The Pinery ~ August 2011

We just came back from our two week camping trip.  This year we ventured to a different park.  The Pinery was our home for 14 days and nights and we absolutely loved it!  Loved the campsite, loved the trails, loved the sand, loved the weather (most of the time) and loved the beach.

I believe this trip is going down in the Schenk history book as being the camping trip with the most rainy moments.  For the summer that was supposed to be hot and dry......ahem......we probably got rain on almost half of the days we were there......not all-day rain, but enough to make things wet and damp.  We had one good serious down-pour complete with thunder and lightning, but thankfully our tents were on high ground and we stayed dry. 

This year we rented a 5x8 U-Haul trailer and stuffed it to the roof.  We were able to take all six bikes as well as the fishing rods.  Good times!  The kids loved being able to bike all over and take trips to the camp store for treats (and the odd carton of milk and loaf of bread).  Most of our time was spent at the park, but we did visit Grand Bend on a few occasions to pick up some groceries, do a little window shopping, get our email, make use of  7 washing machines at one time at Angie's Laundromat, and play a little mini-golf.  Grandpa and Grandma were visiting family in Wyoming, so they came to visit us for a day as well.

I am so very thankful to God for blessing us with two weeks of wonderful family time.  It was great to enjoy one another and His creation in a new location.  It is hard to believe that summer is coming to a swift end.  (Rick will be back in the office next week......sniff......sniff.)

So, here are a bunch of pictures, and by a bunch I mean quite a few.  I had so many I couldn't decide which ones to post......Well, this is enough for today!

Searching for special rocks.

One of many farms we passed on the way to Forest Baptist Church.

The branch that crashed down on our tent...yes, while we were in there!!!

The tree from which it fell.

Cool, windy and very wavy.

My necessities: hat, sunglasses and beach blanket.

Taking shelter from the wind...and snorfing snacks of course!!

Last sunset...

All packed up and heading home.

Let Jesus Argue With Your Soul About Being Anxious

Some great words from Piper on anxiety.....
Click on the link below.


Let Jesus Argue With Your Soul About Being Anxious

Summer Garden 2011

Today we are thanking the Lord for blessing us with some rain...soft gentle rain.
So, I took advantage of the wet foliage and shot some pics.

Summer Swim Session~July 2011

Every summer, we spend the first two weeks of July at the pool watching our kids do their annual summer swimming session.  Amber stopped taking lessons a few years ago, and this year Levi also joined the retired swimmers club.  They came along for fun to cheer their siblings on, to visit the library, and to deposit quarters in the gum-ball machine.

This year David completed Swim Kids 4 and Taylor received her Bronze Medallion.  David's class was 30 minutes in length, at the Tansley Woods pool, and Taylor's class was 2  1/2 hours every morning at the Mountainside outdoor pool.  I was a little concerned about her being outside because you never know what kind of weather you might get, but she was blessed with absolutely amazing weather every single day.  She came away with not only a wonderful tan, but more lifesaving skills and one more step towards life guarding (or teaching.)

♥Way to go Schenkie Fish!!! ♥We are proud of you!♥

Psalm 8:3 ~ July 13, 2011

"When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have set in place..."

Canada Day 2011

We went up to Orillia for the annual Canada Day/Birthday Bash.  Our drive was so slow......the highway was packed......it took us twice as long as it should......but we made it and enjoyed a couple lovely days at Opa and Oma's with the family there.  We brought one of our tents and spent the night outside with the boys, while the girls slept in the Zwiers tent with a bunch of giggling girls.  The weather was lovely and everyone enjoyed the delicious food, fellowship, and the opportunity to get to know the newest addition to the Schenk family......Tanner Calvin Schenk......cute pup belonging to Bill and Kym and the girls. (He made a fun subject to photograph.)

Enjoying the scenery during our crawl up north...

Hmmmm...the other side isn't busy...

David's 9th

David turned nine recently...mom is slow to post the pics...