Where did the summer go? That's the question I always ask this time of year. I have been sitting at my computer trying to think about what part of the summer I wanted to recap and have been experiencing writer's block for the past 2 days, which could be due to the 50 degree temperature drop that has happened over the last 48 hours or the fact that we pulled our ski boat out of the water which induced a minor case of "end of summer blues". So, I thought I'd just copy entries from my summer journal (aka my facebook status updates....that's about all the time we have for writing around here in the summer :) and add a few of my current thoughts.
May 26th-it's a gorgeous day at camp cherith! -We were blessed with many beautiful days all summer!
May 26th-of all the places mice can make nests at camp...why do they like my desk so much!!?? i just left them a note saying that they really need to get out more and explore as my desk is the last place anyone should want to be on this 280 acres of camp goodness!
-I am always grateful for the big and small...and after that mouse encounter, we didn't see mice all summer...just Chippy, the resident chipmunk.
May 27th-i love small towns...i just got off the phone with the mayor...reached him on my first try...who also runs the ford store in our beloved little town of Vergas!
-One of my passions is developing relationships with the people in the towns surrounding Cherith. This year we continued building those relationships, many that have to do with food. We enjoyed cheese, eggs, milk, and ice cream from local creameries and farms. Most of our meat was purchased from the local supermarket.
May 30th- they came, they went, we conquered! thanks for a great work weekend camp cherith friends!!
-We had 2 great work weekends in which much work happened including the building of a new barn and a gaga pit (a new favorite camp game).
June 3rd-8 trumpeter swans out on Schram's lake...usually we just have our 2 regulars!!
- God is constantly showing off up here!!!
June 16th-tonight we had risk management training for my staff- this year i added a twist,over 20 of our emts/firefighters from town came and participated in responding to different staged scenarios w/ staff around camp.we were almost finished when they got a call for a real car accident just up the road-2 victims were already at our gate w/ staff there to help! i love my staff-they got a raving review from the professionals!
-This was probably the highlight of staff training for me. And a reminder of how blessed camp is to have such great staff! We had 23 all summer staff this year and lots of 1-2 week staff filling in where needed.
June 23rd love boy's week..."team maintain" has been trying to figure out why we can't get the urine smell out of bathroom stall #1...today i was not going to leave until i beat the smell...i sprayed down all the walls and the toilet...and then went to move the #10 can that holds the plunger...and found the problem...it was over 1/3 full of 3 day old pee!! gotta love those boys :)
-Even though it has surprises like above...I love boy's week. Our boy's directors do a fantastic job with their weeks.
June 25-At the "Scooby Doo" boy's week all-camp on Thursday, the "gang" (Scooby, Shaggy...) was walking around camp when a cop pulled up. Someone had called cuz they locked keys in their car. The camp director(Rob) was the "creeper" and talked to the cop, who said that he must be dreaming. "Velma" commented "Well, it looks like we have a real mystery on our hands" when they couldn't figure out which car had keys locked inside.
-All camp games are a highlight at camp. This summer each all camp was a special memory. We played The Amazing Race, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, a rodeo complete with a visit from Annie Oakley and her gang and several more action packed events.
June 30th-5pm: on the phone/email working on buying a bus or fixing the broken one for camp, 6pm: a mexican fiesta complete with churros and enchiladas 7pm: serving tea and scones to campers with the Queen of England 9pm:campfire message....just another day at camp! i love it here. amazing group of girls this week!
-Every day is an adventure here! We were blessed with a great deal on a used bus...which got painted a very happy blue and has enjoyed her summer of hauling campers back and forth from the waterfront every day!
July 3rd-seriously...i have the best job ever!! opening night of week 2...my asst. directors and i played the parts of statue of liberty fill ins...named: life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness! then tonight i made my rounds...and played with some of the different divisions for a few minutes.
July 19th- the day ending w/ 2 of my counselors coming to my cabin with big smiles telling me about their campers that just accepted Christ!Now that is a good day!
July 21st-camp cherith rodeo is tonight. cowgirl up!! please pray for safety for all my little campers and staff!
July 24th-tonight i looked out into a dining hall of 121 campers(the most we have ever had in one week) plus all my smiling staff...and i just know i have the best job ever!!
July 29th-121 campers just pulled out of camp....all 5 weeks of girl's camp are finished! I couldn't have asked for a better summer!! To God be the glory!!! Thanks to all my amazing staff and campers. I am a little sad the summer went so fast!
To God be the glory!! Thank you to all who were involved in "bringing it" this summer!
Blessings,
Sarah Ann Mallett (Mooch)
