Jessica's birthday trip

We were going to go to Universal M-W, but the SUV was really acting up so we decided not to go. Then Jessica really wanted to go for her birthday, so bad coil (my guess) and all, we drove to Orlando Sunday, went to Islands of Adventure and Universal the rest of the day, and then all day Monday. The SUV was acting worse (of course it didn't do this for the mechanic!!) and the engine light came on. We'd planned to go again Tuesday and drive home late, but we decided not to go at all but to leave for home in the morning so if we broke down, it wouldn't be after dark.
My surfers hamming it up.

No, he didn't really but those, but he was a good sport and let me take his picture with them.

Signing the waiver for wall climbing. I paid the $5 each because it was good entertainment. Jasmine opted out.

Jessica cooling off.

I wish it wasn't 6 1/2 hours down to Orlando so we could go more often and use our FL annual passes.

And the SUV did need a new coil so there goes $147. It's with the mechanic right now.

We are getting teacher assignments this week, have orientations on Friday, and school starts Monday for all the kids.

Universal

Jessica, Adam, Jasmine and I are in Orlando. Sunday was Jessica's birthday, and we decided spur-of-the-moment to go to Universal/Islands of Adventure for her birthday. I'll post pictures tomorrow. (hopefully!)

Arizona

Sightseeing

the head leaders

Jasmine at work

two team members a day helped in the kitchen

digging up pipes to repair them

mail call

preparing to add on a porch with roof

Jessica

Road Trip

The group left Merritt Island, FL on Monday, July 11 around noon. They went straight up 95 and across I 10 so Rick was able to drive up and meet the bus on I 10 and provide pizza that evening.

Then another parent met them at a McDonalds in Texas.

A lot of hours were spent on this bus.

They arrived in Pinon, AZ Wednesday evening July 13.

Stayed tuned to see photos from their time there.

Lord's Boot Camp

The first ten days or so of the summer mission trip is spent at Merritt Island training.

Drop off day.

Watching for the Space Shuttle. They are right next to the space center.

Obstacle course. You swing across a river on a rope (and more than half the time land in the river), go over the wall, climb a 30 foot rope net, go across a huge pile of tires, go across a rope net and some other torturous things at 5:30 A.M.!

Putting books of the Bible blocks in order is also part of the obstacle course.

Meal time

Jessica cooked outside once.

Very, um, interesting.

The teams took turns serving and doing dishes.

There were also rallies with special speakers, verses to learn and classes to attend.

They learned to paint, do carpentry, mixed cements and other skills they'd need for their project.

The sign she's wearing says "I live like a pig." The team with the messiest campsite wore them each day.

Stay tuned for pictures of the trip.

The Girls

I got to Teen Missions around 8 p.m. Friday evening and they were just finishing up their closing session. Everyone was in dress clothes but from some of the combinations, I think they were all wearing whatever had survived the trip and was fairly clean.

There were a lot of tearful goodbyes. The kids whose parents were picking them up were mostly there Friday evening. A few were picked up early Saturday and the rest left for the airport for flights home.

I took Jasmine back to the hotel with me Friday night. That's after we emptied her duffel bag into the mission barrel. One dress, one swimsuit and one pair of water shoes came home with us.

Um, yep. Work boots were the only shoes allowed including for dress.

Orange and yellow headband with purple and black dress. Hmm. She hadn't combed her hair out in days either!!!

She had two pairs so she could change if one got wet due to her feet issues. They both looked like this.

Jasmine and I went to Jetty Park Saturday because Jessica couldn't leave until 4 p.m. when the leaders got back from the airport--dropping off preteens and picking up the teens just arriving back from their trips. I am spoiled by our white sand. Other sand looks dirty to me!

Talking to dad on the phone.

We went to the food court at the mall.

Time to get Jessica!

We drove a little over half way home and stopped for the night. Today we stopped to see a movie on the way home to give the girls a chance to adjust to normal life again.

More about the mission trip in the next post.