Happy Father's Day!
Sunday, June 21, 2009
This is an excerpt from Director Gordon Strayhorn's nightly update during the summer. Every night, we upload hundreds of pictures of campers with the update.
It's really hard to draw the line sometimes. We should have done some pre-thinking and snapped a group photo greeting for all dads, on this...our day. Instead, I hope clicking through the pictures tonight brings a smile to every father's face, even if you don't see your beloved with a message for you. At camp, it's pretty easy to forget that things are going on outside of our own Heavenly World (like father's day). Anyway, Happy Father's Day!
I received a great email last night from Laurie's Uncle Bert, who is a faithful reader of this nightly update while his granddaughter Nell is at camp. Bert is a federal judge in Mobile, and though we have only spoken in generalities, stuff that is wrong with society often ends up in his courtroom. He is a man of great faith, and he and Laurie's aunt (her mom's sis), have been a great source of inspiration and comfort to us over the years. We share a love of Christ and a love of fine red wine, and the two together have created some great evenings talking "the talk." Most appreciated is that they pray for us and for camp. I hope some of you out there do the same.
Laurie and I long ago figured out that most endeavors succeed in direct correlation to the energy those who are passionate about it put in. This holds true for camps more than most other businesses, it seems. Show me a camp where the directors are involved in the day to day, and I'll wager it is a great camp. As I grow older, there are days when the pace seems more energetic than I do. Luckily, it is not often. Laurie and I often speak in terms of camp being our mission trip. Our family loves to do mission work in Guatemala, and Turner and I are planning to go to Laos this fall, but camp is as important as any out of country. I love to hear campers and counselors describe finding God in the Woodland Chapel, or through a discussion with a counselor. It's the process, not the product, that sustains us on the rare occasion that the pace outpaces our energy.
We had a staff meeting this afternoon after lunch, and I told the collected group that they had the "right stuff" to be one of the most stellar Illahee staffs in recent history. They just get it. They know it's hard work, but they are having a good time at the same time. And they love your girls. It shows in little things like watching an interaction between a cabin counselor who has the night off...and the counselor who will cover her cabin at bedtime. The "hand off" includes things a worried mom would tell a babysitter her first time leaving a newborn. We've had staffs like this before, but these young women "like" each other. That's such a treat.
The day was great. After the dance last night, the extra sleep was appreciated. Krispy Kremes, hard-boiled eggs, fruit and cereal gave us the umpf to get going (oh yeah and some strong French Roast for me). The older girls led worship. The theme was forgiveness. Katie Nunner played the flute beautifully (so much progress in the last year, mom!), and Liz Tate delivered the message. The songs were angelic. I have learned to keep my mouth shut, as any male voice sounds like a bullfrog when these girls sing.
Robin's fried chicken, wild rice, broccoli and warm yeast rolls were a prelude to some mint chocolate chip hand-scooped ice cream. Yumm!
Teams Boom Boom, Diddam Daddum, and Watum Chew engaged in their perennial friendly rivalry at the Swim Show, which include relay races, diving and synchro exhibitions and lots of cheering. The Slip n Slide provided a fun between-event diversion. Burgers and Dogs were ready for freshly showered campers, and campfire just ended the evening in a festive and energetic fashion.
It's hard to believe we are entering our last week, and that Friday is closing day. We stay active til the end, and tomorrow will see the trips climbers and kayakers going their separate ways on their three-day trip. I am taking the rest of the rising seventh graders up to High Pisgah on an adventure. It looks like the rest of the week is going to be beautiful weather-wise. This has been an ideal session in that regard. Sleep well. Gordon.
