May was a busy month setting up to move our family to
Camp Darby, Italy for the month of June (almost all of it, 3 ½ weeks). This summer Chris was assigned to be the Assistant Director of our Camp for kids from military bases all over
Europe. This experience has been a rich one [side note for my family: this has been like a Black River experience, but Chris, I, and others from our staff are doing Linda, Lori, and Susan’s work, and of course in Italy…a tab bit hotter]; our home has been a cabin-like hotel room. One major blessing is having my brother Kevin here with us. He came to be the
Camp Photographer, and to spend extra time with his sister and nephew. Since we spend most of our days serving in the background, we have not had a lot of time with campers, but is seems that God is really stirring. We have also been blessed to be working alongside a work staff team from Young Life Houston. The first part of our trip we had mild weather, but for the last week we have had nothing but HOT sun. We all have quite the suntan, which is uncommon for us living in
Germany.
Chris spends most days up early and staying up late with organizational details and meetings. There has been some major attacks against our leadership, so as things wind down, please continue to cover them in prayer. He is rejuvenated by having his family alongside him to encourage and love on him. Occasionally we switch roles and he will put Hunter and himself to bed early, and I get to go hang out with the camp staff and help out.
While in Italy Hunter celebrated his 4th birthday with his new “big friends”, as he fondly refers to the camp staff. The have made him out to be the star of the camp. Every morning he wakes up and says, “Mom, we have to go to the big tent, my big friends need me”. He has really felt like one of the team serving meals and as a member of the skit team. While this month has definitely taken Hunter out of his normal routine and thus created some behavior issues, it really has been fun to minister as a family here; the first morning after the camp staff arrived, we got to lead worship for them, as a family. I do not think Hunter will be quick to forget this birthday. I am sure it will go down for me as the easiest party ever; all I had to do was buy the cake and bring it to dinner; the staff did the rest. They cheered after each present and loved on Hunter…his face was glowing. Another blessing was my brother brought a few small presents for Hunter to open while celebrating his birthday here. The best gift had to be the “Superman" pajamas with a cape; it has been difficult to get it off his body, and has been the subject of several jokes.
What I like about Italy: The Sunset, Hunter is not the loudest child, pesto pizza, pasta, gelato…ok, the food here is the best, a pool on the military post, and it's nice to see the sun every day, but it is HOT.
What I dislike about Italy: Rude Italians, bad drivers, I can’t speak the language, I think it might be too hot, the power goes out daily when it is this hot…like now...ok I am back...an American Military Post which employs people who speak NO English, and the 5:00 commute, that's a story for in person.
We have made some long lasting friendships this month with the team from Houston and feel blessed to have this experience. We are excited to go home and have some down time as a family, but this has been truly rewarding.
While in Italy Hunter celebrated his 4th birthday with his new “big friends”, as he fondly refers to the camp staff. The have made him out to be the star of the camp. Every morning he wakes up and says, “Mom, we have to go to the big tent, my big friends need me”. He has really felt like one of the team serving meals and as a member of the skit team. While this month has definitely taken Hunter out of his normal routine and thus created some behavior issues, it really has been fun to minister as a family here; the first morning after the camp staff arrived, we got to lead worship for them, as a family. I do not think Hunter will be quick to forget this birthday. I am sure it will go down for me as the easiest party ever; all I had to do was buy the cake and bring it to dinner; the staff did the rest. They cheered after each present and loved on Hunter…his face was glowing. Another blessing was my brother brought a few small presents for Hunter to open while celebrating his birthday here. The best gift had to be the “Superman" pajamas with a cape; it has been difficult to get it off his body, and has been the subject of several jokes.
What I like about 
