Chronicles of Marnia

We went for our annual family weekend getaway at Camp John Marc. Peyton attends Camp Esperanza there every summer, and in the off-season, Camp John Marc generously opens up for families of campers. It was c-o-l-d, but we had an absolute blast! Here we are starting out at our favorite BBQ place in Meridian...

And then heading to Family Dollar. Do not ask me why, but my girls are obsessed with this store ;)

Family Dollar had a Dr Pepper themed tree. Or "awesomeness" as I would call it if I had one of my own!

We had a blast playing all kinds of board games like Monopoly, Sorry and Apples to Apples (which is really hysterical when you play with Peyton!) We also had the most amazing hot cocoa in great mugs, thanks of course to Family Dollar ;)

Peyton hanging out by the fire pit where we made smore's and hung out with the other families that were down there too.

Peyton is creeping me out a little with this weird face she's making ;) This is she and Lindsay in front of the craft building.

This is Peyton making me a new jewelry box.

We had the full run of the craft building. It had this enormous craft closet and we could use anything in it we wanted. This picture represents about 1/4 of the overall closet. It was huge!

Peyton hanging out on the swing

Again, with the face! But this is the cabin Peyton stayed in this past summer.

This is my favorite part of the camp...the outdoor chapel. This verse was so precious to me when we were walking through Peyton's cancer treatments.

You can't really tell from the picture, but these seats are sloped back so you can come out at night, lean back and gaze at the stars :)

I love this! It's a VERY long brick path and the bricks hold the names of every child who has ever attended Camp John Marc. It hurts me the path is so long because each name represents a sick child, but I love it because this is a place where kids can forget about their problems for a while.

Kelsey was a good friend of Lindsay's for many years. She went to live with the Lord in March 2005. Lindsay was excited to find her brick :)

Ashley was a young lady we prayed for as she battled cancer. Ashley went to be with the Lord in 2003.

This is the newest building. The Silo. It's AMAZING inside.

I love this quote. It's in the Nature Room of the Silo

This is the nature room in the new Silo building. It's all screened in and gives the kids a place to hang out while they look at insect exhibits (ick!)


This is the actual silo of the building. It's a rock climbing wall. Peyton was bummed it wasn't open since she loves rock climbing.

A view from the Nature Room balcony

The details in this building are amazing. This is a door hinge bearing the Camp John Marc emblem.

John Marc, the little boy whom the camp was named for

The rec room

Quotes in the rec room

Lindsay and I being dumb in the rec room!

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My dad teeing off

Peyton and Wish Granter, Michelle. Michelle won Peyton's original artwork in the silent auction :)

Peyton and some of the other kids telling about their Wishes

Peyton, Meredith (who's dressed like Albert Einstein) and the event planner Steve.

Dane, my dad, Ethan and Jerry

Switching gears now! Dane spent some much needed time recently with his dad and two younger brothers at the deer lease. I have sufficiently whined Dane didn't get NEAR enough pictures, but I am completely understanding of the fact that his "guy time" wasn't about photo-ops ;) Dane did get to spend a little time with our nephew Tristan and niece Reagan. Aren't they cute?

And even though he wasn't happy about it, Chad let Dane snap this pic of him :) Kerry, however, would have no part in the photo session. Next time we see them, I'LL take the pictures so I can post a blog about my handsome brothers-in law :)

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Halloween started off with our Fall Carnival at church. We had a great time! Peyton got her face painted

In two different ways, because we are a house divided ;)

Esteemed leaders of our church, Dudley and David as Hannah Montana and Elvis respectively

Dane and our pastor Richard. Elvis is looking questionable in this picture ;)

Smitty and Dalton as the cowardly lion and the scarecrow. Aren't they cute??

Kelly, Peyton and Christopher

Okay this one needs a little explaining. We were out on the church hayride and about two blocks into it, we get pulled over by the local police. They tell us we've violated 2 state laws: being in an open air vehicle without a parade permit, and having children under the age of 18 in an open air vehicle. So...we start to hop off the trailer and walk back (2 blocks, mind you) to the church when the officer announces we can't leave because he has a supervisor on the way to "determine what we're going to do about this situation". Wow. The sargeant decides it's too unsafe to walk back, so we start calling folks at the church to drive the 2 blocks to pick us up. The kids are crying thinking we're going to jail and I'm mentally composing my complaint letter in my head. But we made it back, rebel lawbreakers that we are, and had a funny story to share. (Side note: Douglas and Darin, it's the same cop who busted us for wrapping your house a few years back. And we got ANOTHER lecture from him.)

Each year, our neighbors get together and have a little party with chili dogs and snacks. Then half of us take the kiddos trick-or-treating while the other half stays behind to hand out candy. This year I was on the "driveway squad" since I was on the "traveling squad" last year. Here is our first attempt to get all the kids to stand still for a picture.

And our second...

Ahh, success!

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