Monday, July 23, 2007
I'M BAAAAACK!!!
Did you think I had dropped off the face of the earth? YIKES....I can't believe how long I let go by without blogging. We moved onto the campus and lived in the dorms for the summer while working camp. Our days were long and our schedule crazy...I just didn't have time to get on here...BUT I am BACK and pictures will come soon!

Our last set of campers left on Friday, we had our staff banquet Saturday night, worshiped together yesterday morning and then took the staff through the ropes course. We finally moved back into our own house last night at about midnight. So much happened in the past few weeks that I would LOVE to blog about, but right now my brain cannot wrap around the words to describe it all. However, I can't let camp come and go with no blog about it, so bear with me as I try to form the words to describe the events and emotions of the past month or so.

Camp is a unique experience every summer. They are all similar but always unique. This one was especially unique as it was in a new state, on a college campus, with a coed staff, AND with my family (camp with two of your own children is VERY different). Oh yes, and I cannot forget that I have about 12 more years on me than I did my very first summer. I LOVED getting to see all the campers and watch their lives changed. I loved getting to watch our year worth of planning come to be. I loved meeting the staff and making friends that will last a life time. The smiles, the laughter, the life changing decisions, the tears, the hard work...it was amazing.

However, I must admit that I am glad to see the end here. I am tired and worn. I have been fighting a nasty cold for 10 days and at camp you can't stop for a cold. I am on some pretty strong antibiotics and hopefully a little rest and some more of those drugs and I will be back to myself again soon. I am also glad to see the summer come to an end because I miss my girls! As a homeschooling, work at home mom, I am NOT used to having them away from me so much. I have missed all of our special one on one time. I plan to make up for that a lot in the next few weeks! :-) I must admit that I have also dearly missed my husband. In some ways we have spent a lot of time together, but it has been a lot of time spent as "sails passing in the winds," LOL. We were lucky to eat 3 meals together a week and then when we would finally see each other for a longer period of time it was usually when we were both on stage in a drama or walking the boys dorm at night to lay down the law about lights out. I have 3 days to spend with him before he flies around the world to do a teaching and recruiting trip in China for 2 weeks. Those two weeks can't go by fast enough. After the last 6 weeks I am ready for our little family to settle back into our routine and get back to normal.

There have been some highlights worth mentioning from the summer though. First was seeing how well Culture Camp went. My title was actually culture camp director and it was amazing to see things go so smoothly. I really think the kids enjoyed it AND learned a lot. Shaun if you read this, I am SOOOO sorry you burnt your fingers. It was my worst culture camp moment of the summer...I still feel bad even though I know it doesn't hurt anymore! "SonJay is very nervous" will always be a favorite quote of mine now buddy! Getting to lead the Indian worship service and give every child at camp communion Indian style was AMAZING! I will never forget how special it was.

Another great moment of camp is my new all time FAVORITE Live-It story. Blake and your campers belly button tricks was a first! I SO wish I could have seen him making happy and sad faces with it. As I type I am sitting here laughing again...I will NEVER forget that camper!

Oh, and Miss. Alicia, I won't forget your first cabin who wouldn't look at me after I was Satan in the first drama. For the ENTIRE week this cabin would run if they saw me! To top it all off one of them announced to all the girl campers "Don't trust the worship leader, she is really Satan" at culture camp. I don't think I will EVER live that one down!

I must say putting our brand new ropes course to use and having EVERY camper at camp go across except one was a high point! Getting to spend 5 hours out on the course working side by side with Clark and seeing so many campers who didn't think they could do it make it across was pure joy! I will never forget the very first camper to go across was the one who said all week that we would never get him up there and then once the day came he was harnessed up and climbing the ladder before anyone else. It made me want to cry! The ropes course is one of my favorite places to be! I can't talk about the ropes course without throwing out a BIG THANKS to Bruce (my favorite ropes course builder ever)! It was such a blessing to get to work along side you and watch it come to be! You are AWESOME!

Two very personal highs of the summer had to do with my girls! I "sent" Melisa off as a camper for the very first time! She was in our baby cabin for the first week of camp. As I passed her cabin all week long I was so proud to see my big girl! She was in a very homesick cabin, but was so sweet to encourage the campers and thrive around all the tears, LOL. It was surreal to see her walking around as a camper!! At the end of our final day of the final week she came up and told me that God had talked to her at camp and she said "God has told me it's time to do what matters and start telling my friends about Him." Could a Mommy be more proud??? The second high was watching Cali start the summer as a shy little Boo. But now she can't wait to leave our apartment in the morning and go see everyone. During pre-camp she hid behind me and wouldn't even look at anyone! Now, she goes to everyone on staff as though they are part of the family. Once she broke out of her shell she hasn't looked back! She even loves to get on stage and "sing" for the campers now! Watching both of my girls grow so much this summer was a big thing!

Well, I have probably bored you stiff with all of my talk about our summer at camp. If you made it this far, thanks for reading my thoughts. It really was a wonderful summer but I am glad to be back at my own house! It will still be a few more weeks before life gets back to normal though. TOMORROW is Melisa's 8th birthday and we are going to a waterpark to celebrate (her party will be in 2 1/2 weeks). On Thursday (our 9th wedding anniversary) we will drop Clark off at the airport and he will fly to China for the next two weeks. He is going to be recruiting for the University and teaching English at a partner school. While he is gone we are going to stay busy. A dear old friend from middle school/high school is coming to spend a week with us and then the girls and I are flying home to spend a week with family! We will all be back in town and start to get back on a normal schedule on August 10th! Until then, bear with me as I may be in and out! :-)

  posted at 1:34 PM
  Comments (0)


0 Comments:

Post a Comment

<< Home



About Me

Name:
Michelle


I am a working wife and mom who also homeschools. I am blessed beyond measure with a loving husband and two awesome little girls. I am a child of God and live to serve Him. I will be sharing about the adventures He takes me and my precious little family on! :-)

My Complete Profile


Daily Bible Verse

Links
  • Clark's Blog!
  • Peanut's Space
  • Clark's Space
  • Team Jeju BLUE's Home Page
  • My Family Home Page

  • Blogrolls



    Recent Posts

    Search


    Archives

    Miscellaneous

    Credits
    Blog Design by:


    Powered by:


    Site Meter:


    Site Meter