We're Out of the Boat: A Quiet House

Boy, it is really, really quiet here.
On Sunday afternoon, Briana left to go be a camp counselor for another week. Before she went a couple of weeks ago, she had no intention of going another week. I didn't think she would even like it. Ashley has done it for about 3 years, but it didn't seem like Briana. To top it off, she had been pretty confident she would get older girls (10-14 years). She ended up with six 8 and 9 year olds, and the first evening and morning before the campers got there, she was quite upset and discouraged. She doesn't enjoy working with little kids. The Lord helped her deal with it, though, gave her a change of heart, and by the time they got there she was ready. She had great kids and a great week. The last morning, she felt an urging to sign up for another week. She continued to pray about it, and a day or 2 later in her quiet time, she felt she received a confirmation from Him that she should go back. So, she will be finishing up this week tomorrow. I do know that this time she got older girls. I am very interested to see how this second week went. I never would have thought camp would make that much of a spiritual difference, but the counselors who are there to make a difference, really do. I know Ashley has had an impact on some of these girls. Many times when they are in that 12-14 age range, they are becoming more serious about their questions about God, and they really look up to the counselors. She has had a few share serious home or school situations with her, and had the chance to pray with and for them. I am interested to see what type of impact this week has on Briana's life, too.
Yesterday morning, Marissa went to stay with my parents. The plan is for her to be there 5 nights. Three is the longest she's ever stayed with them. She was so ecstatic. Bed time will be the hardest for her. She is used to sharing a room, and has a hard time going to sleep when she's not. Plus, you tend to get more homesick at bedtime. Otherwise, I know she'll have fun. They plan to go to the pool a couple of days if weather permits, they've rented 5 movies, I'm sure they will go out to eat one night, and no telling what else they will come up with.
Ashley is here, but I don't seem to see her a whole lot. She doesn't tend to be my biggest noise maker!

Unless, she and Briana are in silly moods, that is. Yesterday she was gone almost all day, visiting a friend home from college. She is also doing some writing and studying, so during that time she's hidden out in her room (desperately seeking quiet on normal weeks!). Tonight she will go to her Bible study.
So, yesterday, it was pretty much just Daniella and me. I read her some Bible stories, and we worked on her phonics for about 15 min. She played a computer game, and I helped her with her scrapbook. She did 5 pages in it. She's not too much into embellishing, so it's not too hard to help her. Half of the pages, she just wants pictures and maybe a couple of stickers. Some pages she will add some strips of paper. It still takes a while for her to get the pictures cut. She spent a good deal of time listening to children's praise music on her headphones, while she looked at books. She played with her Duplo blocks for a while, and last night her Daddy helped her build some more with them. He's taking her hiking one afternoon. Saturday she has a birthday party to go to for a little friend who's turning three.
The next few days should be pretty quiet as well, except for a while tomorrow afternoon when Briana gets home. I miss my girls, but it's also been a nice quiet time. By Monday, I'll sure be ready for Miss Marissa to come home, though.
If only I could get this thing to quit talking.