My Gray-Gray is HOME!

Like my favorite singer Martina McBride says in one of my favorite songs: "...that the sweetest thing that you'll ever see in the whole world is a happy girl!" And this was a cabin full of happy girls. To quote Gracie: "I had the time of my life!" When we pulled into cabin-world yesterday, her friends shouted out to her that her family was here. She came running out yelling "Jacky!" He ran to her and she picked him up and twirled him around. Sweet moment. Hickory Cabin soundoff - her two counselors are in the back in the blue tshirts - Skeeter and Krylon. In the middle row is Jenny, Shannon, Abby, and Mindy. Front row is Alaina, Katrina, G, Annie, and Madison. G and Katrina from Batesville became very close friends! G was one of the only campers who brought her camera, so she has tons of pics and videos that these girls made.

Here was the daily schedule: Up at 7:15, Time with God on the benches (a grove of picnic benches where they read scripture and had morning devos), breakfast, cabin activity, camp swimming, lunch, FOB (Flat on Bunk quiet time), Option (choice of activity), cabin activity, dinner, campfire devos, staff skit in dining hall. Chapter book story time before lights out. Some of the activities were archery, live Clue game, ultimate frisbee with the boys, sunset on top of Petit Jean, two mile hike to Cedar Falls waterfall. There is an ongoing building project outside the dining hall to build a retaining wall. They had just brought in a load of dirt and sand right before it rained for two days on Monday and Tuesday. Tuesday night after dinner, two of the counselors started a mud wrestling pit and all of the kids got to join in! That was a highlight...

Here was the group blessing at the closing yesterday. Gracie is in the green tie dye with the shorts covered in hearts. The guy with the guitar is Boss, or Chris, the director. He is the one who went to school with Dennis and Deidre.

And in true camp fashion, where you use what you have, a fitted sheet adorned the worship cross.

After many teary goodbyes and hugs (and one sixth grade boy named Robert who was especially interested in saying goodbye to Gracie...more on that later), we headed to the top of Petit Jean for a hearty Winrock burger. On our way up the mountain, Gracie realized she left something in the dining hall. She was VERY upset and demanded that we go back immediately. And I am so glad we did. My daughter made me something that I have vowed to keep forever. She painted this rock with my favorite Bible verse on it. She and I have talked about what this verse means to me, and I have this stenciled on my bathroom wall. I was so touched it brought tears to my eyes.

All in all, she had the best time ever. She said she learned a lot about being herself, her relationship with God, and setting goals. And Nate - if you are reading this - Gracie says you HAVE to go next year!