~4th and 5th of July~

Our fourth of July celebrations this year were pretty relaxed. We spent the whole day down at the bay, watched the children swim, soaked up the sun, and even got to take rides on one of the neighbors blow-up water chariot that was pulled behind their Jet-ski.

For lunch and Dinner we BBQ'd everything and after dinner we started planning for our trip up to Stephen's graduation from the Civil Air Patrol encampment where he'd spent the whole week. Priscilla and I stayed up till around midnight, packing food, making everything for his favorite homemade chicken garlic pizza, and Oatmeal raisin cookies, so we could have a picnic after the ceremony.

The next morning we packed up the van, did church on the way there, and arrived at 9:30. From our seats on the bleachers we couldn't figure out which of the 163 cadets was him, and we spent the next hour trying to be the first to spot him. The d cadets came parading over the hill in their different Flights, and I used the zoom lense on my camera to try and pick him out but couldn't find him anywhere!

The ceremony was about an hour long and they read a list of all of the accomplishments of the week, recognized the most outstanding cadets, flights, and senior officers, and listed off a few cadets who were to receive awards for their outstanding performances throughout the week. When they listed Stephen's name for the Honor Cadet award, we all gave an excited gasp! Mom had read about the award in Stephen's CAP magazine and had us pray every night while he was at encampment that God would help him be the most outstanding in everything and that they would pick him for that specific award (which was the highest award given out at encampment)

we were very thrilled and extremely proud of his accomplishments and so thankful to God for blessing him in such a way.

After reading off the awards, they did a pass and review where the cadets marched past the bleachers and finally, one of the twins spotted him. She turned around and excitedly said "there's Stephen! I see him Nanny!" I asked her where, and she pointed out this short guide-on bearer. I told her that wasn't him and he was taller than that, but she insisted it was him, so I looked again and sure enough... it was! Since all of the girls in our family from mom down, are under 5'5", we always thought Stephen was tall at 5'8", but seeing him marching there next to all of those other guys most of which were 6ft and taller, made him look a lot shorter. :)

When they were finally dismissed he made his way over to the sidewalk where they passed out the awards. We were surprised that they didn't hand them out during the ceremony but it was still exciting to see him get the award. After he saluted and walked off, we were finally able to give him hugs and tell him how much we missed him!

Alexis was so excited and wouldn't let him put her down! We posed for a group picture with him and his new award, and when the officer taking the picture heard how long Stephen had been in the CAP (6 months) he was shocked and amazed and told us "if he can win speech competitions, and receive this amazing award after only being in this organization for 6 months... than he can do anything!" We made our way home, ate our picnic lunch when we got there, rested up, and then headed over to our neighbors the Adams house, to watch the Havre De Grace firework show across the water.

God has truly blessed Stephen and even though we are going to miss him TERRIBLY when he leaves this Tuesday for the AF Prep School, we are excited for the great opportunities that he will have to shine even further.