Summer - finally!

2 and a half weeks - that's how many weeks we have spent at home since the end of May. 

This wouldn't be a big deal if we lived somewhere like Houston (no offense, Houston peeps, let's not forget I spent most of my life sweating there), but Park City is where you want to be in the summer. It's incredible, and I never want to leave in the summer. That, and we have three small children - not the easiest travelers, but they are troopers, nonetheless!

However, our family business is Young Life, and duty called this summer. 

We actually had to go to a place called Malibu in the Princess Louisa Inlet in British Colombia. Can you believe it? Rough, I know. Rob was Program Director for a month and the kids and I helped here and there when we weren't enjoying the amazing view while searching for seashells, starfish and crabs. My poor kids. They had around 300 teenagers a week doting on them and they had dessert with every meal. They tolerated it.  We went to Bob Goff's (author of Love Does - Read it, people!) house and got to hear his stories in person. Who does that!? I didn't have to cook one single meal for an entire month. 

Ridiculous. I hear you. We had to take a boat to and from the camp, and we spent some time as tourists in Seattle on the front and back end of the trip. Absurd. 

Our oldest missed his preschool graduation, our little guy turned one while we were at camp, I missed my high school reunion, and we celebrated our 8th Anniversary - all to hang out in between snow capped mountains and the ocean. Seriously.

Suffering for Jesus...

Thankfully, Young Life kids from all over the US experienced Malibu and many came to know Jesus each week. As always, I got to see my husband use the amazing gifts God gave him as he made kids laugh and glorified the Lord doing so. He is INCREDIBLE at his job. I love that guy.

After our time at Malibu, we came home just long enough to wash clothes, celebrate our girl's third birthday, re-pack, and to head to Lubbock for Rob's high school reunion. It was so fun to reconnect with old friends, visit with some good friends and family, and have a little time together as a family before Rob got back to work.

We were back in Park City for a week before the kids and I left for Houston for some long overdue, sweet time with my family. It was hot. So hot. The kids still talk about the heat in TX - and the mosquitos. They are weak after living in the mountains. I am too.  

That same week, Rob took our Young Life kids to Crooked Creek in Colorado for the best week of their lives. Park City high school is going to look quite different now that so many more students know their Lord and Savior. It was a life-changing week for every kid.

Then we were back home washing clothes, packing and repacking to head to Colorado for some time with Rob's family. What a blessing it was for our family from Austin to meet us in the mountains of Colorado. We had some fun in Aspen, then we traveled to an awesome cabin in Leadville where everyone slept in the same room (real fun the night our little man was teething and the two of us hung out in the bathroom) and everyone caught a fish (even all the little ones). We had so much fun!

 Then, we all had to go to Buena Vista, Colorado to this little known place called Frontier Ranch. We managed. Don't worry. Family Camp at Frontier has become a tradition for our family (and Rob's family too now that they have experienced it). I can't think of a better place for kids - if they like fun. And the whole - doting, dessert with every meal, dad on stage, crazy fun all the time - thing from Malibu continued at Frontier. They tolerated it...again.

Are you kidding me? 

Yes, I am.

They loved it!

I loved it!

I am so thankful that this is our family business!

This has been one of our busiest summers (I feel like I say that every summer). At the same time, this summer has been such a blessing to our family. Don't get me wrong, I am VERY glad to be home and am ready for some kind of routine. Our oldest starts school next week - tear - and our girl starts preschool - tear. The little man will just remain cute and continue to cut teeth - tears (from him). 

Here are a summer's worth of snapshots - 

starting with Family Camp and working back to Malibu.

Leadville! The highest city in North America.

Independence Pass - on our way to Leadville.

Aspen! 

Malibu - British Columbia!