Chasing What Matters

Pine Cove Family 2009....unbelievable! If you have kids, this is the best family vacation that money can buy. Check it out at www.pinecove.org. This was our 5th summer to attend....and it was an awesome one. The theme for camp this summer was "Chasing What Matters"...taken from Matthew 6:19-21. We were reminded about not storing up treasure here on earth...that the eternal far outweighs the temporary. We were encouraged in our walk with the Lord, encouraged in our journey as a family, and encouraged as a married couple striving to do things differently...more authentically. We also just had a whole heck of a lotta fun! We got to see families that are walking the same road we are...in the same direction.....as we desire to raise up a different generation of kids who are lights in this world. So fun to re-connect with families that have become so dear to us over the years. Well, there's a whole slew of pics! Hope you enjoy...

Our second annual sunset pic!  This was one of the date nights they set aside for the parents...dinner and a sunset cruise.  The dinner was a surprise...we were to show up at the Summit at 6pm and they were going to tell us what we were doing.  When we got there, all the counselors were lined up holding picnic baskets that they gave to each couple.  They told us to go anywhere we wanted, spread a blanket and have a picnic dinner....just the two of us....then be at the boat dock at 7:30pm for a sunset cruise.  It was so much fun!  They had thought of everything in the basket....two wine glasses, some yummy bubbly, brie and crackers, strawberries and grapes, a delicious chicken salad sandwich with chips, bottled water, and the yummiest fudge brownies I've ever tasted.  We laid out on a blanket beneath all those east Texas trees and just hung out.  It was amazing!

At family club the first night.

The two Beths... Beth and Bethany

Faith Anna and Sydney

After club, we had a banana split party by the pool.  Yummy, huh?

Logan post-Superman swing!  He did a great job...

Faith Anna conquered her fear of the Zip Line this year!  We were so proud of her.

Zippin is no big deal after that Superman Swing...

Our first theme night was a western one...the Burtons dressed as Cowboys and Indians. :)  And Mama sporting my beautiful sling.  (only 2 1/2 weeks post shoulder surgery!)

Love those gorgeous gaps...

My friend Linda and I were twinkies all week.  She broke her shoulder bone and was doing rehab right along with me.

Tag kissing a longhorn...

Faith and her buddies...Sydney, Mary Holland and Anna

Bunk beds bring happiness...

An afternoon on the Banana Boats with the Hotchkiss family.  See Faith on there....third from the front??  Yep, it was a BIG summer of firsts for her.  Zip line, Banana Boats, Slide, High Dive, the Blob... she got her game on!

Beth and I hung in the boat...

The boys wanted a rougher ride, so the ladies disembarked...

Beth decided she just wanted to feel the water, so she jumped in for a little swim with her dad.

The boys in the back...Luke, Taylor, and Ken.

My sweet friends from church, Julie and Rachel.  Their families both come to camp the same week as us too!  We have way too much fun ...

The ladies on the sunset cruise...

We did lots of swimming at camp...

Beth got brave and jumped off the low dive!

Logan on the front of the Blob!

I already gave it away....but here is Faith on her first High Dive jump onto the Blob!

The next theme night was an "Around the World" theme.  The Burton clan  came from down below the border....Mexico!

Beth was so tired from all the fun festivities of the week...that she fell asleep at the dinner table!  Seriously.

Sand pit with Brooks Claire.  This is right outside of the dining room....so the kids can go play when they're done eating.  Convenient, eh?

Logan performed at the Talent Show on Wednesday night!  He sang "How Great is our God"...he did a fabulous job!  So proud of that boy!

Faith and Haley

The boys... Will, Logan, Jacob, and Tag

Our second date night.... did we say how much we love Family Camp?  The parents get to play while the children are away! :)  It's so nice to know they are having so much fun with their friends and counselors, while we get to enjoy a nice dinner together...

Molly, Dee, and I...

Our last theme night was Red White and Blue....with a pool party and fireworks to close the night down.  Very fun...

The older kids participating in the "CQ" ceremony...Character Qualities.  This is one of my favorite parts of camp.  Their counselors really get to know the kids all week....and they put a lot of thought and prayer into what character qualities to praise in each child.  They write them down on a certificate and read it aloud at the end of the week to all the families.

Crazy counselors...

Face painting....or hand painting...whichever you prefer.

Faith and her counselor, It Shakes Two.

Logan and his couselor, Leo.

Jacob Hotchkiss and Logan.  These guys are tight...

Beth and Abby

Saying goodbye on the last day of camp to all of our friends...

Beth and Brooks Claire

Our girls with Haley and Abby

Even Tag got in on the goodbye hugs...

Can't wait until next year!