Tonight was day two of our annual Backyard Adventure Camp. We had over 40 kids, plus Daybreak volunteers, plus parents, makes it a full backyard. The most interesting “God sighting” was a boy who probably feels too old to be at the camp. But we made him a jr. helper and group leader. He came yesterday, but was seen riding his bike back and forth in front of our house tonight. After about 20 minutes pas the time after we started, he finally came over, found his group and had a great evening. I believe that he was drawn by God to my house to hear that God is powerful, and that God is with Him whenever he is afraid. This young man is eager to hear about God — and it was cool to see it happen. We found out later that several of his friends his age asked him to go with them, and he declined choosing to come to BYAC instead.

Today is my 35th birthday. My mom asked how it felt to be half way to 70. Over all the day was uneventful, and calm. Joshua came back home from a visit with Granny, we celebrated james R.’s one year b-day, and the church sent me flowers. Facebook friends sent me tons and tons of “Happy Birthdays”, and Kimberly and my parents told me my gift was “in the mail.” whatever. You don’t have to be 35 to know what that means (just kidding guys). God bless and thank you everybody — I feel loved.

Today was Caleb’s seven year doctor’s appointment. Joshua is staying with his grandmother this week so he got out of it (we rescheduled his appointment for the fall). So Isaac, H-G, Caleb, Kimberly, and I (plus a nurse and doctor Tores) crammed into the little examination room, and we went through the battery of tests and examinations. His eyes, ears, abdomen, etc… were checked and everything is fine. As the doctor examined him Caleb did not stop laughing — he is so ticklish.

The bigger the kids get the smaller that room seems to feel. The exam ends with a shot or shots — which they ask about all throughout the day — “will I get a shot?” We say yes, and try to encourage them, and explain how getting a shot is a good thing (fighting diseases, growing healthier, etc..) but this is no comfort to a seven year old. Caleb was asked to urinate in a cup, which was dropped by mistake in the toilet. So we filled it back up at the end of the exam. As I paid, Kimberly helped in this area.

As an aside, have you seen the Everybody Loves Raymond episode where Ray teaches his brother how to mess things up so that his wife wants to do everything, and the wedding invitations accidentally get sent out — and they are all messed up. Enough said — now back to peeing in a cup.

Hannah-Grace never stopped smiling, she knew that Caleb was getting a shot. I discovered that the way to make her sit down and be quiet was to threaten for her to have to leave the room. She smiled all the way to the van afterwards. Isaac was a hyper handful who realized that his voice sounded different in this tiny cramped room so he kept yelling to hear himself.

screaming, crying, laughing, smiling, tooting (I’m not even going to go there but yes), it’s all apart of a yearly check-up.

So let me know what you think about the video and pictures — and I do remind you that I do love my son.