Camp

I love Children's Camp...I really love it and look forward to it each year. Our camp is at Falls Creek, which is near and dear to my heart because my grandpa was the director there a long time ago, and I have so many sweet memories there. Because we leave pretty much right after school gets out, it is hard for me each year to transition from school mode to summer mode. This year was pretty special because M got to go to camp...I can NOT believe she is actually old enough, but sure enough she is! This was my 9th (yes 9th....I am old) camp to take campers to, but my very FIRST one to SEND a camper to! And although Autumn and I both went to camp, I have a rule that while we are at camp, I am NOT mom and she is NOT my child...that's the way it goes, and we both did pretty good with those roles. It was kind of weird actually, because after the parent-camper meeting (which I was in charge of and wrote up all of the papers for), M went home and wanted to pack. Sure, that's fine...pack away. Yeah...that's fine until she starts to argue with me about what they were supposed to or not supposed to bring. "They SAID we couldn't do that!!" Umm....if you remember, I AM "they"! She did so good at separating me as her mom and her children's minister, that she forgot I am both! It was so funny how she did that, but it worked I guess!


It was kind of a weird couple of weeks for me before camp. I was struggling with some things and just having a hard time in life in general....it was hard for me to concentrate and get things done. Of course the Lord provided a way...he always does. Autumn ALWAYS does all of the behind the scenes work that nobody notices. Well, after 9 camps, people are finally noticing a little bit of how much Autumn does. My friend Emily was the other blessing HE provided. Emily was SUCH a blessing. She helped me in so many ways to get things organized, going shopping for everything, and just listening to me. Thank you Lord that you provide people to walk this journey with!

Emily and I had talked the night before camp as we were both packing, and we decided to bring some matching shirts, HOWEVER, we got these purple shirts that day, so Autumn and I wore them. We had no idea Emily had gotten the same shirt! The shirts are from supporting the house fm radio station...we had no clue Emily's family supports them and she would have the shirt...it made me very happy!

M did so good at camp. I was really expecting to find all of her stuff all over the cabin, to have to remind her to do things and I really wasn't sure how she was going to do in that setting. I was so so proud of her! She was so grown up, and she even showered AND brushed her teeth without me asking her too....my baby is growing right up!!! There is a memorial pavilion in honor of my mother at Falls Creek, but we didn't go take a picture by it! Emily even reminded us and we forgot!

I was so proud of all of my 4th and 5th graders. The first morning there, the Bible Study was about David and Goliath. David was a small boy whom God called to fight this giant Goliath. Of all the strong men, God called David, a scrawny, small shepherd boy. Why in the world would God want the little fella to fight the giant? I am sure David was a little doubtful...well...let's just say that I would be a LOT doubtful if I was David. I would be so scared and asking God over and over if he was sure that is really what he wanted me to do. But David faced the giant...gathered 5 stones and his slingshot, and hit that big man right in the head with one stone and brought him to the ground. Though most of the kids had heard this story before, Emily (she taught the Bible study) brought it to a more personal level. She asked them to share that day some of the giants that they face in their lives. A couple of them shared with the whole group, but most did not. As the day went on, very few had shared. They really didn't have time to think about it! So that night, we gave them some time. It was amazing and heart breaking to hear these kiddos pour their hearts out. They became so open and vulnerable.

From that point on, the focus went from the things that we were doing at camp to the things that we were learning and what God was doing in our lives. It was so so beautiful to see! yes, we still played volleyball, got icees, and such, but these kids were so open to what the Lord wanted to do in their lives....it was awesome!

Thank you Lord for this opportunity you gave me with these kiddos! I pray that we as adults would be that open and vulnerable to let the Lord do what he wants in our lives!