VBX 2019

As crazy as it makes our schedule for weeks and even months beforehand, VBX is one of our most fun weeks every summer. We've participated since even before Maddux or Eli could 'officially' participate as an elementary camper, and every year finds us serving and playing in slightly different capacities.

For several years now, Eli, we've watched you participate in leading worship with other singers and musicians. I love how involved you get when Dad starts picking the songs for VBX, offering your opinions (whether he asks or not)...you are very invested in the programming for the week!

This year was the first year that you didn't play drums for VBX. The last few years have found you sharing the percussion section with one or more drummers, rotating each song or each night. But this year there was an opening on electric guitar, and you slid into that spot.

As always, you spent the rehearsals hanging out with some older kids that have a love for music like you.

And during camp, once you left the stage you were on 'water boy' duties.

Although I know that is a real job, sometimes it seems like a way for you to do some work at the beginning of each rotation, and then hang out with your friends (but your secret is safe with me).

Maddux, this was only your second year serving at VBX, but the way you assumed your responsibilities, you would have thought you were an old pro. Your first job request this year was being a youth group guide, and (of course) you requested to work with Ruby's 1st grade group.

While you really love working with your sister, there is one other 1st grade girl at our church that you've been working with in the nursery and preschool area for years that you really REALLY wanted in your group. You got your wish, and your heart for her was so apparent every time I saw you two together.

Your second 'job' was leading motions for the songs on stage.

You teamed up with a sweet girl you met last year at VBX that doesn't regularly attend youth group, but the two of you caught back up right away.

Finally, Ruby....your camp experience will be hard to top. Your group was a great one, with your sister helping guide your fun. And then you were chosen to act out parts a few times during the Bible teaching.

Then you got to come early one night when I was taking rehearsal photos, giving you a front row to the youth rehearsing on stage. Of course you joined Maddux and a few other 'big' friends that you've known your whole life. I think they like you as much as you like them.

But the biggest part for you was Walter. About a month before VBX, you made a connection with him at church and started seeking him out every Sunday. Then, on the first night, he asked me if he could pull you onto stage for something. Little did I know that before he asked you to pull a few prize tickets out of the bucket, he would dote on you.

The next morning when you woke up, you put your head on my lap as we talked about VBX the previous night. I asked you what your favorite part was, and without hesitation, you said, "Walter. Call me on stage. Say me beautiful. Two times." And you had the sweetest smile on your face. (And he did say that two times...that girl has a good memory!)

You had a great rest of the week, showing better focus and 'sitting' than last year in each of the rotations. And the last night? Walter named you 'Queen of VBX' on the stage.

songbird

you love to sing. you love to sing along. 

you love all music, but especially the songs in your current top 10. you know the words and sometimes your mouth allows the motor planning and articulation to line up enough for you to nail the lyrics at the same time as the voice coming out of the speaker. 

you live out loud. somedays are louder than others.

Summer Musings

It's summertime. That means craziness around the house as all three kids are home more, coming and going more, and any hope of a routine we have during the school year is out the window. I love it, even though my Type-A self can easily get distracted from the fun by the lack of order.

Last week a funny thing happened. Amidst all of the schedule-less-ness and no-plan-ever-for-a-real-dinner and house-is-a-mess, I found myself a bit relaxed. That is not my response to such chaos, but there I was, without my guard up and missing a clenching in my jaw. After checking a few lists in my head, I realized that I was relaxed because of the absence of school. For Ruby.

Weird, because I like routine and I love so much of what she's gained from being at school. But the school days (and the school weeks and the school months) definitely find me holding my breath. Sometimes I am waiting for the school to call me to pick her up because of her random and fleeting fever spikes. Sometimes I am waiting to see what her daily note home will indicate was the main struggle that day. Sometimes I am waiting for a possible call to discuss an incident that happened on the playground. Sometimes I am waiting in anticipation of an email or report indicating the level of delay we are currently facing.

Sometimes these things occurrences are continuous and sometimes I'll go a week without one. But I never know when the next one is coming and I never know what it will require of me in the moment. I might have to drop what I'm doing or leave where I am to get to the school right away, or maybe I'll *just* have to review my notes and Ruby's records and respond with an in depth email. One thing I always have to do though is reflect on what this new piece of medical or social or academic or developmental information means in terms of Ruby's school career.

There was a point early this spring that I realized I didn't leave the house outside of the grocery store during the week because I was so afraid of getting too far away from the school where I was destined to be summoned to.

So what do I do with that new brand of crazy I have found in my already full of crazy brain? Hopefully figure out a new chill pill to take for the fall. Hopefully find a better way to organize my day so that it's not preoccupied with the 'what ifs' or even 'whens'. Hopefully remember that I'm not ultimately in control and I need to trust the One that is.

we are gonna be friends

sometimes we get a glimpse into a really cool world. one where ruby has friends around her. friends who just love her. friends who don't need lehr or i to translate or facilitate.

we've not had a lot of this, as ruby is still young. don't get me wrong - we've had friends at church and school and in the neighborhood. friends who put in effort and who are awesome and loving and kind. 

but sometimes a shining friend makes you realize what you didn't know was missing. sometimes you find a friend who shines His light bright into our lives. a friend that doesn't really seem to be trying to be a friend - they just are.

they are getting as much out of the friendship as ruby is.

West Trip - Day 7

Location start/finish: Sedona - drive to Vegas
Activities: sightsee, drive, drive, drive, last dinner, last night

On our final morning in Sedona, we planned to see one sight and then get on the road. (We had a long haul to Vegas.) We enjoyed our final B&B breakfast before loading up. I cannot say enough good about the food there - it was phenomenal!

The last thing for us to see while in Sedona was the Chapel of the Holy Cross. It was beautiful driving up to it, as it's carved into the rock.

The inside of the chapel is likely what you'd expect, but spectacular all the same.

Once that was checked off of our list, we had to face the four+ hour drive back to Vegas. The kids did listen to a few podcasts with us though, and they even enjoyed one, in spite of themselves.

When we arrived, we'd already planned to have our final dinner of the trip be In-N-Out burger, so we checked into the hotel quickly and walked right over.

The big kids had a plan to each get a Double Double AND a single. Unfortunately for them, our order was slightly wrong, so they *only* got their Double Doubles. (Such a tragedy.)

We walked the streets of Vegas - shopping for the kids - for a bit longer until the heat did us in. (It was over 100-degrees that day.) Eventually we gave in and returned to the hotel where thee kids were wowed by the size of our room. When we initially checked in, the room wasn't ready so they upgraded us. They ohhhed and ahhhed for a bit before I put Ruby in the bath and Lehr took them out for their final night on the town.

The main reason to go out was the Eye in the Sky, which Lehr and the big kids had planned on since the beginning. They rode it, but didn't enjoyed it as much as they thought they might. Lehr followed that up by a HUGE dessert treat. So big that Maddux didn't even eat much of it at all!

West Trip - Day 6

Location start/finish: Sedona
Activities: jeep tour, pool-hang out day

Today was our second 'nothing planned' day on this trip, but we still ended up doing one planned thing: a jeep tour. We had to get up early so that we could eat and make our early jeep time. With a B&B though, you are at the mercy of their breakfast hours (meaning we were late), so we literally boarded the jeep as soon as we arrived.

The jeep tour was wild...way more intense than we'd expected. We drove off-road to two separate locations to get out, covering plenty of twisty and steep, rocky terrain along the way.

The first section had me and all of the kids in the back, and Lehr in the passenger seat. It was all I could do to hang on to a strap above me, brace my foot against Eli's seat across from me, and use my arm as a shoulder belt for Ruby...the ride was so rough that I was sure we would pop out of the jeep at any moment (even though we were wearing tight lap belts).

The first stop gave us some spectacular views. (Lehr called the bottom photo's rock structure 'toes', which always grossed Maddux out.)

After the first stop, Lehr offered to trade places with me and I took him up on it. The ride in the front seat was a completely different experience (so much smoother!).

And I felt better with Lehr holding onto Ruby as he wasn't getting thrown around as much as I was in the back. The things this jeep was capable of were mind-boggling. We went up (and down) the steepest of hills, all covered in rocks bigger than anything we've come even close to encountering on anything off-road around here.

The only wildlife we saw was a few lizards (small), but the tour guide assured me he saw snakes at least once each week. We did see some great vegetation the entire trip, but on the tour we learned about some of the specifics and how/when they grew.

After we grabbed a Whole Foods lunch, we went back to our place so that we could hang at the pool all afternoon. It was so nice outside! Lehr took Ruby to a playground and spray ground right across the street from our place while I took the big kids to the pool.

After about an hour, the kids and I moved over to the outdoor day beds to read and relax.

Eventually Lehr and Ruby returned and we returned to the pool for a bit. Eventually the kids and I took up residence in a hammock. (I think we would have stayed there all night if we didn't need to eat dinner.)

For dinner we found a low-key (for real this time!) mexican restaurant and had churros for dessert. The kids LOVED that. And on the way home we came across a sign that we tried to decipher the meaning of. (Cowboys lasso-ing, or lasso crossing?)

Finally, we stopped back by the playground Lehr and Ruby visited earlier. We had a blast making up 'obstacle courses', American Ninja Warrior style, and racing against each other's times. Ruby really loved this!

West Trip - Day 5

Location start/finish: Sedona
Activities: hike, swim, sight-see, shop

After much driving, it was nice to wake up and not have any lengthy car time ahead of us. Lehr booked a Bed-n-Breakfast for us in Sedona which turned out to be the most amazing grounds ever.

They had about 20 rooms, which were more like small apartments.

Right outside of our door was a few meandering pathways to chairs and daybeds and hammocks and then on to the pool.

It was all very awesomely southwest in decor, and of course the backdrop was red rocks everywhere.

We started the morning with breakfast on the grounds: savory waffles with eggs. (This made the top 3 meals list for Lehr and I.) From there we drove a short way to hike Cathedral Rock.

We didn't end up getting to the very top, but Ruby made it the whole way to our top destination on her own two feet.

Nothing like gummy fruit snacks to keep you motivated!

From there we went 'in town' to grab some lunch and spend some time exploring the downtown area. More shopping for the kids, because they loved checking out all of the shops.

It was here that we settled up with the kids from our corn hole game the day before. (Losers - us - bought ice cream.)

Around 3PM we decided to grab a quick change of clothes and hit Sliding Rock before it cooled down too much. We'd heard such great things about it, and we could see why. The best way to describe it is like a natural waterpark.

Pools of water everywhere, blended together with natural rock slides. Honestly though, we barely went in because the water was FREEZING. Before we left, Eli and Lehr did the 'big jump' from a high rock into the one deep section. The girls and I watched - I was happy to stay warm on the side with Ruby.

We drove back and changed with the intention of grabbing a low-key dinner outside somewhere. I maintain that I was led astray by Yelp and a few other reputable sources to believe that my choice would be laid back. While the dinner (and scenery) was amazing, it was pricier and fancier than expected. We jokingly refer to it as our 'accidental fancy dinner'.

Once home, I got Ruby to bed and the big kids went with Lehr to the pool.