Home Again, Home Again, Jiggity Jig

Yesterday we picked up Zachary and Zarissa from their respective camps. Zach was at Hume Lake's Wildwood camp and Zarissa was at Awana Scholarship Camp. It is so good to have the whole family back together again! I feel like a hen with all her chicks back safe and sound in the nest.

Speaking of nest, Zachary will be a junior this year. Only two more years (for sure) at home. Time has gone so fast. Today at church Dave and I heard that Zach would be sharing his testimony in the youth department. We decided to sneak in and hear him. When we walked in he was putting on his guitar and was saying some sort of introduction. I thought that he was just sharing the song as a part of his testimony. As it turned out, he was leading worship-all by himself. Jason (the junior high teacher) usually leads. Sitting there listening to him play and sing was a bit odd. The shy little boy who's voice was changing, has grown up! His playing has improved tremendously! His licks were great and transitions were smooth, his squeaks are almost all gone, but the most impressive thing to me was the quiet confidence he exuded. Not a confidence in himself, but a solid strength built on his faith in Christ. When worship was finished, pastor James told him to just stay up there and share his testimony. He went over and got his bible and came back and sat on a stool. At that moment, I could see the Kaleb factor. The way Zach "handled" the group was the same way I had seen Kaleb "handle" them. I don't know if Zach learned this from sitting under Kaleb's teaching, or if it is just familial. Zach's testimony was good, honest and relevant. The effects of God's hand upon his life was evident and unmistakable. The heavenly Father has matured him in ways we, as his earthly parents, could never do.

Zarissa had a great time too. I was worried about her, as this was her first time away from all of us. She tends to be more of a spectator in large groups-especially groups she is unfamiliar with. But she came home having made many new friends. She even had email waiting for her from some girls from camp! We missed our Riss! She is so full of crazy, off the wall life! I know it was a little hard for her to leave what she knows and feels comfortable with to experience something new, but she was glad she did! She did come home with a little something extra, mosquito bites! I couldn't believe how much they liked her skin. It reminded me of me-growing up in Michigan. Every summer I was the mosquito magnet for the Baker Acres.

It is exciting to see the many variegated ways in which God is shaping her into the person He created her to be. That's true with all of our kids.

God is so faithful! There are so many areas that we have failed in our parenting. But ultimately, the four Z's are not really OUR children, they are God's, who has loaned them to us for a time. Asking us to be faithful stewards of his property, and to represent Him to them.

We thank God for His always relevant, unavoidable and absolute Truth. We thank God for His Spirit that guides us, comforts us, intercedes for us and convicts us. We thank God for the many ways He has used our children to teach us things and mold us into a more accurate representation of His Son. We thank God for giving us exactly what we need at exactly the right time. Not a moment too soon or a moment too late.