Church Camping 2013

 Thursday morning brought a few anxious moments as I checked the lists and watched the piles grow!  This was just the food and food prep pile.  Chairs, bedding, towels/suits/tube, and backpacks (with each person's clothing/toiletries) all in the Yukon already.  Grandma texted to say, "Have a good time!" and my friend texted that it felt "like we are packing to go to a third world country, this is just for two days!"  I went from tear-filled eyes and walking in circles to laughing and voicing my questions, "Is this going to be worth all the effort?"  Grandma LoL-ed me and my experienced friend assured me it would be.  We were loaded and pulled out by 12:00pm...our target!  Even with a stop for pop and ice, we made it up to the campground super early...check-in not till 2pm.
Myers Lake Campground is now a family favorite!  We pulled in to a beautiful setting and were welcomed by wonderful people.  Cabin #1 is also our favorite site...in the shade by the lake...right across from the bathroom!

 God blessed us with a wonderful day!  The kiddos quickly helped unload and settle.

 I couldn't fit the little grill...I knew there would be other alternatives.  God gave us a little fire pit with a swing top grate AND free firewood!

 The information says "rustic cabin".  This was beautiful...and it smelled like a cabin should!  Memories of childhood came flooding back.

 Enough space to move about and a place to relax!

 

Lunch tasted so good!  And then it was time to go for a walk to find everyone else...Uncle Pastor drove up behind us...with the bikes!  We helped them unload...and then the kiddos were off!

 Many hands make light work when setting up the big awning for central congregating!

 First game of Capture the Flag...in the daylight.

 When camp was set up...everyone hit the water while waiting for fathers to show up from their commutes from work!

The gigantic fire ring that we all cooked supper on...and then roasted marshmallows!  We drank coffee and donned sweatshirts.  Ted and I walked back to our cabin so he could go to bed...he had to go to work Friday morning, as did a few other dads.  I sat on the deck reading with Chevy, listening to the bullfrogs, and waiting for the kiddos.  The kiddos finally meandered back to the cabin around 11 or 11:30pm.   Our group had about 55-60 people that stayed over the two nights.

 I woke up at 6am...not sure that I ever truly slept...napped would be a better description!  Ted left for work at 6:30.

 I read and listened to the birds...till I couldn't stand it anymore...UP or NOT!  I needed coffee...so I walked down to the group site...

 and quiet as I could...made coffee right outside my sissy's door.  It was ready for all the adults who came stumbling out of their tents/pop-ups/camper to join their already energized children who were sitting around the fire.

I went back to start a fire for our breakfast and wait for our kiddos to wake up...at almost 9am!

 It rained for about five minutes...but cleared off to another beautiful day!

 "We have too many irons in the fire!"  Literally!  What was a good idea in my head...didn't really work...too hot, sticking, how to turn...

 "Kari, I am so proud of you...you are like all pioneery likeLaura Ingalls."  We finally got it to work right by the last three batches.  The kiddos didn't care...they were hungry and wanted to be off and on the run.  We enjoyed a leisurely breakfast...sort of.

 There was tie-dying to be done!  Game barn to visit!  Bikes to be ridden!  Snacks to be eaten.  Games to be played.  And more swimming!

 Finally...the fathers all made it back from work to swim and play!  After supper...Prison Ball.

 "Wow!  This is the game that never ends!"

 More church family joined us for games, fellowship, food, and campfire!

 Mari maneuvered her chair over by Ted in a funny way and the comments started.  "Oh, Ted, you are just so glad you married into our family!"

 Another beautiful night to sit and get to know more church family!  We waited for darkness..."What is taking so long?  It should be dark by now...it's 9:30pm!"  Um, today is the longest day of the year...summer solstice!

 74 people gathered around the fire and sang songs with Uncle Pastor playing the guitar, shared praises, drank coffee, and passed buckets of home-made cookies.  "I'm thankful that a year ago, God started moving to bring our family to Michigan!"  What a blessing this time was!

 Chevy joined us for awhile with his other friends...Copper and Sandy.  Uncle Pastor finished our time around the fire with silly songs.  I had never heard him do them before...HYSTERICAL!  A round of showers and then to bed...another late night!

 This morning...Ted and I left our sleeping children and joined a couple others in the hunt for coffee around the fire.  It was a VERY QUIET morning for a very long time...adults and children came stumbling out late!  And then the site was a buzz of activity while we tore down and packed.  We headed to the lake to cool off and ended our weekend with a picnic on our little deck.  This is now what is happening...showered and sleepy...piles dwindling as I semi-unpack and do laundry.
Thank you, Lord, for safety and such beautiful weather!  
Yes, it was worth all the effort!
I've mentally started a list to revamp and tweak my list from this year.  Ted said we should look for a tent...HUH?!  I like the cabin...right across from the bathroom.  Tents were across the field from the bathroom...and there is too much late-night coffee drinking!