We survived!

Ok, not only did we survive the beach trip with 9 teenagers, but we had a WONDERFUL time!

I mean, really, it was great.

There are times when I wish I was still the kid in youth group (even though I never was a kid in youth group, since my church didn't have a youth group when I was a kid...) I think it would be nice to not have any responsibilities. Just show up to youth group on Sunday and Tuesdays, eat the food that someone else prepared, make a mess that someone else will clean up, and more specifically, show up & enjoy a trip to Delaware that someone else organized, planned, stressed about, etc... but this time, it was good to be the one in charge because I got to plan a trip that was tailor-made to do exactly what I wanted to do - which was... sit on the beach, bask in the sun, shop on the boardwalk, and swim in the ocean for 2 1/2 days. And I'm pretty sure the kids had fun too. haha. No, I know they did. In fact, when we were sitting on the beach Friday afternoon, 4 of us laying out on our colony of beach towels and umbrellas in sunny, 85 degree weather, 4 kids (including Bobby) were riding waves in the ocean, and 3 were standing on the water's edge, I said, "If you aren't having fun right now, there is definately something wrong with you!"

Sure, we had our little moments... sunglasses and prescription glasses were lost in the ocean, wallets were left on the beach, sunburns & shellfish allergies, the a/c breaking in the van on the way home, and a harmless prank by the girls that left us with a cranky 14 year old boy, but all in all we had a really great time. All of us.


The fearless leaders.

Beach-bound

Yes, folks, Bobby and I are driving to Bethany Beach, Delaware again tomorrow. We really love it there. But this time we will not be staying in our usual place, which is the plush condo which overlooks the private beach, that's only about 100 yards away... this time we are going to be staying at the Bethany Beach Christian Conference Center with 9 teenagers from our youth group. (and we're the only adults going!) Sound fun? I hope so! It definately won't be our usual quiet, relaxing getaway, but it should still have it's perks. And I'm sure it will be quite entertaining, that's for sure! And we may be a little further away from the beach this time, but not by much. The camp is only 2 blocks from the ocean. And it's still Bethany Beach, so it's still going to be very nice & quiet. (hopefully) I'm pretty certain that the worst part of our trip will be the drive down & back. It should only be 6 1/2 hours, but we'll be in a 15 passenger, smelly church van. yuk. And we have several kids that get very carsick. Super. Maybe instead of the LoBall (Java Monster) I was planning on drinking tomorrow morning, I should knock myself out with something stronger, and with the opposite effect of caffeine... just kidding. I'll post pictures when we get back!

Gardenless

We made the decision not to put in a garden this year. I'm sad about it, but the reality is, we just don't have the necessary time to devote to it. Compare last year's schedule to this year's:

Jen (last year) - no job, no youth group, at church on Sunday mornings, part-time helping out with farm animals, taking care of our own 3 animals

Jen (this year) - job 9-4 monday thru friday, youth group sunday nights 5-9, youth group tuesday nights 4-9, at the church everyday except (most) Saturdays, part-time helping out with farm animals, taking care of our own 5 animals

Quite a difference, huh?

Now check out Bobby's...

Bobby (last year) - work at WVU June & August 20 hours a week, July's off, no classes, no youth group, at church Sunday mornings

Bobby (this year) - work at WVU June & August 20 hours a week, July's off, 3 summer classes, youth group (see hours under my section, plus more), office hours at church once/twice a week 9-4, studying for ordination, at church several days a week


So I'm sure we could have squeezed in the garden, but when would we have time for blogging, playing guitar hero, reading, watching tv, and responsible things like cleaning?!?