(approximately) 60 hours

it's been a busy 60 hours!  i'm always amazed by what we can cram in when we need to!

this week (july 2) is our 19th wedding anniversary!

woot!

good thing we like each other, right?

we had planned to sneak away overnight, but with our big kids going on a missions trip, we needed to go before our actual anniversary (more on their trip in a minute).

we enjoyed the drive (we always do!) and talked and planned for the next 5 years.  it was crazy, really...  it was not at all what i wanted our plan to look like, but we both agreed that this is where god is leading us and we simply get to be obedient.  we also know that god can (and sometimes does) change the plan, so we are flexible.

once we arrived at our hotel, we made casual dinner plans and grabbed some cheesecake for later.  we also stopped at trader joe's because we're awesome like that.

(it was approximately 105 degrees - which was quite reminiscent of our wedding day.  ugh!)

the next morning, we had the opportunity to head to camp and pick up our amy and the other campers and transport them back home.  we used our map app on our phones to get to camp.  i could tell this was not the way i've driven to camp before...

i was pretty sure we were close, but SERIOUSLY! this was more adventure than i was really ready for - in the church van!  about 15 minutes after this pic was taken, we snuck up to the campground - from the back way ;-)

we had a van full of girls.  i'll take that.  mostly quiet with giggles and a few random camp songs thrown in for good measure.

we had about 36 hours with all 6 kiddos home.  we tried to maximize the time together - all while getting ash and austin prepared for their missions trip.  working in the kitchen keeps me central to all the kids and needs, so i decided to whip up some bierocks!

i think i need a raise!  they were AMAZING!  (not to brag or anything)

since the older two will be gone on independence day, we celebrated with fireworks at our house after dinner last night.  austin loves to watch his money burn (geez...), so he entertained us with his pyrotechnics.

this morning - at the blessed hour of 5 a.m., my big kids were off.  

again.

gosh.  i already miss them.

they're working on an indian reservation in south dakota this week with their youth group.  i'm excited for them to have many cross cultural opportunities - both here and internationally.  thankful for this opportunity for them.

but, i miss them...

so, another week with the youngest 4.  it's busy with holidays, anniversary, anna's 6th gotcha day and more!  it'll be awesome!