Starting the first full week of August with kind of a heat wave

Day 51, "Every picture has a story"

I have used this picture in the past but today it has special meaning.  Servant Camp was started by Allen/Deb in the summer of 1978 and I got on board in 1979.  I the early 80's I took over as Allen/Deb stepped down and I headed things for the next 25+ years.  In 2011 it was time to step down and hand things over to new people, new ideas as I moved on with life.  Today will start the 40th year of Servant Camp.  There is no count but I know 1000's of young lives have been changed forever at camp.  It is a place where kids are the focus and adults are there to be God's instruments in their lives.  It is so much fun to know that Henry, Liam, Audrey, Faustina, Jude and Ben are/have been to camp.  There are times when I reflect back on my energy and time that were invested in camp and for a short while question if I used my time/energy well.  Then I look at grand kids and 1000's of others and know I did right.  The last couple of years Terry and I have visited camp for a short time and most likely will do it again this year.  Of course the memories could fill bookS.  From sickness and death to miracle healing and absolutely everything in between God has showered his blessing down at camp.  At this time in my life I am thankful and content for being where I am with trips, woodworking, a new married life etc. but I will forever be grateful to God for using me in some small way to bring his love and power to so many young people.  Perhaps as I fall asleep tonight I will hear giggles, laughter and good natured bantering which will help me sleep well.

This is what was left of Norma's delicious dessert yesterday.  Terry and I had a delightful time with Norma and Wayne.  After eating TOO much of their appetizers of crackers, cheese and Wayne's venison sausage we sat down to a lunch of meatballs, hash browns, relish, tomatoes, bread and wine.  We filled our china dishware (from Wayne's mother) and then enjoyed our wine and great conversation.  We finished our meal with pie and ice cream or as brother Ronald said after a day of deer hunting, "I'll have pie ala mode with ice cream!!!  We will get together one more time with them this summer and I will be sure to tell Norma I hold no grudges towards her as my weight was up this morning!  I would eat a piece of pie again today if it were here.  After 3 hours of stimulating conversation and great food we headed home to MORE projects.  Well not really as we each did just a tiny bit after arriving home.  

Terry got the second coat of clear finish on the 11 1/2" tread yesterday and I just did a small amount on the stairway.  Now the treads and risers are ready to be installed but not sure I am ready yet to be the installer!  Maybe that can be started mid to late week as I need one more sanding of the skirt board and then the walls and ceiling need to be repaired and painted.  On this part of the house the repair will be a piece of cake and the painting will go fast so maybe late week is not out of the question.

I continue to piece meal some work in between projects and my goal is to have things more organized and easier to find.  I am talking about everything from tools to paint to glue to EVERYTHING.  I was able to put together a tall shelf so will try to get that in the basement soon.  Then ALL the things that can not freeze will stay there.  This twice yearly job of taking things into the basement and then taking them out again as we come and go needs to stop.  It will as of this fall.  Terry and I have decided to head to Naples October 1st and arrive maybe by the 7th or 8th.  That will give us enough time to wrap things up here (I do realize that to wrap up things here totally would take MONTHS but) and also for me to get ready for the tennis season which will start about the end of October.  After being off the court for 10 months it may be some time before I get into the swing of things again.

My memory lane consists of camp events that are in my memory forever:

• George getting sick and dying before camp is finished for the week
• the girls' canoe trip almost ending in disaster but giving me a chance to be on TV
• a young boy walking out of camp as we sat out a dangerous rain storm
• searching for young boys in the middle of the night as THEY searched for girls
• a Boy Scout draining the pool by mistake so we had NO swimming pool for the week
• God healing young people
• portable showers put up because we had 400 campers
• boy bike trips coming in from their 300 mile ride and seeing the young girls so excited!!!
• walking in mud most of the week and then having the camp director on site ask what we thought we should pay
• having two different sites at least 3 hours apart and having to monitor both
• buying tents so that we could house all the over flow campers
• most years almost seeing, smelling and touching God and his all mighty power
• sitting down with my camp directors after closing ceremonies the last night and enjoying a glass of wine and thanking God for his great blessings
• arriving at camp the day before campers and finding out that we may not have water for much of the week
• talking to the entire camp and explaining that George, who was a 4th grade counselor, had died mid week
• making the decision to have the evening program outside and then looking at the weather with a scout employee the next day where he showed me that the tornado had just made a loop around camp
• lying in the back of my van for two entire days with a spider bit as camp went on
• the yearly after staff parties after camp and seeing how God had worked in their lives
• There are many more but that is enough for now

Enough for this morning.  I strive to remember the past, live in the present and plan for the future so that is enough of my memories for this morning.  I do pray for good weather for camp which runs from today through Friday AM.  My FP with Baileys in this morning is gone.