A Week With Two Less

Kids that is, two less kids. Sunday evening we dropped Grace and Lee off at camp. They'll be there until Friday late afternoon. Grace attached herself to her bunk with pen and paper in hand getting to know the other girls in her cabin. She went as a loner, meaning she had no camp buddy to sign up with. Lee signed up with a camp buddy and he and the other boys from his cabin bonded by running, checking out the water's edge, having a pinecone fight, boy things. We left for home with two crying youngen's. Who says brothers and sisters have to hate one another?

We had so many ideas for the week, including:

• fishing on the pond


• boat rides


• baking and freezing tons of cookies and muffins


• reading lots of little kid library books


• having a campfire and roasting marshmallows


• have a friend over one day to play


• tent out in the yard

...all in hopes of distracting them from the fact the big kids are gone. Here's what we actually got done so far. I tore apart the boys' room and DH and I began painting. DH stained and just started varnishing the bunk beds. We did have family movie night last night and had a friend over for the entire day, Monday. The bubble tent was pitched in the girls' room Sunday night; Lou and Ray have been sleeping there every night. It's only Wednesday morning. We do have two full days and a long morning ahead of us to fit in the fishing and boating, but it seems like the time is just flying.

Lord, keep the campers and counselors protected by your loving arms. Help them to come closer to you this week through singing and crafting at camp. Allow for friendships to build and provide all with safe travels home. Amen

Send a Boy to Camp...

...and here's what happens.

• first you'll have to label EVERYTHING so everyone knows who the ratty old towel and past its prime pillow belongs to
• on the way to camp he will help you search for just the right gas station to stop at to pick up cream sunscreen and a disposable camera; it will cost $20; he won't use either
• he will come home with the brand new bar of soap still in its sealed box
• the ratty old towel will still be rolled and perfectly clean when he unpacks, as will the washcloth
• all the underwear will be used, but none of the clothing (try to figure that one out)
• try as he might to explain carpet ball, you will never quite get it, but he will remind you he was the grand champion and beat a 16 year old
• he will learn catchy camp songs that can only be sung at top volume, in the van
• he will hum the tunes the rest of the day so that they penetrate your mind and even when you want to fall asleep all you can think is: I like bananas, I think papayas are sweet, but nothing can beat the sweet love of God

And it's that sweet love of God that allowed him to have, quite possibly, the best 4 days of his life. Oh Lord, I thank you for camp counselors who give up their summer to do your work; I thank you for providing Lee with the perfect camp experience and taking care of him when I couldn't be there. Amen.