Very active time!!

It seems like a very long time since we have updated our blog.  And it has.  Since the last update we have made a 2,350 mile trip to our daughter Rhonda's graduation from Western New Mexico University as a Occupational Therapy Assistant and done a lot of things around Camp Barnabas.

On an outing to Joplin we came across this stunning outfit in a Hallmark store and the model is gorgeous!

The weather had been very warm then the cold front came through.

We had some wind, rain (3 inches) and lightning (three feet).  Unfortunately we have not found out the cost of the storm.  Let me put it this way, we have no TV, CD player or radio to date and there are a couple of things not right with Alfa.

After the storm we were blessed with another of God's great signs.

 

We finally got the spot for the rifle range raised and leveled and started the task of ---

---leveling piers.

Then it was the beginning of the build.  First came the deck frame---

 

---then the posts for the roof---

 

---then the deck---

 

---now the roof.  The item on Roger's right hand is a 25 foot tape which just wouldn't extend to 28 feet.

 

After the roof then the building began on the shooting stations.

 

Of course there has to be time to answer everyone's questions (except for Jackson the dog who is just tired of it all).

Shooting stations are done---

 

---and so is cleanup.

 

Before we left we had the privilege to watch the first week campers utilize the new range.

 

Of course the ladies were not sitting idle.  There was a lot of scrubbing to be done in the Tea's house before camp opened---

 

---so the pitched in and cleaned the whole house---

 

---including the flower beds.

There was also a few finishing touches to be made on the BDL.

 

The guys had to cut trim to fit each individual window---

---then clean up the area too.

 

 

Inside there was trim and baseboard to be installed.

 

Meanwhile, we were always being carefully watched.

One last thing.  A falling tree had made a mess of the fence around the dumpster---

---but with a little wood and work the fence is upright once more.

The summer staff has been busy training for the arrival of the first group of  campers.  What you see here is a standing ovation.  For a lot of the campers, they cannot stand for a standing ovation so they have the special "O" sign which they give from wherever they are.

The crew keeps getting bigger as the first group of high school volunteers join the summer staff.

 

Finally the big day arrives.  The campers are here and everyone is sooooooo excited. 

 

 

The campus itself is a very pretty place.  This is Lauren's Well House which serves as the hospital during the summer.

 

This is an early morning shot of Shoal Creek from the dock---

 

---and this is, of course, the dock.

  

One of the weekend adventures we were blessed to take was a trip to the Crystal Bridges, an art museum supported primarily by Sam Walton and family.

This particular day was the last day of the traveling art exhibit by Norman Rockwell.  We had no idea that one was supposed to purchase tickets in advance so we were really bummed out when we found that they were sold out.  As we were telling our story to the nice lady at the information counter about what we do and that we didn't know there were advance tickets required, she told us to wait a minute, walked over to the ticket counter, returned with this ticket and told us to go to the 11 am showing which was just going into the exhibit.  Isn't God good. 

 

You may recognize this painting of Rosy the Riveter.

There were also a number of other works of art and we spent the entire day there.

 

 

There were also a number of beautiful walking paths around the grounds.

I was able to convince my private model to pose for me on a stone bridge.

 

The flowers on the grounds were stunning.

 

 

On another day we took advantage of a visit to Neosho to the National Fish Hatchery.

 

Their office building was a piece of art itself---

---and the trout were about ready to release.

 

Last, but certainly not least, we made a trip from Purdy, MO to Silver City, NM to attend the graduation of our daughter Rhonda.  One of the places to visit in Silver City is a park and trails.

Our grand daughter is amazed by the flower stem of the yucca plant.

Of course our daughters were so excited to see Pa.

The ladies had a great old time together---

---and Kirk entertained us on his vibes.

We ate and laughed and then, finally, the ceremony.

 

 

Here is Rhonda's class---

 

---and the congratulations afterwards.

 

Mom and dad are very proud!