five full days

(July 11, 2011)

I find it really difficult to describe our trips to Windy Gap. I always have. There is so much history there, both for Curtis and for me; such beauty in the place, people, and the message about Jesus;
and such a tangible sense of God's hand at work.

We spent about 5 days there this time, in the midst of family, some old friends, and about 300 high school age campers who were all having- literally- the time of their lives. We would live it up during the day with the kids, enjoying all the events/meals/pooltime/treats, and watching our little ones soak it all in. At night, we would put them to bed in our awesome two-bedroom suite, grab the monitor and head out to enjoy the rest of the night.

There is no way to explain our time at Windy Gap, but hopefully these images will help to capture it.

At the rodeo, on Independence Day. Too perfect...

Cooper and his Papa. Up close and personal in the rodeo ring.

Cooper was in heaven.

Happy Annabelle.

She loooves her daddy.

Isn't that beautiful? YL does an amazing job of including and celebrating differently-abled kids.

I wish you could have witnessed her joy in person.

My old boss, Harold, and his wife Angie. Harold told me that he and Angie had met at Windy Gap 30 years before- that very week!

Kelly, Marion's boyfriend, in Cooper's hat.

We couldn't let Marion escape the embarrassment.

Marmee and Annabelle, celebrating the U.S.A.

I love this one for some reason.

My precious ones.

At the "county fair", in our old-time country outfits...

3 generations of Chesney men.

The best family pic we could get. It's was a little rough.

Games galore.

So. much. fun.

Oh, the joy!

relaxing fun

(July 10, 2011)

On our quick trip to Knoxville, we were blessed to get to stay Curtis' brother Luke's house and spend a little time with his family, especially one evening at the pool.

Oh, our precious nieces... Millie (pictured) is 3 and her sister Ava is 5: as beautiful inside as they are on the outside.

And our new nephew! Baby Evan is one of the happiest and most even-keeled children you'll ever meet. Annabelle thought he was just the coolest thing ever. 

 

She kept saying "baby! baby!" and looking like she might climb in the car seat with him.

But how could you not be enamored? He is a sweet and handsome little guy.

Evan, as cool as he is, lost out to a newly discovered love: LARGE chunks of watermelon.
p.s. If anyone ever says that she looks like me, I will direct them to this picture. She is SO her father's daughter.

When we finally got her out of the chair to go play, she found other people's leftovers.

Dig on in, girl. Dig on in.

A happy mess!

The big kids were in heaven in the water, playing with their daddies. Cooper was still a little timid, but was encouraged by watching his cousins and all their mad water skills.

 

Ava, who gets years older every time I see her.

 

We miss living closer and being able to have more relaxing nights like this with such a fun family. How cool that we are related!

a quick visit and toddler kisses

(July 7, 2011)

Though we struggle sometimes to manage the balance between family and friends on our trips to Knoxville, we are almost always able to enjoy a visit with a few friends. This time, we had a fun dinner out with two families of friends. When the kids couldn't stay seated any longer, the dads took them outside to run around. Curtis started snapping pictures of the little ones...

Hadley, 16 months (same age as Annabelle!)

Emery, almost 2

When prompted to give Emery a kiss...

 

Apparently, she liked it, because she welcomed some more.

Whoa!!! My boy doesn't mess around. Or maybe he does!

What a wonderful night! Emery sure thought so. :)

lessons

(June 21, 2011)

Cooper took swimming lessons this summer. Friends had mentioned that the city gave affordable group swimming lessons, so we thought, "why not?".  Cooper may have answered that question for us...

He pretty much hated them.

The good news is that my friend Millie and her girls were there with me, in the 90+ degree heat. So, while the big kids were having their lessons, Millie and I got to hang out with the little girls under the shade. That is, when I wasn't walking back and forth to calm Cooper down. ;)

Annabelle didn't like relaxing in her stroller quite as much as her buddy Finley (above). She is certainly voicing and demonstrating her opinions lately! Loudly. She had fun though, climbing all over the benches trying out her new walking skills.

Cooper, on the other hand...

After a lot of fearful tears, sitting on the edge of the pool was just fine.

Of course, the noodles were a big hit because they could be used in a weapon-like manner. At least he was attacking the water and not the cute girl in the yellow swim shirt!

Everything was good until Miss Jessica made her way down the line, inviting each child into the water to practice a technique... blowing bubbles, floating, using a kick-board, etc. Though some kids (like our friend Grayson in the green!) were excited for their turn....

Cooper lived in fear of it. Dread. Loathing. Look at that face! And the way he is clutching onto her shirt! He hated it.

I have to be honest. In the midst of the 4 days of lessons, I wasn't the most compassionate mom. When he started throwing a fit about going in the water or flipping out about having to blow bubbles, I wanted to (and often did) roll my eyes and sigh more than comfort him. I was tempted to say "get over it" and "don't be a wuss", though thankfully I managed to keep that nastiness inside. That is embarrassing to even write.

Cooper has always been (and, I suppose, will always be) a cautious person. He can have extreme fear over the first time of doing almost anything, and then be crazy & reckless the next moment without so much as a second thought. He just needs to know he can do it. 

What I want is to be a mom who is a cheerleader. I want to push him, to encourage him, to challenge him, but I want to demonstrate ever so clearly that I love him and value him no matter what. If he never swims a day in his life, if he is trapped and bound by fear, I want to boldly fight with him against those lies. But, regardless of the outcome, he must know that he is no less of a treasure.

 Being a mom is so humbling. My selfishness and sin just ooze out of me, and I am reminded often of how little I resemble the God I serve. Thankfully, He doesn't give up on me. He uses anything and everything- including swim lessons- to hold up a mirror to my heart and help root out the grossness that is in me. And He reminds me that, because of His grace and mercy, I am no less of a treasure to Him.