Sights and Sounds of Thursday at Camp

After yesterday's "free" day, Day #4 in camp is back to a routine with a schedule of morning activities, afternoon swim time, and an evening concert.

Photo clockwise = Tristan playing in the baby pool, boat sailing past camp, Paul giving directions for the dinner line-up, bird on the pier, Des and Tristan eating at the shoreline.

Today Tristan would say the best thing about camp is the little blue wading pool that he's discovered by the Boat House near the shore. He loved the clean water that was much warmer than the Pacific. No one would believe that he didn't like water. He crawled over the side and into the pool, and then out of the pool, and then back in. He loved the big floaty toy bug that he could sit on like a horse, and he was sure that it was his job to empty that pool one bucket at a time with his little sand pail.

Desiree probably would not say that anything was the best thing because she started getting mildly sick with a sore throat.

Mr. Fun loves everything about camp so you wouldn't want to ask him what was Thursday's best thing because he'd give you a litany of items, but I bet at the top of his list would be the dinner barbeque on the beach. A meal at the ocean is always delicious, unless of course your hot dog gets sand in it. We had hamburgers and hot dogs and the late afternoon breeze with the last of the sunlight flickering through the trees was delightful.

Rosie would say the best thing about Thursday was the evening concert by Danny Oertli. We were thrilled to learn earlier in the week that Danny and his wife, Rayna, were at our week of camp (six weeks of family camp are offered each summer). We first met Danny back in 2004--his first time at camp. Back then he was a newlywed--just married Rayna. Her grandparents founded the camp years ago (currently the "news" on Danny's website speaks about this).

Danny is a professional Christian recording artist and his latest CD has just been released, so we heard many of the new songs. He's also written a book. Danny's first wife (his high school sweetheart, Cyndi, died of cancer when they had been married 8 years. He was left with two little children--the daughter they never thought they could have and then when they were told they absolutely could not have another baby, they adopted a baby boy). So Danny's story is gripping. His book tells the story.

Danny & Rayna live in Colorado. We purchased Danny's CD, DVD, and book in the camp store. Rosie read the book in 2 days and is wearing out the CD--four of the songs play on his website along with photos of he and Rayna. Rosie & Mr. Fun love music--Mr. Fun is drawn to contemplative quiet music, while Rosie loves music that ROCKS and is loud--loud is good! Yes, we are extreme opposites. So Danny's music is a winner for both of us.

Thursday at Campus By the Sea was an all around good day--satisfying and nourishing. Even though I had not wanted to go to camp this year, I was so glad we were there. After 8 very difficult years, I knew that God was using this camp experience to heal my hurts.

So that's Thursday's tale. Thank you for reading this far.
Rosie (& Mr. Fun), aka Carol