Girls Camp 2008

I've been home from Girls Camp for over 3 weeks now, and despite the slow down in my schedule, summer has been in "full swing" and it's been full of social events and family time.  So, instead of coming home and being filled with inspiring stories from camp-I've been busy living life outside the blogging world. So I'll settle for a list of things that comes to mind when I think back to camp-oh so long ago. :)

1. We had the most amazing group of counselors this year. Every single one of them we'd ask back in a heartbeat and we loved how focused they were on the campers.  Truly the biggest blessing of camp was the maturity level that these ladies possessed and it made a huge impact on how smoothly the week went for everyone.  I can't thank them enough for the gift of service and love that these women bestowed upon Girls Camp.

2. Our staff rocked.  The programming that these women put together was top notch.  Outdoor class with Carrie and Colleen was so great-the kids did everything from looking at lake water under a microscope to limboing at a Beach Party. Lana and Delaney-what great helpers you were too!  Crafts were fantastic (wooden birdFEEDERS and a storymat) and blessings to Christy and Mindy for putting up with endless hammering and gluing-headache anyone! Recreation really brought the crowd to their feet, literally. The dance to "Freeedom Freeedom" made every girl smile and dance and scream-It was the highlight of my camp experience this year.  Each one of these teams (Outdoor, Craft and Recreation) brought the message of Freedom in Christ to life and it was a joy to work with them throughout the year in planning and then so much fun to sit back and see the fruits of their labor-A LOT of Labor (one lost GPS) and endless amounts of love -Thank You!

3. Being Lecia's co-Director, this is a true gift.  I am so honored to be her friend. I am in awe of her talents, patience, prayer, honesty, and faithfulness.

4. At Girls Camp I am surrounded by an web of people who support me and teach me and inspire me. My deepest thanks to: Deann, Sandra, Miriam, Jeanne, Bev, Joseph, Stephanie, Ken, Tamara, Lisa, and, Dennis (oh, I'm sooo sorry for bugging you about my "dead" computer!).

5. Sarah brought to life the Word and gave the girls a special word, "Ezer" to hold onto. Thank you Sarah for being a powerful, life-giving, affirming, loving helper to EVERYONE at Girls Camp. Christ has set us free to live a free life-and I'm so grateful He brought you into the lives of each living soul at camp.

6. Krissi your pictures were beautiful-thank you for sharing your God-given gift with us at camp.  The slide shows were great with the mix of stills and video, you truly captured camp on "film."  

7. Every night when all was quiet, I walked up to my little mini retreat- called Osprey and just delighted in the beauty of my room and of Twin Rocks.  Warm showers at midnight...heaven.

8. Seeing Brynn love Amber so much - Amber, thank you for making Brynn's last year at camp-as a girls camper-so meaningful and fun.  To see my daughter have such a wonderful role model is the best gift you can give a mother.  

9. On the last night of camp, one of the campers was homesick for her mom. To make this story as simple as possible, after talking with her she and I raced back across the athletic field so she could rejoin her cabin group in the tents-she was smiling and laughing. This kind of interaction with girls is probably the most rewarding thing about camp. To be able to speak truth and love into a girl's heart and see her respond by going from tears to giggles-this is the reason I know God wants me at camp.  This is the reason why I spend endless hours in preparation for camp-because in the end, it all comes down to sitting on the back of my van with a camper and reassuring her of HIS love.  Thank you Jesus.  Let Freedom Reign.