Camp Clark Survives The Storm

Thanksgiving is a time to reflect on how grateful and thankful we are for our family, our friends, our church, our school, our home and neighborhood, our country & freedom, and our health. However, the last week has been very challenging regarding our health. Unfortunately, our entire family was hit with a nasty virus and right over the Thanksgiving break. Thankfully, we are finally at the tail end of the recovery process and just in time for the kiddos 8th birthday celebrations coming up this weekend. We had no idea my "cold" I caught the Monday before Thanksgiving would end up being the ugly virus it became. Worse yet, it ended up being shared with those we love most! So very sorry to our loved ones! We truly had no idea it would escalate like it did. We hardly took any photos since we were all down and out and in our PJ's most of the holiday. On the bright side, at least we got to see all the grandparents and Uncle Ken and his children. Tis the season!

Dylan - 2nd Grade

Lindsey - 2nd Grade

Taylor - 2nd Grade

Thanksgiving at Papa & Grandma Kemmet's

The End of America - 11/6/2012

It is with a very heavy and sorrowful heart that I write this blog post. However, I feel it is extremely important to document this moment in history, for our children's sake, the time when America took a final, wrong turn for the absolute worse. They will never know the America we once knew and were privileged to grow up in. Since this is our blog,  we can say whatever we want without people personally attacking us or spewing liberal bias like we hear every day thanks to the mainstream media. YES, we are conservative, YES we are Christians and YES, we try to live by God's words as written in the Bible.  What we say NO to is BIG government and stealing from hard working Americans to pay for government and entitlement programs, NO to massive spending rather than living within our means, NO to increasing taxes on hard working, successful Americans and entrepreneurs, NO to crushing capitalism and creating class warfare, and NO to allowing illegal immigrants to cross our borders, VOTE and get government handouts; get in line like the rest of the immigrants who are coming here legally! Let me just say this, AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!! 

We are INCREDIBLY upset and thoroughly disgusted with our country, so much so that we feel sick to our stomachs and are having a hard time grasping it all. How clueless can Americans really be? Where did our values go? When did we give up standing strong for God's word vs. live by our own personal beliefs (vs. God's) and because it is 'culturally acceptable''? Let's see......abortion, birth control, government health care, ALL at the tax payer's expense (yet a very large percentage of Americans don't even pay taxes!), putting up with 'good enough leadership' that has made empty promises, failed us, lied to us and deceived us. AND at state level, gay marriage and voter photo ID amendments - all of this was at the forefront of voting decisions. Yet, here we have high unemployment, a declining economy, highly jeopardized foreign relations, increased illegal immigration AND a MAJOR deficit that our government has no problem sticking to our children AND they just keep spending.  How seriously messed up can one country be? God must be so disappointed!

Below is something a dear, respected friend shared with us I had to post. It perfectly captures the essence of our feelings and so many other hard working Americans who wonder 'what just happened here and now what'? Lindsey, Taylor and Dylan, we are SO sorry. We did what we could to protect you and reverse this path of the self-destruction that America is on. We will keep praying and keep our focus on Above. This life is so temporary and it is in God's hands. We take great comfort knowing we will all be saved to live together in Heaven for eternity.


"After turning off the election coverage and realizing the outcome, I wanted to take a few minutes and express my thoughts. I am sorry and a bit embarrassed to say that I simply no longer have hope about the future of America and how this country functions! If the majority of the people in this country have really decided that Barack Obama and his policies have done a good enough job to earn four more years as the leader of this once great and proud country I am no longer interested in following him, or this government. This election cycle was a cut and dry choice as to the direction of this country. In my opinion we have traveled over the waterfall and there is no possibility of recovery. I have lost all hope for this country and my patriotic spirit has been crushed. This evenings election results, and its long term ramifications, will be recorded as the turning point when the final chapter of this great democracy was written. Soon America will no longer be blessed as being the world's superpower. As history will look back on it, America had a pretty good 236 year run. Due to changing demographics in this country we are now on an irreversible journey. Today there is a large, growing segments of our population that have been given certain privileges and unsustainable social programs by politicians whom they have elected. This very powerful group of elected officials have seduced and manipulated these voters and will continue to reward them as long as they continue to harness their votes in future elections. Unfortunately my vote and my opinion are no longer relevant in this country. I, as a 53 year old male Caucasian that has struggled to support my family, no longer have a voice in this country. I am simply a source of income to fund various entitlement programs that were initiated with good intentions but have unfortunately spun out of control. This was expressed perfectly by an unknown author when they phrased it like this ... "We have transformed ourselves into a system of government where the least capable to lead are elected by the least capable of producing, and where the members of society least likely to sustain themselves or succeed are rewarded with goods and services paid for by the confiscated wealth of a diminishing number of producers." Read and re-read this statement and it's truth will become evident. I will continue to help my fellow man in a personal, one on one manner when I can, as opposed to watching a prostituted governmental system siphon off my earnings and pass them along to individuals I have never, nor will ever meet. I will more passionately pray to God asking Him to forgive what had become a morally bankrupt America and also ask Him to continue to bless this country, even though we have removed Him from increasingly more and more facets of this society. I have written and expressed these views because we are still in a country that allows freedom of speech protected by the Constitution. Unfortunately, like the founding fathers stated in the Declaration of Independence concerning our unalienable Rights of Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness, I fear this privilege will also be only a memory."

Halloween Weekend Fun!

This past weekend was perfect with nothing planned except sharing quality time together, relaxing, snuggling and enjoying the festivities of the Halloween season. The kids enjoyed carving their pumpkins in preparation of the big night this week. LTD are SO proud of their creations (with a little help from mom and dad) and the jack-o-lanterns  are now glowing brightly out on our front step. The neighbor kiddos and a few classmates pitched in over the weekend to help Dave collect firewood and finish the firepit area in the backwoods behind our home. They all did a fantastic job and last night we hosted a bonfire and invited some neighbors over to enjoy a lovely evening outside under a sky lit up with bright stars and gorgeous full moon. Even Milie the cat joined us :)

Taylor's Cat Pumpkin

Lindsey's Owl Pumpkin

Dylan proud of his Ghost Pumpkin

Showing off their creations

Glowing brightly at Camp Clark

Football Season 2012

Prior Lake Flag Football season 2012 is now finished. If you ask Dylan, his team (the Gophers) "won". In fact every week, they "won" in his and his teammates eyes :) It was a super fun season for both Dad and Dylan. Dylan had a blast practicing and playing one of his favorite games with his buddies. He was awesome at defense and getting lots of flags but he was also a really good running back (ok, so I am biased). Dave thoroughly enjoyed co-coaching and creating and calling the plays. Although, he couldn't quite understand why 2nd grade boys didn't always follow the play book to the "T". Hmmm... "now why did they go left whey I said go right"? Mom and the girls enjoyed cheerleading on the sidelines and in fact, I believe my loud cheering may have startled a few people around me. A grandpa standing next to me one Saturday commented that I had a "solid set of lungs on me". Yes, I do :) I get that from my mom and brother and all the years we cheered on the BHS Demons, the Vikings and the Twins! GO DYLAN!!!!

In Memory of Papa Egg

One year ago today, our family had to say goodbye to an amazing man, our Papa Egg. We love you and miss you SO much, Papa! Although you are not with us here on earth, we have faith and take comfort knowing you are in Heaven watching over all of us, especially mom (aka Grandma Good). Instead of being sad, we want to remember all the cherished moments we were privileged to share with Papa. 

We remember with great fondness your smile, your infectious laugh, your crazy jokes & humor, your matter-of-fact attitude, your tasty meals and baked goods, your knowledge of trivia, your love of farming and the countryside, your love of reading, your impressive dancing skills, your amazing memory, your knowledge of politics and point-blank honesty about those "less informed and oblivious to reality" (aka Obama, liberals), your patience and respect for door-to-door salespeople :), and most importantly, your boundless love of your family and of God.

You were a father who really cared and took interest in our lives and showed us all the true meaning of hard work, honesty, integrity and the importance of developing and maintaining solid values and principles to guide our life.

We look forward to the day we are all reunited in Heaven; no health problems, no worries, no sadness - only overwhelming joy and peace. Until then, rest in peace and save a place for us. Lindsey, Taylor and Dylan are convinced you and Shaq are together waiting anxiously for our arrival :) The Best is yet to come, indeed!

Apple Orchard

We are absolutely spoiled with this amazing fall weather! This past weekend was so gorgeous and we spent a great deal of time outdoors soaking it in. Sunday we treated the kids to an afternoon at the Minnesota Harvest Apple Orchard in Jordan. They have such a quaint orchard with lots of activities including apple picking, wagon rides, live music, apple slingshots, a corn maze, pony rides and a petting zoo. Or should we say "biting zoo". The donkey decided Lindsey's fingers looked like a tasty snack (in addition to the other 4 children she nibbled on). A little drama since she pierced the skin on L's fingers but it's all good. The donkey was happy Taylor sacrificed the cob of corn she had grabbed from the corn maze. After she saw how hungry the donkey was, she gladly shared it. 

It was a perfect day and we now have a BIG bag of fresh apples to make caramel apples and apple pie and some pumpkins to carve & add to our Halloween decor outside.

Here are a few photos from our day but as always, feel free to check out our Shutterfly link for lots more. 

Happy Fall to all!