"Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Maple House trip #2

Last week we went on our second house trip with our Maple House girls.  I'm pretty sure I blogged about last year's trip, so maybe some of you remember it.  We went to the same places as last year!  Kings Island and the Creation Museum.  We really enjoyed it!  This year, we only had 3 residents, so that is a great ratio--3 houseparents to 3 residents :)  The only bummer was that I couldn't ride roller coasters, since I'm pregnant.  But that's okay, it was a small sacrifice!

Our group at the Kings Island entrance (sorry, kind of a dark picture)--The girl on the end, in the stripes, is our amazing assistant, Lisa Zaagman.  She is awesome!

Me with one of our girls on the log ride (one of the only rides I went on!)

Nathan and Lisa and a couple residents, right when they got done riding the Drop Tower!

Our 3 girls :)

Lisa with one of our girls posing with a dinosaur at the Creation Museum

Another group picture

All of us girls acting silly in the hot tub:)

I tried to teach one of our girls how to swim!

It was a fun trip!  As always, though, it was good to get back home and see our kids:)  

Some breaking news from Gateway:  Our house, the Maple House, is now going to be a coed house!  This will bring many different changes and challenges to our job that we are not used to!  But it is the best thing for Gateway, because until now there were way more girl beds than boy beds--this will really help even things out, and this way we GW won't have to turn away any boy referrals.  So you can pray for us, for that:)  We are so used to only having girls!  

4 comments:

sarah.flyingkites said...

Great pictures! Looks like a fun trip! Thanks!

Wow, that WILL be different for you guys to switch to a coed house. I hope the transition goes smoothly for all of you!!

Love ya!

Anonymous said...

You guys will be as great with the guys as you are with the girls.
Tell kaine & Halle I said Hi (give Kaine a little punch for me)
See ya Sat, Grandpa Jim

Jessica said...

That trip sounds like a blast! Rache - I would have been so thankful for an "excuse" not to ride the rides! I am so afraid! (imagine that!)

We will be praying for your transition! What a change! You'll do great!

Much love!

soli deo gloria said...

What special times for the girls! That will be quite a change-we will continue to pray for you-looking forward to the 4th! Love ya! Jane