Reminders of Sweetness Amid the Sour

My beloved prodigal is approaching a special birthday - 2 decades of life. For him, this is an accomplishment as he has done much to challenge this landmark. Indeed, I wonder if he is a cat, with the requisite nine lives. He has "slipped the noose" repeatedly and this wears on my emotional reserves. My husband cannot bear to look at sweet photos from the past in the midst of our current crisis. However, I needed the reminder of his sweetness and a dozen or so years that were free from the scourge of drug use. God gifted Trevor into our lives almost 20 years ago, and despite much sorrow, grief, and discouragement, I will fix my eyes on the many blessings his life has provided us.

I'm not a photographer. I don't often capture images. Thus, I scoured my blog, grateful for this catalog of memories that I sometimes fail to bring forth. Trevor has always been bright, creative, funny, and thoughtful. I found numerous examples of personalized cards he made for me (often with poetry). Ever artistic (here's art from age 10), he created images paired with sentiments he knew would touch my heart. While the cards are lost in the pack-rat detritus of my life, I can look back on my blog and enjoy the sentiments, the art, and the boy behind these kind gestures.

In my earliest photos of Trevor (from 2008), he was almost constantly in super hero attire. Indeed, on one visit to the library, they pulled me aside and gave me a large stuffed Spiderman. They were purging it from the library possessions and wanted to pass it along to the young boy who always came in dressed as Spiderman.

In 2009, we added our first dog, Harley, to the mix and Trev was very fond of him:

Mid-2009, he cut his own hair (worried it might be too long like his 13-year-old brother's hair):

In November of 2009, I captured this sweet and hilarious video of Trevor reciting The Lord's Prayer. He had learned this in his Christian preschool class. During the recitation, he accidentally burped, then cracked up when I exclaimed that I didn't remember that as part of the prayer.

In 2010, Trev got ahold of a blow torch and singed his bangs off (like I said, his guardian angel works overtime!) - go here to read the whole story and my funny friend Laura's quip in reaction to the tale):

That same year, Trev set up shop selling us his artwork and, in the fall, began kindergarten:

Looking at the photo above, reminds me of another guardian angel moment (on this day his jeans caught in the bike chain and, unable to stop, he zoomed across our street - where cars often speed past at 40-50 mph - safely and miraculously landing on the grass across the street).

In 2011, he went for a brief visit with grandma and found his granddad's war helmet, rode the zipline at CBLI, and became interested in football:

In 2013, we continued to enjoy the zipline at camp:

In 2015, Trevor and I took a special spring break trip to visit with my parents in Florida. He caught a lizard and set him free (despite accidentally severing his tail):

In 2017, he proudly displayed a fish catch at CBLI:

This was also the age of his bottle-flipping stage and in spring of 2018, he created this hilarious basketball spoof video:

The last two photos are from the cusp of our problems with Trevor, when he broke his leg during the first football game of his 8th grade season:

(This is another photo that stirs intense gratitude. We praise God that He spared Trevor's life and the lives of others near the accident that totaled the truck recently.)

It is good to reminisce over the sweeter days amid ones that leave a sour taste in our mouths. We are grateful for the prayers of so many, lifting Trevor before the Lord. I anxiously await his return to the sweet person he was prior to this departure into drug use and rebellion. May God help us cling to Him when timing doesn't speed along Trevor's recovery and return. May the guardian angels, who have prevented numerous perils in the past, continue to protect him.

We love you, Trevor! Don't ever forget it! We long to see you healed of this addiction, but you are a gift, even amid the pain!

Mid-month Mention: Spring Author Talks and Upcoming Movies

AUTHOR TALKS:

Shortly after finishing Susan Meissner's Only the Beautiful, I discovered an author talk available with the writer in February (I mentioned it in my book review post).

Laura Beth Vietor (The Lover of Books) is also offering an author talk on May 6th at 8 p.m. with William Kent Kreuger, discussing The River We Remember. I have read and reviewed his books Ordinary Grace and This Tender Land. I have not yet read The River We Remember, so I'm not sure I'll attend this author talk, but he is certainly an author to watch. Again, if interested in participating search up The LBs (Lover of Books) page on Facebook, or her YouTube channel (for repostings - I noticed an author talk with Patti Callahan Henry for Once Upon a Wardrobe, a book I'm reading now, and one with Laura Spence-Ash, for her delightful Beyond That, The Sea).

Or you can participate in upcoming author talks with Jane Healey for her Historical Happy Hour: 

2/22/24 - Kristin Hannah, discussing The Women

3/5/24 - Allison Pataki, discussing Finding Margaret Fuller

3/28 - Kate Quinn and Janie Chang, discussing The Phoenix Crown

You can register to attend any of these live interviews at janehealey.com

I also stumbled upon an author talk for writers who wish to explore the therapeutic benefits of journaling. Though the free talk on February 7th has already passed, you may wish to join Dr. Hilton Koppe, author of One Curious Doctor, for his 2-part talk on Tending Heart: Reflective Writing for Well-being:

SPRING MOVIES:

ONE LIFE

A Bleecker Street post on Facebook has me excited about a movie coming in March:

"Embark on a journey of courage and compassion with Sir Anthony Hopkins in ONE LIFE. Based on the incredible true story of Nicholas Winton, a man who risked everything to rescue hundreds of predominantly Jewish children from Nazi Germany on the eve of WWII. Also starring Helena Bonham Carter, Johnny Flynn, and Jonathan Pryce, coming only to theaters March 15."

You can view the trailer here.

I'm not a big movie-goer, but I would love to see this one in the theater. Indeed, I was so intrigued, I watched a 60 Minutes news story about Nicholas Winton and then an older documentary, called Nicky's Family, available from my library on Kanopy.

SOMEONE LIKE YOU

I'm also interested in another movie due out on April 2nd, Someone Like You. Based on a Karen Kingsbury novel (brief review here) and produced by Karen Kingsbury Productions, the movie looks sweet and emotionally stirring.

You can view the trailer here.

UNSUNG HERO

The final movie I want to mention is one I will probably forego seeing in theaters and hope the library secures a copy at a later date. It is the story of the Christian musical group For King and Country. I had the rare opportunity to see them in concert at our 2015 annual Bible camp, CBLI. It is called Unsung Hero and opens on April 26th.

You can view the trailer here.

Mid-month Mention: Beloved Author Kate DiCamillo's Journey

Last month, I happened upon this article celebrating Kate DiCamillo's 20th anniversary of her book, The Tale of Despereaux. What joy! What happy memories I have of listening to Ms. McKee enthrall her 3rd grade class with her narration of this book! We were all transfixed, kids and teachers alike. This tender story of a hero-mouse tapped our deepest longings and healed our hidden wounds. I remember thinking, "Now, THIS is an outstanding writer!" Of course, this was just the beginning of my love affair with DiCamillo books. Then came Because of Winn-Dixie (one we listened to on our drive to and from CBLI family camp one year), and the Mercy Watson books (inciting my younger sons to parrot often, "toast with a great deal of butter"), and when they were a bit older, The Tiger Rising. I adored The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane, another one I listened to while on a car trip, but I don't believe the boys were with me.

As I watched the accompanying video (a video of Jenna Bush interviewing Kate and encouraging children to read during the summer), I was blown away by a truth I didn't know. Kate asked students to guess how many rejection letters she received. I'm with them, my calculations would be between 5 and 50, but that is way out of the true range. 473! Unbelievable. Further admonishment to never give up! This is a fantastic writer, who accumulated more rejection letters than I can even fathom. I have not been as persistent! Indeed, for a spell, I have given up writing (apart from journaling and blogging) altogether. It saddens me to think of all the world would have lost, if Kate DiCamillo had responded the way I respond. Congratulations Despereaux on thrilling young readers for two decades! I'd give anything to travel back in time and relive those days in Ms. McKee's classroom watching children catch a passion for books and story.

Mourning Loss of CBLI 2020

Today would have been the start of our annual Bible camp, Central Bible and Leadership Institute - CBLI. Neither of my younger boys intended to go along anyway, but I had hopes of going solo for the first time since my teen years. I even contacted an old friend who provides a great deal of care for her grandsons. I pitched the idea that we share a Shagbark cabin together and I could have the counselor's room for privacy, yet be there to help her with the kids. I had visions of such fun because this is a cherished old friend whom I hardly ever see and love to spend time with.

Enter COVID-19. Exit dreams of CBLI-20. 😢

So, I came up with a plan to celebrate CBLI in my own way this year. I cannot benefit from the outstanding Bible classes. But, I can make a point to focus on my own Bible study. Since there are nine days to CBLI, I selected the one book of the Bible with nine chapters - Amos. I don't know how it will go, but I'll give it my best.

My Bible introduction to the book states:

"Amos prophesies during a period of national optimism in Israel. Business is booming and boundaries are bulging. But below the surface, greed and injustice are festering. Hypocritical religious motions have replaced true worship, creating a false sense of security and a growing callousness to God's disciplining hand. Famine, drought, plagues, death, destruction--nothing can force the people to their knees. Amos, the farmer-turned-prophet, lashes out at sin unflinchingly, trying to visualize the nearness of God's judgment and mobilize the nation to repentance. The nation, like a basket of rotting fruit, stands ripe for judgment because of its hypocrisy and spiritual indifference."

My, my. Timely!

Secondly, I decided to write nine letters (a letter each day) to individuals who have blessed me during my CBLI years and to make a point to pray specifically for them on that designated day:

1) I will start with Laura Allen, whose friendship and constant presence at CBLI have been like returning to a warm hug. She provided me with tons of camping tips (things she learned in her years of CBLI and CMI attendance - I think she's probably stayed in every cabin on the campgrounds - including Navajo, to which she wrote "NAVA-NO!!" when she spent the week there with mice - that cabin has since been condemned and torn down - yikes). I always look forward to our annual selfie and since she is a far better photographer, I often steal some of her images for my CBLI Re-cap posts. I have known Laura since my parents moved to an appointment in Chicago my freshman year of high school and am so grateful that our friendship endures and that she is always at CBLI, as well.

2) I could not miss thanking Linda Himes for being a Bible teacher extraordinaire! Over the years she nurtured my return to the importance of time in God's Word. I have such fond memories of all the deep learning in her classes on Ruth, covenant, and the tabernacle (those are the three that stand out the most - but I took other ones, as well). She always takes time to talk to me outside of class and has been a true blessing in my life, spurring me on to depth of Biblical study.

3) Many different individuals have led the worship times at camp over the years. When I think back to my first years of bringing Bryce to CBLI, I reveled in the worship leadership of Randy Bonifield. I can still remember standing with his wife, another Wendy, remarking on how odd it was to watch all the teens and remember that we were in that teen track over a decade before. And I will never forget the experience of one particular worship song Randy led (I believe it was a song called "I Went to the Enemy's Camp"). The teens went absolutely crazy during the chorus where they would chant of the devil, "He's under my feet!" and jump around in their rare teenage enthusiasm. Us oldsters (we were what? 35?) sat in the back and sucked it all in.

4) Another blessed memory, both with Bryce and from the years when my younger sons were small - fishing on the pier with Todd Thielke. He was so kind to take time for us (first helping Bryce to catch fish, then in later years, watching over Trevor and Sean in their enthusiasm for fishing). He took a photo of Bryce's largest fish title catch, but sadly, we couldn't seem to get it from his phone to send to me (probably because we had such archaic phones back then). I remember it was a whopper! Todd's kindness to my boys and enthusiasm for fishing will always be linked with our CBLI experiences.

5) There have been a few couples whose regular attendance at the camp always blesses me. Cheryl and Tom Westberg come to mind. Cheryl had a light bulb idea one year. Since she works in the book industry, she decided to set up a  Little Free Library at camp. For several years, she would load up tons of books to display on shelves and tables, free for the taking for campers to read during their free time and even to take home with them. You can imagine how much that thrilled me! She was also the mastermind behind several mom's day out trips into the nearby town of Antioch. I am so grateful to her husband Tom for keeping my boys so that I could participate in those adventures. We would go to the ice cream shop, the candy shop, and often a thrift store, too. It felt great to be included in that group.

6) Another regular couple at CBLI - David and Dawn Tooley (Dawn is one of the women in this ladies day out photo - This also makes me smile because Louise Rowland is in the photo and her friendship was very dear that year). I always appreciate their friendship, but I also benefited from several of David's classes. I think my favorite two were the ones he taught on John Ortberg's The Me I Want to Be and Donald Miller's book, Storyline.

7) In recent years, I've been blessed by the song leadership of Eric Himes and The Singing Company (for a few years, my niece, Kirsten, was a member of the group). He instituted something called Evening Hymn Sing. Individuals would go to the front to share a brief testimony and then select a hymn or chorus from a laundry line of possible titles and we would join in corporate worship together. I don't often get the chance to experience intense corporate worship like I experience at CBLI. The swell of voices communicating praise to God brings me right to His throne. I have several favorites, too many probably to mention. I even used one to prompt a focus phrase one year - "Let Nothing Be Wasted." He is an outstanding songwriter and worship leader.

8) Carol Wurtz has been such a good friend to me during the years of her leadership at CBLI. She made it possible for the boys and I to continue coming to CBLI even after we stopped attending The Salvation Army on a regular basis. She always asks after me, talks to my boys, and prays with me when things are stressing me out (like one dreadful night last year when the troubles with my prodigal son were first appearing). We owe a great debt of gratitude to her.

9) Way back when we first attended CBLI, Bryce and I always knew we would get to spend time with Carol Hedgren and her girls (close to Bryce's age) and Christy Mantel and her kids (her youngest daughter was Bryce's age). We hung with them during the mid-week trips to Great America, took classes together, and spent free time sharing in the same activities (down at the waterfront, rocking the Funbugs - triangular boards you stand on and move across the water with your body movements - this is a photo of Carol's daughter, Jordan, who recently got married - ah, time flies). Many happy memories. Sadly, they stopped attending so it has been years since we were able to hang out together.

Third, I plan to focus on one worship song/prayer chorus with sentimental meaning on each day. These are songs I remember singing at CBLI. The links to the YouTube versions don't always communicate the same vigor we sung them with, but give you a taste of each tune:

1) "I Went to the Enemy's Camp" (this version is not nearly as energetic as Randy Bonifield's)

2) "Let Nothing Be Wasted" - original by The Singing Company

3) "These Are the Days of Elijah" - my boys begged to listen to this after we returned from camp one year - I love the part where everyone chants "There's no God like Jehovah"

4) "Never Mind, Go On" - another Singing Company song

5) "10,000 Reasons" - This was another favorite often requested by the boys

6) "Be Thou My Vision"

7) "Shine, Jesus, Shine"

8) "In Christ Alone" - this version is sung by Owl City - I love his voice!

9) "No More, No More!" - another Singing Company song

So, as I mourn the loss of my beloved Bible camp experience this year, I will celebrate all the memories and carve out a special observance of my own. I will study the Word, express gratitude, pray, and sing praise. It won't be the same, but perhaps it will in some small way dull the pain.

Smitten With This Stirring Song

I wish I had my husband's memory skills. He remembers everything; I remember little. I can't recall how I first encountered this stirring worship song, but I have been playing it repeatedly (mostly while waiting to pick up my boys from school or work). I love so many things about it: the call and response aspect, the repeated refrain of two words, the lyrical, engaging quality of the music, the subject of God's majesty, wisdom, and honor. I love the expression of His ability to break through the barriers we experience in this fallen world and redeem that which is broken. It is truly my favorite song, of the moment.

We sang this together in worship at our annual Bible camp last summer. I wish I could have been there for this Sing Conference to join with the throngs. Although there are several covers for this song (Chris Tomlin, Shane & Shane, and Andrew Peterson's own music video), this is my favorite version. I love the timbre of Peterson's voice and the magnitude of the masses. Oh, how we need this reminder in the midst of our dark and broken world, where shadows are, indeed, deepening daily. He is the light to not only shatter the darkness, but carry us through that darkness. (The only thing I don't like about this You Tube video, is the miniscule moment when a man breaks the atmosphere of the spirit of worship to kiss-cam.):




Kudos to Andrew Peterson for such excellent songwriting! If you'd like to see the lyrics or more about what prompted the writing of this song, read this New Release Today article.

CBLI 2019

Last year, Trevor and I were convinced we were experiencing our last annual Bible camp, CBLI. For years, the high school football team's summer camp has always fallen on CBLI week. Since Trevor intended to play, we figured CBLI was out. Thankfully, we discovered (early enough) in the spring that they moved the team camp dates from July to June. Since we no longer take our attendance for granted, I insisted Sean join us. Still, I worried he might ruin it for me, because his friend was having a big party on the Tuesday night of our encampment, and he would have to miss it because his mother was forcing him to go to Bible camp. Thankfully, the camp had a new draw for him - Great America.

Years ago, when Bryce and I first attended, the camp always headed to Great America on the Wednesday. Twelve years ago (possibly considering it an unnecessary expense), they pulled Great America off the schedule and switched that middle day to a family day (often holding a large picnic with games and a petting zoo). Thus, my younger boys had never really ventured to the amusement park near camp.

Sean surprised himself. He had a great time. The tween track was loads of fun and he made friends easily. Every day, he spent most of his free time with friends at the pool. He didn't even beg to go into town (something we routinely do). The only problem he encountered during the whole week was an inability to find tween friends willing to ride the thrill rides with him. Thankfully, the Lees (a couple on the tween track staff) rode some rides with him prior to the all-camp dinner in the picnic grove. After the dinner, we ran into our cabin neighbors (the Nashes) and I even joined in riding some of the coasters (I only rode the Demon, the American Eagle, and X-Flight).

I spent most of my free time reading in our room. One day, I attempted to read in the hammocks set up near the chapel, but alas a young girl came along (unsupervised) and decided it was her mission to spill me out of the hammock by continuously rocking it, despite my pleas for her to stop. That ended quickly.

One of the really great things about this year was the joint theme covering the book of Philippians. Every track focused on that book of the Bible, so the boys learned from the same passages I studied.

The adult track had outstanding guests in Majors Jonathan and Barbara Rich. Some of the highlights of the teaching included: the idea of being careful not to photo-bomb Jesus, the concept of salvation having three tenses - past (moment of salvation), present (sanctification) and future (Christ's coming), the need to have the gospel on video, instead of merely on audio, the idea of dual citizenship (heavenly is an umbrella over earthly citizenship), and the idea that there is no better antidote to anxiety than to rejoice. He asserted that what we live for can be untouchable if we understand the hardness of life, the alchemy of life (alchemy attempts to turn lead to gold; God is the only alchemist able to take evil and turn it into good), the definition of life (what we base our identity on), and the dynamic of life. The power of the resurrection makes us resemble him (more people, more like Jesus). Mindset is so important; if you focus on Christ, all the rest falls into place.

Some noteworthy soundbites:

"Those who do the most good in this world are the ones most focused on the next." - C.S. Lewis

"Oh, bless the stern schoolmaster that is my wheelchair." - Joni Eareckson Tada

"We have received your application for the Trinity, and we regret to inform you that you do not qualify." - didn't catch the author of that quote, but loved the way it communicated that we are not God.

"The gospel plus something is not the gospel; the gospel plus nothing is everything." ??

"If your 'if' is based on your 'I', your assurance of salvation will always be denied." David Bowden (click here to watch his powerful six minute spoken gospel presentation "If I")

"I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen; not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else." - C.S. Lewis

The Athiest and the Acorn story

I enjoyed time with other repeat attenders who have become great friends over the years (Laura Allen and her sister, Emily Southfield; Tom and Cheryl Westberg, Carol Wurtz, and Susan Nash):

Trevor, while stoked to go, ended up really struggling with the transition from the tween track into the teen track. He stayed with his buddies Emmet and Ethan in one of the teen cabins.

We brought along his fishing equipment, but I don't think he really spent any time fishing. Twice I took him along for a jaunt into town. Given our experience with Cedar Point, he was not impressed with Great America (although both boys listed Superman as their favorite ride).

While Sean was acclimating better than ever before, Trevor was begging to go home early (all his smiling photos were taken in the first half of the week). It makes me sad that he didn't come away with better attitudes and memories. Oh, well. Teens! I consider we were greatly blessed by CBLI 2019!

(Special thanks to Jennifer Minter, Laura Allen, Emily Southfield, Carol Wurtz, and Susan Nash for use of their photos.)
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Update: We received shocking news. While we were at camp, I was in a small group with a young woman named Tamara Eagle and Sean swam with her 11-year-old daughter, Nyobee, during free time. The two were on their way (with the grandmother) to a funeral in South Dakota, when a car crash took all three of their lives. So glad we had a brief chance to get to know them. Hoping they enjoyed a wonderful time during their final days of life, at CBLI. We were definitely sobered by this sad news.

CBLI 2018 - Contemplating Possible Finality

2018 marks the twentieth consecutive year of our family attendance at Central Bible and Leadership Institute, our annual Bible camp with The Salvation Army. I'm really kicking myself for not insisting that Sean attend (camp is more challenging for him, given his shyness). Trevor and I both had a wonderful time. We battled dueling feelings of joy and sorrow because we approached the week feeling it would be our last CBLI encampment (next year, when Trevor will finally be old enough to attend the teen track alone, he will probably be on the football team and the high school coaches do not tolerate absence for the week of football camp - it always falls on the week of CBLI). It added a touch of gloom as we continually thought, "Will this be our last?"

I was thrilled to learn that two friends from my teen years would be attending for the first time in many years. Lori Dalberg Gjovig came to work in the jr. high track (had no photo of Lori) and Tina Carlson Fewell came to spend the week with her son, Blake. Here's a photo of Tina (on the left) with another friend, Susan (who has attended CBLI for several years):

This provided two more individuals for me to eat meals with (especially important now that Trevor eats most of his meals with his friends instead of with me).

We were housed this year in Robin (a cabin I haven't been in since the first two or three years of attendance when Bryce was 3-5 years old). Although they were working on re-siding the cabin (lots of afternoon sawing and pounding), I still managed to nap through it due to my early rising. My 5 a.m. Eastern time waking hour translated to 4 a.m. Central time, but my body refused to give up its circadian rhythm. I happily rose early, showered, and headed over to the lodge lounge to carry out my typical morning Bible and writing routines.

A curious new space at camp provided a perfect setting for my annual photo with my friend, Laura. The tiny room was located outside the chapel, but I'm still unclear what purpose it was meant to serve (apart from photo ops):

The adult track enjoyed the Christian comedy team, Bean and Bailey, on the first Sunday night:

Other activities included a concert by Joseph Solomon, a dog presentation by Extreme Obedience, and a celebration of 50 years of teen track leadership by the inimitable Barb Higgins. But, I think my favorite part of the adult track, was the Bible study led by Capt. Marion Platt. He taught about the character of God, focusing on such attributes as immutability, omnipresence, holiness, sovereignty, faithfulness, justice, mercy, and love. I was deeply moved by his words about God's unchanging character when he introduced the concept of "would-be Jesus," a Jesus we're more comfortable with because he is made, by us, in our own image. His words hit home so much that I feel I must share them (available to listen to in the link above on the You Tube video for the second day of the study, at the 37:30 minute mark):

"We'd rather have, sometimes, 'Would-Be-Jesus.' Do you know who W-B Jesus is? It's a kinda, but not-quite Jesus. It's based-on-a-true-story Jesus. It's the kind of Jesus you create, not of wood or gold, but in your own image. W-B Jesus takes cues and gets counsel from you. W-B Jesus hates the stuff you hate, permits the stuff you permit, omits what you omit, condones what you condone and pets the doctrines you pet. W-B Jesus only ever votes the way you would vote and can't believe that other people vote any different. W-B Jesus ... prefers your preferences, is outraged by what you are outraged by, and when your ideas, opinions, views, and values change, as they often do, so do the ideas, opinions, views, and values of W-B Jesus change. W-B Jesus is made in your image. If you are a disgruntled, disillusioned person, so is W-B Jesus. If you're an angry person who screams at the TV at every shift in culture, then your W-B Jesus screams at the TV beside you. If you're a hard-core permissive, hemp-wearing flower child, your W-B Jesus strums a harp on the lowest branch of the oldest oak tree. W-B Jesus tolerates other churches, but likes your church the best....

"It would shock you how similar W-B Jesus is to you. He walks with you, He talks with you, and you tell Him 'You are my own.' And if you look closely, if you conduct a comparative analysis of W-B Jesus to the middle-Eastern, middle-aged Jesus of history and Scripture, you will find that you have hung a carefully cultivated scarecrow in the garden of your heart. W-B Jesus might keep the crows of culture away, but W-B Jesus can never save you or make you holy. Why? Because W-B Jesus is too busy changing. And you know what? The fact that W-B Jesus changes is proof that W-B Jesus is not Jesus at all.

"We find a complete character profile of God between the gospels... My main point for this entire week is that God will be who He will be, unchanging, omnipresent, holy, faithful, just, merciful, and loving independent of the culture or our political preferences. And we learn that from turning our eyes upon the actual, real-life Jesus, who is the same yesterday, today, and forever."

From my own notes, I gleaned some powerful observations: 1) Despite the sensation of loneliness, we are never alone because God stands outside of time and is geographically and chronologically ever-present; 2) We can talk about holiness but still be empty until we interact with the source; 3) God wants us to be the "spittin' image" of Him; 4) Our biggest problem in imitating His level of faithfulness comes from our contract-thinking instead of covenant-thinking; and 5) Righteousness includes not just loving God in a proper way but others in a provisional way.

But my notes were haphazard at best, compared to the beautifully illustrated notes Valerie Carr took and shared:

While I was soaking up the spiritual nourishment of the Bible study (and insight from my elective class on spiritual gifts), Trevor was studying wisdom in the jr. high track (especially fun for him because he was able to play drums for the praise band in his track:

He spent a bit of time down at the lakefront fishing, but gave up on his usual goal of winning the largest fish competition.

Instead, he spent most of his free time hanging with his buddies, Ethan and Emmet (sometimes literally hanging):

(Another crazy glasses purchase at our favorite Antioch, IL joke, magic, and costume shop, J.J. Blinkers - a fun annual tradition.)

By the end of the week, despite our eagerness to get home to our own beds and showers, we were both fairly sad that our possible final encampment was over. I keep trying to come up with some way to salvage plans to make it work again. Perhaps I can insist Sean go with me next year. Perhaps Trevor will decide against playing high school football. Or perhaps I will simply go on my own. A year without CBLI would be, well, a year with a gaping hole during the month of July. Only time will tell, but my heart hopes CBLI will be in our future again, somehow, some way.

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I only took the photos of our private room in Robin. All other photos came from those who attended the camp with me, so special thanks to Jennifer Minter, Laura Allen, Emily Southfield, Tina Fewell, Kim Suydam, Brenna Lee, and Valerie Carr for use of their photos.