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