More Looking Back Over the Week

Now that I've given a somewhat silly rendering I thought I'd give you the rundown on some of the more serious things I learned last week.

First, I learned that teens haven't changed much since I was one. Yes, I know that was eons ago. However, teens tend to have the same hopes and fears that I had when I was their age. They are concerned about life, love, family, friends, eternity, and whether or not someone will ridicule them in front of everyone else.

The object this week was to make them aware of the One who meets all of those needs. He is the One who wants their life to be spent fellowshipping with Him. He is the One who loves them, gives them a better family life, and a wonderful spiritual family if they follow His principles. He is the One who wants them to have the right kind of friends and to be the right kind of friend. He is the One who has prepared the way for them to spend eternity in Heaven. He is also the One who experienced all of the ridicule and torment beyond anything they can ever imagine.

Second, I learned that some teens still act like they aren't paying attention to the lessons being presented during the teaching and preaching sessions. We saw some of that this week and it is always heart-breaking, to say the least.

But it reminded me of when I was 14 years old and away from home on a teen retreat. I can tell you with perfect clarity (and my own great sorrow) that I was not paying much attention to the preacher because some of my friends and I were otherwise occupied. I was not listening, but rather, I was misbehaving. Something the preacher said still got through. I don't know exactly what it was that got my attention (except that it was obviously of the Holy Spirit) but that was the night that I trusted Christ as my savior. How appropriate that Christ Jesus saved me from my sins right in the midst of disobedience. I always empathize with Peter when I read about his reaction to the cock crowing.

I can't look at unruly teenagers in a preaching service without remembering that night. Teenagers haven't changed since then. I pray that what they heard this week when we thought they weren't listening convicts them like something did me so long ago. God has a way of doing just that. He is in the business of changing lives and I'm glad He is.

God convicted me of sin this week as well. I still suffer chronically from "Foot In Mouth Disease." I had to repent to God and ask forgiveness of those to whom I'd spoken amiss. I guess I'm not so far removed from the person I was when I was 14 years old.

The fruit is just starting to be harvested. We're praying for a bumper crop!

The Salad Bar

I had a great idea this year, or at least I thought I did. I decided to plant salad starters in containers on my deck. I used an old wagon and large pots for the tomato plants. The wagon was so I could move the plants from place to place if necessary for them to get sunlight. (We have a somewhat shady yard.) I also planted a mixed lettuce packet in a window box.

I've been somewhat successful harvesting the lettuce. They did rather well and I have gotten several pickings from the box. I cut the baby leaves and left them to grow again. What you see now is probably the third growth. I know they are small but since it hasn't been exceptionally hot this summer they've survived thus far.

But then the raccoons discovered my garden and they have been having lunch at my expense. They left the half-eaten remains of a couple of tomatoes either to show their appreciation or just to aggravate me. I'm not sure which.

They didn't seem to care too much for the ripe and almost-ripe grape tomatoes as they dropped some of them - whole - on the pavement. Perhaps they are trying to fry them in the heat?

They left one green tomato on the larger variety plant. I'm guessing it will be tonight's supper. Not ours! Theirs!

I picked the rest of the ripe grape tomatoes since they didn't seem to like them anyway. The one I ate tasted pretty good. Too bad they won't leave them alone long enough for the slicing tomatoes to ripen.

Looking Back Over the Week

Yes, I was found out. But that's not the reason I didn't post more.

It turns out that having Internet access and a computer is not enough to ensure regular posting. There were schedules to be kept. And chores to be done to keep the room livable. And an adorable toddler to keep out of mischief. And my other camp responsibilities to do. And errands to run. You get the picture.

Since I was lackadaisical in my reporting I'll give you a short list of things I learned this week. Not all of these things were learned at camp but I think you'll be able to note the transition.

THINGS I LEARNED THIS WEEK

1. I do not speak the Sweet Pea dialect as fluently as I thought I did. The vocabulary that is used during short family gatherings is not as extensive as what is needed for her moment-by-moment care.
2. Little Sweet Pea believes her Gram is hard of hearing. I found that whenever I misunderstood something she just kept repeating it progressively louder.
3. I need a Sweet Pea interpreter. Thankfully, Tigger will be available for that job when we go to Junior Camp.
4. The songs on a lullaby CD are not relaxing when being used as karaoke by a 2-year-old who is also doing an interpretive dance routine on top of the bed.
5. Baby boys are as sweet as I remember. Mmm.
6. As fun as teenagers are (ha!) I was still glad to only bring one home with me.
7. If you are in a hurry to get from Point A to Point B it is almost a foregone conclusion that there will be construction and delays on every route between. I tested this theory this week and found it to be true.
8. Raccoons like little green tomatoes. I know this because most of mine were picked and left half-eaten on my deck.
9. Even in the few days we were gone, there were many new residents in our neighborhood. Specifically, hornets built a condo in a pine tree in our front yard. Pepper found it 3 minutes into her first excursion outside after coming home from the kennel. The Japanese Lantern sized and shaped hornet house is gone now but it was impressive! Pepper was stung while investigating. Pastor Dad and I were not.
10. Wasps decided to build their nest over our front door. It is also gone.
11. Woodpeckers can't tell the difference between trees and wood-sided houses. Or maybe the one tapping outside is just telling me that the suet feeder is empty. Good grief! We're gone 5 days and wildlife takes over the place!

Hope everyone had a good week. I look forward to catching up on what has been going on in your lives recently.

Camp Update

This lady isn't singing the blues yet, but I'm beginning to wonder if I'll soon be expanding my repertoire. As predicted, I did not get much sleep last night. However, it wasn't little Fen who interrupted my beauty sleep. That honor belongs to Sweet Pea.

We have snack bar time prior to Sweet Pea's usual bedtime. Someone who shall remain nameless decided to give her a small sip of Mountain Dew. I'm not sure if it was Code Red, Livewire, or Voltage, but these are the varieties sold here. Not being a fan myself, I can only attest to the fact that they're aptly named by personal observation.

Let's just say that Sweet Pea was almost asleep when the sugar and caffeine kicked in. I saw her spend the next 2 hours almost literally bouncing off the walls! It was just a bit before midnight when she finally slept. By that time the Princess and her little Fen were sleeping soundly, and Pastor Dad had given up trying to help me corral her and had gone on to his cabin.

Oh yeah. One more thing. Little Fen slept longer last night (almost 6 hours) than he has so far. I guess watching his cousin bouncing on the nearby bed wore him out. I know it did me.

On a more serious spiritual note, remember the campers and counselors in prayer. We'd really like to leave here Saturday with more on the kids' hearts than their latest make-ups and break-ups.

P.S. It wasn't Pastor Dad who gave her the sip. If it had been, I'd probably be naming names!