Same Summer Stuff

I guess it's safe to say this hasn't been the summer for blogging.  I haven't posted one time in August, which is odd for me, but I just haven't had it in me.  I feel like I would just be posting about the same things anyway, which are ....

1) Emma is still committed to running Cross Country at her school.  I know I've said it before but no one is surprised more than Eric and me.  Not that we thought she couldn't do it but because we didn't know if she actually would do it.  She just never liked running before.  The crying tipped us off - ha!

But, something has definitely 'clicked' for her and she is challenging herself every week and then blowing those goals out of the water.

Cross Country camp was this week (still going, actually) and she amazed me again yesterday.  They ran trails  at a nearby State Park.  The first run was 3.6 miles.  I visibly saw her hear that information moments before they started, process the shock, then swallow it and determine to get it done.  As her Mom, it's been amazing to watch her maturity and confidence literally transform before us.  To God be the Glory! He is using this sport to teach her so many things.

 Stretching before the first run.  Emma is on the very far right in the blue shirt.

After the first run (that she totally rocked!), they had some time to swim.

Then, they had to run again! A little easier this time ... only 2.75 miles :)

Right before the 2nd run (Emma couldn't believe they were running twice in one day! That's her in the middle with the gray shirt) .....

Tonight, they meet at the YMCA and run to the house of one of the runners.  She's a little intimidated by running on the street, but I have no doubt she'll do fine.  Then, tomorrow morning, they finish camp by running in a 5K.

That's a lot of running!! Official tryouts are next Thursday.

2) We're still waiting on John Patrick to finish Navy Basic Training.  He is scheduled to graduate next Friday.  We continue to get letters at least once a week and they are sounding more optimistic than before.  The first ones were tough to get through, but now he sounds more like himself.  Whatever that means now.  I can't wait to see him.  My parents, older brother Todd and I will fly out next Thursday to head to Great Lakes.  To say we are looking forward to it is a giant understatement.

3) We survived Kids Camp. We always have a fun, sweet time but it's exhausting.  Saturday night, we put on a counselor talent show.  Eric was a judge.  I really don't have words to describe it other than to say when Eric does something like this, he doesn't break character the entire time.

He was bon Rovi ??? Apparently bon Rovi has long black hair, speaks in a british accent and wears only one glove.

I don't know.

It was a long night ;) And, apparently I had signed his leg 30 years ago ???

My talent was questionable.  (Have I mentioned I loathed the idea of doing a counselor talent show?) I was a pillow person and had to do the cha-cha slide.  I'm the one in the pink ....

Again, a looooooong night!

4)  School supplies are bought - THANK YOU LORD! My girls didn't need that much this year (we recycled a lot from past years) but the things I did need to buy were odd and hard to find.  All is finished.

I'm off to enjoy our last 2 weeks of summer ....