If Home Is Where Your Heart Is. . . .

 Today is Maggie's birthday!  She is my Colorado native!  Eleven years ago she was born here, in Durango, just 24 hours before we officially opened camp up.  What a whirlwind! Since then she has grown into a sweet and funny and compassionate and gentle and spicy tween and I love her so much!  I love having her as a daughter and I am loving watching her grow up.  I am so proud of the decisions she makes and of the young lady she is turning out to be. This birthday is extra special because tonight at her party, I will be telling her that for her gift, she will be joining me in India for two weeks in September!  I am so super excited to share this adventure with her!  I cannot wait for the pictures and the memories!  I can't wait! Maggie and I at her princess party when she turned 3. Age 5. . .the Fall she started Kindergarten This is one of my favorite pictures of Maggie because she is just being so Maggie here....

On opening day my boys are the masters of the snow cone machine.  It is the highlight of their summer!  They love being the boss of anything. . .especially the snow cone machine!

 This past week Maggie was a camper here at Kivu with one of her best friends, Hally.  They both had a blast rock climbing and rafting and mountain biking and playing at the lake and doing the tree tops and zipline!  There really is nothing like being at camp.  She had a cabin full of girls that she adored and even a fun little camp crush (is there anything better than a camp crush?).  It was great seeing her in her element and hearing about her adventures both from her and from our staff.  Maggie is a light and everyone loved having her around!  Our second term starts tomorrow and Hays is headed to camper-ville for his second year at Kivu.

Today we went on a really fun hike. . .actually we went on a really long drive and a pretty quick hike, but it was perfect for the crew we had.  The day could not have been more perfect.  The sun was shining.  There wasn't a cloud in the sky.  The temperature was hovering right around 70 degrees.  The friends were great.  It was a perfect day!!! Baylor was getting a little car sick (we think), so Kelly held him on her lap the whole way up the mountain and he kept laying over backwards.  Maybe it made him feel better? Now he is trying to get some fresh air. She's got the pose down! This is Baylor sitting in my lap (while I'm driving. . .not very safe) on the way down to insure that he didn't puke or anything else in the car.

  I like Memorial Day.  I wish it wasn't just another three day weekend to head to the lake or out camping or whatever.  I wish it really could be an actual national day of remembering those who have served our country.  But, it is Memorial Day no matter how we all chose to spend it. I was at Wal Mart and these two sweet old ladies were handing out poppies for donations.  I asked what my money was going to and they said it was so we wouldn't forget our soldiers and I said, "I have one I never forget". . . my Pappy. I don't remember him as a soldier except on days like today, but I don't think a single day goes by when I don't think of Pappy, my grandpa.  I loved him so much!  He was so dear to me!  He was a strong man who worked hard, but he was a gentle grandfather who loved me so big.  I adored Pappy and I am so thankful that I have him to remember every day; not just on Memorial Day!

Yesterday was the big Iron Horse bike race that Andy participates in every year.  He killed it again!  I am so proud of him!  It is so fun to watch him set a goal and then to conquer it and feel so great afterwards! After the race each year, we meet at Andrew's Lake with our staff for our annual Kivu Staff picture (and Braner family picture).  I love having this picture with our family in the same spot every year.  It is amazing to see how our family has changed since our first picture there in 2001! Camp has pretty much started.  We had a retreat with 80 kids from Scottsdale last week and now we are right in the middle of our staff training week.  Then one week from today the campers come!  It is so crazy to me that summer 2012 is already here!

Okay, I realize that in this fast paced world, asking you to watch a ten and a half minute video is like asking you to run a marathon and then sit and watch the Masters on TV without falling asleep.  I get it.  But please, watch this video!  Or at least watch the parts when "Mr. Happy" is talking. . .fast forward everyone else if you really don't have ten minutes in your life!  I need to be more like him. . . maybe not go wave to everyone, but I need his perspective.  This video was so refreshing and that is why I am sharing it with you!  So, make time!  It will put a smile on your face!!!