Ghana!

 Claire comes home from Ghana in two days! We have had zero contact with her (we aren't allowed to- NO phones allowed, it is a complete digital detox for the kids) except one letter she hand wrote, her leaders took a picture of, and sent to us. She said nothing has gone right, but that has only made their group stronger. She loves the people she is serving, is falling in love with Ghana, is not loving the food but the snacks we sent her with are holding her over, and she is making friends she is certain will be friends for life.

Her group leaders are posting pictures every day- that and Claire's letter are the only insights to her trip we get until she gets home.

I know voluntourism faces ethical debates. And, I hope and pray Claire gets out of this trip what she needs to get out of it, while trusting #HXP is doing everything in their power to make this service a win for the people of Ghana as well as the participating teenagers.

I can't wait to hear about all of her adventures! A humanitarian trip to Africa has been a lifelong dream of mine. I launched what I considered a very persuasive campaign to join the trip as a parent volunteer. Claire's response was swift, unwavering, and left no room for appeals. My application was rejected faster than a reality show audition. Sigh.

Claire Goes To Ghana Via NYC!

 In our last push for The Marriotts Take Over the World Summer Campaign, Claire takes her turn. She is off to Ghana with Humanitarian Experience. I can't wait to hear all about her adventures with the beautiful people of Ghana!

She actually flew to JFK airport today, is staying at the TWA Hotel which is attached to the airport with another girl going to Ghana, and then they will meet up with the HXP group tomorrow. I was planning to go with her to NYC, but she didn't want me to- she was excited for the adventure. But, there were some hiccups with check-in. She isn't 18, so she was using the check in kiosk so they wouldn't check her ID. But then she got her room number mixed up and her key wouldn't work because she was at the wrong room, so she had to talk to someone. They found out she wasn't 18 and weren't going to let her stay, she burst into tears, it was a whole thing, but finally they said she could stay but she  had to avoid the bars.

Prayers answered. Miracle #1.

Claire's Second Birthday

 Claire got her second Birthday celebration at Grandma and Grandpa's!

Devil's Head

 As part of our Empty Nesters Prep, we went on a hike to Devil's Head. It was beautiful and wonderful, except the 10 miles of dirt road to get there, so I don't know if we will go back. But, it was a great time!

Claire's Birthday

For Claire's Birthday, it was the start of Girls Camp! Her schedule is such that she will be home THREE days of the month of July. So, she asked if I would take her up to camp a day late so she could enjoy the morning of her Birthday at home and have another day to pack for Ghana and just be at home (camp started Wednesday, her Birthday is Thursday, so I took her up Thursday afternoon). We agreed that was a good decision.

Ben and I took her out to breakfast which was lovely.

And, we grabbed some treats for her to take and share with the girls at girls camp.

 Here is Claire at 17:

-She is VERY excited to be done with high school. She has loved high school, but is ready for the next phase of life. 

-However, she is also VERY excited for her EMS program at Legacy. This is such a wonderful program and has really lit a fire in her!

-Basketball was a little bit of a struggle with her because she was swinging down to JV, but with a new coach she is very excited about the prospects that hopefully her senior year of basketball will bring

-She has 5 colleges she wants to apply to (in order of preference): University of Georgia, BYU, University of Utah, Utah State, Georgia Southern University (why Georgia? Because, though she has never been there before, she has decided it is the most beautiful place on the planet and she needs to live there. Unfortunately for her, it is rediculously expensive and she can move there after she graduates, or get a lot of scholarships)

-She is OBSESSED with Spider-Man and Tom Holland

-She still refuses to eat rice- which should be great when she leaves for Ghana next week

-She loves having a car and being independent

-She is making really great friend choices- she has surrounded herself with kind, driven, good people

-She wants to be an ER Nurse- she loves the high pressure of it

-She loves making us biscuits and gravy for dinner. Monte Cristos are another favorite of hers to make

-She has had to go dairy-free. Not great, but it seems to help some of her tummy issues

-She and Camille have become obsessed with Michael Jackson. We saw the movie Michael in theaters, love his music, and want to know everything about him. Except his dark and controversial parts. They get very annoyed with me when I tell them "yes, he was a brilliant performer and musician. And, he was a pedophile."

-She is still enjoying life guarding and definitely loves making money. And spending money.

-She and I go on a lot of movie dates together. She enjoys going to the theater and is proud of her AMC membership and so she and I will go to the movies together once in awhile. It has become some good bonding time for us

-She is hoping to make top chair in orchestra. She is taking private lessons and for the first time is practicing every day

-She still sleeps with Piggy every night and takes him everywhere she goes

Odds and Ends From Seattle

 My dad is known as the Great Cookie Baker:

Camille's summer bucket list included picking berries and making smoothies. We went to a U-pick public blueberry patch where the blueberries were almost, but not quite, ripe and did our best. She was happy.

Also on her bucket list was making homemade ice-cream, so we did that, too.

And learned some dance moves:

And walked around Panther Lake and visited the Korean pagoda in town:

After FSY, the girls insisted we take them out to breakfast. They are very spoiled.

Leavenworth and Orrando

Claire and Camille headed to a week of FSY in Tacoma- Claire roomed with Aubrey, and Camille with her best friend Ivy who also happened to be in Tacoma going to FSY.

While they were gone, dad and I watched a lot of World Cup with was fantastic (unlike Ben, he doesn't get upset with me for watching it and he joins in and it becomes a bonding activity. We also became excellent analysts and critics and should basically be the next announcers for 2030).

Mom, dad, Ken, Melissa and I also went up to Leavenworth and spent the morning, and then over to Ken and Melissa's beautiful new home in Orrando. Their plan is to move their full time in 3-4 years.

We stopped at Hot Rod Cafe for lunch- we thought dad would love it, and he did. It was a cute little diner and the food was decent.

A hike at Lincoln State Park right next to their house.

Their house is perfection! So peaceful, on a river, absolutely beautiful. This will be a perfect retirement home for them- I am so incredibly happy for them! It is exactly what they have been dreaming of ever since they first got married.