another fun day in vashon

The boys were totally enjoying the 'gravel box' today. They were all basically gray by the time we left!

Erik, Kelly and the big boys went on a little boat ride as the sun was setting...so beautiful!

Keir and Emmett watch the boat from the shore.

jellyfish

Today we went over to Blake Island and found these teeny tiny jellyfish.

Our first breakfast at the Quackenbush house

Hanging out at "The Land". The boys loved watching the tide come in.

Snacking with the family.

Playing in the 'gravel box'.

All those big boys behind Caleb cheered for him as he jumped and went all the way under in the cold, cold water.

Off to Vashon Island

Waiting for the ferry to come in.

There's our big boat. Walk ons get to board the boat first, then motorcycles and then all the cars. We counted 92 cars coming off the island.

Franklin Falls

Hiking at Franklin Falls

We were so glad we brought the backpack for Emmett...we got a lot of use out of it this week.

A family vacation to Washington

We all hopped on the plane this afternoon and headed to Washington to visit some friends. It was a long flight but the boys did great. Emmett fell asleep almost immediately and slept for 1.5 hours. Caleb and Jackson enjoyed watching the in flight movie, 'Rio'. We spent the first two nights with Jared, Chrissy and their daughter, Violet. Our kids had so much fun together. Then we took a ferry to Vashon Island to spend the rest of our time with the Quackenbush family.

going away party!

A bunch of friends of our had a going away party for us at Gilson Beach (of course we remembered to take a picture at the end of the evening when most people had already gone home!) It was so fun to spend time with these friends we have known for so many years. We are going to miss our regular interactions with you all SO much! I better stop typing before I get too emotional...

Jackson visits the Emergency Room

We spent our Saturday in the hospital with Jackson. He woke up this morning around 6am and called for Erik saying his leg hurt. Erik rubbed his back and got him back to sleep. Then at 7am, Caleb came in to say that Jackson had to go to the bathroom but he couldn't get out of bed. He was in so much pain, the only comfortable thing was laying on the couch with his leg straight. He layed on the couch for a while before I called Erik and said we needed to go to the Emergency Room. After the ER doctor checked him she immediately thought it was 'transient synovitis.' We were told that we would stay over night and do some tests because these same symptoms could also be a 'septic hip', which is basically an infection in the bone, and would require immediate surgery.

He was a good little patient and when the nurse woke him up at 2am for more medicine he was able to walk down the hall to the playroom. It was so good to see him walking again. The doctors came in and saw how well he was doing and decided it was indeed 'transient synovitis'. The way I understand it is that he had a virus and his immune system didn't react correctly and sent fluid to his hip joint. The fluid on the hip is what caused so much pain. A few doses of ibuprofen helped with the pain allowing him to be able to move around again. His body will absorb the fluid in time. What a crazy day. We have just had so much going on, I am not sure this was what we needed!!!

Emmett gets tubes...

We have been busy taking Emmett to several doctor appointments to find out if he needed tubes. He has had fluid sitting in his inner ear for quite sometime and all the doctors agreed that he should get tubes. I wasn't very excited about my little baby having surgery, but when I heard that the fluid could distort the way he hears sounds and affect his speech I was more on board.

He got a 1:30pm appointment which meant we had to be there at 12:30 and he couldn't eat anything from midnight the night before. He was, however, able to have popsicles, apple juice and jell-o. He actually LOVED his diet for today!

Erik and I were both able to be with him. Everything went very smoothly. We were at Children's which put everything into perspective! Here were all these other kids fighting for their lives and my little boy was getting tubes in his ears. It took him about 15 minutes to settle down after being put under and then he was back to himself. He gobbled up all the snacks I brought for him and drank two things of apple juice from the hospital.

We are thankful for great doctors and a quick surgery. I just ordered him some ear plugs and a headband for swimming in the lake!

We are moving to Covenant Point...

I am sorry that I haven't posted about the BIG change taking place in a few short weeks for us. I just didn't feel I had the right words to say. We have a lot going on right now and I haven't had a chance to figure out how to upload pictures to our new computer, but I wanted to finally put an update about our move.

In our house Erik is the writer, so I've posted the letter that was sent out to our church to inform them of his new position. The Sunday after this was received Erik and i stood at the front of the church while he read this to the church, both of us crying. It was a very emotional day for us and actually each day is overflowing with every kind of emotion! Here's the letter...

June 2, 2011

Dear Winnetka Covenant Church Family,

It is with both excitement and sadness that I wish to share with you the news that I have been called by the HarborPoint Ministries Board, and confirmed by the Central Conference Executive Board, to be the next executive director at Covenant Point Bible Camp.

As with many of you who are deeply connected to Covenant Point, I was shocked and shaken by the sudden death of former executive director, Chuck Frasier, this past November. In many ways, I feel that the direction my life has taken and the gifts that I am currently using as a pastor in this community are fruits of Chuck’s leadership and the wonderful ministry of the camp. So, it is not without much personal grief, deliberation, gratitude and hope that Courtney and I have come to this unexpected season of discernment. Trusted voices in our life, including many of yours, encouraged us remain open to this process from the beginning. By God’s grace, through each step we have felt an undeniable and overwhelming sense of call that this is indeed where God would have us serve in this next season of our life – and we are honored and filled with passion and excitement to respond to that call.

We are also, of course, deeply feeling the loss that is associated with a change of this nature – most of all, our hearts are heavy in thinking about the change which this will mean for our relationships with each of you. Over these past four years, this community has become much more than a place to serve; this community is our home, our life, our family, our strong support. You have been for us the very presence of Christ. You have watched our children grow and you have shaped how they have grown by your love and witness. And as youth pastor, I have been honored to be invited into your lives – sharing with you at times both the joyful and also painful moments. You have trusted me with much, and I have sought so deeply to be faithful to that trust by the way I have tried to care, lead, teach, and preach with every ounce of my energy, devotion and gifts. We have had an incredibly blessed adventure here among you, and we are overwhelmed with gratitude for the part each of you has played in that journey. I want to say a special thank you to the youth whom I have been privileged to walk alongside. Courtney and I love each of you very much! We will continue to pray for you, we will so look forward to hearing updates on your life from you, and we will treasure the memories of countless Sunday night gatherings, retreats, Wednesday night activities, meals, games, songs, stories, prayers, projects, dreams, and laughs. Thank you, thank you.

Please know that my family and I will remain at WCC for much of the summer, officially concluding our time at the end of our church family camp week at Covenant Point on August 14. Between then and now, I hope for a few months to continue our life together, to reflect on these past years, to pray for the good plans God has in store here, and to probably share much laughter and tears.

“And now,” as the Apostle Paul says to his beloved community in Ephesus, “to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen.”

With all our love,

Erik, Courtney, Caleb, Jackson, and Emmett

After church that day we had our church picnic. It was nice to be able to have some more conversations and to cry more!

It was also a hot day, so we headed to the pool with some good friends.