Sorry this is so late, but like the saying goes, better late than never! The weekend of August 10-12, Hunter spent the weekend at Bible camp. Yes, two nights away from home! In the past he has had overnight sleep overs and those have gone well. So, this spring when it came time to sign him up for camp he was determined to go to a camp that was overnight for 6-8 year olds, you know, because he just turned 6. Obviously you no longer need your parents at that age.
Initially I signed Hunter up for two Bible camps this summer. The first one was going to be a camp with me. I thought it was the perfect way to introduce him to camp and spend the weekend together. Apparently he is "too cool" to go to camp with Mom and didn't want to go. And he had a busy summer line up. So, we cancelled that camp and is first time there he would be on his own.
I was ok with it and not concerned until the night before. Was my little boy really going to go to camp alone? Ok, so technically not alone-two other boys from our church would be in his same cabin and we had 3 friends on the island so if things were to go south, he would have people there that I know love and care about him and would treat him as their own.
So, as I was saying the night before, it hit me! Tears started to flow as I packed his bags and I was not ready for this. The drive up went well. Hunter was excited mixed with a little bit of nervousness. We checked in and then my eyes welled up again. My friend Kari came to the rescue and she told me that honestly she didn't know how I was doing this. Her son, who is the same age as Hunter, was going to be in camp too, but unlike me, Kari was staying up at camp for a retreat. She told me my feelings were normal and admitted that she even shed a few tears for me the day before just thinking about it.
We drove down to the cabin-complete with a lake view-and unloaded. Hunter had first pick of which bunk and picked the top. He was excited!! We rolled out the sleeping bag, unpacked a couple things, Hunter met his counselor and then we had to go back home because it was the last night of VBS.
After VBS Friday night, it was time to say our final good-bye before Sunday morning at chapel. It was hard! Tears started flowing from Hunter and his little lip was quivering. I took him aside and I couldn't help but to cry too and hug him. But, he told me he was brave and excited and knew he would have fun. After a few more hugs and tears, he was off. Thankfully our friends were kind enough to bring him up to camp with them to save me almost 2 hours of drive time round trip.
On their drive up to camp, only one phone call was made with a sobbing 6 year old and there was no need to rescue him all weekend. He had a blast at camp, didn't want to come home and can't wait to go again next year!
Hunter after he picked out his bunk bed. Excited, nervous or both?
Sunday morning after chapel! He loved camp!
Hunter and his buddy, T, in front of their cabin!
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