Vacation

So this is where we have been for the past several days! Recognize it? It's world famous...and rightly, so! Yep, Niagara Falls! Shao & I had never been, and we had the opportunity to go with my friend Wendy and her three kids (whom we traveled to DisneyWorld with two years ago!) It is beyond belief beautiful, and magnificent, and every other adjective you can think up, and then some. We got to see it at night, as well, when the Canadians put colored spotlights on it. And we were there for the Wednesday night fireworks show, as well. We went on the Maid of the Mist boat, right up to the Horseshoe Falls, and went to the Cave of the Winds, which takes you right up to the side of the Bridal Veil Falls, pictured on the right of this picture. If you look closely at this picture, you will see a beautiful rainbow.

We had a great time, and I hope we get to go back another time, when we can explore the area a little more. There is lots to see and do. And we all need to get passports, so we can go to the Canadian side. Unfortunately, mine was expired, and Shao and two of Wendy's three kids don't even have one. So NEXT time we will go and stay on the Canadian side, which apparently is less costly, and has much prettier views. Looking forward to it! Here are some pictures Wendy took. I don't even bother to pull out my camera, as she is a camera hound, and takes 100's of them. I let her do all the work, and enjoy the fruits of her labor! :)

So now it's back to reality...I start work on Monday, and Shao starts school the following day, on Tuesday. And can someone please tell me...first of all...where did summer go???? I am missing it already! And secondly...how in the world is it that I have a HIGH SCHOOL kid now? Where is my baby? This baffles me!

Blessings...Nancy

Ministry in your own backyard

Today ShaoXi got herself up early and headed off with her friend Megan and her parents. Nope, they were definitely NOT off for a day of fun and excitement. Today ShaoXi volunteered to go with her BFF to have minor surgery, to keep her company and minister to her. Miss Megan is phobic about drs, needles, and all things medical. When I say phobic, I mean she goes absolutely ballistic, kicking, clawing, hitting, biting, screaming, and swearing...and that's the better moments, I'm told! So ShaoXi offered to go along and console her friend. And I'm told it was way better than usual, and that Megan's parents were deeply grateful to ShaoXi for coming. I'm thankful for a child with a giving and compassionate heart. And that Megan's surgery went well. Now we just have to wait for the biopsy results. That could be a bit daunting. Please pray that it is a good outcome.

Blessings...Nancy

Silence is Golden

Alright, so maybe NOT, in the blog world. We are alive and basically well, here on Planet Earth. :) I say basically, as I continue to have GI issues, ever since my hospitalization in January. I am not liking my "new normal" much at all. And I think I need to try and tweak it, if at all possible. It is just NOT fun to be nauseous 24/7. This can't be right, can it?

Other than that...loving having my girl home. And she is LOVING being home. I had hoped to get down to PA this weekend to visit friends, but she just wanted to stay home. She is definitely a homebody! Having said that...this doesn't stop HER from leaving ME, if a good opportunity comes up...like going out to Block Island for 3 days last weekend, on her friend's yacht. And sleepovers at places that have POOLS, to combat the beastly heat and humidity we have had since June.

I must say though...the humidity is GONE...thus this post! Now, WHAT, you may ask do the two have to do with one another? Well...my computer is in what we call "the back room." Said room is actually an extension of the attic belonging to the apartment below it, which translates...HOT. No insulation. HOT!!! This is always the hottest room in the house, and because it has 3 tiny high jalousie windows on one wall, and a small one on the opposite one, it does not get much airflow, either. Have I mentioned that this room is HOT? I do not have the courage to come in here much when it is hot, and ESPECIALLY when it is humid. I do the bare minimum and get out, FAST! It really is brutal. Thus...no posts for awhile. But last night? I had to close windows in my bedroom, and I was still chilly!

Fall is definitely on it's way. I am going to put one of the blankets BACK on my bed today. I have seen some leaves changing in our area. I am SOOOOO not ready for fall. It's sad. I actually LOVE fall. It is such a fresh time of year, crisp air, lots of blue skies and big fluffy clouds, crisp apples to eat, gorgeous foliage here in the NorthEast. But I KNOW what is right on it's coat tails. And THAT is what I do not like. Winter. Ice, snow, sleet, mush, cold. Not a fan. And so...it makes me really sad to see fall coming. In truth, I'd take the heat and humidity over the cold.

I DO love Christmas, and that's what gets me through to the first of the new year. But then...oh, then it is all about surviving the next 10 weeks or so. Once we hit the middle of March, I begin to relax. I KNOW we can get snow in March and even April. But it doesn't stick around. It melts. There are some brave little snowdrops and crocuses already up and I can SMELL spring in the air. I can HOPE.

So...watch out. If I know you, and you live in a more kindly clime, I may be camping out at YOUR house in the winter, in a few more years. Once Shao is off in college, I am looking for places from which to escape winter! :) You may want to change the locks! :)

We have one more week "at home," and then are driving to my friend Wendy's in the Catskills in NY, then going with her and her kids to Niagara Falls! We will spend 3 nights there, then drive back to Wendy's. The following morning we will leave VERY early to drive home to CT, as Shao has an open house orientation at the High School, and then right afterwards our church is holding a huge event for the teens. Gonna be a busy week, but also fun, I hope! :) And then we have 3 days and Shao starts HIGH SCHOOL, and I go back to work. Can't believe the summer is winding down. What with Shao being away for 4 weeks of it, I feel like it should be just halfway done, not almost gone! sigh Guess that's all the news from here. I will try to blog more often. Pray for cooperative weather! :)

Blessings...Nancy

Dustin's Place

So, camp is over. But 104 children, and 30 or so Jr. Counselors are still in my heart and mind, and in my prayers. I have to say, that was one of the most amazing camps EVER. I am so excited for where God is going to take this ministry! Skip & Colleen are looking for a large (50+acres) of land, with a lake/pond on it, to buy. Their dream is to have a kid's camp all summer long, then host other groups throughout the rest of the year. They want to have animals at the camp...horses, who knows what?!? :) For next year, they are hoping to have camp for 2 or 3 weeks. After that, the whole summer. But they need to find land. They need to find a BIG piece of land, with certain things on it, to make the camp work well. Please pray for this end, so that the Kingdom of God might be glorified, and many young hearts reached with the message of Jesus' love!

We are talking about me maybe living on the grounds, and caring for the animals. Wouldn't that be the coolest thing ever? If we had too many animals, I would definitely need help. I'm not getting any younger. LOL! :) But I think it sounds heavenly. And to be involved with this ministry...what a gift THAT would be!!! :) I intend to be involved with the kids' camp no matter what. I just loved watching these kids worship God and open their hearts to Him. Precious, precious times!

So...now we are home...the mundane has taken over. I am dog-sitting until Thursday night...then doing it again M-F, next week. Thankfully they left the money ahead of time, so I used it to pay my rent. Unbelievable, that SOMEHOW $1000 came in this month. Of course, I haven't paid any utilities, so that needs to be addressed. But I am amazed that I came up with August's rent. What a clear blessing from God!

The last week of this month we are going to Niagara Falls with my friend Wendy and her kids. I have never been, so am excited for this little vacation. And it's not costing us much, as Wendy is paying all traveling costs, and for the hotel room. We just have to pay for food, and $66 for our Niagara passes, which get us into the Cave of the Winds, the Aquarium, on the Maid of the Mist, and onto the trolley...and something else, I can't remember. $33 each...not really a bad deal at all! :)

That's all the news for now. Hope everyone is having an AWESOME summer. I can tell you that I am glad, glad, glad to have my baby girl home. Oh, how I missed her! :)

Blessings...Nancy

First Day!!

We have made it through the first day of camp! I can't say that was a particularly HARD thing for me, as I was in the house the majority of the time, just responsible for keeping water jugs full at two sites, and keeping a Koolaid one and another water jug full at all times at the tents, where the kids meet to eat, do crafts, whatever. While they have snacks twice a day, the jugs are ALWAYS full for them at all times.

ShaoXi was a jr. counselor for the group of fifth and sixth graders. She is whooped, and in her room...not sure if I will see her again tonight! :) Hope so, as we need to eat dinner, which is halfway cooked.

It was such a blessing...104 kids, all having a blast. They moved from activity to activity, loving them all...we start out with awesome worship in the morning, then they begin their rotations...kayaking, swimming, arts & crafts, fishing, bible time, story telling, games. These kids are kept BUSY! :) Somewhere in all of that we fit in 2 snack times, and lunch! :) What a blessing to serve at Dustin's Place! I am loving it! :)

Blessings...Nancy

All done!!!

Shao is home, and I don't have to give her back! She's here to stay! :) This weekend was amazing!

I left for Nutmeg at 7:30 AM Sat. morning. Arrived JUST in time for the observation class at 9AM. Here's a Picture (or two!)

Aren't these neat? Bad lighting, but still!

Then we moved her out of her room, except for the clothes she was going to change into after the performance. We then ran to Mc Donald's for a quick bite to eat, back to Nutmeg, and she had just a few minutes to get ready and go to the theatre. Then I had to go run to the florist, since her Gramma Donna was running late, so I picked up her flowers for her to give Shao.

We finally all got to the theatre, I picked up the tickets, etc., and we settled in for the show. It was wonderful, but no photography allowed, so I could not take pics. Afterwards, Gramma & Grampa went to check into their hotel across the street. Shao & I went for ice cream with her friend Megan, Meg's mom Martha, and Shao's Gramma Bonnie (we are blessed with lots of special "grammas" in our lives!!!) Afterward they left, Shao changed, and we went across the street to have dinner with Gramma Donna & Grampa Ron. Yummy dinner...in fact we are having it tonight, since we had lots of leftovers! :)

We came home, got in before dark...I always love THAT! :) and unloaded the car. I ran to Wal*Mart for oil....light came on....oops! Must keep better care of my car! It's gotta last me awhile! Put oil in the car, carried in the rest (mostly) of Shao's stuff, and went up to take a shower. Oh, joy! Love me those cool showers on a hot sweaty day!!!

Today...precious!!! How do I find the words for this day?!?!? My precious child got baptized, proclaiming to the world that she wanted to follow Jesus, and that she loved Him with all her heart. Precious, I tell you! Here's a few pix of that! :)

Two of Shao's best friends came to the baptism, which made her SOOOO happy. Afterwards, they went swimming, and then came home with us, and are still here at almost 9PM...which is okay with me, although I think Shao will be exhausted by the time they leave!

And tomorrow...we begin at Dustin's Place....can't wait! Here's some pix from there...we had an orientation meeting there last Sunday...oh, my! Glorious views!! :)

This week I need to see God do a miracle...please keep our finances in prayer. August rent is coming up...and I am way short, nor have I paid any utilities since the end of June. Go, God! :)

Blessings...Nancy

Been WAY too long!

Oh, my! Let's see...I'll have to do this in bullet points!
Lenai (SP?!?) came home with ShaoXi...sweet little girl, but she sure was homesick!
They went back to Nutmeg on Sunday night.
Tuesday I sent an email to let the dorm mother know Shao would be coming home again on Sat., and I mentioned that things were pretty rough in room 208, that I had received a phone call two nights in a row from a sobbing child, begging me to come get her.
Dorm mother went and spoke to girls, who promptly decided it was Shao who had been complaining, and ostracized her even more.
Principal of school called Shao into his office and talked to her, told her she needed to grow up, that these things were all part of life, and if she had a problem not to bother me, but to talk to an RA or the dorm mother.
Shao called me about her mtg w/principal, and I promised I wouldn't send any more emails! :)
ANOTHER girl's mother called/emailed, and asked for her daughter (Shao's only friend!) to be removed from that room!!! At that point, the principal went and talked to ALL the girls.
Girls sat down once he left and had a real heart-to-heart, deep discussion...this was a week ago. Upshot...things have been SOOOO much better in the room...too bad it took 3 of the 4 weeks to
get there!!!!

Shao came home by herself this past weekend. Thankfully, my bro-in-law, Kenny works near Nutmeg, and he brought her home for me...saved me 3 hours of driving! WAHOO!

We just spent the night sitting on the couch cuddling and talking, watching some tv. It was nice. On Sun. we went to church, then to a picnic at a conference center where we are both volunteering next week, for a kid's camp. It is on the water, very, very gorgeous grounds. My job? I have to have pre-packaged snacks and drinks ready for the campers at 10:30 and 2:30. In between? I sit and look at the water. I am NOT kidding you! Shao is a jr. counselor,, of the kids in grades 5 & 6, so she will be busy as a bee. This is gonna be one amazing camp!!!

Tomorrow night at 8PM and Sat. at 2 the Nutmeg students are performing in the Warner Theatre, next door to the Conservatory. There is an observation class at 9AM on Sat. for parents, so I will go to that. Then we will pack up her room, just leaving an outfit to change into for dinner after the show. Then it's off to the show. Her godparents are coming down from New Hampshire and are renting a room directly across the street from the theatre, so we will have dinner with them. One of her best friends is coming up with her mom to Sat.'s show, so that will be fun. Maybe we'll go have an icecream with them afterwards...gramma and grampa made the reservations for 6PM, so I think ShaoXi will be mighty hungry before 6 rolls around!!!!

And then I get to bring my girl home. Sunday morning we have church, and then it's the annual church picnic, at Hammonasset State Park, which is a beach. And my precious girl is getting water baptized! Praise the Lord! I am so thrilled!!!!! Of course, as usual, no one in my family is coming, just as no one is coming to the show. But I will be there...I pledge to ALWAYS be there for my girl!!!! I should say that it's not that they are around, and just don't want to come. Nope, they have all made vacation plans, and everyone of them is going to be gone. So be it.

And Monday morning we begin at the camp, Dustin's Place. Can't wait. Gonna be a blessing and a blast!

Blessings...Nancy