Another Church Retreat is History!

(Ethel, my dear Friend, this is especially for you!) 
And it is not very representative of the whole time because I only took pictures on Saturday, but it will still show you some of the good times.  I forgot my camera today — missed the ballons and the pinata and Matt Deputy and his sweet wife, Jill and baby Matt — and all the good folks cleaning up.  So much that would have been priceless pictures!  But, I left camera and cell phone on the kitchen table. And there was nothing I could do about it after the fact.  So — this was —

Saturday at Church Retreat 

We played SCRABBLE!

And, Yes, I did nearly fall asleep while we waited for people to make their words! 
Here are Buckeyegirlie, Thisisloretta and Gokum.  Eldest Daughter played for a while, then Gracegiven took her place. 

Thisisloretta makes a point with the trusty SCRABBLE dictionary.

And we held the babies

Eldest Daughter and Gracegiven’s Victoria

And we played other games

Youngest Daughter’s friend Laura plays Shang-hai with the young set

And then there was the
“Wheels Parade”

These are the mistresses of the parade — Abi and Jessica

There were instructions, faithfully given

and duly received–

 
Questions asked and answered, and then the race went off as planned — But I took a video of that and I am not savvy enough to know how to put that on.  And there was not accompanying sound, so it isn’t a great thing to miss!

Emily has a three wheel bike that she can ride with skill and speed.  She is so proud of herself, and we are, too.  (It would be nice to know what she had her nose in just before this picture was taken, though.  I couldn’t identify the markings!)

And then there were prizes for the winners

and prizes for everyone who participated, as well.  It had good participation, but there were not quite as many decorated or unique wheels this time.
Faces and glimpses of the weekend

Emma

Joanna

Deborah and Caleb

Dave and Ilva

Daniel

Dave D., Chris, Deborah

Robert, Calvin, Gary, Daniel

*****

And then, there was a
Gospel Hoe-down

Raymond, Cookie and Raymond’s Brother — (How’s that for names?)
This is a casual Christian Bluegrass group that spent the evening with us.
They had some toe-tapping singing going on.
(In fact, I found Ruby Donophan dancing in the kitchen!  And I told her staid, solemn husband Dave about this development, requesting that he attend to it.  His response?
“Good for her.  Maybe she’ll give me lessons!”
What is this world coming to?

The Hughes Youngin’s joined the group for much of the program.  Here Josh and (you can’t see him) Erick, Jr. play guitar and mandolin while Rebekah sings.  Their participation was a blessing to us.

The weekend was full of RAIN, RAIN, RAIN — but there was no lack of light and love inside.  We are impressed with the facilities and the caregivers at the camp, and the weekend was an encouragement to us all.  Thanks to the committe who worked so hard, and to all the people who took their parts so willingly. 

And thank you, Lord!