Father's Day in Heaven

While I miss Dad this Father's Day, he is in Heaven visiting with other family and friends that are there with him, and enjoying things that I cannot even comprehend. While I cry, because for a split second, a gift came to mind for him... then I remembered that he is gone, he is enjoying the gift that is above all gifts. While we worship in the best way that we know how, and we think that Dad would have enjoyed hearing us sing that hymn, Dad is worshipping at the very feet of Jesus, and hearing music more beautiful than we can fathom. How could any Father's Day here on earth ever compare?

These thoughts bring some comfort, and yet the tears keep falling. I realized a long time ago that Dad was my biggest fan, and I sure could have used some of his encouragement today!

On Saturday, I drove down to New Hampshire to get Mikayla from Bible Camp. When I first arrived, she was nowhere to be seen, so I ended up wandering around for a bit. A man stopped and asked if he could help me. I told him that I was looking for my daughter, Mikayla Upcott. The man said, "Oh, Pastor Campbell's granddaughter, right?" I have ceased being surprised when I am miles away from home and someone knows Dad, but all I could do was nod. He told me what church he went to and how he knew Dad, but I was so busy swallowing the lump in my throat and hoping he didn't ask how he was, that I don't remember what he said. I still don't know why it was suddenly such an emotional thing this time because I have talked to many people who knew Dad since he went Home without any difficulty, but this time it was. On the way home, Mikayla shared with me that she had met people that knew Grandpa. One of the girl's mothers had worked with Uncle Chris at Camp Northfield. During the sermon on Sunday, my eyes wandered to a nearby passage.Proverbs 20: 7 "The just man walketh in his integrity; his children are blessed after him." How fitting for my experience and thoughts on Father's Day! Although, I realize that my thoughts typed out here are a bit rambling...oh, well, it's my blog, so I can ramble all I want!

I miss you, Dad, more than I ever thought possible! Happy Father's Day in Heaven!

Happy Father's Day!

Happy Father's Day, Papa! We love you very much! Your kids think the world of you, and your wife thinks you are the best Dad in the world! You work very hard to take care of us, and we want everyone to know that we love you for that.

Love,

Alana, Nathanael, and Mikayla

and Jen, of course!

The Wild's of New England---At Long Last!

The boys have cabin tents until new cabins can be erected. Inside are wooden bunks with mattresses just like in a cabin.

The game room.

Lounge area in the coffee shop

Basketball, beach volleyball, horseshoes, and dodgeball.

Soccer fields

Cross on the hill. I believe the campfire is up there.

Dining Hall

Chapel and Dining hall

Mikayla's cabin.

One ecstatic camper!

Once upon a time, Terry and I attended a couple's retreat at The Wild's Christian Center in North Carolina. We had heard much about this place already. It was a very nice retreat and we were both better for having attended. We enjoyed the preaching, workshops, and music. We said to each other at that time that if we were blessed with children, that this would be a good place to send them for Bible Camp. Well, at that time, we were living in Maryland and didn't realize that God had plans to move us to Maine. Once we got up here, we found out that The Wild's was planning on starting a camp to serve New England. I think Mikayla was about a year old. We thought, " Great! By the time she is eight or nine, they will have it up and running! Well, age eight came and went. Nine...we debated different camps, but didn't really have the funds. Ten came and we sent her and her little brother who was eight at the time to Camp Northfield. They went there for several summers. Then, just trying to find a camp that didn't take 8 hours in the car with our kids and any church kids that went, we took the advice of another Pastor and checked out Forest Glen in Nova Scotia. ( Not too much closer, by the way. Just hours in the other direction) It was a great camp! Meanwhile, the Wilds, struggled with getting the nessessary permits . Quite suddenly, they were able to sell the property where they had had so much trouble, and buy property that was already set up to be a camp! Praise the Lord, they were able to get all the work done. With the aide of our missionaries, the Arces, the camp is running for this summer. This summer was the summer that we had thought ahead just a bit and our kids were able to raise some money just for camp, making sending them affordable. YAY!!! Now, to pray that the Lord works in the hearts of our kids, especially our oldest, who we felt needed to be with other kids that believed the same way as she. We are hoping to send Nathanael along with his friends that are from Ellsworth for his last summer as a Jr. camper. We feel that he needs to be with his guy friends, since there are not very many boys his age around here these days. Alana has never been to camp before, but is excited about the prospect. We feel, that she may do better going with one of her friends to a camp that is closer to us. We will just have to keep praying about it. But we are so excited that the Wild's is finally here and running since we have been waiting for it for a long, long time!

Spring Recital 2009

Mikayla and her best friend, Rosemary.

Our Teacher, Mr. Drinkwater.

Nathanael playing Spring Song

Alana posing on the piano bench afterwards.

Lanie playing Yankee Doodle.

Mikayla playing Wonderful Words of Life.

Waiting to start.

The kids had their spring recital tonight. It was great. All the kids did so well. Alana is our shy one. She is taking voice with Mr. Drinkwater. When we were in the car on our way, she was so nervous. I was afraid that she would melt into a puddle when it was her turn. But her turn came, and she did very well. WHEW! Mikayla is really getting advanced and has gone way past her Mom now. Nathanael is right behind her. He goes like a house on fire for awhile, then his mind goes to other things, like BB guns and Star Wars. I guess because he is a 12 year old boy. I took pictures, but the lighting is always so bad at these sorts of things. Some came out good, so here they are.

They're Out There!

OK, I'm feelin' the love. People do read my blog. I guess I'll keep on writing then. Some asked how to leave comments. If you scroll down to the bottom of the post that you are reading, you will see the word "comments". Click on that and you will be able to leave a comment. Thanks, everyone!

Anyone Out There?

Just wondering if anyone even reads this blog.

Memorial Day Band

Downtown in front of the monument. Jamie, the girl in the front right, played "Taps". Mikayla at the bridge playing the Navy Hymn.

Nathanael at the bridge right after playing the Navy Hymn.

Mikayla and Nathanael have sure enjoyed band this year. They were in the marching band for the first time this past Saturday. The band did very well, and played a bunch of great patriotic songs. I'm looking forward to the spring concert coming up on Thursday, where they will play most of the same ones, and several others. Mikayla is in the fife group. Not sure what that means yet, but can't wait to find out. Nathanael thought that he had the "Taps" solo for the parade, but a high school kid got it, which really makes more sense. They both did great in the parade. I wish that I had been able to record Nathanael playing the Navy Hymn. As he was playing, one fat tear rolled down his cheek, but he just kept right on playing. He was too embarrassed to talk about it later, so I am not sure what caused his emotion. He is so tenderhearted. I love that about him!