Lucas went with us one year, but this time, I took them myself. We left on Sunday after church and drove partway to Jacksonville, Arkansas, then the rest of the way to Ringgold, Louisiana, even arriving a bit early. The boys were a little disappointed because they had thought there would be a new and improved gameroom. But either they heard wrong or that project got pushed back. Still, it was good to be back at camp with familiar faces and some new friends from Cincinnati! We were pleased to find that we were in one of the super-nice new cabins with carpet(!) and two toilets/sinks/showers.
In the mornings, we all had a devotion time together down by the lake. Then the boys had classes after breakfast (the food is always so good!) and morning rally with a rapid recall competition. Chance didn't always want to participate in his class, so I did a lot of hanging with him instead of attending the adult classes. Then free time in the afternoon (zipline, rock wall, gaga, game room, canoeing, waterslide) and evening service after dinner. Finally, there's usually a special night-time event, whether a comedy skit (Who's on Pickin'?) or night-time zipline, or the carnival on the last night.
When I was outside the main service with Chance, I heard the phrase "train their appetite," referring to giving our children the taste for truth and life. I think of how kids who grew up eating international cuisine and salads and healthy foods have an appetite for that. In some ways, I feel like it's too-late to course-correct my boys' preferences. Alas. But it also got me thinking of how to train their appetites spiritually. Even though I didn't get to hear any of the evening sermons in entirety, that phrase has stuck with me.
Swimming at our hotel on the way
Our lovely NEW cabin!
Lots of air hockey time!
Always the first activity is the water balloon toss
First evening service!
Boat time together
Chance's first summer with a buzz haircut!
Snack shack fun!
We love the mini golf course!
Cheesin'
Nighttime watermelon
Nighttime zipline!
Boat time!
Carrying up the mat for the waterslide
Ready to go!
Downtime in our cabin
Sunset over the lake
Hanging on the porch during the service
Colson can make it to the top! Chance just liked hanging
In the gaga pit while the big kids weren't playing
Canoe time
My handsome boys!
We love the carnival on the last night!
Another great year!
Squeezing four in a bed at our hotel on the way home
