Tuesday, September 16, 2008

MIKAELA UPDATE

I got a call from Mikaela last night....it was so nice to hear her voice! We had a good 30 minute converstaon and she sounded great! The boys each got to talk to her and share about school, football and, of course, Charlie. We really miss her, but are so happy and excited for her!!!

The Ventana team arrived at Camp McCullough on Sunday night and are getting settled in for their 3 week stay there. She had a great time on her backpacking/rafting trip....which included jumping off a 35ft cliff into the water (big thing for her), cutting down a tree with a chainsaw (supervised, of course) and rafting for the first time...she loved it all. She gets along well with the other students and is looking forward to getting to know each of them better....I'm pretty certain that will happen whether she wants it to or not! They start bible classes today and will do service projects around the camp and in the community. Cell phone use is still limited until they return to Missions Springs in Santa Cruz, so I will post any and all details from future contact with my dear Mikaela. She said she wrote a really long letter telling me lots about the last two weeks, so I can't wait to get that and share some more with everyone! Here is her address if you would like to write to her:

Ventana Ministries, Mikaela Alexander
c/o Camp McCullough
20665 SE 264th Street
Covington, WA 98042

The Proud Mama,
MBA

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

ANOTHER QUICK UPDATE

Mikaela made it to San Diego last Tuesday around 1am. I know that because that's when she called me!!! The trip went ok, it was very looooong and she said she never wants to ride on a train ever again in her life!!! All the students had to hand over their cell phones to the staff leaders on Tuesday, so communication had been limited. Here is what I know:
The team took a couple days to travel up to Kidder Creek, near Mount Shasta in Northern CA. They were going on a four day backpacking trip, a two day rafting trip and then doing service projects at Kidder Creek for the last four days. Sounds like a great bonding time for the whole team. They will drive on Sunday, Sept 14th up to Camp McCullough in Covington, WA and stay until Sunday, Oct. 4th. She may not have her cell phone, but YOU CAN WRITE TO HER WHILE SHE IS THERE:

Ventana Ministries, Mikaela Alexander
c/o Camp McCullough
20665 SE 264th Street
Covington, WA 98042

I know she would love to get mail from her friends and family. We are missing her terribly...I can only imagine how much she must be missing us.....I can only imagine how much she must be missing her phone!!
Keep checking back here for updates. I will be sure and post any information I get from her as soon as I get it!!

Isaac is loving high school. He was so nervous when I dropped him off on his first day, I wasn't sure he would remember to breath! When he got home that evening, he was all smiles, told me he had friends in each of his classes, said the lunch food wasn't all that great and he had a lot of fun! I think he is off to a great start!

Pearce is missing Isaac tons, as well as Spencer and Mikaela. Thankfully, Charlie is home all day with him.....his new BFF! We are slowly adapting to a new routine here during the day and finding a schedule that works for "just the two of us".....it's tough convincing him that summer is over and he needs to do school regardless of the summer weather! He is loving football and is pumped up for his first game this Saturday.

Spencer had quite the adventure getting up to school. As he was pulling out of the neighborhood, heading up to Newberg with his final load, his car jumped the curb he hit a tree! He is fine....however, the car and tree are not. (Still not sure how it happened....maybe just a little too eager to get out of here!) I was at the train station with Mikaela when this happened, so some dear friends came to his rescue, got the car "unstuck" and back to the house (thankfully, it was just two blocks away) and drove him up to school. He called one of his roommates to let him know what happened and that he would be arriving later than originally planned. By the time he got to school, half the campus knew about the accident....."Hey, Crash!" He is all settled in and staying very busy with his school work....at least, that is what he tells me! We miss him but think of him many times throughout the day.....every time we pass the mound of dirt where the tree used to be! Laughter truly is good medicine for the soul!

Well, that's it for now. Thank you for your prayers as we continue on and in God's grace!
Love,
MBA