Camp For All

This Morning we are heading to Burton, Texas to pick up Regan from her 2nd of three summer camps. Camp For All is really special to us because it is the only one of Regan's camps that is especially geared to Cerebral Palsy. In fact they have a different sponsored week every week, but Regan is at Camp Smiles which is sponsored by United Cerebral Palsy.

Camp for all features camps every week that are geared to very specific disabilities. We have a friend who goes for Epilepsy camp, and another friend who volunteers during the cancer camp. It is nice to have a whole week with kids that are just like you, and Regan feels very much at home there. Another thing that is really special for her is that each camper is assigned a special buddy who usually returns every year to be with their camper. Regan has been with Hillary for two years now and they have a very special relationship that continues through emails throughout the year. We just love Hilary and all the love that she gives to Regan for that one week.

Some of the activities that Regan is getting to participate in are swimming, sports, Zip Line, Rock Wall, Camp dance/karaoke, campfire night, photography, and many more. I have missed her a lot this week, but I am happy knowing she is in a safe loving environment.

Anyway, Rebecca and I are about to get on the road, but first I need to slather us with suntan lotion because a lot of packing and traveling takes place out doors there and I do not want to add wrinkle cream to my list of groceries due to all my sun exposure this summer.

By the way....Regan must have had an incredible time this week because we have not heard from her once. No letters to say she missed me. I know it is the sign of a really good time...but really? not one?

Book Review/; The Shack

I have been hearing about "The Shack" for months and have been in on several discussions with friends about how moving and life-changing this book is. Then two weeks ago it was a door prize at my husbands business conference in Houston, and I didn't exactly claw anyone to get to this book.....but it was pretty darn close.

See, I want to feel life changed. I want my earth to be shattered, and every once in a while I need a wake up call. I am happy to say this did all of that. The thing is though, that my friends Cheryl and Christie were both right...everyone who reads it will find their own personal validation and answers to questions they have. It is amazing to me to read something that I want to go back and re-read along with my highlighter to go over passages that were to put it bluntly, incredible.

In the mean time I have loaned it out, and have told several others about it, because when you read something that good it is meant to be shared with others. Did any of you read it? What are your thoughts? ....and, yes, I do know it is a work of fiction but powerful nonetheless.

The mother of a Capri-Sun Thief

Today Rebecca and I were swimming at our good friends up the street. They are very sweet to allow us to use the pool when they are at work during the day. Now a month or so ago Rebecca was also told to feel free to help herself to a drink from the garage fridge if she desired (I was not a part of that particular conversation).

Anyway, today Rebecca and I had a pleasant swim and I was working through my water aerobics (staying fit and avoiding lipofuze, yeah me) when Rebecca excused herself from the water. I automatically assumed she was going to use the pool house bathroom. Not a minute later this ear piercing alarm goes off, and Rebecca comes running from the garage holding a Capri-sun.

Well they had set the alarm system because an expensive motorcycle was sitting in the garage....and my child being the little thief that she is had set it off. So while I awaited the imminent arrival of the police, and called our friends to find out how to turn it off. I was ranting to my teary eyed eleven yr old about stealing drinks from people's fridge was still stealing no matter what!

It was not a fun afternoon.....

Say No to Vacation and Yes to Staycation

With Rebecca and I going earlier this year to Disney, and John Mark having had treks to California and St Louis in the past few months, we have decided not to do a big family vaction this year. So I am in fact doing what millions of others are doing this summer and celebrating with my family by having a Staycation.

To have a succesful Summer Staycation it is important to have a safe and healthy environment. According to a Clorox survey, over 60 percent of the Moms surveyed reported an increase in cleaning around the house as their families now spend more time at home. And, not surprisingly, Moms reported wanting to save time and money for all of this extra cleaning. Mom Central got together with the MommyDocs and came up with a list of Five Tips for Summer Staycations to keep your family safe and your house cleaner during the summer months this year.

Five Tips for Summer Staycations:

Staying Safe at BBQs. According to a recent survey, 70 percent of Moms are cooking more at home and many are likely switching up their meal routine with an outdoor BBQ. Make sure your kids have a safe BBQ experience by keeping them away from the flames and any sharp knives. Also, don't forget to check that your child's hamburger is fully cooked. Always keep a thermometer on hand to be sure all food has reached the appropriate inside temperature.

Keep the Pool Cool and Clean. If your kids love to spend hot afternoons in kiddie pools, you know the importance of cleaning the pool area. Dump out water after each session, and keep the pool clean by disinfecting it with a solution of ¾ cup bleach* to one gallon of water. Don't forget to rinse well and dry thoroughly after each cleaning (never leave any water in the pool). Be sure to always supervise children when they are in or around any water. (* Always remember to read and follow precautions and usage directions before using cleaning products)

Staying Healthy and Hydrated. Spending time in the heat means kids will be more prone to becoming dehydrated. Remind kids to take frequent rest/drink breaks in the shade when playing outside and try to avoid activity during peak sun hours. Encourage fluids before, during, and after outside activities.

Having Peace of Mind at Playgrounds. Sometimes just getting out of the house is the best way to keep it clean, but before letting kids loose at the playground, ensure the safety of the equipment. Swing seats and slides can really heat up in the sun – test them out before your kids hop on to avoid burns. Be sure the playground surface is composed of a soft material to help prevent injury. All playground equipment should be routinely checked for any broken or loose parts. As always, adult supervision is a must at all times!

Saving on Spills. Spending extra time around the house, especially with kids, often means more spills to clean up. Synthetic sponges and kitchen cloths can start to smell and carry bacteria, but you don't have to toss them out after a few uses. One option to reduce bacteria is to sanitize sponges and dishrags by soaking them in a bleach solution (¾ cup of bleach* to a gallon of water) for 5 minutes in the sink. Don't forget to rinse and dry when done. A wet sponge can also be microwaved to get rid of bacteria. (* Always remember to read and follow precautions and usage directions before using cleaning products)

Anyone else have good tips to make my summer staycation successful? I would love to hear them.

The sight that greeted us when we came home

Well living in a small town has many advantages such as knowing everyone, feeling safe, and a slower lifestyle. The main drawback to my particular small town....

The sucky zoning laws!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So, as I have been getting ready to put my house on the market and working for months to fix, clear, and prepare it is all for naught, because as I pulled in the driveway Sunday afternoon the lovely field that is across the street from me now contains this:

What was a lovely view across from my average brick home is now a gutted and re salvaged trailer that I am pretty sure will be a tornado magnet. In one weekend my house and property values just plummeted! So I will no longer be tiling the bathroom, investing in copper sinks, or adding crown molding to two rooms; you know all those little things that ad value to your interior to up the price.....

Nobody will care what is inside my house with what looks like a crack house across the street. Needless to say John Mark is livid, and looking for recourse. UGH!
Any suggestions

A Camp Waldemar Weekend

This weekend we spent a lot of time in Hunt, Texas picking up Rebecca from camp. She had a wonderful month with all of her friends from Camp Waldemar where she has attended for the last three years. We had fun cheering for her tribe the Comanches and were proud to wear orange in support. I had missed Rebecca a lot but no more than Regan did. As soon as my girls saw each other they both were in tears of joy and hugging. It really touched my heart how much my girls genuinely love each other. All weekend Rebecca introduced her friends to Regan , and made sure she felt included in watching field day activities, and hanging out with all the girls. The picture above is Rebecca playing for the Comanche softball team (they won the game against the Aztec). One of my favorite things to see was at the end of the game watching both tribes sing to each other in a show of good sportsmanship and camaraderie. At the end of the session the three tribes gathered (Aztec, Tejas, and Comanche) to see who won the final plaque for overall points for the month. We are thrilled that Comanches are the winning tribe!

It is good to be back from a busy weekend, and really good to have my Becca back with us once again.

Cure for Insomnia

John Mark has been in St. Louis all week, and what that means for me is many sleepless nights. Yes, we have an alarm system so I feel perfectly safe, but the fact that the house just is empty makes me a nervous wreck until i am too tired to care. So for this week I have gone to sleep any where from 12:30-2:30 a.m. and still waking up everyday for daycamp and all my other commitments.

I think my problem is I know I can take something to help me sleep, but sleep medications just make me nervous somehow. In fact almost all medications make me nervous, I think that I have a fear of becoming addicted to things, so I take them in extreme moderation. I know they will do me good, and help heal but I just hesitate. If I have the flu, I wait it out, drink lots of fluids, and sit in steam. If I had something specific or obscure like mesothelioma than I know that a specific Mesothelioma treatment would be recommended. For some reason lack of sleep is one of those things that just doesn't qualify in my mind as medication worthy.

Once again I sit here at 1:00 in the morning and dreading another lack of sleep night. Sunday my sweetheart will be back home with me again and I will be able to sleep again. Let's hope I can function through then.