Wazzup July?

Hey Guys, wazzup?

This is Nathan, finally taking over Danielle’s blog. Last week I went to TeenPact Judicial (TPJ) and had tons of fun and no sleep! TPJ is basically a week long Moot Court training and competition event. Cramming in around 8 hours of classroom instruction a day, the staff forced us students to work insanely hard to write our cases in the little free time provided as well as worshiping God and exercising. However, the week was one of the most rewarding experiences I've ever had. The work load pushed me to my mental limit while the ice skating, Ultimate Frisbee, and snowboarding breaks allowed me to hangout with tons of AWESOME people. As mom previously posted I took 3rd in the oral Moot Court competition, as well as in the written brief. Though exhilarating, the competition was only one of the minor perks during the whole event. 

The best part of the week consisted of getting the whole TPJ family on the ice and playing Ultimate Frisbee. The rules were almost exactly the same as normal Ultimate, however, you had to be going side to side to catch the Frisbee and couldn't glide forward with it on your skates. Our group started a new sports tradition which I hope will be preserved by all future camps of Teenpacters. 

Another awesome part of the week was all the fantastic friends I met. When I first arrived I observed many different, random teenagers milling all over the place. When I left I recognized a group close knit friends with their own lives and hobbies dispersing all across the US; Georgia, Florida, Illinois, Chicago, and even Hawaii. We forged some amazing friendships strengthened through all-nighters and shared pranks. During the competition I found myself just as happy when I lost and my friend won, as I did when the situation was turned. The greatest trophy I took home from the competition was a shirt, with all the signatures and nicknames of my new friends, representing the special bond we possessed.

Well that's a recap of my week. Below are some pictures of a watermelon seed spitting competition organized by our amazing Grammy. The winner happened to be the only kid in the house over 6 feet tall.

Joshua spitting seeds

Grace taking air

Random neighbors Grammy invited over

The Amazing Grammy

Peanut taking a spit

The lineup

Not all frogs are found in Grammy's ponds

My beautiful Sister Joy Anna

Joy Anna preferred eating to spitting

Nathan's Back!

JJ-PIG's and I drove out to Liberty University to pick up Nathan yesterday morning.  Everyone was so excited to see him.  Joy Anna screamed, "Na-Na" (her name for him), and ran into his arms.  Of course, Nathan ate it up and used it as an opportunity to show off to all his Teenpact friends. :)  Isaac was a bit more discreet in showing his affection.  He waited until Nathan was about to get into the van, then came over and gave him a big hug and said, "I missed you, Bro.  I'm glad you're back."  Awwww.

Aside from getting only a couple hours sleep every night, Nathan did AWESOME!!  There were 36 kids participating in Judicial.  They came from all over the U.S., all with different backgrounds in Teenpact, Judicial, speech and debate.  They had a competition, similar to the NCAA basketball eliminations (that explains what Nathan meant when he texted me and said he made the sweet 16).  Nathan made it all the way to the semi-finals and came in THIRD overall!!  I am so proud of him!  He only lost by 4 points.  So, it looks like Nathan definitely has the makings of a lawyer if that is what he feels God calling him to do.

On the way home we stopped at Appomattox Court  House to see where General Lee surrendered to General Grant, ending the War between the States.  We didn't stay very long because Nathan was exhausted and nobody felt like being outside in the 100 degree plus weather we have been having.

Plan to head home tomorrow, but first have to get the a/c fixed in the van.  When we were getting ready to head to the lake yesterday afternoon, Nathan started the van to get the a/c running.  There was a loud POP and whooshing sound, followed by smoke.  In looking it over after talking with Andy we saw the green a/c fluid on the passenger side of the engine.  Andy said that was the a/c line, which unfortunately has come out before. :(  I had thought of just packing everyone up early to beat the 100 plus degree heat still expected for tomorrow, but my dear husband suggested it would be much better to fix it before we head home and have a much more pleasant ride.  I guess he's right.

Danielle gets to work another shift at Newlife, this time doing pre-natals.  She was thrilled to get to see two births yesterday - she is a birth junkie!  Though Tuesday will be hard saying good-bye to Daddy, I know she will be fine once she gets back into a routine in the birth world.

The kids outside the Appomattox County Courthouse where General Lee surrendered to General Grant to end the War between the States.  No one was happy to pose for the picture in the 105 degree heat.

Fun at Grammy's!

Praise God for Skype!  I've been able to see and talk with Danielle and Andy every morning and evening. It's very convenient that Danielle picked a country to stay in that is 12 hours difference from us - makes talking doable.  I think I may survive her being gone if we get to video talk each day.

I talked with Nathan very briefly last night.  He called to get my permission for him to ski. Yes, you read that right - ski!  And snow ski at that!  I guess Liberty University has the country's only man-made ski slope, and the Teenpacters got to use it last night.  He was excited, even though he has never been on skis before.  I didn't receive any further calls so I guess he did not break a leg.  When I asked him how he was enjoying the week there was a brief pause, then he replied that it was a LOT of work.  He said he was getting more sleep than the other kids - he had 4 hours but the rest only 2 - as it took that much time to get homework done and briefs prepared.  Ought to be interesting to hear all about the week in full when we pick him up tomorrow.

To beat the triple digit heat trend of the week, we've spent some time in the lake.  Grammy's friend has a beach and we have been swimming there since the water level is too low to get the boat in the water. Enjoy the photos!

This was the neighbor's huge float - the kids had a blast playing in it!

Peanut

Even Joy Anna loved the water.

She did not like losing her balance.

Joshua had fun.  He is a water rat and does great swimming with a life vest. No fear of the water.

Isaac is a goofball.

The beach area was quite large, but we staying in the water - too hot to do anything else.

Promise watering Grammy's plants.

Goofballs

Joy Anna usually loves the swing.

Joshua's face is a mess.  He has a shiner from crashing on his trike before we came.  Then he is also covered in mosquito bites. The bugs love him - no one else has bites but he has them everywhere.

Isaac is trying to give his "cool guy" look.

But he looks much more handsome here.

The kids were all taking turns with the camera. Grace did pretty well on this one.

I'm sure Danielle will fuss that these aren't edited.  She can go in and fix them for me! :)

Cheeseball

Grammy and PIG's

Grammy and JPIG's

At Grammy's

The JJ-PIG's (Joy Anna, Joshua, Promise, Isaac, Grace - it's the new nickname and faster/easier than writing out all their names) and I headed to Grammy's yesterday.  They love coming - they don't have to do chores while here! :)  They also love just getting to play all day.  I think we will be swimming in the lake today to keep cool. The temperatures start to soar, forecast is into the 100's for the next several days (ugh!).

I've talked with Andy and Danielle via SKYPE a few times now.  It's great to connect, talk, and see them; makes it seem like they aren't so far away.  Danielle is SO excited to start at Shiphrah.  She loved everyone she met (imagine that!) and can't wait to get back into the birth world.  She is looking forward to her return there Tuesday.

In the meantime, Andy and Danielle travel to Davao City tomorrow where they will spend their time.  The weather is supposedly nicer; no rainy/monsoon season like it is in Manila.  Saturday is the big boat trip with the directors, midwives and some students from Newlife, the school Danielle plans to attend next year.  She is really looking forward to meeting everyone and spending the day swimming and snorkeling around the islands.  She is updating her blog at: www.midwife4hisglory.blogspot.com for everyone to keep up with her.

I haven't heard much from Nathan this week.  Andy dropped him and two other teens off Sunday at Liberty University Law School for a week with Teenpact Judicial.  I've received just a few texts from him, very late at night, to say he is busy working and doing homework til then.  This experience should give him an idea of whether he wants to be a lawyer or not.  I look forward to picking him up Saturday morning and hearing all about it.

I had hoped this time at Grammy's would be a good time to get my school planning done, but that may stay neglected a bit longer...

Will try to take pix of swimming and playing and post them later.

Too Quiet...

This was a very early morning for everyone.  The van was loaded and driving out of the garage by 6am, with everyone aboard.  After a tearful good-bye, Danielle and Andy were off to their flight.  So far everything seems to be going smoothly and we look forward to an update from them tomorrow when they arrive in Manila.  The house seems quiet and lonely without them.

Nathan seems to be keeping very busy at his Judicial camp.  I've only had a couple of text messages from him, and they have come in very late at night.  I look forward to hearing all about his week when we pick him up Saturday.

Had a couple of funny incidences today.  First, the JJ-PIG's got very excited when, on the way home from the airport, I pulled into Dunkin Donuts!  They each got to pick out TWO donuts for themselves (what a treat!).

Later that morning, it suddenly got very quiet.  Instinctively I knew Joy Anna was into something.  Sure enough, there she sat in the library with Staal's water bowl emptied around her, dunking his food into the water puddles and plopping them into her mouth.  It was a deja vue moment -  Danielle used to do the same exact thing with T'Kari's food and water!

Then Joshua was being naughty.  I told him to go get me the spoon.  He came back a while later, quietly wrapped his little arms around my legs and said, "It's okay Mommy, I talked to Jesus about being naughty.  You don't have to discipline me."  What do you say to that?! Needless to say, I did not spank him! :)

We'll see if I can add photos I took - here goes:

The Least of my Worries

In getting ready for my trip, I was told to remove all jewelry and leave it home so it won't get stolen. On Friday, we pried off my jade bracelet (which has been a part of my arm since I was 10), and tomorrow I'll leave behind my rings. However, I am going to take my watch since, though it looks nice, it was only about $10 at Walmart.

Isaac thought I should take the watch off.

"But what if it gets stolen?" he asked, eyes round as saucers.

"Well," I replied, "I'll hopefully be able to rip it off and throw it in one direction and race away the other direction."

Isaac's eyes got wider, "but that's littering!"

I love my family. :-D

Joy Anna's Hair

Joy Anna's hair has started growing so we have been having fun playing with it. Here are a few of the results: