The last few days of "Camp Mimi" were spent in Houston. My sweet daughter-in-law, Colleen takes a week of her vacation time to volunteer at Camp For All each summer to work with kids with muscular dystrophy. Julie got out of school for the summer on Wednesday of last week, and I left that afternoon to go help John with 19-month old Ainsley. I wish I had had my camera ready when John walked in his front door with her---she ran to the family room where I was sitting, and she yelled, "Mimi!!!" It was something I'll never forget! I have tried hard to see her every month or so since she was born, so that she would know who I am. Well, now I know....she does know who I am. Right away, she spotted my James Avery necklace and wanted to put it on. As soon as I put it on her, she ran out of the room. I asked John where she was going and he said into their bedroom to the full-length mirrors to see herself! Sure enough, the above pictures tell it all! She is already fascinated by jewelry.
She loves pushing her baby in her stroller and did this most of the time I was there.
She's just learning how to do puzzles. Her favorite piece: the farmer!
She found her dad's shoes in the family room, and took off running again! Where did she go? To the mirror in his room, of course! No, Ainsley, these will NOT fit!!
Just give me a few minutes to wake up.
On Thursday, Colleen's mom picked us up and took us to Camp For All near Brenham, so Colleen could see Ainsley for a few hours. We had a great day looking at this beautiful facility, which has visits from all kinds of handicapped children each year. Everything is handicapped-accesible with no steps or curbs of any kind, extra wide halls, large restroom stalls and showers. The activities there are much like the activities you'd find at any camp. One thing that impressed me the most is that all 95 campers had an able-bodied counselor assigned just to them to help them with everything!! 
Here is one of the beautiful cabins.
Every year, Macy and Marshall have a "joint birthday party" and ask for no gifts, but for some sort of a donation to a special cause. This year, they asked their friends to bring water toys for Camp For All. They collected many, many fun toys. It just so happened that the same week Colleen was at this camp, Sean was at Camp Tejas, just down the highway in Giddings, Texas. Julie and the kids went to spend two nights with him there, and came over to Camp For All also on Thursday. It was great that M&M could see the kids who were benefitting from their donations! Marshall loved fishing, although he didn't catch anything.
Colleen took us to the big tree house, which is made for kids in wheelchairs.
After eating lunch in the cafeteria with all the kids, Colleen took us on a golf cart to see the swimming pool, the farm animals (every kind you can imagine), the rodeo arena, the archery area, and lots of great things for all the campers. Macy rarely sits down to rest, but by the time we were finished touring, she curled up on a bench for just a few minutes. It was a very special day for all of us to see where Colleen spends a week every summer (for the past eighteen years!) It made me realize how lucky I am to have three healthy grandchildren. Thank you, God, and thank you, Leenie, for giving up a week away from your family to work for such a worthy cause.
Below, is a short video of Ainsley saying, "Macy, Marshall, San Antonio." It didn't end up where I wanted it on the blog and is not wanting to move where I want it, so it will just have to stay here at the end!
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