On Monday morning I dropped my 10 yr. old daughter off at camp. She is staying in a cabin on a small lake with 11 of her girlfriends (I have to say I am a little envious).
The camp offers swimming, fishing and several "theme night" activities such as: Mexican Fiesta night, Board Game Night, Olympics Night and Rock Band Night.
The best part however, is that this is a Christian camp so the kids are singing worship songs and hearing bible teaching along with quiet time to connect with God through His word and their journals (now I am REALLY envious! lol).
I am so grateful that Cece is able to have this experience. When my oldest daughters were her age we didn't know about this camp so they went to a different, secular camp. Fortunately I saved the letters they wrote (along with every other note my children have written me) while they were gone. These notes and letters are even more precious to me now that they are grown (19 & 21).
So here, in their own words, are the experiences of my little campers:
These letters were written from Girl Scout Camp when the girls were in 2nd & 3rd grade:
Dear Mom and Dad,
I wish I could come home so I could eat your food. The food here is very gross.
And also I wish I could come home so I could flush the toilets.
I made a candle for both of you.
Dear Kids,
I miss you guys. Has mom called my name and then she figures out I'm not there?
I hope you are busy because I am really busy.
XOXO I love you all,
Lauren
Dear Mom, Dad and Kids,
Camp is great so far! I have met many people. I share a cabin with Lizzie, Olivia and Beth.
The showers are freezing and have bugs crawling on the walls.
The people who sleep next to us have to talk all the time. Well I passed the treading water test and I don't have athlete's foot or lice. I gotta go now.
--Jessie
Dear Mom and Dad,
Yesterday I got dehydrated and homesick so I threw up. Today I feel fine. I have a million bug bites (exagerated). We have a wasp nest in our tent but it's dead. Everything here is going wrong.
Kids,
It is fun here but you get too many bug bites. The food is really bad.
xoxo-Jessie
ps. keep writing
These next letters were written on a camping trip the girls took with their 6th grade classes:
Dear Mom and Dad,
Wildwood is really fun! Sarah thinks that Jordan likes me because he is always standing near me and talking to me. He also helped me fish when we went fishing.
Jordan caught a turtle and I got a picture. Melissa got a tic in her belly button.
You know those pants that are hippy type, well on Tuesday I got mud all over them because it was really muddy.
Our bathroom smells really bad because of the toilet. Well anyway the plumber found a dead mouse in the tube.
Oh by the way, the teacher snores! I can't sleep.
Well got to go!
I miss you all!
Love,
Lauren XOXOXOXOX
DearFamily,
Here I am at beautiful, out-in-the-sticks Wildwood.
The teachers bunk is right next to mine.
The food here isn't too good, only the dessert.
I can do the log dance, I will show you when I get home.
--Jessi
ps. tell the dogs I miss them a lot
pps. Becky hit me in the nose and I got a headache but I'm Okay!!
Dear Family,
I am doing just fine. On Mon. I got a bad headache but took 2 Advil.
On Tues. we went on the Adventure Challenge course and I got a headache.
I can't sleep because the people snore (not the teacher but Dana and Anna T.).
On Tues. I got a tick on my stomach and one on my armpit.
Well I gotta go eat dinner. Yum Yum!
--Jessi
Dear Family,
Okay, I don't think I ever want to come back here without being prepared.
On both Monday and Tuesday I got a headache and now I think I'm headached out!
On Tuesday, like I said I got ticks but I didn't have 2, I had 5! WOW!
The weather is very nice and I am going canoing this afternoon.
I bet if Jake has a ball game during my recital Dad would go to the ball game instead.
I have seen many animals here. I have seen frogs, turtles, pelicans and more. I went fishing but none of the fish took the food.
I will see you Friday.
~~Jessi
Like I said, I am so glad I kept those letters. They are priceless!
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15 comments:
They are priceless and precious! I totally enjoyed reading them. My kids have never been to a camp of any kind. sounds like they might be missing out!
How cute! Those letters are precious. My daughter, Brandi, has gone to a Christian camp every summer since she was 5. She's 15 now and went this year as an LIT. Next year she gets to be a leader. It's so good for them and she really enjoys her times at camp!
Krista
Out of the mouths of babes! :) Too cute, Kelley! Thanks for sharing such a sweet part of your family memories with us!
Prayers and blessings,
Rebecca
p.s. Nothing but compliments on my new blog--they just love what you have done!
Those letters are definitely priceless......:)
And now I am nervously checking my belly button and arm pits for tics....and thinking, "Where did I put the Calamine lotion and Advil?";)
And I need to call Shannon, frogs in the toilet is bad enough, I will not be able to deal with a mouse.:)
Great post, Mom!:)
God Bless,
Amy:)
Good Morning Kelley!
These are great. What fun it is to see life through the eyes of a child. Life is full of joy!
Priceless and Precious! I was tickled pink reading your kid's letters.
Took me back to my Girl Scout Camp Days when we could sing Cumbaya, and This Little Light of Mine. Can they still sing those at a secular camp?
Praying that Cece has a wonderful time and the Lord blesses her summer camp visit!
Cute!!! Can't wait to see what Cece writes you all. :)
I love them. Too cute! I know you're glad you saved them. Hope Cece has a great time at camp and you'll share her letters, too. *Hugs*
Ahhh Kelley...the aroma of fun filled camp days...such JOY...precious and
memorable letters to save...
Just me...inviting you to a special day on this FRIDAY! C'mon over and visit me and make my day!
That is so great that you kept those letters...definitely priceless.
I would love to be in a cabin on a lake with 11 girlfriends:)
Ok...I am definitely going to be keeping all the letters I get throughout the years from my babies...how fun to pull them out and re-read them a few years down the road! So sweet, Kelley.
Those letters are wonderful! I remember loving the food at camp. What kind of weirdo was I?!!
Kelley, OHMYGOSH--book idea: You could start each chapter with one of those and then segue off about it and how they're like our life experiences. Do our prayers sound like that to God! Precious but hilarious!
Truly priceless! I have learned from you and will save every note I get from my kids. So sweet!
I LOVE these so much! You make me want to go find mine from my kids. I love them SO much! Thank you for sharing them with me! I like Linda's book idea!
Much love, friend!
Angie xoxoxoxoxo
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