Our dear friends invited us to their campsite last Friday and we had the best time.  My first reaction was to decline since Kenny couldn’t join us, but after his encouragement to reschedule what we had planned, the kids and I headed out of town.  Less than an hour away, this kind of camping is perfect.  

While it was cool and rainy at home, the mountains near Woodland Park were just right. We walked, threw stones in the lake, collected pine cones and sticks, cooked lunch and Smores over the fire, played games, and just sat, chatting, enjoying the beauty.  

Kenny was able to get away from work for a few hours in the afternoon and came up to join us which was great.  We left late in the day, tired, but content after a day outside.  

These friends have been friends of ours for years.  Many years ago they were an ECA family when I worked there, I taught one of their daughters piano, and also worked with her mom on staff.  Later on when Kenny was doing theater at ECA, their daughter was involved in many of his shows, and her dad built numerous sets for the shows.  He is a fellow model train buff and computer guy so he and Kenny have much in common too. They have helped us move, we sit together in church, and they graciously babysit the kids now and again for Kenny and I to have a date.  

We are grateful to have folks like this in our kids’ lives.  We think it’s crucial that James & Anna have other adults that they know and trust.  There will be a day when having other adults, rather than mom and dad, around for advice will be so helpful.  So for now we are thankful for opportunities to build these relationships.  These friends are some of the most generous, servant-hearted people, and we are so thankful to know them.