White Water Goodness!

For quite some time, we've had posted that we were interested in taking the FCSC Teens Rafting again this year. We go with YD Adventures. One day a month or so ago, one of the teens sent us an Urgent email saying that she reallly wanted to go rafting. I told her that if she wanted to go that she needed to sell the idea to the rest of the group. We needed at least 10 people to be able to have a group....

Well, she mainly put it out there. Rod was in school and I was busy helping him & getting the boys to baseball... We got 10 people, and eventually 15.

Well, this last saturday was the day! Putting a day like that together isn't necessarily hard, but there's just so many details, that it can sometimes drive me crazy. Once we get there & get on the water - it reminds me of giving birth (of all things!) - all that work really was worth it!

We left Mt. Vernon about 6:30 am, stopped in Stanwood to pick up a couple of the boys. Headed over to Leavenworth, go to the put in about 1/2 hour early. Leeann & Eddie were there - I guess I knew there were going to be, but somehow it really surprised me that I was getting to spend a little bit of time, with some people I really care about, in a place that is not where I usually see them. It sort of feels like when you see your doctor in the grocery store.

We played some fun games while we waited for the drivers (Scott & Rod) to get our cars moved. We got divided up & got into our boats. Rod & I thought that we would try putting our old Sony P8 in a ziplock bag & taking it with us. Turns out, that really worked & we got a few good pictures. How I always wish that you could take a telephoto lens with you so that you could take awesome shots of the rest of your group going down the river! We were so far away & with our little camera - that the boats were little in the pictures...

Rod, Josiah, and I rafted together with the other Josiah from our group and four raft guides. It was quite a neat experience, because they didn't want the two younger boys as the bow babies - because of all of our adult weight in the boat - that Rod & I got to be the bow babies the entire way! We had two Josiah's in our boat, the oldest was Josiah 1 and then our Josiah was Josiah 2. That was kind of a fun way to refer to them. I think Josiah 2 had the time of his life!!!

Eddie was so good to the boys - he let them jump in bunches of times, they did trust paddles, waterskiing as well as them both being on the bow while we paddled through rapids! We also walked around the outside of the raft while in motion. That was one of the neatest rafting trips I've ever done - for a couple of reasons. One, I finally got to take one of my boys. Two, we did so many things that I've never done before on a rafting trip - and I've gone on a bunch!!!

Looks like we already have enough interest to go again next year. I'm thinking that maybe next year we could do a two day trip - a Rock & Roll or something. I'd really like that. And if we plan now, we may even be able to do enough fundraisers to get more kids there!!!

The "thing" that I got out of it this time, was, Eddie had us paddle through rapids for a time with our eyes closed. It seemed like quite some time. We had no idea where we were going - only trusting that Eddie was our guide, giving us commands and knew the way. That he would keep us safe. Then, afterwards, he talked about how sometimes in our lives, that that's what our walk with God feels like. It feels like we may be paddling with our eyes closed, not knowing where we are going - yet, we are to keep the faith and keep doing what we are to do - because He knows where we are going, will guide us and He can keep us safe.

This last year has been a whirlwind for me. Rod losing his job, not having a job, paying our bills with very little money, Rod getting a fantastic job - but not knowing if it's somewhere where he will be or if he will have to look for another one - makes me feel like we are paddling with our eyes closed. Out of all of the teachings that Eddie could have chosen during those moments we had together, I find it interesting, that he chose one that would speak so loudly to my heart. The Lord really used him!

The teens - had such a great time. You could just see the bonding - the excitement, the fun, the exhiliration, the common experience. That's the reason we want to do things like these - because it creates such a strong common bond. I'm thankful we were able to do it this year & hope to do it again next year.

Being out there, on the river, reminded me of being a part of YD in my youth. Of the dream that one day, that I would be a part of that ministry again. I think one day - we may...

If you are interested in more info on rafting or YD Adventures - check them out HERE!

Done Testing For the Year!

Thursday I finished up Jedediah's testing. So glad to have that done for another year. Forgot how much more energy goes into testing grades under grade 3 - much of the test instructions you end up reading! (For Josiah's test, I think I put in 1/2 the effort!) The tests were put in the mail Friday for scoring, and will be returned to me in about 6 weeks. Hopefully sooner.

Last year was my first year as a tester. It seemed so stressful figuring it all out. This year, although there was some anticipation, there wasn't nearly as much stress on my part. Hopefully I can remember this for next year. And I may end up testing a few more kids before the summers over.

My non testing kids really seemed to suffer - not. They spent the day out at grandma's working in the garden and swimming in the pool. They've really been enjoying Grandma's new saltwater backyard pool.

Besides testing, here are some things I accomplished this week that are relatively significant. Hopefully some of this will help me free up some of my time:D
*Baseball wrapped up this weekend.
*Testing the boys was finished this week.
*Teens Rafting trip on the Wenatchee River Saturday.
*Horsecamp plans.
*Figured out an answer about a computer issue.

One another note, a friend of mine lost her father to cancer this week. Knowing that this day could come doesn't really take away the surprise. Most of the time I really spent around Bill I simply knew him as Shawna's Dad. There were so many good things I saw in their family when I was young that I hoped to have in my own one day. Shawna's parents owned the local Homeschool store. They showed me that homeschooling in general as well as homeschooling through high school is a reality. I will always have her parents to thank for that. Bill, you will be missed.

You may have noticed that there haven't been pictures in my last couple of posts - I'm hoping to get into a habit of watermarking them before posting. I don't mind my friends having my pictures, but I don't just want whomever to have them & use them as they please - so i'm planning on watermarking, for now anyway.

One of my dreams, is about to come true!!!

This weekend, Saturday, we are going to take a group of 15 people over to Leavenworth to go white water rafting with YD Adventures. I am really excited about going Rafting, can't believe it's the day after tomorrow! Really wished that some of our teens were able to figure out how to pay for the trip - but we'll have a great time anyway.

Josiah has been asking me for the last two weeks, if we would ask if they would make an exception to the age rule, so that he could come with us rafting. I finally gave in - the worst thing they could say is no, right?

Well, about the time I decided to ask about them making an exception (this week), we found out that Josiah has a baseball tournament this weekend. Snafu. How do we decide??? Josiah's the size of some small adults. He's a month and a half short of 11 (the required age to be able to go Rafting...). (If I would have known the age was 11, we would have seen if we could have gone rafting later in the summer... I don't even know though, if they raft that late...) We've been planning this rafting trip 6 weeks, the tourney only 2 days...

Well, the YD Adventures leadership came back and said, yes, he could go! Completely surprising us. So we had to choose between a brand new tournament that we found out about a couple of days ago and going on a once in a lifetime trip rafting. Reality, he plays baseball daily, Rafting - never been. Who knows if we'll be able to even go next year.

Honestly, I've dreamed of this weekend since before the day he was born. I was a student leader with Youth Dynamics back in the day. It was my home, I loved our people and I love our YD Adventure trips. We went white water rafting, repelling, camping and so much more. I made friends, we went on adventures.

Rod & I were volunteers at YD for some time. Since then Rod & I have gone on the day paddling training trips a few different times since we've been married. I love to Raft. I've watched as other parents took their sons on their first river adventure & couldn't wait for my turn... I kept thinking, one day, one day... And Saturday is going to be our turn.. Seeing something come to reality brings tears to my eyes!! One of my dreams, is about to come true!!!

That usually means... Cellulitis!

(Julia running the bases at Bakerview Park, just like her big brothers! June 2009)

I don't feel particularly witty tonight. There's a lot going on. I'll feel like I got some things finally checked off of my list though, after this week!

I have a few projects that I'm working on... Rafting with Youth Dynamics Adventures is this upcoming weekend in Leavenworth, WA. Trying to get that all together. One of the teens emailed me seriously wanting to go rafting again this year. I wasn't planning on it, because I hadn't gotten much of a response before. We're doing it, in the Lords good graces, because I haven't had the time or energy to get it together!!!

Really glad that we are going, I just don't particularly like all of the work involved in organizing something like this. Especially when I haven't had the time to do a good job. We've only been planning on going about a month, and tonight, I sent out the final info - which I usually do eons ago... Better late than never, I guess :D

Another thing that I'm doing this week - I'm a certified tester for homeschool testing - and i'm testing two days this week. I usually stress out about testing, but once i'm doing it, I really enjoy it. I can test a couple different tests, but I like the Iowa ITBS - because I like the results that I get back. I don't make a ton of money from it, but since i'm testing my own kids anyway, I figure I might as well serve another family & take care of their testing needs at the same time!

Personally, I'm a little concerned about Josiah's test scores. He's not really up to grade level - or I don't think so. I'm testing him at grade level this year to see how I'm doing. Then for this next year, I'll make the adjustments I need to make. He was a late reader and that affected so many things involved in schooling.

Feeling quite thankful that Jedediah is reading already. Josiah took off about the same time Jedeidah really got readers. Now Jedediah is beyond readers - and I'm feeling really good about having two down. Two to go!

Sunday morning Rod got up and he had a fever. That usually means cellulitis. We watched it allll day & didn't see any signs of it on his right leg. After Urgent care closed, we finally notice that yes, he has real signs of cellulitis. So he & Josiah went over to the ER to get Meds. About an hour later (quick trip) he came home with plenty of medication. He took today off. I'm feeling quite good about the whole thing though, because it's the most mild case of it he's ever had! In that, there's a blessing!!

What I do feel bad about is that he can't really take any more days off of work - I'm pretty sure that he doesn't have sick pay. But he did get a good two days rest & should be feeling much better tomorrow ~and he'll be feeling better in time to go.. Rafting!

What HAS Rod Been Working on at Xbox??

(Julia & what she referred to sweetly as her baby slug!)

Many of you have asked about what Rod's working on at Xbox. For those of you who don't game, it's a division of Microsoft :D Well, this week was a big week in our house because WE finally found out what Dad's top secret project that he's been working on at work is.... It's called Project Natal.

From what I understand, it's a voice, facial and gesture recognition camera that works as a controller - and will be used to play video games on the 360. Rod's the DevKit guy for Project Natal (Development Kit) - which means a lot and then not so much. He was so excited to finally be able to tell us!!

Branden, a friend of ours, co-worker of Rod's, got to go to E3 - a big electronics conference in California - and was one of the guys in charge of putting on the live demo with all of the big names - and it appeared to come off seamlessly. I watched the demo online and it was exciting to realize that Branden was backstage putting it on!! Woot! Woot!

This week also hails the end of another quarter at Skagit Valley College for Rod. He's supposed to have one more quarter where he will be taking Adobe Flash, Adobe InDesign and Advanced Webpage Design. The webpage design might get swapped out for another class - but probably not.

I am just feeling like it's a good end of week for our family. Finally Rod can tell us what he's been up to and since it's the end of a quarter, we'll be getting our evenings back with Dad!

The two webpages that he's been working on for his MIT classes are:

Our photography: http://www.herronpoint.webs.com

Our cakes: http://www.bluevaser.webs.com (this isn't even alllll of our cakes! I didn't realize we'd done SO many until I had to dig up pictures for this site for his class!!)

If we decide to actually use these sites, we'll probably change them over to their own named sites, for class they wanted us to use a freebie host. We will also probably make quite a few changes after the class has been finalized - and then much more after he's worked on the Adobe Flash. You can do some fantastic stuff with flash. These sites are basic, supposed to show, what he's learned in his books...