Camp Krislund

For 6 summers our kids have been involved with Camp Krislund in Madisonburg, PA near State College. At church I lead a 3rd-6th grade TWEENS group and thought (okay, apparently "thought" is not the right word) it would be fun to take a group of kids and volunteer there for a week. Well...let's start by saying that I AM NOT a camper so don't ask me where I came up with such a goofy idea. Tammy Blose, the church director of Educational Ministries, and I took 10 kids (7 TWEENS & 3 mini-campers) for a wilderness adventure. After two days of a lot of homesickness, the kids had a great time. The girls stayed in (beyond rustic) tents nearby so we got to see them fairly often. Thankfully, we got to stay in a lodge; however it was already occupied by a mouse and a bat that the counselors named Suzy. After a few more sessions of therapy I think I'll be okay.

anging out during tabin time. Tabin stands for cabin-aged girls staying in tents.

Holly, aka "Aunty"; Carol, aka "Luuucy" and Susie

I will say that the chemistry between the volunteers was awesome. We laughed A LOT! Susie, Holly (aka Aunty) and Carol (aka "Luuucy") are so much fun. We worked 13 hour (yes, 13) days in the kitchen preparing meals & snacks for 150 people with the most dilapidated equipment imaginable. Cook Nate (aka Iron Chef) was terrific didn't believe in "camp food". He introduced good and healthy choices for the camps and the counselors loved the variety. He's a really great family guy who is unknowingly "seeking". God had great plans for him. As tired as we were each night (did I say 13 hour days?) we'd get back to the lodge and talk 'til the wee hours. Though I cannot see myself ever returning to Krislund, being there blessed me in uncountable ways.

Nat & his wife Patrycia

On Tuesday, Steve Cort, Camp Director (aka King of Camp) told our homesick girls that on Thursday, Tammy & I would climb the rock wall since they were being so brave at camp. No, he didn't give us a heads up that he was going to make such an "are-you-crazy?" request.

Much to my horror we went!

Trying to negotiate a way out of this...Scaling the wall

Although I did not enjoy the rock wall (I did make it 22 feet up) I LOVED the zip line. Adventure Team leader Isaac (aka Adventure Boy) went with us on this "I'm-WAY-too-old-for-this" adventure and he was amazing. Talk about a guy who wears his faith on his sleeve! Anyway, I HATE heights, bridges, etc...don't ask me what made me WANT to try the zip line because I am the biggest chicken EVER. It was the coolest thing - I'm so glad I went. One of our last days there Isaac got called to active duty. Please pray for him, his safety, and his family while he honors his commitment to the U.S. Air Force.

Isaac, aka "Adventure Boy"

Making the slow, STEEP climb to the top!

View of God's handiwork from the top.

Mary B. Sharpe - 100 Year Celebration!

Hanging out in the PA Sate Museum


PA Capital Rotunda


House Floor



Field Day Class photos


Waiting for the Memorial Ceremony to begin after the parade.


Cali & Lij's elementary school is celebration 100 years of educational excellence. All year they flew the 1908 American flag on the school flagpole; they opened a buried time capsule; marched in parades and much more. After Thanksgiving vacation they will move out of Sharpe and into their brand new Benjamin Chambers Elementary School. The school had special shirts made and wore them to EVERYTHING! Some of the pictures below are of Field Day, a trip to the PA State Museum & Capital and the Memorial Day Parade.

Li'l Slugger

This year a neighbor helped Elijah decide to play baseball. Lij was one of the Phillies and LOVED it! His coaches, especially Coach Amy, were amazing and he surprised us all with not only how quickly he picked up the game but how good he is at it. Named 'most improved hitter' because he truly became quite the slugger. Congraulations, kiddo on a super 1st baseball season.

We're so proud of you for working so hard!

Family Ties: Graduation celebration!

Smiling sibs, Ashley, Jess & Janson

1st Cousin photo...Marcus, where are you?


Women of Honor...

On May 19th we celebrated the graduations of my cousins Ashley from Penn and Jessica from high school.

Their mother, and my all-time favorite aunt, Rachel also received her PhD the day before! So after their immediate family trekked in from the west coast, we jaunted over to Great-Aunt Helen's for a celebration reunion. Our kids were overwhelmed by all the cousins and a great time was had by all. Thanks Aunt Rachel for always heeding God's nudging to get us together. You really are the family glue.

Newest family member, Anthony Charles Spagnoletti-Lewis with his parents Bernard & Robert.

Ned made a new friend in

one of my cousin's children.

The Mayan Ruins of Tulum

Leave it to me to insist on having a day of historical culture on the HOTTEST day imaginable. It also did not help that Ned was in the middle of reading a sci-fi thriller (now a major motion picture)about the very ruins we were traipsing towards. The jungle trail was so hot, dusty and long that the kids were too busy "dying" to truly appreciate the wonder of the ancient city; even the many lizards weren't moving very fast.

Tulum's greatest attraction is it's location. It stands on a 39 foot bluff facing the rising sun overlooking spectacular views of the Carribean Sea. In Maya, Tulum means "Wall". On three sides are enormous stone walls - the fourth side is bordered by the 39 foot cliffs that drop down to the Caribbean Sea.

A family grave site. When a new family member died, the bones from previous burials were removed.

Stone carvings told the history and religious beliefs of the Maya.

Tulum was a major link in the Maya's massive trade network for both maritime and land routes converged here. Artifacts found in or near the site testify to the contacts that ranged from Central Mexico to Central America and every placein between: copper rattles & rings from the Mexican highlands; flint & ceramics from all over the Yucatan; jade & obsidian from Guatemala and more. The Spaniards came to conquer the Peninsula unwittingly bringing Old World diseases which decimated the native population. So Tulum like many cities before it was abandoned to the elements.

The homes and buildings in the city were built to tell the calendar. Houses had small windows strategically placed to capture the the sun in corresponding months. So my window star might be light in September while yours may be placed to be lit in May.

There is a "square" in the center of the city that is flanked by the "castle" on the above mentioned bluff. The castle is the tallest and most famous structure in the ruins, commanding a view of the ocean and coast for miles in both directions. It is important to emphasize the importance of the beach area, where it is certain the Mayan ships, dedicated to trade around the

peninsula, would have docked.

After the super long hike to the top of the castle bluff, the cooler sea breeze and the promise of an afternoon at Xel-Ha brought relief & smiles.

Cancun continued...

While Ned & Cheyenne crashed in the hammocks for a little R'n'R, Calista , Elijah and I set off to roam the resort to see what we could see...

I've always loved the tropical flowers, but our dear friend, the late Linda B. Harter, taught us a deeper appreciation of their beauty. I'm awed by God's handiwork everywhere we go and they always remind me of her strong yet gentle presence.
It was really hard to get a good shot of this humming bird who obviously noticed the beautiful flowers as well.
Cali & Lij could not wait to wander into the crystal clear water. The dark brown right behind them is a ton of sea grass.
Is there anything more gorgeously inviting?

CANCUN!!!!!!

Welcome to the Moon Palace Resort in beautiful Cancun, Mexico! Every year Ned's company treats us to a fabulous all-expense-paid trip to someplace warm and wonderful. This year we opted to bring the kids (at our expense!) and are we glad we did! Banker's ALWAYS has an amazing "Welcome Dinner" when we arrive and this year was no exception. The kids were wowed by all the super fun things set up ocean side and posed for lots of pictures. Calista & Elijah especially like the carnival games. They were overwhelmed by the numerous buffet stations and had a great culinary experience roaming from station to station checking out the tasty fare.

Fire dancers dazzling the crowd...

Entertainment is always a priority and once again Banker's did not disappoint! There were fire dancers and a return by a Banker's favorite the group Then Again featuring Gina Glocksen. We had such a great time with them in Puerto Rico that they HAD to come to Mexico! Due to her new gig working for American Idol, Gina had barely made it in from Los Angeles for the Welcome night festivities before having to go on stage. After her first few songs she paused for hugs from and photos with her old Banker's friends and the girls couldn't wait to take a picture too!

It was great fun to catch up with "Mr. Bob" & "Miss Crystal" Birty from New Jersey and with the 1051 Gang from Ned's office who the kids do not get to see very often. After a few hours of laughter and dancing in the breezes of the Caribbean Sea, the kids were ready to turn in. It had been a long day of travel but what an exciting beginning to our vacation!