope was to mindfully focus my gaze, my energy, and my memory on the little/fun/beautiful/silly/simple moments.
And you know what? As ridiculous as it may sound, the act of taking/picking/posting/looking back at a photo each day REALLY helped me. I would look through my Spring Break photos and feel encouraged that despite the challenges and exhaustion (plenty of both every day), I was doing it, we were doing it, and we were having a great time. Instagram honestly helped me to focus on the fun and feel proud of what I was doing with my kiddos each day. So here is an Instagram glimpse of Spring Break.
Day 1: Craft Time.
As my friend Amanda said, "Aren't you setting the bar a little high here? Organized activity on day 1?"
HA! Very true.
Day 2: Fresh off new haircuts, we brought scooters to a favorite local park.
Between races and the roly-polies, we had a good morning.
Day 3: I got a sitter for Hannah and we brought a friend to see Cinderella (with the dolls, of course).
Day 4: It was "Watch Week" at Abby's dance class so we got to see them sing Happy Birthday to her.
Day 5: We went to a Good Friday service at church.
Day 5 Bonus: This was simply too cute not to post. Hannah does this every time Chris mows the yard.
Day 6: Abby's birthday wish was a trip to Legoland (her first).
Hannah stayed back with Grandma and Grandpa. Win-win.
Day 7: Happy Easter. Happy 5th birthday to Abby.
Day 7 Bonus: First successful family photo in a LONG time.
Day 8: Birthday playdate for Abby with two friends.
Day 9: A trashed house. Watching the new Annie movie (for the second time).
Day 10: "The jumpy" came in handy this break.
Day 11: The big girls got to do a 3-morning art camp in the neighborhood.
Day 12: We got ambitious and met friends at the Safari Park.
Day 13: We did the Compassion Experience. This is Samantha in a Kenyan classroom.
Day 14: They love this hot tub.
And we did it. 14 days. It was a simple and AWESOME Spring Break.
It is rare that I can snap a picture of my girls all together, yet this month I seemed to have many of them.
Nothing particularly creative here, simply my favorite five, of my favorite three, just doing their thing…
OK, I'm cheating, this is from late February (Community Serve Day).
I just found this on Chris' fancy camera, and LOOK AT THESE LOVELIES!…can't believe they are mine.
Family Movie Night: The Parent Trap (1961 version)
Let me just say, we have come a long way since 1961. For example…there was a lot of smoking around children in this movie, and parents asked questions like, "How was your summer?"...because they truly had no idea how their children's last three months at camp had been (I'm totally against today's helicopter parenting/checking in constantly, but surely there is a happy medium).
We just donated our glider. The chair I nursed my three babies in. Sniff sniff.
I asked Chris to get a picture of me holding my babies in the chair, one last time.
This is what I got. It's kind of perfect, actually.
(And although it looks like it, I am not flipping off the camera...at least I don't think I was.)
Spring Break Day 1: haircuts
Spring Break Day 2: scooters at the park (Sam is displaying her roly-polies)
Wish me luck on Spring Break days 3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13&14! Whoa-nelly.
I'm pretty sure this February will go down as the craziest month we have ever had.
Crazy busy, crazy full of good things, but CRAZY.
We were out of town 3 weekends in a row (Santa Barbara, Palm Springs, Big Bear),
and then concluded the month with an awesome and immense Community Serve Day.
I turned 36 this month. That number feels about right. The older I get the more thankful I am for each day.
My girlies thought I needed frozen yogurt on my birthday. Totally for me, I'm sure.
A few days after my birthday these three arrived for our first ever mom/sisters weekend.
We went to Palm Springs…because it was warm there and these girls needed to feel the SUN.
Palm Springs did not disappoint. Although, honestly, I could have been just about anywhere and been happy to have a weekend with my favorite people. I am so blessed to have these incredible women in my life.
Feb 22 was Community Serve Day for our church.
No church service held that Sunday, instead 1400 people spread the love around San Diego county.
This year Chris and I had the privilege of leading a site at our grade school.
The project was MASSIVE, but with 75+ people and lots of behind the scenes work, it came together beautifully. It felt like "holy ground" on that Sunday watching our school/church/work/neighborhood all collide. What a joy! And our kiddos did amazing…working 8 straight hours!
This was my favorite picture of the day taken by our friend Chad.
