When the Kids are Gone to Camp

Then rain hit last weekend and pushed our baseball tournament a day later. Daddo and I just looked at eachother. We knew this meant one less day of camp. One more day of them at home. They played their game Monday night. Camp started that afternoon. I sent their stuff with another parent to make sure it got there and was sitting on their bunk. They were going by golly. We planned to transport the ball players to camp immediately following their game no matter how late at night it was. Then the lightening hit. We had 6 delays in the first 2 innings. Finally we got through the game in 3 hours, got the win, celebrated on the field and quickly loaded the campers in the car to transport. It was only a 45 minute drive to the camp. The other mom and I quickly delivered them to the front gate around 10:45 pm, called the counselor and dropped them off safely at their cabin. This was my younger son’s first time ever away from home this long. I tried to catch him outside the car for a hug goodbye but was relieved when he was walking much too fast down the sidewalk to the cabin for me to act concerned. I yelled ‘have fun boys and behave!’ I heard an ‘ok’ and ‘bye!’ from the darkness then heard the door close to their cabin. {And that is why there’s no cute heading-to-camp picture to add on this post.} 

At 9:20 that first night, I got a text from a parent who had sat behind my two boys at the evening service at camp and commented how well they behaved. I thanked him and was suddenly reminded where my kids were and I should probably check on them. Right? So I texted the counselor who stays with them and asked how they were doing. 

Then Daddo and I decided what better time to paint the back patio than 9:30 at night?! The littles were happily finishing a movie so we took our opportunity. An hour later it was done. We smiled with a feeling of accomplishment and proud of the finished product. Then I stepped in to check my phone. An hour earlier I received a message from the counselor that the boys were going strong, having fun and if I wanted to talk to them I could call. Haha guess they decided I wasn’t calling.  

Day two continues with a couple more projects, lazy breakfasts and cartoons, playing dress up and a trip to the ‘boring zoo’ according to my bigs who just happen to be GONE for two more days. 

Thank you church camp. Thank you counselors. I’ll never forget the feeling last year when my oldest returned from his first week-long stay away and I knew that the next time camp came around, I’d have TWO kids old enough to go. I also remember when my shy oldest son told Daddo in his soft voice that he had accepted Jesus into his heart while at camp. 

I know that the mom’s Project Week is also the camp’s Project Week of helping kids grow their personal relationship with Christ. While I’m home getting things done and spending time with my two younger kids, I know my older ones are being taken care of and loved by other Christian men and women. Honestly, that’s the only way I can feel as good as I do about my week of projects. 

As I head out to paint the front porch, I might send a quick text to check on my boys…… Nah, I know they’re in good hands. And I really want to get this job done before lunch time.