Runaway Slave Movie Clip

A Game of Christmas Cheer

Yes, yes, I know. It's only August, but the tracks for the Celtic Thunder Christmas album have finally been released! Whoot! And with them, I thought we could play a game. Copy the tracks below... and add who you think will sing them: George, Paul, Ryan, Neil, Keith, Damien, or Group. After the singers are released, we'll see who got the most right!


1. Winter Wonderland
2. I Wish It Could Be Christmas Every Day
3. Let It Snow
4. Christmas Morning,Donegal
5. All I want For Christmas Is You
6. Silent Night
7. Our First Christmas Together
8. It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas
9. Going Home For Christmas
10. Baby It's Cold Outside
11. Last Christmas
12. Ave Maria
13. The Most Wonderful Time of The Year/We Wish You a Merry Christmas

Some of the answers are in this video... No cheating! :-)

Camp: Why are we here?

Of course, the ultimate goal of camp is to glorify God. To this end, the theme of this year's camp was "Serving Others in a Self-Serve World."

With the youngest kids...

Mr. W guided them in...

memorizing scripture, singing songs, and playing games.

Jonathan taught some of the Missions lessons.


With the older kids...

Mr. I and his son talked about their mission trip to Haiti...

Mitch spoke about the chaplaincy and being a soldier


The kids had discussion groups...


And Mr. H delivered messages about needing Christ in our lives (and being able to serve God) before we have the ability to serve others...

The need to worship, honor our parents, and treat each other respectfully.

And I don't have any pictures of Bob's or Ken's sessions. :(
But, it was a wonderful week filled with the word preached. :)

Camp: We will get some food, right?

Begun by prayer and the Doxology, mealtimes at camp were always loud and cheerful...

Ah, Flexibility

For the first time in 18 years, I did not have to attend school today. Wow, what a change. It's strange that I'm not cracking the books, writing my notes, and studying every morning. But, today instead, I was able to finish a children's book, work at dad's office, clean the kitchen, cook dinner, and spontaneously agree to help with Cindy's kids and babysit Atticus. God is good! I've missed this flexibility these past 4 years. And now that I see that accomplishment of my formal education, I think that I've been greatly blessed.

Is it a Buffalo?

Headed to a Mellisa's picnic, we picked up some friends...

After munching on some animal crackers, we pondered: Is it a buffalo?

Home Industry: Sewing

Mmm. Sewing is a valuable skill. And though I generally dislike the process... I DO like the results...

And therefore despite the drudgery... I began working on my next costume... My War Between the States wear...
Ironing the fabric...

Cutting out the pieces...
And sewing...
New costume, here I come!

Marbles, Pirates, and Books

All part of a babysitter's job. :)

My 2nd Sunday School Class

Aren't they sweet?

Home Industry: Soap Making - DO NOT EAT!

Learning to be a good homemaker includes deciding what skills you need (or would be beneficial) to acquire... And being a strange girl. I wanted to try soap making.

Added by the Homestead Blessings DVD, and with the supplies of a friend (Thanks Mrs. S!), the girls and I set to work. After all, any excuse to get together will do.

We measured our ingredients carefully.


And wore rubber gloves...

And at last, it was time to mix!

We poured it into pans...
And tapped out the bubbles...

And even cut it into bars. Wahoo! A job well done.

Can't wait to see how it turns out! Next up: French Mill. :) Coffee soap, anyone?

Camp: Line Up! And show your spirt!

Line up happens before meal time... each tribe assembles, and Mr. A judges each tribe for points and the honor of going first into the dining hall.

Each tribe also has their own color...

Red for prophets...

Blue for Kings...


And Green for Priests...
Which the tribes display proudly. :)

Though perhaps no one took their spirit quite as seriously as these guys... and others who painted their faces. :P

Camp: "Where's Waldo" OPC style

Do you see me? How about Mr. A? Or Jonathan? Mellissa? Mr. F? Jake? Noah?

Camp: Initiation Rights

After figuring out which cabin you're in.... You are assigned to a tribe... Either: Prophets, Priests, or Kings. :) (Of course, the counselors have their own tribe....)

Each tribe elects a chief, sagamore, and a sagaless. Then at the first campfire, Monday night, we have initiation. Generally, the more ruinous the better. Last year was water and flour. Translated: a paste that never seems to come off. :P Yuck!

This year.... An egg toss. Sorry, no pictures!

And a pudding fling... The sagamore was blindfolded and given a bowl of pudding with marshmallows and a spoon. The chief stood opposite. Goal: Fling pudding (and marshmallows) into the chief's mouth. Most in two minutes wins!

Some of our chiefs came out covered! As did the spectators... but I suspect Larry threw pudding into the crowd on purpose. :P

Jonathan: Chief of the "Pastels" er, Counselors

Then came perhaps the loudest initiation of all... The sagaless(es) had an egg wrapped in hosiery tied on their head... and the sagamore(s) were blindfolded (again) and instructed to break the egg with their noodle! Go!

Me: giving instructions

The Prophets

The Priests

The Pastels

The Kings

Does anybody see the ruination yet?