EFY in Gainesville, GA

So this year we finally sent the boys, Stephen and Lars, to EFY (Especially For Youth). They went to Gainesville, GA with their Oveson cousins, Randall and Jacob. Randall and Jacob came in on the night of June 28th, fresh from some camp thing and the boys came in the same day from a camp thing of their own and after church on Sunday the 29th we (the boys, Madelyn and I) loaded into the Excursion and drove up to Suwanee, GA, where my sister Louise lives. The boys got with Tucker and played Rock Band in their family room at least half the night and the girls (Madelyn, Lexie and Em) giggled and had a great time elsewhere in the house. The girls did gripe a bit about not getting to play Rock Band that night, but they had the rest of the week to play so they were ignored. The next morning I apologized to Patrick for how loud we all were the night before, but told him the really loud ones were leaving that day. He looked at me, totally deadpan, and asked "Really? Where are you and Louise going?" Nice... Okay, we are pretty loud. Anyway, we all loaded up, took Stephen for a much needed haircut then drove them the 30 minutes more up to Gainesville and left them. The only thing I heard from them all week came in the form of late night texts saying how awesome EFY was. Meantime, we all had a blast in Suwanee and surrounding. We went to Stone Mountain and climbed to the top then came down for the laser show on the mountainside. We swam, shopped, ate, walked, laughed, talked and just had a great time all the way around. Thanks Louise and fam for the hospitality!
On July 3rd the Baca's took off for the beach and Randy flew up to spend the 4th with Madelyn and me. We went and stayed in Gainesville and saw an incredible fireworks display at Laurel Park over the Chattahoochee River. You could see boat lights all over the river, then the fireworks then a big thunderstorm above in the sky. Randy captured the idea best with Man, Country, then God above. It was awe-inspiring.

The next morning we picked the boys up from EFY where all claim to have had a great time. Although Jacob won the $20 that Randy had offered at the first of the week to the one of the boys that danced with the most girls during the week! Go Jacob, he is also the youngest of the group! They had a great time and are ready to sign up to go to the same place again next year!
We celebrated picking them up and Stephen's 17th birthday by taking them out to a breakfast place the Baca's all love and it was a real hit with us as well! Then we made the long drive home. Fun week! We spent the last few days the boys were with us sending them all off to Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure and hope they will come stay with us again. We loved the whole week+ with them!