Jewels of July - or, Lightning never strikes twice

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 July was a whirlwind and I have so much to catch up on.


We started with Fourth of July, which was honestly kind of tame for us.  We'd just finished the funeral for grandpa and girls camp was coming up, so we stayed home and kept it simple. 





Girls camp was its own adventure to be remembered though.  We drove up on Monday and started getting unpacked and oriented.  It had all the makings of a great camp.  We got right into it with classes and boating and everything else. Along around 4pm a storm started to blow in. We could see lightning across the like and there was some pretty loud thunder.  I love mountain storms but this felt like we were IN it.  No rain, just clouds, thunder, and lightning.  They decided to gather us all together for a group photo in the amphitheater.  Personally I was feeling a little uneasy about being out with lightening going on around us.  Erica Ledesma is the photographer.  They brought the kitchen crew over from the kitchen and took a few quick photos.  Just as we finished a sudden burst of lightening struck!  It hit the tree that runs through the dining hall deck, throwing long strips and shards of bark up to 50 feet away.  Blessedly, none of it came towards the amphitheater where all the girls and adults were gathered - just about 50 feet from that tree.  It was seriously so crazy.  Everyone screamed and started running to their cabins.  Some girls had some serious responses, including a complete shock, passing out, and hysterics.




It took a few hours to figure out the next steps.  The fire department was called to check out the tree, and then someone else was called to check out the building.  The generator went out so the bathrooms weren't functional (or the kitchen).  Finally back up power came on for the evening.  A decision was made to spend the night since it was starting to get dark by that point, and we would pack up and leave in the morning.

So Tuesday morning we packed up everything and drove home.  Wednesday we gathered at the Church and had make-up day of camp - doing some of the activities that had been scheduled for camp.  It was actually a really lovely day and I think that everyone had a really good time.





That following Monday I took the four girls here (Brynne, Kenna, Natalie, Faith) to South Umpqua falls for a day of play.  We had never been and it was super fun!  Definitely worth going again!  






Then on Thursday Josh, Brynne and I headed for Disney World!  We played HARD for a full week and get all our steps in for the year.  ;-). It was Brynne's graduation celebration and we really lived it up.  So fun.  






When it ended, we each went our separate ways.  Brynne went to Des Moines to spend time with Hannah's family.  Josh went to Idaho to participate in Stephanie's memorial, and I came home to help Kenna pack up for HXP!!!  She left July 30.  That deserves its own post, but here she and Caroline are at the airport!!!


  Aren't they just so cute!

  They were pretty excited





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