She's Dream'n

Big Boy Swimmer

Big Girl Jump

Our Baby

The Baby & The Baby Room

The baby room has been completed, and as you can see we've pretty much settled on the name as well. Cynthia and I felt it was important to pay close attention to the meaning of the name we picked out. Eva means "life". I have to admit that the fact that baby Camp (a.k.a. Eva) has managed to kick my wife's butt from the inside out was one of the reasons for choosing this name. She is a very lively and active girl. She also represents the lives that God has restored. Cynthia and I are so blessed to share our lives as one now. God has breathed LIFE in us again. Grace seems kind of obvious. I believe it is important to live a life of grace. Jesus showed us through His life what it means to live, talk, and breathe grace. It is our prayer for this new little life that she grows up to live that life of grace to others.

We eagerly anticipate the arrival of our new addition to the family; Eva Grace Camp.

Revitalize Your Quiet Times

From time to time we are all in need of some direction when it comes to the "How" for our quiet times. Our pastor suggested a Life Journal a few weeks back and I thought it sounded interesting. It's basically a way for an individual to write their own devotional while reading the bible through in a year. Each day you read the chapters for that day. Once you've read the assignment you then turn to the daily pages. The daily pages are used to record how God has spoke to you that day through His scripture. Write a title for what He said to you, record the date and page number at the top of the page. The Life Journal suggests using the S.O.A.P. strategy for writing. First, write the [S]cripture that spoke to you that day. Next, [O]bserve what the scripture is saying and how it applies to life. [A]pplication is writing about how the verse spoke to you in your current situation whether it be a challenge, conviction, a call to action, or promise for you. Finally, Write your [P]rayer to God. There's also prayer request pages to write and track prayer requests. It's an incredible tool for anyone needing some direction for their quite times. Cynthia and I have been using it and it's just been awesome. I can't wait to have written my first complete devotional and look back and see what God has done in our lives.
Here's the web address. Order your today!

"Zacchaeus was a wee little man..."

Scoot Your Booty Race

One of my friends from work bought the game "Chicken Limbo" and gave it to us.



We played limbo for awhile, but after getting bored with it we found a new game to play. Behold.......Booty Scoot Race!

Easter '09

Sea World 04-2009

They Are Not Our Sons & Daughters...

I heard this letter read on a radio talk show I often listen to. It is written by a soldier serving in Afghanistan. I couldn't help but shed a few tears. Our soldiers ARE NOT ignorant young'ns who blindly sign up for military service without any idea of what's to come. They willingly put their life on the line DESPITE the cost.


Letter by: Sarah Albrycht

It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us - that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion - that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain.

~ Abraham Lincoln, Gettysburg Address

A few nights ago, I walked a quiet mile with hundreds of other service members. It was a clear night in Bagram, Afghanistan. Although it was late, the birds were singing, perhaps roused by the unusual occurrence of people walking under their trees at the late hour. Soft voices broke the solemnity, but no words were discernible. Suddenly, as if on cue, soldiers, airmen, seamen, marines, broke off the sidewalk and lined the road, spacing themselves regularly and assuming a position of silent watchfulness. The honor cordon had formed.

Heads began to turn right as flashing blue lights appeared far down the road. As the vehicles neared, one by one, service members assumed the position of attention and rendered the hand salute. In the back of an open truck sat eight military members, and between them, at their feet, was a flag draped casket.

As I rendered my salute, I thought about the fallen soldier. I did not know his name, his unit or his home. I never saw his face or spoke to his family. I did not know why he volunteered for the Army or what he was doing when he was killed. But there was much I did know. I knew he had fought and died in an honorable cause, a cause that had little to do with our policy on Afghanistan. This soldier had volunteered to put his very life on the line in service to his nation and his brothers-in-arms. I see no more honorable cause that that.


In a column, Mr. Putney has again raised the debate about the sacrifice of America's "sons and daughters" in uniform. Some have argued that we must continue the fight to honor their memory "so that they have not died in vain." Others argue we must stop the wars to save soldiers from this fate. I think an essential understanding of what motivates those of us in uniform is missing in this debate.

We are not your sons and daughters, whom you must protect and defend. We are your sword and your shield. We are men and women who volunteer to place our lives on the line so you do not have to. We do not decide when or where we will be sent. We go. You are our advocates, not our parents.

We trust you to care for our families, to hold our jobs, pay for our equipment, salary and medical care and yes, to honor our sacrifice. We trust you to vote for good political leadership, to speak out against bad policy decisions and to demand public accountability. However, we do not count on you to explain the honorable character of our service. We are ennobled by the very fact we serve.

Our "high moral cause" is one of service to a nation whose principles we believe in. We miss the point of political debate when we distill it down to numbers of service member deaths. Debate should be about the policy that leads us in or pulls us out of war. I, as a soldier, am personally insulted when debate about war becomes not about policy, but about deaths, because it implies that my service is at best uninformed or ill-conceived, and at worst valueless.

I know my life is in the hands of others because I choose for it to be that way. I am not your daughter, a child who must be guided. I have made my choice and pledge my honor to it. I will thank you to remember that because we serve our nation, none of us dies in vain, regardless of the cause; end of debate.

Every day a new Marine enlists or an airman puts on her uniform is a reminder that our defenders come from people who still believe in our nation and the values it aspires to, as flawed as we sometimes are. War does not make our sacrifice honorable, death does not make our service honorable; service itself is our honor.

We, your American service members, do not see the cause for which we may give our last full measure of devotion, as our nation's goals in Iraq or Afghanistan, and perhaps that is the difference. Our cause is our nation, in all her beautiful, imperfect glory.

So on a dark night in Afghanistan we stood under a velvet sky of a million stars to honor one man who lay under 50. We never doubted what he died for. Pfc. Patrick A. Devoe II died for you, the United States of America.

Sarah Albrycht is a Bennington native serving in the Army in Afghanistan.

Our Little Miracle

Here she is! A life already written by God just waiting to greet the world. This is but a glimpse of what she looks like and we can already tell that she has Cynthia's chin.

Yea! We Got The Easter Gifts

The easter boxes finally came. Thank you Camp & Champlin families for the great gifts. The kids absolutely loved it all.

Saturday Morning Breakfast

Nana made pancakes, and we were graced with the presence of Spider Girl (aka ky). Mmmmmmm pancakes.

Yes [I Am] a Hockey Fan!

I can actually say that I will be this man very, very, soon. LOL!

Its Pizza Night!

Kylie & Mason helped Daddy make pizzas for dinner. 1 cheese and 1 pepperoni coming up.

We Played Wii

For Nana's birthday the Camp's played Mario Kart all night. GAME ON!

So Pretty......want to touch de hiney

I just wanted you all to see my beautiful wife and how much the baby is growing.

The Camps are easter egg hunting. There are 2 in this photo that Kylie and Mason found...can you find them too.

Mason's First Movie

We took Mason to his first movie today. Monsters vs Aliens in 3D. Kylie and Mason both did great. They're all loaded up on sugar now.

Sunday Afternoon

CANNON BALL!

I have a feeling Jesus was laughing too! What a free and beautiful expression of salvation.

Pretty in pink and....poop!

Last night "Tipitee Lives here" and my niece joined us for a cookout. After we were all done we were admiring the beautiful evening. My sister looked at my daughter and said,

"Look K," pointing to the sky, "there's pink clouds".

Since my daughters favorite color is pink, she immediately looked to the sky and enthusiastically said,

"Cool pink clouds, and there's blue ones too. I have to poop!",

and dashed into the house. Such an odd statement to be coupled with the admiration of God's creation. Well, He created her too and she had to poop.

The key to a woman's baby is through her belly button.

My little 3 year old boy has a magical and interesting perspective on the female body. He asked my wife the other day, "Mommy can I feel the baby?". My wife said yes and so M approached her and proceeded to stick his finger into her belly button. My wife was somewhat puzzled by this action. Until my boy's eyes got real big and he said with his finger still in her belly button, "Mommy! I feel it. I feel the baby!". He believes that he can touch the baby through Mommies belly button. We refuse to tell him that's not how it works.

Sunday Night

Tonight we grilled out on the new grill and ate outside. It was such a beautiful night. We all enjoyed mashed potatoes, asparagus, and steak. I only wish more family was around to share in the evening.

Saturday Morning Cartoons

The kids are having butter and peanut butter waffles while they watch there favorite cartoon Spongebob Squarepants. Ok its my favorite cartoon too. Kylie is making the funniest Patrick face.

The Camps 1st Christmas

The Friday Funny!

The Friday Not So Funny!

The legislation that's refered to here is the $850 BILLION "stimulus" package.
Those idiots in Washington just KEEP asking for the American public to bend over a little further each day.

Stories by the fire.

Last night we built our first fire in the new house. The kids loved it. They lifted their shirts and warmed their tummies....then proceeded to pull their pants down and warm their butts. Hey, I would have done the same thing. Finally, daddy read them a bedtime story by the fire and put them to bed. It was a great ending to the day.

It's been awhile.

Dear blog friends,

I understand many of you have been anticipating a new post from me. Most of you are probably just dying for some new pics of the kids. Rest assured there are Christmas photos that need posting. Many of my reflections have been lost in the day to day activities. It seems December flew right past me and here we are in the middle of january. My personality denies me from concentrating on two things at once. If i focus on something that is ALL I focus on until it's complete. First it was christmas and christmas lights. Next it was moving into a new home just last week. So far (after a few frustrating attempts) we have not been able to enjoy the luxury of internet just yet. Hopefully by the end of the week I'll be back to my usual self and postings will come weekly.

For now, don't give up on my blog. There is more to come as we embark on a new and exciting year.