Jeanie's Special Needs Team

I got a picture of the team that Jeanie is helping to coach in Colorado. I was so proud of her and Jake. The team is made up of special needs kids and others. Jake helped her and had a ball.
Here is the e-mail she sent:

The pictures are from the Special Olympics softball team that Jake and I were involved with this summer It was by far the most rewarding thing I have ever done. Jake's buddy was Jason He is the tall one in the middle I think he has some form of autism (high functioning) Jake had some of the atheletes sign his hat and even got Jason's phone number
My little buddies were Kaylee (the one in the picture with me) and Gregory the bigger one in the front with the cute smile They were all so much fun to coach See you soon
Love Jeanie

Hope Lutheran Church, and homesite inSummit SD

MY FAMILY HERITAGE
My Grandpa ,Engebret Kampen came from Norway and settled in Summit SD. He returned and brought my Grandma Anna with him as his new wife. Summit is still a small town but in the middle of this little town was the Lutheran Church that my Mom and her family all worshiped. It was special for me to see that church. I remember going to church there when we went to visit my grandparents on vacation. We also went to the cemetary where they are buried, and saw some of my Aunt's graves also. I hadn't been there in about 43 years. The little town is kind of empty, but that church was a reminder to me that my Grandparents lived there and raised their family there.
It brought back so many memories of my Childhood.
( Including the two holer Outhouse !!!)
That is a BIG part of my Heritage ! I'm so glad I went on that vacation. I never know if I will ever get back there again but for me it was a Spiritual Experience.

My Sisters, Barbara, Mary, Susan And Me

The Utah Group !!

On Saturday we had planned a picnic at my Grandma & Grandpa Kampen's Old Homestead, The home has been torn down, but it is still a pretty grassy lot. Well The weather was real windy and rained all day, so we ended it up having it at the Natl. Guard Armory instead, ( my cousin Hubby Stacey, saved the day !!He also put up a big slide in there and the kids had a ball !! We also sang Karaoke and it was really fun. We had singing contests. Guess what The Dodson's ( My family) won !!
In 2010 the reunion will be held in Southern Utah in Mt. Carmel, I am so excited because my kids will be able to come !

The whole Kampen Family Group

We had a great time at the Family Reunion is South Dakota. My cousin Kristin and her family hosted it this year. What an undertaking! There we 57 people that came from all over the country. Me and Robin, my Sisters, Barbara Jerry her husband came, Mary and Stephen and her son Mitch and grandson Brad and granddaughter, Andilyn and her husband Brooks came.They live in Lincoln Nebraska. Also my sister Susan and her hubby Paul.
We had a Barbecue on Friday night at a Hunting Lodge which is a converted old farm house and it was so nice.It was great seeing all of my cousins and getting to know them better.
Each family group wore a different color t-shirt so we could tell which family each group was from.
Here is a picture of the whole group.