Camp Smile-a-Mile

Yesterday, it was "Orange Day" for Craig's company and our family joined his company in a day of volunteering. (It is called "Orange Day" because his company's logo color is orange.) Anyway, we joined about 60 other people from all over the state of Alabama and converged at Lake Martin to prep Camp Smile-a-Mile for the summer. If you are not familiar with Camp Smile-a-Mile, let me tell you about it. This is from their website....www.campsam.org.

Camp Smile-A-Mile (SAM) is a non-profit organization in Alabama for children who have or have had cancer. Year round programs are provided for the campers and their family at no cost. It's permanent camping location is on Lake Martin.

Why did Camp SAM start?
Before Camp SAM, children with cancer in Alabama couldn’t go to overnight camp because of chemotherapy or other medical treatments. Now, children with cancer can attend camp while receiving the medical care they need. More than 400 children participate in Camp SAM annually

With the creation of Camp Smile-A-Mile in 1985, these special children would be able to participate in a normal camping environment while remaining under medical supervision. Before Camp SAM, many children were not able to go to a sleepover camp because they were undergoing chemotherapy. Now every child up to age eighteen who is a current or former cancer patient can go to camp through our program. Qualified medical personnel from the Hematology-Oncology Department at The Children’s Hospital stay at the camp during each camping session. They administer chemotherapy as well as take care of all the first aid needs of the campers.

We did everything from plant new flowers, mulch beds, paint flowerpots, make gift bags for the moms and daughters to have "spa night" to repair bicycles, build picnic tables and wash boats! Here are some pics......







We were slways aware that this facility was used to minister to children and families who are currently struggling with cancer or had been struggling with cancer. At lunch, the Program Director shared with us that a group of families would be arriving that night that had just been diagnosed with cancer. Don't you know that their world was spinning ? I couldn't even begin to imagine the amount of emotions those families were experiencing. And all we had to do was give of our time and skill (somewhat limited in some areas!) to add a little sunshine to their lives. We gave 8 hours - really not much in the big picture.

But we were challenged to give more of our time and of ourselves. Twice.

Once by the program director when she issued a very simple challenge at lunch. She said "We need volunteers to give of themselves during the summer camps and I guarantee you will receive more from coming here than going to lay on any beach anywhere in the world!"

Second, by Craig's former boss who asked me a simple question after lunch. He said, "Hey Debra, do you think you and Craig would join Kay and me in giving a week of your time next summer down here ?" Without hesistation, and speaking for Craig since he was somewhere else, I replied with "sure - if they let my children come too!"

I was reminded of Jesus who told his disciples "Let the little children come to me." Don't you know the children smiled at the sight of Jesus and at the sound of his voice and the touch of his hands ?

Oftentimes, our pastor has said, in matters of love, one must go himself. I think in situations like Camp SAM, it is nice to give financially, but these children and families need to see and feel the Body of Christ envelop them as they walk through the journey of cancer.

In matters of love, one must go himself.

Jesus did.

Birthday Tea and April's Giving Bank

Dear Family and Friends,

It is with JOY that we celebrated Hayley's 16th birthday! Giann has come to enjoy her friendship and her sweet fellowship over the past several years. I was going to upload pictures to our blog but thought it might be easier if you just visit Giann's blog and see the ones she has posted. Her blog is listed to the right of this post and is called "My life....unscripted".

For her birthday, Hayley's request was for her friends to gather in a time of fellowship with her over a Tea. Additionally, if they felt led, her heartbeat was to provide some basic clothing items, school items, first-aid supplies, etc. for children in the Sudan. Her uncle has a ministry that will be returning to the Sudan in July and the items she collects would be able to go with him. What a perfect opportunity for us to use our giving bank in April! For more information on this ministry, you can go to their website at www.mustardseed.org. If you want to get involved, there are plenty of needs. Again, our prayer when we started the giving bank was for the Lord to show us how we could be aware of needs around us and participate in them in a small way. All we do is put change in the bank when we have it. Oftentimes when we are out and about and have spent cash and received change, I will give it to Jason or Giann and tell them to put it in their pocket so when we get home they can put it in the bank. That is how we accrue money to give away. It is not lots but it a small way for us to stay aware and to keep giving in front of us at all times.

Again, go to Giann's blog and enjoy the pics!

Debra

Snake followup

Hmmmmm.....some of you had very interesting comments about Craig and the snake-handling event. But the most interesting one came from a forester friend of ours who reports some interesting facts.

First, he said that the statistics say 50% of snakebites come from people trying to kill a snake. Oops. Glad we did not make that statistic. Remember this though when you are in your yard or in the local woods and come upon a snake. Your odds are not good.

Second, he said when he doesn't have his truck tire or his pistol handy to take out the enemy, he has been told by snake experts to get a 5-6 spindly branch and use it like a whip and "waa-pow" the snake at the back of his head (kind of where his so called neck would be). This is suppose to kill the snake ?! I had to ask if he had indeed seen this technique and he had. However, I just couldn't see someone try it who had never used it or seen it being used. A large rock seemed like such a better option. Of course, not having to deal with a venomous snake at all would be the preferred choice!

I don't know about you, but I prefer the NOT having to deal with the snake. By the way, I wasn't the cameraman for this event. I, very purposefully, was sitting inside the recreation hall, visiting with a friend until someone returned and told us the snake was dead. It was only then that we exited the building and returned to our dorms, watching very closely every step we took.

Debra

If serpent handling is a sign of true salvation then......

A few weeks ago, our family went on an overnight field trip with our cover school to our local 4-H center where we discovered just how adept Craig is with a large rock and a lot of adrenaline! Here are a few pictures of his foe:





While he was considering his options, his foe took this pose:



Some of the boys, Jason included, had run to the main office seeking the maintenance man for assistance. What they found was sweet Mrs. Betty who called the maintenance man and received these instructions: "if you have an adult with you, you may kill the snake". Well, well, well....how many times do you have to give 12-13 year old boys permission to kill a snake ? not many because within seconds they were back down the hill with the instructions for Craig to kill the snake. Of course, there was no implement with which to carry out this task. So, being resourceful, he reached for a very large rock and proceeded to hurl the rock at the snake's head. I am sure he felt somewhat like David as he faced Goliath with 5 small stones......but he won! What once was a venomous 3 1/2 foot threat to 40+ people had met his match!

So, I ask, did he pass the serpent-handling test ?

Lazy or too busy ?

Well, our DESIRE was to post more on our family blog but that isn't happening. It is because of one of three things:
1) we are too lazy,
2) we are too boring, or
3) we are too busy.

I am choosing option #3.

April has been a very full month. It always is and I guess will be for the duration of our homeschooling lives. It is the time of the year that all things converge together....drama performances, SAT testing, piano competitions, track meets, sports events, end-of-the-year field trips, birthday parties, etc. And it all comes at a time when we have SPRING FEVER! Oh well....we are trying to pull it together to finish this year before the end of May.

Speaking of the end of May....let me share with you what Giann will be doing this summer. She has been accepted to be a local summer missionary for Child Evangelism Fellowship where she will be one of a team of seven who will be conducting backyard Bible clubs throughout the Birmingham-metro area for 7 weeks. She has to go to training from May 30-June 6 and has tons of Scripture and material to memorize. Everyone that she has talked with and we have talked with that has done this has loved it, even though the work is hard. She is excited.

Jason.... we haven't figured out what he will be doing to redeem his time this summer. We will be working on that plan in the weeks to come.

Again, our desire is to be more diligent in our postings! We are trying and maybe as life slows down a bit, we will be successful!
Debra