An old time--A new time

Here are the Lawrence and Ruby Lee kids minus Ronald and Janet who died in their 20's.  From left to right is Dave, Helen, Joan and myself.  Terry claims that brother Dave has that kind of boy look with no age lines in his face any place--but I KNOW he is 2 1/2 years older than I and looks every day of it!!!!  Why do I post them today?  Most of my blog is going to be about moving on so I thought that this picture would represent that.  In families things always change.   Marriage takes place, parents get older, in our family we lost 2 way way too young, little kids come, siblings often grow apart by activities and time and then maybe grow closer again but in short CHANGE is always present. 
In one's life that is also true.  We may say the only thing you can't avoid is death and taxes well you would also be accurate if you said you can not avoid death, taxes and change. 
This morning I woke up in my own be--but last year today I was at camp, two years ago I was at camp, five years ago I was at camp, 10 years ago I was at camp, 20 years ago I was at camp and 30+ years ago I was at camp!!!!  Yesterday as Terry and I attended church, stopped at Costco, stopped at REI, stopped at the Farmer's Market and spent 2 hours on a pontoon boat enjoying Circle Lake my thoughts went like this:

• the staff meeting is starting now
• they should be having lunch
• the scouts are clearing the sites for us and letting us know by radio
• the gates are now open
• they are filing in for opening ceremonies
• the directors are sitting in the cabin discussing how things went

I was not melancholy nor was I sad. As we slowly cruised around the lake I would look up at the sky, on to the tranquil peaceful water and I felt I was in the right place.  In all we do in life there is always a time to change, to move on and my time to move on from camp was this year.  BUT the memories were so there, so near, so present and would one expect anything different after 33 years???  I think not.  I am so excited for God to visit camp this year in a powerful way and touch the young lives of those campers.  I am so honored that I was able to be involved for so long in God's work and I pray that it not only will continue but will be more powerful than ever.
For me, for us, it will be a busy week but that has become normal.  I will spend time with Jerry Wind, we will have at least 2 people over for a meal, we will be at a conference all day Thursday and Friday, the appliance guy will show up on Wednesday to fix the washer, we will get in some walks and that is the short list!  I am sure there will be more.
As I sit at the computer with my french press coffee and feel the breeze coming though the open window I am reminded how great a God we have.  As he protects us, guides us, showers us with love I need to remember always to praise him and love him in return.
I am planning and hoping to finish the trimming of the two basement windows today and then move on to getting 2 storms on that I made last week.  I may try to take off the back of the washer and see if there is a simple fix.  Should I try that??!!I think nothing is lost if I am careful.
God, I ask that you protect everyone at camp, give them cool dry weather and touch each person with you hand in a way that they are changed forever.