Okpik trip

No, it's not here or Alaska, it's northern Minn. and the Boy Scout trip. These are pictures of the two crews that the boys and Rick were on. There were lots of pictures and stories from the 29 Scouts, leaders and parents that went. It was the experience of a lifetime, especially for Ray as he had never flown or been anywhere cold. It made the Russians and the Ukrainian a little homesick for the ice and snow. I wish that we had a little more ice and snow here for their sakes. Raymond commented that southern winters are dreary compared to there. We just never knew any better. The Scouts had their Court of Honor the other night and the ones that went on the trip got patches for snowshoeing, sleeping outside for several nights and for the trip experience. They all 4 got a rank advancement and 3 or 4 merit badges each. I was very proud of them. Igor and Raymond are one step below Eagle Scout and are going to have to push in the next year if they're going to get it by their 18th birthday. I sat there, so proud of their accomplishments and amazed that in spite of their problems, handicaps and baggage, they still manage to do so well. I felt almost foolish for feeling it necessary to send the one off for residential treatment when he had managed to go on this trip and many others with out so much as a complaint from anyone. Not so at home most of the time. I still pray that we will find the right solution for him. Medication is definitly helping and I wish that I had started with it the week he came here. I worry about the long term effects but quality of life and self esteem, relationships and friendships, are as important as length of days and years. What good is it to live to be a healthy 100 years old if you hate yourself and everyone else? I guess that it is always true that hindsight is better than foresight but there are a lot of things that I'd have done differently with all my kids, adopted and birth. It is getting it right tomorrow that bothers me tonight. I read a blog tonight from a mom of a large ( very large) family commenting on how we need to let especially the adopted kids, unload their own baggage over time, not getting sucked in to the blame game by them nor feeling responsible for all their problems. Easier said than done. I'm always afraid that if I don't do something now, I'll pay later, and that may be the case. Thankfully, I know that God sent me each one and it sends me griping to Him quite often (not often enough, I'm afraid) to tell Him that He needs to let me know what to do before I screw them up even more than they already are. The first four that are out on their own now, (now hear this, girls) are great people, not perfect but nonetheless extraordinary, but it wasn't because I did such a great job, just because I know a great God who is merciful and full of grace. He doesn't give out what we deserve. So tommorrow I will go at it again and try to remember that it's not about me doing everything right every minute.