Kansas State Holiness Association Camp at McPherson, Kansas

July 23-29 was the KSHA Camp at McPherson, Ks.  Beth and Jason were able to get days off work so they could be in all of camp.  Emily and I went along on their vacation, were at camp Monday-Thursday morning, then we all went over to Joplin, where Beth and Jason left us and went back to camp on Friday.

Beth went to Children's Services every day to be a helper and to gain new insights and wisdom for our children's services in Federal Heights.

 These dear people are our friends, Jean Shannon, Jim and Anna Tremaine.  I have known Jean almost all my life, but Jim and Anna were new friends that we had so many fun meals, visits, and games with while we were at camp.

 Rodney and Melissa Loper and son, Colton.  Rodney is our online pastor, pastor of Hobe Sound Bible Church.  The Lopers sang for the camp, and Rodney was the Bible Teacher.

 Melissa, Rodney, Scott, Brooklyn, and Breanna

Breanna and Brooklyn   Brooklyn and I share birthdays, many years apart!

Steve and Karen Mills and son, Tyler  Steve was one of the camp evangelists.  Karen writes children's ministry materials, which we are now using at Federal Heights.  Karen and I have exactly the same birthday, one year apart!

 The Loper family singing together.

 Daniel Stetler, one of the camp evangelists, also President of Hobe Sound Bible College

 Beth, Jason, and Emily worked in the kitchen after each meal, doing dishes.  Emily also did, but of course, she was taking these pictures, so it can't be proven!

 Jason and Emily played their cello and violin in the services.  Their playing from the first service encouraged others to bring their instruments, and there was a nice orchestra!

Pictures of Charissa from July-August when we were there

 Beth and Jason got to be in Joplin for about 18 hours when they took Emily and me there from McPherson, Ks. camp.  So, to prove that they were there, these pictures with Charissa.

 Charissa has been crawling very well.  With that comes house rules of what she cannot touch!!

                                          9 month portraits

 Tim had to lower Charissa's mattress because she has been pulling up to everything.  It looks like she is interested in how to do it!

Yesterday on Skype, we saw her pulling herself up, standing, then letting go, and crashing down on her bottom.  It won't be long before she is walking.  Babies grow up so fast!!

Long awaited pictures of baby Jonathan!

 I spent nearly three weeks with Randy and Joy after the birth of Jonathan on August 2, 11:02 p.m.  These pictures loaded in reverse order.  The top pictures are the most recent, and they progress to younger and younger pictures.

 Jonathan is very alert.  This picture shows that blister that nursing babies always get until their lip gets calloused.

 We can pretend that this is a real smile!

 Micah and Quil love to hold Jonathan.  It is their favorite thing to do in the day!

 They like to talk to him and sing to him.  They love it when he is hungry and he nibbles on their cheek!

 Great-grandpa Scoles holding Jonathan one of his first times to church.

 Great-grandma Scoles holding Jonathan.

 I think he is absolutely beautiful!

 Of course, he does make funny faces sometimes!

 And looks at you through half-closed eyelids...

 Randy holding Jonathan.

 Joy and Quil holding Jonathan.

 I gave him lots of kisses!

 Aunt Emily loved holding him too.  She is the one who took lots of these pictures.

 Aunt Brenda getting acquainted with him.

 Uncle Tim looking him over.

 Charissa getting a taste, I mean giving a kiss!

 These pictures were from the first 24 hours.

 See how alert he is, and he was only about 14 hours old here.

 Showing off his hair.  He has more on the back than on top.

 This was the first time Quil and Micah got to see their new brother.

 So precious!

 First visit with the new baby.

 This was about two hours after his birth.  Randy warmed up towels in the dryer and put them around him to keep him warm.  I couldn't believe he was still so awake!

I was privileged to be there for Jonathan's birth.  That will always be a special memory for me.  He was born at home after a very fast labor.  The midwife was wonderful.  Joy was so brave!  The baby had his two little fists up by his cheeks when he was born, so it was extra hard to push him out.  He weighed 8 lbs. 8 oz. at birth and was very healthy.  We thank God for this gift to our family.