A Day in the Life of a Camper

Summer has arrived!!!!!! 

High ho, high ho, it's off to camp we go... 

I recently got to experience Island Lake camp for a couple of days with my family. What a great way to start summer. Life can’t be better when it is structured by meals cooked by someone else, fun-loving energetic college students playing with the kids, and amazing free-time activities like waterslides and skate parks. Now, that is a taste of pure happiness. At camp kids are able to completely enter a new world. Cell phones are left home. Video games are off. (And much to the kids’ surprise, they still live!) Relationships are put on “pause.” Kids explore the great outdoors and try new things and make new friends.

At camp, kids wake up to a hot breakfast with bacon, eggs, sausage, and pancakes waiting for them in the dining hall. They are raring to go! After breakfast, they go outside with their cabins and play games. These are not your normal playground games. Rather, they are goof-off, be silly, and get wet in gross, slippery, fun games. They are games that get them running through fields and over bridges. The kids play team games that build up their cabins and create instant camaraderie.

After game times, the campers hear an inspirational message and sing “the-bear-in-tennis-shoes-song.” Then back to the dining hall where they get another hot yummy meal. (Have I mentioned that I loved the meals!) It is good for kids to eat away from home around a big circle table with their counselors. Their conversation consists of what they just did or are doing and small talk (no long-range planning here). It’s great relationship building, and conversational skill building, too.

After lunch, the cabins have adventure time! 

#Cowabunga! 

In case you are interested, the campers stretch their abilities and learn some new stuff on ropes courses, motorcycles, rock climbing, skate boarding, and the infamous camp skill - "archery" - very very useful life skill:) 

The kids get challenged, stretched, and learn to push their boundaries – all in a safe environment as the camp staff support and teach the kids skills. (They really picked the kids up when they fell and cheered them on to victory.) 

Riding motorcycles at camp will likely be one of the biggest highlights of my summer. 

Adventure time leads to free-time where kids will go bouldering, swimming, get blobbed (see above water picture) or paddling in a canoe. Then the dinner bell rings and they walk to the dining hall for another delicious meal prepared for them by someone other than their parents. You might not want every detail - but I thought that it might be fun for you to get the over-all layout.

On a side note, I find it hard to believe that all of this activity takes place without getting in the car, without mom’s arranging play dates, gear, calendars, and snacks. The campers have a perfect kid-filled day on auto-pilot, thanks to the camp staff. 

After dinner the kids play more group games and sit down for another positive message. Chatting about the message afterwards in their cabins is fun. You would think that that would be the end, right. Time for bed? Not today. The campers return to the mess hall for ice cream and a goofy dance time. Now, finally, everyone is off to bed.

Maybe that is too many details but the truth of the matter is: The life of a camper is so good. A perfect combination of nature, inspiration, laughter, friendship, and adventure brings out the kid and builds confidence. Sure, campers miss mom, dad, and their Xbox but not all that much, because life at camp is great!

The Day I had a Turtle in My Car

I was driving down a four-lane city road the other day. I was stunned at what I saw in front of me. A turtle was trying to cross the busy 4 lane road, one slow and quiet step at a time. 

I have been a huge fan of the turtles in this area for some time and did not want to see this one get squished!

In a panic, I knew I had to do something.

I put my emergency blinkers on and got out of my car and stopped traffic. I picked up the turtle with two hands and put it in my car on the passenger seat. Immediately, the little head, legs, and tail of the turtle went inside its shell.

I drove the turtle to the nearby turtle habitat and let it go into the fresh water lake. Initially, it went into the water and flipped upside down. So we lifted it out of the water and tried again, making sure it didn't flip over. The second time worked, and out popped the head, tail and legs! With heart-felt intensity the turtle swam away. An onlooker there was a naturalist and she joined the cause. Her friends took pictures (they texted me the above picture). 

Clearly, we never know when nature is going to collide with our daily lives. I can now say that truly my passenger seat is ready for the next turtle that wants a ride.

For the #loveofturtles.

The Mother's Day Blog

I had every intention to write a deeply meaningful blog about motherhood this week. It was going to be about all of the sacrifice, love, and special moments of just being mom. I would have written about the lifestyle, devotion, commitment, and insanity of it all. Motherhood really is one of the greatest joys of my life. From making hair bows and setting them in freshly braided hair, to kids moving from hitting off the “T” in baseball to coach pitch, to the monotony of making yet another pizza dinner; I would have reminisced.

Me and My Mom

I would have reflected on the grace of my own mother and my immeasurable gratitude for her. She is such a dear friend, confidant, amazing cook, pursuer of God’s best, and sincerely devoted Grandma. I am so grateful for my mom. She would have been a central figure in my blog. I love her!

But, alas, I am so busy this week being a mom that I don’t have time to write my inspiring mom blog: Too much driving, cheering the kids on, attending a dance parent/student conference, cooking, cleaning the kitchen, working my jobs, helping with homework, washing that softball uniform, piano and drum lessons, sports, crafts, backyard play, staying connected to my spouse, paying bills, almost running out of gas, reading to the littles, managing my kids’ internet use and video games, and so forth. As a result, I regret my inability to blog about motherhood. I guess I will just put it off till next year. I am sure life as a working mom and wife will be simpler then! – right?

Once I get around to writing that blog I will close it with a hug to all moms out there. Moms are shaping the world day-by-day, moment-by-moment, and heart-by-heart, and I hope they are celebrated and loved this Mother’s Day.

Lost on Queen Anne Hill

The other day I had a few extra hours in an unexpected place. I had only my starving fit bit and walking shoes. This particular day I was free as a bee on Queen Anne Hill. I quickly got lost. Lost as a bee in a bloomin-garden. I found that there is nothing bad about getting lost on Queen Anne because it is likely that it’s charm will make you feel at home away from home!

Queen Anne Hill towers north of the Space Needle. It is an old historic community at the heart of everything that is happening in Seattle. Living on the hill you can walk just about everywhere in Seattle, it seems. Yet, at the same time when you are there you feel miles away from the hustle and blustle of the city. It is an Urban Oasis. Here are a few of my takes on this place:

*The homes are nestled in tight and everyone has a front porch of some kind. Since all of the houses were built in the early to mid 20^th century the front porch was an important place for the community to gather. Homes look cozier nestled close together behind big porches with comfy chairs. Just being here takes you back in time!

*I have seen house reviews on Queen Anne homes over the years. Nothing prepared me for how lovely the craftsman architecture is. It is the most inviting neighborhood in all of Seattle. Yet, one odd thing was the three enormous television towers that stand on top of the hill! To me they seem reminiscent of the grand Parisian Eiffel tower. Yet, they are far from a landmark. They just always have been there. For anyone who is cautious about living under high voltage this may not be the best place for you!

*As I walked, the neighborhood was all hustle and bustle in the midst of their gardening projects. Many families are so thoughtful and creative with their yard space. Most homes have fancy hedges and intentional plants and bushes. People are very serious about their “stay green year round” landscaping. I have never seen so much green!

*Spectacular views! The views of the city are laid-out before me as I walk the hill. From three directions you can see to the North the Ballard locks, the East with Lake Union, and the South with the Seattle Skyline and of course the Space Needle. The best view of all is of Elliott Bay with the ferry boats and the merchant marine ships are coming and going.

*Looking back in time the streets were paved with cobblestone and many of the streets on Queen Anne Hill have been preserved. The entire neighborhood speaks to another era where people didn’t commute long distances but lived a comfortable life in the city right here on Queen Anne in the heart of Seattle. Beautiful sidewalks and cobblestone streets are a classic touch on the hill. Queen Anne is the highest hill in the city of Seattle and is now home to 28,000 people. Those are some fortunate folks that perch themselves on historic Queen Anne Hill!

Personally, I would love to live on Queen Anne! It is rich in cultural heritage with it’s proximity to the Seattle Center and it is full of "old world charm" that calls you home. But for now, I will just have to get lost as a bee in a bloomin-garden, every once-in-a-while, to remind myself of the sweet nature of this historic and quaint space in the vast Urbanity of Seattle.