We had a fun time at Ozark Family Camp last week, and I have lots of pictures to show you! I decided to do the Picasa album link this time, so here’s the slideshow. You can click on it to go see larger versions of the pictures. If there’s any you’d like a full size copy of, just let me know.

It was so fun to see folks whom I hadn’t seen in years, many of whom Jonathan and the Blessings hadn’t met (if you go to the album, there will be captions). We were blessed by the terrific speakers – John Heller was the main speaker, teaching about the Holy Spirit, and J and I attended Steve Price’s sessions on the Believer Priest. The children all enjoyed their classes as well. Davey was in the teens class… that felt strange!

A few of the highlights –

Monday afternoon we went on the trail rides. Eight years was the minimum, so I took Ellie and Kate on the first ride. Jonathan, the boys, and Grace met us at the Hitching Post and J and the three older boys went on the second ride. Later that afternoon, Grace and Stephen got to ride around the playground as well. No pictures of the big boys and Jonathan on their ride!

Tuesday, we had a picnic lunch down by the camp lake with the group of families to which we’d been assigned. After lunch, our family all went out on the lake in paddle boats, with varying degrees of enjoyment.

Wednesday night was actually our last night at camp, as we needed to come back and get a few work jobs done. It was also banquet night, which made a nice opportunity to roam the dining room getting pictures of friends. I missed plenty, but here are some of the shots I did get:

We were late registering for camp and the waiting list was not moving, so we were planning to tent camp. But several days before departure, Aunt Karen (who is my aunt by love, not by blood) emailed and invited us to use their downstairs bedrooms. We were thrilled to accept! Next year, I think we’ll mail our registration right away, because it would have been lovely to be in the thick of things instead of a short drive away. I’m also praying that we get to stay the whole week next time!

Our time at Ozark was delightful. There was lots of personal learning that I haven’t even touched on here. Perhaps later this week…

If you’ve been wanting a closer look at the beautiful property we’re blessed to live on right now, here’s a walking tour for you. It’s really best seen by clicking on the slideshow below and viewing the pictures in their picassa album.

I haven’t posted very many pictures this month, so I’m going to try to play catch up today. The fastest way to do that is to upload them to Picasa albums and embed slideshows that you can click on if you’d like to see bigger versions.

Here are some shots of a visit to Shaw Nature Reserve with Papa & Mama Byrd and Mom Smith. It was a lovely day!

Mother’s Day fun:

Also during Papa and Mama Byrd’s visit from NC, we spent an afternoon at Grant’s Farm in St. Louis. Papa was busy working, but Mama was able to come, as well as Dad & Mom Smith, Aunt Joyce, and Sarah with her sweet Blessings. We had a great time!

Last week, we dog sat Maggie, Dad & Mom Smith’s chihuahua. I caught this cute picture of her sleeping in her little bed.

Last Thursday, my friend Sue and her Blessings came over to visit for a few hours. While they were here, Jonathan finished a movable pen for the ducks and moved them outside, so the pictures have a lot of variety!

We had planned to go to a nearby creek to play and picnic on Memorial Day, but the weather changed our plans. Instead, we had biscuits and gravy for lunch, played our new game of “Life” in the afternoon with sweet Georgia, and enjoyed a wonderful supper with Georgia and Dad & Mom Smith. I seemed to neglect the camera in the evening, though…

A couple weeks ago, I posted a slideshow of digital “specimens” from our afternoon at Shaw Nature Reserve. Today, the older children and I spent quite a while going through and identifying those specimens. We used books and the internet, and got almost everything identified. I was surprised at how much fun it was, and I think the kids enjoyed it as well. Some of our findings were quite surprising… learning about the Kentucky Coffee tree, for one!

Here’s the slideshow again, with updated captions:

On Wednesday, we went to the Botanical Gardens with Dad and Mom Smith. It was our first visit, and we were very impressed.

A few highlight pictures:
The Blessings –

J&L –

Dad and Mom Smith –

I uploaded a larger number of “highlights” to an album – in my opinion, it would be worthwhile to click on the slideshow below so that you can see them up close!

Thought I’d just link to a slideshow of the picasa album I made for snow pictures. We had more snow last night (it was glorious!!) and I got some next shots this morning. I’d click on the slideshow to go see the picasa album if I were you. But I’m a bit biased.

And I’m gonna tell a little story on myself…
Last night, while it was snowing fast and furious, I realized that the chickens needed to be watered. On my way out to the coop, I spotted one of the sleds. And I glanced up at the sledding hill. And after I fed the chickens, I just couldn’t help myself. I grabbed the sled, trekked up the hill, and sledded down in the dark… in the falling snow… face first on my tummy. I whooped and hollered all the way down.
It was So. Much. Fun!!

I think snow is one of God’s most beautiful and marvelous creations. And I love the way that I feel like a little kid again when it snows.