(I wrote this at the end of July. I'm posting it in September. It's just the way my life is right now.)
We just got home from 25 days at Rockbridge - Young Life's camp near Lexington, VA. We spent a short amount of time there in July 2012 and August 2014, but it's been since been since July 2010 that we spent a month long assignment there. It was like going home.
Ben served as Camp Director. It was a new role for him. It was definitely daunting as we walked into a team we really didn't know. We came home with people near and dear to our hearts. It was a gift to serve alongside gifted, kind people who love Jesus and love kids. This assignment was definitely different having older kids and being a little (or a lot) more free. I think I walked away most blessed by the other spouses on the team and by their kids.
I jotted down some things I want to remember. I asked Ben and the kids for their input too. So here goes in no particular order:
not living and dying by the camp schedule • David's shoes • Jen, Sara, Theresa & Susie • Charlotte & Ella • Knox & Clay • the kids party • blazing hot week 1 • the horse barn • Cash, Clyde, Millie & Nugget • the obstacle course • the Broadhursts visit • blueberry picking • WyldLife camp with Mary & Ted • a gaggle of kids under 7 • Scooty Berj • zip testing • wiffle ball • working in the office • House Mountain apartment • the Bergs and the Tuels fighting like siblings • Meredith's house • reading a book • a-team bible studies • tans • 50% night hangouts • loving the gospel • Ben & Tick • Sophie & David • Sarah's salsa • Joe's voice • Ben's feet • sore throats • front porch sitting • doing the zip line with Susie • swing with Ted • evening swims • safari park • no kitchen duty • daily snack bar visits • Sophie helping at the snack bar • sleepovers • wibit • cases of LaCroix • blowing the budget • milk on the counter • disney movies during bible study • jurassic john • watermelon swimming suits • swimming every single day • biggest camp ever (605) • Tick's wing sauce • Rhode Island brunch • fireworks by the dining hall • day 1 swings • walkie talkies • 6-8 miles per day • eating less than ever on assignment • ben rode a horse • the slides • barn shoes and smells • scooping poop • let the horses run
We just got home from 25 days at Rockbridge - Young Life's camp near Lexington, VA. We spent a short amount of time there in July 2012 and August 2014, but it's been since been since July 2010 that we spent a month long assignment there. It was like going home.
Ben served as Camp Director. It was a new role for him. It was definitely daunting as we walked into a team we really didn't know. We came home with people near and dear to our hearts. It was a gift to serve alongside gifted, kind people who love Jesus and love kids. This assignment was definitely different having older kids and being a little (or a lot) more free. I think I walked away most blessed by the other spouses on the team and by their kids.
I jotted down some things I want to remember. I asked Ben and the kids for their input too. So here goes in no particular order:
not living and dying by the camp schedule • David's shoes • Jen, Sara, Theresa & Susie • Charlotte & Ella • Knox & Clay • the kids party • blazing hot week 1 • the horse barn • Cash, Clyde, Millie & Nugget • the obstacle course • the Broadhursts visit • blueberry picking • WyldLife camp with Mary & Ted • a gaggle of kids under 7 • Scooty Berj • zip testing • wiffle ball • working in the office • House Mountain apartment • the Bergs and the Tuels fighting like siblings • Meredith's house • reading a book • a-team bible studies • tans • 50% night hangouts • loving the gospel • Ben & Tick • Sophie & David • Sarah's salsa • Joe's voice • Ben's feet • sore throats • front porch sitting • doing the zip line with Susie • swing with Ted • evening swims • safari park • no kitchen duty • daily snack bar visits • Sophie helping at the snack bar • sleepovers • wibit • cases of LaCroix • blowing the budget • milk on the counter • disney movies during bible study • jurassic john • watermelon swimming suits • swimming every single day • biggest camp ever (605) • Tick's wing sauce • Rhode Island brunch • fireworks by the dining hall • day 1 swings • walkie talkies • 6-8 miles per day • eating less than ever on assignment • ben rode a horse • the slides • barn shoes and smells • scooping poop • let the horses run
Camp Director:
Ben Tuel
Ben Tuel
Laura, Ted (12) & Sophie (10)
Camp Speaker:
Joe Marks
Virginia, Hannah (WC), Emmet (camper) & Will (leader)
Program:
Carter Riner
Sarah, Brentley (7), McKenna (5), Knox (3) & Ella (1)
Dave Harris
Jenn, Cate (7), Annie (5), Clay (3) & Charlotte (turned 2)
Head Leaders:
Steve Rawls
Teresa, Halum (5), Clara Grace (3) & John (turned 1)
Shanita Mickie
George, Georgie (5)
Summer Staff Coordinators:
Tiont (Tick) Williams
Janae, Amaia (3)
Becca Covington
Work Crew Bosses:
Scott Berg
Susie, Emma (16), Mary (13) & David (9)
Conner Burton
Alyssa Forrest
Katie Shaublin
Heather Sergio
There were two sets of kids. The 9 years old and over crowd:
The Tuels & The Bergs - Mary, David, Ted, Sophie and Emma
And there was the under 7 crowd (12 total; one week there was 15)
The Harris', Riner's, Rawls' & Georgie
Either way, there was a lot of kids. It worked out so well. The bigs played and helped with the littles and it really was a lot of fun!
Knox & Clay (both of them are 3 years old and each have 3 sisters!) were big fans of Ted.
After helping make food for the a-team party, the kids decided to use leftovers for a "Kids Only" party. Ted DJ'd and Sophie did face painting. A good time was had by all.
The parents enjoyed some uninterrupted porch sitting during said Kids Party.
There were two sets of kids. The 9 years old and over crowd:
The Tuels & The Bergs - Mary, David, Ted, Sophie and Emma
And there was the under 7 crowd (12 total; one week there was 15)
The Harris', Riner's, Rawls' & Georgie
Either way, there was a lot of kids. It worked out so well. The bigs played and helped with the littles and it really was a lot of fun!
Knox & Clay (both of them are 3 years old and each have 3 sisters!) were big fans of Ted.
After helping make food for the a-team party, the kids decided to use leftovers for a "Kids Only" party. Ted DJ'd and Sophie did face painting. A good time was had by all.
The parents enjoyed some uninterrupted porch sitting during said Kids Party.
We celebrated John turning one and Charlotte turning two.
Apparently watermelons are all the rage this year.
Sophie and David spent 5 days together when I took Mary and Ted to WyldLife camp. Susie says they could live long, happy lives together and are very compatable!
Steve Thompson came for a visit and John snuggled right up.
Susie and I spent our days together - a lot of it by the pool. It was reminiscent of our first assignment together when Ben and Scott did first did program in 2001. This woman is a dear friend. I love that our families are friends. Our kids fought like siblings this month. The age gap with the girls was a little more evident this year, but it worked. And I'm thankful for that.
They allowed us to test the zip line every day. So that was a fun bonus.
The secret to doing the screamer swing and climbing wall is Day 1 before campers know it's there.
Wiffle ball for the win. Always.
We went blueberry picking,
fishing,
and sunned ourselves.
We greeted campers,
helped in the snack bar,
and lived our best life in the tiny hot pool.
Day 0 dinner.
Amos came for a visit.
We took the big kids to the safari park and fed animals out the window. It was fun until the A/C broke and then everyone got cranky. The real feel was still over 100 that day.
The Broadhursts came for an epic visit!
Ted did the obstacle course with the guys cabin from Hundred.
We had a couple of days of massive laundry folding for campers.
Emma & Joe talking medical things
Rhode Island Brunch may be my favorite meal.
Sophie's find for Susie.
We had been at camp approximately 3 hours when David wrote "Best Day Ever!" on our chalkboard. It stayed there all month.
I'm pretty sure that sums up the month - every day was our best day ever.
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