in Glorieta once again

what a smile to start the week out with, huh? A couple more highlights from this past week were playing Big Ball Volleyball and partisipating in the Family Olympics.

August 18-22 our family attended Renewing the Family Camp. We had a marvelous time fellowshiping with those we already knew, rekindling relationships with those we only see once a year, and we began several more friendships that, we hope, will last a lifetime! As soon as we arrived and checked in we set up camp. Wow, that was a LOT harder without Curtis, Dad's right-hand man! We girls got to help Dad back the trailer up, pop the beds out, get the camper hooked up and keep the boys out of trouble.  You can imagine how that went ;). That evening we had a "welcome to camp" session, during which we played Simon Says and sang My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean (complete with ups and downs on every "b"). Tuesday started the "regular schedule." Each morning began at 7:00 at the ultimate and volleyball field, the older kids and some parents met for an hour to two game before breakfast. After the early morning exercise we Marissa, Dad, and I headed back to the camper to clean up and help get breakfast ready and on the table. Nine forty-five found us on our way to Chapel. There we had a few minutes to chat before the 10 o'clock service started, 15 minutes past the hour =). Worship started off with announcements,  a few songs sung by Nathan Clark George, then we started working on singing in four part harmony with Rebecca, Beth, and Nathan Serven and Chad Roach leading us. Some of the hymns and psalms we sung are: It Is Well With My Soul, Hallelujah Praise Jehovah (one of the boys' all time favorites), and Psalms 65, 98, 127, 128, and 148.  After the singing Lanny Johnson, from Alpha and Omega Institute, or Mr. Kevin Swanson or Mr. Marcus Serven gave a talk. Lunch at our camper or with dear friends followed. In the afternoons we played Ultimate Frisbee, Volleyball, Putt-Putt, went canoe/kayaking on the "lake," or sat in the shade talking with others. Dinners we ate leisurely in the cafeteria with other families and afterwards walked over to the Chapel for another session. So that's our last week in a nutshell. 

Now we are home and getting ready for the boys' first week of school (Marissa and I still have 2 weeks before our school officially starts). In the pile of books that Mommy was cleaning up tonight she found a journal that she had started long ago, and in that journal she had a quote written and I thought I'd share it:

The life of every man is a diary in which he means to write one story, and writes another; and his humblest hour is when he compares the volume as it is with what he vowed to make it. 

~ J.M. Barrie

I have decided to try to keep this blog more up-to-date, so, now that you know, it will, hopefully keep me accountable to posting every now and then. 

-caity

Happy 9th Birthday, Mark and Scott! Today the six of us went to the Zoo, Botanical Gardens, and the Aquarium. We left the house early this morning and headed into town, stopping by the library on the way. At the Chiropracter, Marissa had an appointment, I realized that I had lost my bookmark when I hopped out at the library. Off I trooped back to the library, found my bookmark, and drove Mark and Scott and I back to pick up Mom and Marissa. All in all it was a fantastic day. We ended it eating spaghetti and meatballs and cake and ice cream.
(I just realized that I hadn't actually posted this I'd just saved it. guess it's better late than never)

Summer life

Where has summer gone??? It seems to have flown by so quickly this year! So many things have happened and so many memories made! To start it off, Caity and I went to Worldview Academy June 8-13 again and had an amazing experience! Fantastic speakers including Jeff Baldwin, Brandon Booth, Mark Bertrand, and Jay Winslow; really encouraging staff, and a great group of students. We both learned alot even on the second go 'round. That week Russell had his 7th birthday, which we celebrated as a family the weekend before camp. The Friday before camp my family threw me a surprise party for my 16th birthday. Dear friends and family came to help me celebrate and completely shocked me! I couldn't say anything for a few minutes! 

   At the end of June our whole family took a two day drive to the beautiful state of Montana for a TeenPact Survival camp just outside of Helena. Mom did an amazing job overseeing all the meals and making sure all the cooking went well; Dad and the younger boys hung around watching different activities, going on hikes, and helping mom; Curtis enjoyed staffing and was a vital part of the staff team; and Caity and I were blessed to attend the camp. We were stretched alot both in our walk with Christ as well as physically. Our whole family made some new wonderful friends and enjoyed the time to grow as a family. 

   A month later, at the end of July everyone but dad (because he had to work...imagine that! =D) went to Glorieta, NM for another Survival camp. Even though it was mostly more of the same, I came away with a different experience and had grown even more that I thought possible in one week. After camp eight wonderful friends came and stayed for a couple days which gave us a chance to get to know them better and ease off being with all the people instead of going off old turkey. =] 

   Now for the past week we have been preparing for Curtis to go to New Saint Andrews college in Moscow Idaho. He and Dad left yesterday and got the first part of the trip under their belt. They should get into Moscow tomorrow the 12th tomorrow. It will be hard to have him gone for so long but thankfully he will be back on breaks about every eight weeks. We will really miss him this next week as we all go to family camp in Glorieta again. We are looking forward to a great week of drawing closer to God, learning from the speakers, meeting new people, renewing old friendships, and spending time together as a family. 

   When we get back we have a about two weeks till school starts but before then we have much to do to be ready. Caity and I will be taking online classes again through The Potters School and hopefully swimming in the fall. Well now that I have written a small novel, I'll let you go but I just thought it was about time for an update from the Spencer family. =D

~Striving for Christ,

><>Marissa<><