OK- I found out this week that at least two people are reading this, so now I'll have to do better!  Linda and Carrie F.- this is for you! 

My theological conversations with Ann Marie usually start from the back seat of the car, like the time (when she was only 2) that she asked me what a sinner was.  I was practicing "Down to the River" from O Brother, Where Art Thou? for our big baptism Sunday. 

Well, the other day Ann Marie started asking about David and Goliath.  "Was Goliath dead?...You mean he died after David killed him?... So is he in heaven now?"  I put on the spiritual brakes and quickly thought of a way to talk about hell without saying hell since I don't want to hear hell stories coming from Sunday School or the neighborhood playground. 

Anyway, I'm discovering that the path to salvation for a pastor's kid (or any kid growing up in a Christian home) is a journey and I have to be ready for those "teachable moments" that my mom always talked about.  I'm praying that I'll know when she's really ready, when she really understands her desperate need for Christ and that nothing else but a commitment to Him will do.  Besides her own need for a Savior, I'm trying to fuel a passion to tell others about Him, too.  Who says you have to already be saved to tell someone else about Jesus? (See Phil. 1:15-18)  Just the other day she invited a little girl and her grandmother to our church while she was waiting for me to check out at Wal-mart.  And she's always standing up in the middle of the mall play place and singing her own "Praise God" and "He is my best friend" kind of songs.  I'm not going to stop her! 

When I was pregnant with my girls and people would see me up on stage singing at church, some of them would talk about how blessed my children would be because I sang praises over them.  I don't know about that, but I do know that what I'm doing now- my attitude about church and ministry and worship and service and the Bible- is going to have an eternal impact.  And I'm praying that that impact will reach way beyond the walls of the Campbell house.

Vacation Bible School (next week)

G-ma and Papa coming in July (Ann Marie can't wait for them to see her pink room)

Swimming a lot in our new neighborhood pool (we just finished swim lessons this week and both girls are loving the water)

Another trip to Sea World sometime soon

Gates of Praise Camp (Ann Marie will be participating in KinderPraise and I will be leading the 4th-6th grade choir)

No hurricanes! (But we're getting ready just in case)

The recital was long, but worth the 2 and a half hour sit to see Ann Marie's dancing debut of 2 and a half minutes!  Our "petite ballerina" was too cute.  At the end of the recital, they handed out medals and streamers to all the dancers.  AM was sooo excited- she kissed her medal and couldn't stop talking about it all the way home.  Here's a pic!

Well, we've hit the summer ground running.  We spent last week with Jim's mom in Alabama.  You can tell the girls have been out in the country by looking at their scratched up legs and blackberry juice stains on their clothes (that's right, straight from the bush to their mouths!  I didn't do that until I was 22 years old- city slicker).

Swim lessons started this week.  Ann Marie is quickly turning into a little fish.  She went under the water on her own before the class even started.  She has a great teacher- Miss Annamarie.  Yesterday the teacher said we needed to have a talk about how little girls and mermaids don't swim the same way.  That's our AM- trying to talk people into doing things her way- reminds me of someone- must be her Uncle Ethan. JK

Susanna's having a rough week, two molars coming in and now a sinus infection.  She did NOT like swimming lessons, but I think she'll come around.  She's talking so much now, I wish I could put some audio on this blog.  She likes taking her favorite parts of songs and repeating them over and over.  For example, "The itsy, bitsy spider...Wash the spider out"- which she says with great gusto and hand motions.  She's also trying to sing the alphabet song, which is pretty hilarious.

By the way, if anyone is reading these, Jim has started a facebook page, and he's enjoying hooking up with lots of old friends.  I'm not on there- this blog, is a big step for me!