Oh jeese, where to start?

Yes, it's been 4 months since my last post. I found Facebook and spend wayyy too much time there.

So a quick update before I disappear off into cyberspace again...

Landon is due to arrive in 3 weeks. Our first grandson, third grand child. Kayla will be a year old in two weeks, and Jenna will be three this summer. Time just flies!

The campground is shaping up to be a busy place this summer. We've added online-reservations, which has really boosted our business. We've been discovered by the Patriot Guard, too, which is leading to some more reservations. Yay! If you look at our bookings right now, we have at least one reservation every weekend between now and the middle to end of July, along with several through the week once summer gets here. Life is good!

Jack's employer declared bankruptcy last week, which is making things a little nervous. So far, it looks like business as usual with the employees, which is a good thing from our point of view. It's the Chapter 11 restructuring, not a complete shut down. One day at a time... we're holding off on any major purchases for the moment, though. No new cabins at the campground this summer.

Our church is in a transitional phase. The pastor who had been there for almost 8 years has moved on. A good bit of the church membership left when he did, but did not go where he went. Instead, they scattered among the other churches in the community. Those of us that are still there are looking at this as a regeneration opportunity, and chance to refresh our own passion and zeal for serving God. We've had some pretty intense sermons from visiting preachers in the last few weeks. I've talked with some of the ones who have moved on, too, and they seem to be thriving where they've landed, so it's all good. God works in ways that we don't understand. Thankfully, we don't *have* to understand them, we just have to roll with the flow and do what He asks us to do.

I'm still scrapbooking and quilting, although not nearly as much as I was over the winter. Too much stuff to do outside!

The Branches of Monroe County women's transitional center is starting to take shape. We're about to file for our own 501(c)(3) non-profit status and come out from under the sponsorship of the church that has been helping us along. Once we do that, we'll open The Gallery resale shop and start work in ernest on the Center and residential portions of the building. We hope to have the Gallery open in May, the Center operational in June, and start taking residents by July. We're on the lookout for a suitable location for an emergency shelter, too.

We have a new member on the board of directors who is not only a survivor of domestic violence, she is a thriver and a success story. To talk with her, you would not know the horror that she and her family have experienced. We are so blessed to have her input and perspective on the programs and facilities. I did not know it, but there is a witness protection type program for survivors that will help them to change their names, social security numbers, and relocate while their abuser is in prison. It seems that many of the more violent abusers will try to finish the job, so to speak, after they get finished serving their term. I have so much to learn about this sad fact of life in our society today.

That's pretty much it for the update. I'm off to go clean cabins and mow grass. It's too pretty to stay inside! I won't promise to write again soon as we've all seen how often I blog anymore, but I will come back... eventually. :o)

Have a blessed day!