A taste of camp

My daughter and I spent 24 hours at Taste of Camp early last week. Our camp offers week-long sessions throughout the summer for kids who have completed 1st grade through high school. My son and our niece will get to spend a week there in about a month. My daughter is just out of kindergarten – so she is able to spend one day there with a parent. The kids and parents learn about and experience camp with the hope, of course, that the kids will be so excited they will come back in a year and spend the whole week!

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Our human time line

There have been a few events lately which have forced me to think about life and the passage of time.

As this writing posts, I will be arriving at a 24-hour “Taste of Camp” with my six-year-old daughter. This is the camp where I learned that it is okay to share my thoughts about faith with a group of strangers. This is where I spent my summers during college, where I met my husband, where I met some of my closest friends. This camp had a huge impact on my life, and continues to be a special place of ministry for my family – and now my youngest child is old enough to actually attend!

Seeking Our Place

My little family just ended a week together, complete with air travel, lines at local attractions, and hotel room stays. Everything went perfectly – I wouldn’t change a thing! But when you spend this much time with your kids, bickering is inevitable! They had silly arguments about who gets to hold the suitcase, who gets to push the elevator button, who gets the window seat on the plane. I watch this with frustration – I’m sure all parents can relate! But I also watch these petty interactions with confusion. Why argue about such ridiculous little things with this person who loves you, who has your back, who is a core part of your closest community? Is it SO important to push an elevator button that you must sacrifice a peaceful family relationship! Why make it so difficult?!

We just need a break!

My family is ready for a break… a break from work, a break from school, a break from soccer. It is no longer fun to rush in and out of the house from one event to another! We are grumpy with one another; quick to snap back a response. We are doing what we should do, going through the motions – but moving too fast to stop and really listen to each other!

Choose Love

It was a struggle to write something this week. It’s been busy, sure. But every week (and everyone) is busy – so that’s no excuse.

Grounded

A memory appeared in my Facebook feed this week. Six years ago I wrote:  “If this baby was born as early as my son was born, she would have arrived last Saturday. So, I still have 2 weeks to go – but have been pregnant longer than I was the first time!” Now, I doubt anyone really cared about this little piece of information, but I certainly did. I cared a lot! I was gigantically pregnant and counting down the days!

Simply Say “Amen!”

I am a chronic planner. When my universe is out of order, I am easily overcome by stress and anxiety. It isn’t necessarily the busyness of life which is stressful, but the sense that I’ve lost control of the busy.