8053 US Highway 160, Walnut Shade, MO 65771

417-561-2074

August, 2004

Dear Friends and Family,

Every time I sit down to write one of these newsletters, I go to two sources to figure out what to say. I do keep (when I think of it) a list of newsletter notes in my computer. However, sometimes when I'm ready to write and I pull up the Newsletter Notes file, it's empty. That is because life often seems to happen faster than I can write it down. The other source is my wall calendar. It contains everything that pertains to life and godliness for the Roberts family. On it, you can see what has happened and what we think will happen in many realms of life.

As I look back over the June and July calendars, I am reminded that camps, in many forms, have been a dominating force. Because these have been important items in the three big kids' lives, I will make mention of them here, along with a few comments (me? a FEW comments?) about each.

June 12, Josiah's Cub Scout Day Camp - murderously hot, drenching rain, loved the archery and BB gun events. Josiah is now officially a Webelo Scout.

June 14 - 18, Jessica's Camp Lookout - (this is a free Christian camp for 8 to 12 year olds, hosted by nearby College of the Ozarks. It is WONDERFUL!) - fun, but not as fun as the past two years, mainly due to some clique-ish cabin mates.

June 24 - 26, Josiah's Cub Scout Resident Camp - a couple hours away, went with members of his den and pack for two nights of real Boy Scout stuff. Had a great time, wished he could go more than once a year. Again, excelled at BB gun and archery.

July 11 - 22, Katie's Summerscape - residential academic "camp" for gifted students, held on the campus of Drury University in Springfield. In addition to six hours of class per day (loved Web Page Design, was more challenged by Digital Art and Design) Summerscape provided a rather classic freshman college experience: dorm life (in all its glory!), cafeteria food (enough said), goofy social activities (some fun, some dreadful), and for Katie, her first experience of hanging around with her peers. An eye-opener all around, not Christian, but generally a good thing. She hopes to go back next year, even though she may have to fund a big chunk of it. = )

July 12 - 16, Jessica's Children's Theater Workshop - daily 9:00 AM til noon at the local high school, had a great drama teacher, loads of fun, worked with eight other young teens to present the play, Shakespeare to Go, on Friday night. It was a parody of some of his more famous scenes. Very funny. Jessica was TOTALLY in her element, cast as the (may I say bossy?) stage manager. The play came off very well, and Jessica wishes she could do this every week! We are looking for more such opportunities for her in the future.

July 19 - 23, Josiah's Camp Lookout - totally fun, had a couple super counselors, sadly experienced name-calling for the first time ("computer geek"), but overall very fun and can't wait to go back next year! Between shuttling kids to and from their various activities, and delegating and/or doing their chores while they were gone, and occupying Andrew with his sibling(s) in absentia, the remaining children and I have kept fairly busy for the past couple of months, to say the least.

There have also been some non-camp noteworthy events. On June 4, Jessica WON the sixth grade level of the statewide homeschoolers spelling bee in Kansas City with the word, "fastened." She was proud and happy, and we all are, too! Unlike this year's event, we are hoping that next year's contest will be set up in such a way that the winners can go on to regional and national competitions.

July 20 is a day that will live in infamy. On that day, we called 911 for the first time in our lives. The short version is this. Andrew disappeared. The longer version is that he was out riding his bike on Coffee Road and didn't come when I called him for supper. After cycling, driving, and hollering all over the neighborhood looking for him or his bike and coming up empty, I called the sheriff's department. Andrew is SO friendly, and I was fighting visions of him being kidnapped, or molested, or. . . While Scott continued to drive around looking for him, Jessica and I prayed and paced, awaiting the sheriff. I then called our associate pastor on his cell. Thankfully, he was calmer than I was. He asked a few questions and began praying. In the middle of his prayer, Andrew walked into the living room! To say I was glad to see him would be an enormous understatement. It turns out that he had gone (against my direct instruction) into a neighbor's house to play with her visiting grandson. His bike was in their back yard. He just "happened" to come home while we were praying! He was fine, but shaken, having received a stern talking-to from both the sheriff and his dad. We thank God for his well-positioned angels, and Andrew is living a much more restricted life these days.

On July 23-25, Scott and I spent two nights away at a cabin in northern Arkansas (Newton County: some of God's finest landscaping!) for a "financial planning weekend. This had been recommended by our financial advisor, and it ended up being WONDERFUL! Each of us worked through a several-hours-long questionnaire, which covered marriage, family, spiritual, social, and physical matters, as well as financial. Then we spent most of a day comparing notes and defining goals. Now we are home and trying to figure out the best way to implement plans to reach those goals; a challenging, but healthy task.

July 30 was another infamous day, but in a much better way. All six of us got to hear President Bush speak, in person, at Hammons Field in Springfield! Scott had gotten us free tickets and we arrived at 7:30 AM the 9:00 speech. That alone was quite the endeavor. What security! What lines! We parked blocks away and hiked up to the stadium, along with thousands of others. I had brought a backpack of stuff to keep Andrew happy, but a lady two blocks from our van told us that purses weren't allowed and she doubted the backpack would pass muster. I returned it to the van and brought only pocketfuls of cameras, breath mints, lip gloss and a little cash. None of that would help entertain Andrew for two and half hours (sigh). About 8:15, the line was blockaded off somewhat behind us. Sadly, many other people would not be getting into the stadium. However, we made it in, along with an estimated 10,000 other people, no purses, no umbrellas (it had been raining all morning and was misting), no water bottles, no video cameras, no flags, and no signs. We sat halfway up near first base. How thrilling it was to hear, "THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES," and watch President Bush himself walk in, smiling and waving! It was a memorable day, and Andrew did very well. We are thankful and blessed.

In other news, Scott's thumb is healing nicely. It's still a bit swollen and stiff, and he does special exercises to strengthen it. It's healed enough to play ball, and that is what matters .

Our church is preparing to launch a small group ministry, and Scott and I are currently leading one of the pilot groups. We have met a few times, and the group is beginning to come together nicely. A lot of us have out of town trips planned in the next few weeks, but by fall, I think we will be developing solid relationships and positioning ourselves to reach out and nurture others.

Concerning the kids whose whereabouts have not been in question, Josiah is constantly experimenting with his computer and with pyrotechnics (not together!) and continues in general to be as curious as all get out. His questions never stop. Scott says he gets it from me. Surely not!

The girls have become young ladies - we now have four adults in the family, for all practical purposes. Jessica is eagerly planning, working, and saving for her trip to China with Scott in September. Katie is managing more and more of her own time and responsibilities, inching steadily toward adulthood.

Finally, Scott insisted that I add this, although I am not one to toot my own horn. If you like reading these newsletters, you may want to log on to http://www.teamroberts.org/md/walnuts.htm and read my weekly "Walnuts on My Windshield" column.

We so enjoy hearing from you, and you are each precious to us!

Scott, Patty, Katie, Jessica, Josiah, and Andrew