THE Camping Experience

The place: Lake Chelan State Park
The Days: June 14-17
The People: Grandpa Gordy, Dad, Mom, Me, Chloe, Taylor, Aunt Jo

Itty Bitty Chipmonk

Huge Groundhog or rock marmot...whatever you want to call it, it was very large!!

We barely saw this one

Taylor on the dock

Mama Duck and Baby Duckling

Chloe learning to swim.

My parents taking in the beauty of Lake Chelan

Peter Rabbit

The days were beautiful, the company enjoyable, the lake breathtaking. Chloe learned how to swim with the ducks and the rest of us just enjoyed the experience as a whole. God definitely had His touch on our family as we spent more time visiting with each other and accepting each other for who we are instead of arguing and bickering. It seemed for the first time we noticed how much time has really passed in the 10 or so years we have been camping at Lake Chelan during Father's Day week. Tuesday night, just after our delicious dinner during our tough decision between another night of dump cake desert or the traditional s'mores, our perfect weekend came crashing to an halt. My grumpy old Grandpa fell while walking up one of the steep dusty trails. The witnesses say he fell like a tree: stiff and straight back. He hit his head on the pavement badly. When the ambulance left with my Grandpa we figured he just had a bad concussion, but between 10pm and 4:30am they rushed him back to Wenatchee for emergancy brain surgery because of a blood clot that was forming on the left side of his brain: the location of speech and personality. The nurses informed us that he had a life changing injury and may or may not ever be the same. We won't know for somewhere around a year what effect this will have on his life. It is a blessing that he was on a day to day basis instead of minute to minute, like some of his neighbors. I know God uses our struggles and our pains to groom us into the people He wants us to be. As life changing as this all is, for the first time my family is in the midst of recognizing that there is something bigger, someone who has more say over our lives that we do. Our days our numbered and we must count each of them as a blessing. I pray that my family continues to seek-out answers to their eternal questions. I pray that God uses me as a light to their world. "For I know the plans I have for you,' says the Lord. 'They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.'" (Jer. 29:11)

Grandpa Gordy

Twenty-four hours after the accident my Dad, Mom and I were holding my Grandpa's hand not knowing what to do next, when we prayed out loud as a family for the first time. "Last night an angel of the God whose I am and whom I serve stood beside me." (Acts 27:23)The prayer was heart felt and sincere, a true crying out to God. Thank You Lord for reminding us that You are the almighty one who loves us dearly.

Father You are the anchor in this storm. I will not lose hope for Your work in my family "When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days and the storm continued raging, we finally gave up all hope of being saved (other humans)" (Acts 27:20). We pray for daylight and look to you because you are never changing yesterday, today, forever (Acts 27:29;Heb. 13:8). ) Lead me Lord, give me courage.