The Calm Before

School STARTS!  I loathe back to school, and it's not because I'm not a schedule sort of girl because I am.  Routine is a good thing, and school is important.  They'll all be under the same roof and on the same schedule which will be very nice.  BUT...the thing that makes me sad about starting school is the speed of everything.  Time moves at a faster speed (or seems like it).  You blink and another school year is over.  For me, that means, my kids are older.  I am older.  It's not fun.  I feel the years with kids at home slipping through my fingers.  That's what makes me the saddest.  My babies aren't babies.  When the school year is up, I'll have a 17, 15 and 13 year old.   I don't like it one bit.

Let's refocus.  The calm before school starts.  Isaac got to spend the weekend with the youth group on the Ocoee River with Quest Expeditions.  This is his third year rafting, and he loves it!

 I'm super thankful for Brian and the Greenwood Park Youth Group for loving our kids and providing them with such exciting adventures!  Karson was bummed about not being able to participate in the trip.  Sports are a wonderful thing but a big commitment.  And our eldest stinker participates in THREE of them.  Each year the volleyball team has a lock-in right before school starts, and it happened to be the Friday of the rafting trip.  Team bonding is an important part of the season, and it's something Karson didn't want to miss.

The upperclassmen always adopt "littles" for the season.  Karson picked sophomore Naomi Richards who is quite a bit "taller" than Karson to be her "little."  She adores Naomi, and she's going to be a fierce Middle Hitter for South this season and is an all-around sweet young lady!

 Love this sweet team and looking forward to volleyball season!

Karson got to spend Saturday afternoon with her bestie at Barren River so I guess she technically got to spend some time on the water??!!??

For posterity, I totally dropped the ball on church camp documenting.  Between NYC and Miles's baptism, I failed to post any pics about the highlight of July which is CHURCH CAMP at Taylor Christian.  It falls during Dead Period and generally during the week of July 4th.  Taylor is special and anyone who has been to GP's camp knows exactly what I mean.

Maybe one day Miles will join them at camp???

Karson's received the F.O.X. award - Female of Excellence.  We think she's pretty great.  Her SWHS basketball coach Lane Embry was also her church camp team coach.

 Karson said they paired the older girls up with younger girls, and she really liked that idea.  She said when she was a younger camper, she didn't know anyone older.   

 

 

 Her sweetheart kickball studs - Logan and Colby.

 Isaac is totally in his element at camp.  He's a go, go, go sort of guy - and camp is non-stop action.

Reunited with old pals - Aidan and Logan Allen who spent the night with us the Saturday before camp.  We sure do miss them!

Miles is totally addicted to golf.  He can't get enough of it.  When he's not on the course, he's upstairs putting away on his putting green.  Due to his thumb injury, he wasn't able to continue to play competitively this summer.  However, he did score a 2nd place finish in the Goat Gary Championship Tournament today at BG Country Club. Good job Miles!