Home Again

I'm home! The retreat was pretty good. We got there for a little more than a session Saturday morning and then ate lunch. We had free time almost all afternoon; part of it I spent playing soccer with some others. Unfortunately, we played right next to a wooded area filled with stinging nettles and poison ivy. I didn't get anything, but some were itching pretty badly by the end of the game. After the injury-riddled game ended, I ate a really, really good hamburger for supper. I love grilled beef.


At 8:00 everybody went swimming. It was fun, even though I couldn't see very well. We played sharks and minnows in the deep end, and I actually caught Eric when I was a shark. He was one stroke away from touching the wall, but I got him. :)

Around 10:45 we started making s'mores. I had one cold because I didn't want to roast any marshmallows, but then I tried grilling one on the coals from supper. The chocolate melted pretty well, but I lacked the patience for softening the marshmallow. Everyone soon migrated to the campfire for silly campfire songs. Jacque and I sat in the back with Joel and listened to him question the origin of each song: "Why do they come up with these? And how? I mean, what's the connection between fish and chips and vinegar and muck and pop??? And why do they sing a song about coffee when they could make tea just as fast? I suppose they want that tea in a tin coffeepot! and so on..."

At two o'clock the next morning, Jacque, Jackie, Joanna, and I tired of the wild game of ping pong (without the ping pong table) we were playing and went to bed. Sunday morning we listened to Mr. O'Neill discuss the reasons behind evolution and how some of them fall through easily. More people arrived, and we had a church service at 10:30. We learned that the glory of God can be displayed through anything--even a pot. :)

After dinner I got to play with two little kids and take Isa to the "ocean" to throw pinecones into the water. Following a short psalm sing, we all went home and slept a lot.

Life is back to normal now--if it ever is. The Fourth of July was great. We went to Robinson to see a spectacular fireworks show. Afterwards I saw two little boys each kiss a toad for a dollar. However, one of them didn't want his dollar and gave it back (he just turned three).


A picture for your enjoyment.