We just got back last night from a long family weekend away. We returned to a place very special to me. I worked out at this camp 16 years ago. It can’t be that long, but I did the math twice, and that’s what the calculator says. I just had a service job. I cleaned dishes and toilets, and helped out in a number of jobs. It still holds my heart as my favorite job ever, besides the one I have now. My “bosses” back then still work there now. Really, they were more like mentors with high expectations than bosses.
In the last 16 years, the camp has continued to grow, and has had a chance in recent history to expand their property on the lake, and take on new campers. Silje and David have had a chance to go multiple times, and next summer will be Elias’ first chance to go by himself. I have been able to attend their quilting retreats in the spring twice, though it doesn’t always work out for me to go. This place is a sanctuary for me, and I hope will be for my kids as well.
3 times a summer, they hold a family camp, where whole families can rent cabins and stay out there. Since we normally go down to Arizona to visit my family for vacations, we haven’t done this, as we can’t exactly do 2 vacations a year. But Elias and Solveig really struggle with carsickness, and we decided to let them get a big older before we take the big road trip again. I hope next year. We need to figure that out because my sister and her family are moving from Phoenix to San Diego, and so now our family will be split. So it’s very likely our next family vacation will be in San Diego. We just haven’t even gotten to the point of discussing it, so we’ll see. My brother lives in California too, and has just flown to meet us at my parents in Phoenix when we go. But now with 2 siblings in California, that may be our new meeting place. Then again, I’m longing to go to South Carolina these days too…but that’s another long story. We also have plans for a trip down to Florida, as we have family dotted the whole way down there, and the same out to Oregon. Not enough time…not enough time.
At any rate, we decided to spend our vacation differently this year, and we spent a long weekend out at Bible camp, for the first time as a whole family.
–I was blessed that the little ones actually slept well, in beds that were not their own, in a strange place. Well, Ingrid woke up early most days, but overall, we slept. That was my main concern.
–I was so blessed to sit and eat full meals prepared for me. With the food prep and dealing with the garden produce this time of year I was longing to leave the kitchen and just not look at it for a few days.
–I was so blessed by sunsets on the lake, hearing loon calls, sipping tea, talking with old friends.
–I was so blessed with humility. Yes, humility. I had gone to one of the sessions on parenting, and afterward, went to go pick up the little ones from the nursery. Knut would have gone with me but was dying to go on the adventure course. I didn’t think my back could handle it, so I picked the parenting class. Anyway, I went to pick up the little ones since my class was done first. We started back to our cabin so we could get a diaper change for Ingrid, and put the other kids’ crafts there while we were eating. Elias didn’t want to put his craft there, and Ingrid wanted food, not a clean diaper, and Solveig was along, but not crying. She was too delighted with her craft.
I passed Silje on her way to the dining hall where we were all supposed to meet, and told her that if she saw Daddy, to tell him I’m at the cabin, and he needed to come help me. Ingrid had flung her body in such a way in my arms that my neck just hurt and I needed him to help.
She told him I was at the cabin, but forgot to mention I needed help. So Knut and Silje and David just got in line for lunch.
I got the diaper changed, through the screams, my head began to pound as I felt a serious headache coming on, and tears started to warm my eyes. I was more scared of how bad it could get then hurt. Elias was overtired, and I walked with the 3 little ones, slowly, slowly back to the dining hall. Knut didn’t come. As we got close, I was hurting so badly I just sat down and let Elias and Solveig run the rest of the way as they could see Daddy in the food line in the distance. (It was a picnic that day.) Ingrid was just screaming at me, and I just couldn’t will myself to go up to the line with so many tears in my eyes, and feeling so weak. I didn’t want anyone seeing me like this.
Thankfully, one of the amazing staff people saw me, and asked if she could help. Ingrid went straight to her, and she carried her over to Knut, and told Knut I needed some help. More staff jumped in to help Knut with the kids who all needed a cup or their food cut, etc.
My old mentor/boss came over to hug me for awhile, as I told her how much I struggled being weak in front of my kids, and other people. I told her how I just hated being limited physically like this, and I didn’t like having to constantly admit to people my weakness. I hate picking out which activities I think my neck can handle, and saying no to activities I love. She just spoke so much Scripture into my heart. She talked about how when we are weak, God is strong. She talked about God’s grace covering all, and how God is using my weakness to teach my kids the things they need to learn. He is equipping them through my weakness.
–I’m blessed that I have weaknesses, because my kids need to see that. They will be blessed through it.
–I’m blessed with the special moments I got with each of our kids while we were at camp. Knut got to take some canoeing, I got to take some to the slingshot range, David won the carpet ball tournament. The little girls spent hours at the playground and enjoyed some parachute games as well. I had a special moment with David when he just needed some prayer, and I got to point him to our great God. The same opportunity happened with Silje during sunset overlooking the lake, when she needed reminding to bring her cares to God, and I just got to sit and pray with her about the things weighing on her heart. I was so blessed to be there. I already see in both of them that they get frustrated with their weaknesses and limitations as well. It’s a human condition.
–I’m so blessed to come home to our animals, raspberries, flowers, work, and just this life I love so much. As always, as much fun as vacations are, coming home and sleeping in my own bed is one of my favorite parts.
How has God blessed you this last week?
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