One of my favorite things about camp is how much I learn. I didn't go to church as a child and so I never learned the basic Bible stories that most church going children learn. Last year I loved learning about Joseph. I actually feel like I know a story from the bible. This year I wasn't as prepared. I knew a head of time from training what story the children would be learning and so I spend a few weeks before camp reading the stories myself so that I would be familiar with them. I learned this from my first year at camp when I realized that I was only hearing half of the story since we take a break and have a meeting while our campers are in chapel. I'm not sure that I could tell you what story we learned this year... I know we talked a lot about our past, our right now and our not yet, Peter, the Disciples, and how God changed some names. Oh, and how he wants us on His team. Maybe I just missed the mark this year.
This year was particularly challenging for my other half. She had two girls who were especially difficult at times and I'm astounded by how she handled them. I found myself thinking more than once this past week how blessed I am to have such an amazing best friend. I had a rough few days physically and she kept me going and was constantly checking in to see how I was feeling. By the end of the week when her girls were being especially difficult I was feeling better and I tried to step in more to help with them, though I don't know how much I succeeded. There were times where I had to stop and ask myself how she would handle the situation. I have some learning to do myself when it comes to using Love and Logic with children.
There are so many memories I have, and they fade so fast that I think this year I'll attempt to write them down...
- Making signs @ 10pm Sunday night, so sleep deprived from the night before that I hit my head on the ground while laying on my stomach trying to color.
- Laughing SO hard with Carolyn that I broke blood vessels around my eyes.
- Getting YELLOWED out for Amazing Race with all the girls from Room A.
- Staying in one spot for most of Critter Safari and having various girls bring me new salamanders after I drop one. Especially the one I dropped on the rock.
- Being a Fire Marshal for Juggler Chris while he juggled and hula hooped fire!
- Seeing Royal Leader J's face while he held on to his water gun as a Fire Marshal.
- Teaching Royal Leader B how to make bracelets during dorm time.
- "Catching" a 70MPH water balloon with my stomach through a hula hoop.
- Slip and sliding with my fellow counselors.
- The reverse dunk tank.
- Javalin Throw.
- Convincing Royal Leader S to participate in most events during the Olympic Field Games.
- Polar Bear Swim.
- Having an actual conversation with Royal Leader J while his counselor when to check on another kiddo.
- SNOT.
- Helping C build her creation at the wood working station.
- Canoeing with C.
- Walking REALLY fast to get said creation from other side of the lake so it could be painted.
- Riding bikes and doing bike repairs.
- Singing with C on the bus ride home.
- Sitting with Royal Leader S and talking about Polar Bear Swim and how he sat on the edge and still ended up with two bugs and saved his string from his donut.
- Dinner with Carolyn, Tommy, Tori and Jim! I think we laughed through half of dinner!
These kids are amazing. They face so many challenges in life and I feel truly blessed that I am privileged enough to get to spend a week with them each year. I am so sad that I have to say goodbye to more of them each year, but happy that more children have an opportunity to come and get the experience.
Now I'm back to reality and it's hard. Life outside of camp isn't as easy. Coming home is like a culture shock. It's a different world out here, and not I'm not so sure I like it. Until next year my Royal Family! I'll miss you.
