And then there was camp...

In the spirit of chronological order...I now will tell you just little bit about the next event of July. Kyla was FINALLY old enough to go to camp. I say it like that because she has bothered me about camp for many years now. You know, those comments like - "When will I EVER be old enough to go?" and "Mom, is THIS the year that I can go to camp?"

This was THAT year...and for the first time I allowed one of my children to really travel without me. It was a leap of faith, but one that wasn't as hard as I thought it might be. It helps that several of the adults going knew me and knew Kyla well. My biggest concern was over the stitches in her chin...see the last post if you don't know what I'm talking about...but that was one of Kyla's biggest concerns too. It helped me knowing that she was taking her 'injury' seriously...she wasn't just going to get there and act carelessly. So on a Monday afternoon, the kids hit the road and traveled to the Highland Lakes Encampment on Lake Travis.

I sent Kyla with a disposable camera and I have had many laughs at the pictures that she took. I had forgotten what is memorable and picture-worthy in a 9 year old's mind. There were a lot of pictures of friends making silly faces, which I expected, but there were also pictures of her bunk, the snacks that I packed in her bag as a surprise, and some blurry photos of the cafeteria food. I thought I would share a few of them with you as well....

Kyla's bunk - ready made & The surprise snacks

The CrossPoint flag & Camp friend - Lexi

Camp Friends & Mrs. Michelle - CrossPoint's Kidz Pastor

I wasn't filled in on EVERYTHING that happened at camp...for instance, today...almost a month later...I just found out that she participated in archery! But I do know that she earned a little extra pool time on the days when she couldn't play in the lake, and their entertainment was a FABULOUS Christian ventriloquist. She came home looking a little bit older - you know, like a girl old enough to go to camp. And now I have another girl in my house asking the same questions I have been hearing for so many years. Summer wants to know - "How much longer until I can go to camp!?!" ......Here we go again! ha!

July...in order of occurance....

OK - part of why I haven't posted is because I like a certain order to things. If you have any doubt about that...ask my Mom about the order that I like pictures in...even the ones still in their paper, just-from-the-photo-lab sleeves. Yes, I'm guilty, I even like to keep those in order! So, I found it hard to have soo many pictures from the month of July...some digital...some not...and even a few on a disposable camera (Kyla at camp). I think that I am ready to begin to tackle the task at hand...and will begin to describe to you our July -- now that it is almost August. ha!



The month of July (really the end of June) began with an injury...and I can preface it with the phrase "Texans shouldn't ice skate!" Some of you might remember our post from last summer (you can look at the archives to see it if you don't). Our church kidz group went, once again, to an iceskating complex for a few hours of fun. Well, we were ready to 'beat the heat' at the rink, however, less than 20 minutes into our fun on the ice I had a child who needed 5 stitches to close a laceration in her chin! Not exactly the way we envisioned the day going.

Fortunately, our friend Teri was on the trip too and she drove Kyla and I to a local minor emergency clinic and other friends kept an eye on Summer at the rink --- Luke was with Granny Gerry at the house. Kyla was stitched up and we were back at the rink before it was time to go...we even had time to eat our pizza. But Kyla informed EVERYONE that she was not going to get back on that ice - EVER AGAIN! We'll see if she changes her mind in the coming years...let me just say that I won't be encouraging her anytime soon...but I don't guess I'll discourage her either.

Photo taken the day Kyla left for camp

She was supposed to leave for camp in less than a week and we were concerned that the stitches might put an end to that, but the doctor cleared her to go as long as she stayed out of the lake. The pool was o.k....she just said that there was too much 'junk' in lake water. I found it ironic that one of my biggest hang-ups about my first child going to camp was that I wouldn't be there to protect her from harm. God has a sense of humor...because I was probably 10 feet away from Kyla when she fell on the ice and split her chin open. I was there and it didn't make a bit of difference...she got hurt anyways.



I'm not saying that God hurt her on purpose...but He did allow it happen...and it taught me a valuable lesson in the process. There is no invisible force field that protects our children when we are near them...ha! It also allowed Kyla and I an opportunity to pray and trust God in her care because she REALLY didn't want to get stitches. We prayed most of the way to the clinic and we prayed several times in the triage room. Kyla was a little upset when I told her that even when we got up that morning, God knew this was going to happen. Her response - "I wish He would have TOLD me!" I love the transparency of kids - how often do I feel the same way!?! But, I think once we talked it through she got my point - NOTHING that happens to us catches God off gaurd - and we can take comfort in that fact! He isn't standing there wringing His hands in worry...He is standing there with His arms around us...ready to comfort us and give us the strength we need to get through the moment!