Tadmor Retreat

Last year, when we attended the college retreat at Camp Tadmor - we were literally "brand new". We only planned to stay about 18 hours, and we knew maybe two people before we arrived. So, this year was an entirely different story. Our level of comfort among these guys was in a vastly different playing field - and we were in it for the whole stay.

On a personal note, though - it was a retreat where I entered in with a lot of baggage. I was dealing with a personal pity party - one in which it was "all about me". All about my own annoyances, irritations, aggravations, and inconveniences. It wasn't until about halfway through the speaker's first talk that it hit me that I've seen this sort of pattern before. "Oh yeah, that's right - often the week prior to God wanting to "use me" in some sort of way, the Enemy will strike and work very hard to keep me eyes off the prize". And I had fallen right into that trap, let me tell you.

I can't say with any revelation that I was part of a massive moment by God in others' lives this weekend, but it was a special time. The kiddos had a blast, John forged some great relationships - as did I - and it is always good to just get away. There's a ton of pictures here, so feel free to scroll fast.....

P.S. - One picture you won't see is of my buddy, Julie, up front sharing her "story" of how God has really been revealing Himself in her life. This is something that she told me last year she would "never do" - and yet, she did! And, it was huge, profound, and perfect. I was very proud......

Breakfast time with some new buddies.....


Mikayla was behind on her piano practice, so during free time, she went in and played on the piano in the meeting room. Hunter, a buddy of all of ours, helped her out - it was so sweet.

Football time! With LOTS of rain and mud! The extra stuff on both of these guys' clothes is noodles from a messy game played earlier.....

John and Brayden both "really delivered" on the football field. I was very proud of my boys - both had touchdowns, receptions, runs - and yes, John caught the winning pass.......


While one team was on the sidelines (it was a three team rotation) - some folks killed the time by doing a little mud-sliding.

Mikayla spent her time on the sidelines by playing with Stacy. She would run and hop onto her back.....

And these three ladies - Kara, Shelby, and Julie - three gals that make me very happy - didn't even bother with the puddles. They went straight to the mud pit behind the pond to wallow.....

After cleaning up from the rain and mud, many folks hung out in the game room - including the kids and myself. These two guys were playing a game I enjoyed in which you rode a bike to maneuver a glider to pop balloons.... the game I'm playing in the pic below is skiing.......




More fun group pics - good times with good people......




Kaela and I did a lot of hanging out this weekend. She is such a neat gal! She is also responsible for the majority of these pictures and she spends much of the retreats tirelessly catching images. Thank you Kaela!!!!!

A sample of some of the great offerings at meal time. The progress I've made (so slowly) over the last 6 weeks in weight loss totally got thrown out the window this weekend.......

This is a pic of us on the first night. Mikayla does this everytime - falls asleep right after the music is over......


What a great weekend, but I have to admit, I'm so looking forward to this coming Saturday where nothing but football games on tv will be going on in our cozy home all day...... =)

Updates

Thank you all for your kind words of concern for John. He finally got in to see the new opthamologist yesterday. He REALLY likes him - and feels like he might finally get a definitive answer to this ailment. The doctor is skeptical of some of the past theories of what is wrong and wants to see him in 10 days after the eye has healed to look at it when it is actually healthy. In the meantime, he has a prescription for an antibiotic as there is an infection - so we should see some relief pretty rapidly. Praise the Lord. I'll keep you posted when we get some real answers.....

Yesterday, my cell phone vanished. I am at such a loss as to where in the world it could be. I left the house with it in my car (I'm quite sure anyway), went to the dry cleaners, then TJ Maxx - where I realized it was missing. I've checked driveways, both folks at the "counter" - and left messages. It continues to ring its four rings and take me to voicemail.....but I can't hear it ANYWHERE. I'm so frustrated - losing something tops my list of exasperation......

Tonight we head to Camp Tadmor for the college retreat. I'll be out of WiFi range until Sunday, but then you can expect to see some fun pics of the experience - although they'll be taken with just my camera (unless I lose it!!!! - grrrr!) - as John's is still with Best Buy.

I hope you all have a super Friday and WONDERFUL weekend.......

Repair Necessary

For those of you wondering about the quality of some of the images on the blog (which I doubt are many of you- I really don't think it is of that great of concern for you all!) - my camera's been doing all the work lately. John's is visiting BEST BUY - where he purchased the camera - and wisely - a full warranty when he got it in December 0f 2007. It kept giving us an error code, so it is being seen by the professionals. If they can't repair it, they'll give him a new camera....but, oh - bummer, his camera is discontinued - so they would have to give him the newer version - worth about $200 more. We're hoping for that option! =)

But, of even more concern for us is another lens repair necessary. That would be John's eye. In 1995, when John was working as Program Director out at Camp Harlow, he was swimming underwater in the pool and a girl dove in and her finger punctured his cornea (I know, gross, huh?). So, I remember when I first met him, it was undergoing one of its "repair" seasons. Apparently, with this injury - they eye will work and work to repair itself - and then about every 6 months to two years - it will take a break. This results in approximately 6 weeks of pain in that eye, extreme light sensitivity, and blurred vision. Then, it will eventually go back to normal.

We are probably at week 6 with this. We thought it was getting better, yesterday and the day before - but, today, he woke up with it hurting more than it ever has. Since the diagnosis over the years has always been a bit "fuzzy" (excuse the pun), John told himself this week he would see his PCP and get a referral to a brand new opthamologist and start all over with someone who might have a better answer for him. Today will probably be that day.

So, if you think about it - please be in prayer for him. He's hurting a lot, really can't even read at this point - and just wants it better again.

Sugar Cookie Bake-Off and Taste Test

(left to right: Amish Sugar Cookies, Cream Cheese Sugar Cookies, and Lofthouse Sugar Cookies)

Today my buddy, Kaela, came over and we decided to determine which of the new sugar cookie recipes I've acquired will be the one I stick with this year - if not indefinitely. Over the years, I've probably tried a dozen different varieties - those with powdered sugar vs. regular, butter vs. shortening or buttered-flavor shortening, those with cream cheese or whipping cream or milk - or no dairy at all, those with the distinct taste of cream of tartar - and those without.

I prefer a soft sugar cookie, one similar to the "Lofthouse" cookie you'll often see in grocery stores within a clear plastic container - holding about 8 frosted cookies - seasonally colored and covered in sprinkles. They are fluffy cookies and very yummy.

I'm not much for rolling out the dough to make cut-outs - too much work. But, on occasion it is good to know if you have a recipe that works perfectly for that route.

Finally, I bypass working through a frosting recipe and always use my old stand-by of Duncan Hines cream cheese frosting. It's my fav....any other kind of frosting (unless it's homemade) and it's just not the same.

We tried to put every cookie on the same playing field - using almond extract in each one, and putting the same frosting and sprinkles on each. Brayden, Mikayla, Stephie W. (though I have yet to hear her verdict), Travis, John, Kaela, and myself all did a taste test. Actually, Syd even tried some while we went to pick the kids up from school. She chose two of the Cream Cheese Sugar Cookies - stretching up to get them off the stove top - while completely ignoring the batch of Lofthouse Cookies within a better reach for her on the table. Hmmmm....(Bad Dog!)

So, here's the recipes we tried and under each one you'll find our review of it......

LOFTHOUSE COOKIES

1 cup Crisco
1 cup sugar
1 tsp. almond or vanilla extract
1 egg
1 cup whipping cream
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
3/4 tsp. salt
4 cups flour

Cream sugar and shortening. Add flavoring and then egg. Beat until very smooth. Then add the whipping cream. Beat until lumps are nearly gone.

Mix together the dry ingredients in a separate bowl and add to the creamed mixture a little at a time. Do not overmix at this point.

Roll in balls and slightly flatten. Cookies will retain much of the shape you set them out with, so don't worry about them overspreading. Bake approx. 8 minutes at 350 degrees.

(Indeed just as close of recipe as I've found to imitate the store bought variety. However, they were a little "thicker" and denser than what I realize I like the most)


CREAM CHEESE SUGAR COOKIES

1/2 cup butter, softened
1 3 ounce package cream cheese, softened
1 cup powdered sugar
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp. almond extract
2 1/2 cups flour

Combine butter and cream cheese. Beat for 30 seconds. Add powdered sugar, baking powder and salt. Beat until combined, scraping the bowl as needed. Beat in egg, vanilla, and almond. Beat in as much of the flour as you can with the mixer. Using a wooded spoon, stir in any remaining flour. Cover and chill about 1 hour or until dough is easy to handle.

Roll into large flattened balls (the cookie will retain the shape and spread little or none during baking) - or roll out dough to about a quarter inch thickness. Use cut-outs as desired.

Bake at 375 degrees for 8 minutes.

(We accidentally baked these at 350 and they worked great - so you may want to consider that. The flavor is very complex and good, but it is a very dense cookie. I think these would be ideal for cut-outs as the shape changes very, very little upon baking)


AMISH SUGAR COOKIES

1 cup sugar
1 cup powdered sugar
1 cup butter, softened
1 cup cooking oil (I used canola)
2 eggs
1 tsp. almond or vanilla extract
4 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. cream of tartar

Cream sugars, butter and oil. Beat in eggs and extract. Combine flour, baking soda and cream of tartar. Stir into sugar mixture until thoroughly blended. Dough will be soft. Refrigerate until chilled. Drop by ball onto cookie sheet. Flatten slightly - cookie will spread slightly. Bake at 350 degrees for 8-10 minutes.

(Hands down - the group who taste-tested - this was their favorite. I like the cream of tartar "zing" in the aftertaste of the cookie (a taste I often associate with snickerdoodles). I also like the "lightness" of the cookie and the ideal way it stayed fluffy but often spread just enough upon baking).

Lone Pine Farms

'Tis the weekend for pumpkin farm visits - at least as far as this family goes. While we missed this annual tradition last year, for the last several years it's been a special activity for us with the Whites to navigate the corn maze. This year, it was also an opportunity to see if we could snap a family picture.

While many of you in the rest of the county have had some crazy weather this week/end - here in Oregon the last week has been radiant. October tends to be a good month for us Oregonians - crisp mornings and evenings, and glorious blue sky sunshine during the day - with highs near 70. It's all supposed to change this week, so that made the pumpkin farm a popular place for everyone today.

Each year, we snap a shot of the map before we go in - and then refer back to the camera or i-phone to navigate our way. We were a little more lackadaisical in our references to it this year, but still made it through in 27 minutes. =)

Oh how we love these guys.......

A great smile on my man......

This was inside the school bus positioned within the maze. At nights, they turn this into a haunted corn maze - complete with people that jump out at you. So NOT for me, but in the broad daylight - this inanimate guy wasn't too scary.

This was Mikayla's look of revulsion at another character on the bus.

Once out of the maze, we visited the goat area. The black was one particularly aggressive when it came to eating the food.


John posed for these next two pictures without any idea of what the front of the board said. Very funny.........


In a couple of days, the rain is supposed to settle in. While I know we'll have more brilliant days in the forecast before the end of the year, I think we might have seen our best weather for a while just pass us by. I think we made the most of it though.

Oh, and one more thought - GO DUCKS! Beating Neuheisel's Bruins was so rewarding yesterday, even if the first half was especially nail-biting. However, scoring two touchdowns within the first 26 seconds of the second half was pretty awesome. The entire state of Oregon should be proud of our teams as Oregon State took out the conference leader, Stanford yesterday - leaving that vacancy open for us to occupy. A perfect time for both teams to take a "bye" weekend - opportunity to heal up their injuries and for us to let go of football for next weekend to take a retreat with the college students to the mountains. Now, let's just hope the rain takes a "bye" weekend as well.

Aerlie Farms Outing

This morning, Michele and I took advantage of the statewide inservice no-school day, by taking our kids to Aerlie Farms and their sweet pumpkin patch.

This is our second year going there - and while we weren't very excited about the admission charge this year, the fact that the kids were entertained for over two hours says something about how much they enjoyed it.

Here's a pic of the boys hiding in one of the dead-ends of the hay bale maze - and another shot of them ending up at the bottom together after their run down the tunnel slide.


We've decided that the only way to get a group picture of these guys is to have them do something silly. These two attempts kind of worked.


Mikayla is perched atop a hay bale "fort" in this shot.

Moving on to the "farm" part of things - Nati with "Hairy" the donkey.
This goat bit! I was actually worried I wasn't going to get my pinky finger back once he clamped down on it.

This little dairy calf is named Charlie. Nati was able to help feed him a bottle and we all got a chance at petting him. After the feeding, he was still eager to "suckle" - and if given the opportunity, used our hands as his pacifier.




This is the entrance to the corn maze. While not nearly as elaborate or difficult as Lone Pine Farm's - it was still a time occupier - taking us all about 15 minutes to get through. The boys and Nati went in their own group and then Mikayla and Ellie led the way for us. It was great because they were so eager to find their way, that they'd do the work of checking out the (short) dead ends and come quickly back to report we'd gone the wrong way.... =)

A couple of posed shots on the flatbed truck.....


Of course, any pumpkin farm visit wouldn't be complete without the actual picking out of a pumpkin. We were even blessed with a wagon ride out to the patch. The great thing about this farm is that they have all sorts of varieties of pumpkins - white ones, "Cinderella" (dark orange/red and flat) variety, and striped ones. It's a lot of fun, but makes decision making extra hard.


Talk about a glorious day to celebrate the bounty and fun of October. These are the days of memories in the making!