PineCliff Church Camp

Oh my goodness, what a week!

First, I have to say that I completely misjudged both the nurse and the camp director. The nurse was WONDERFUL! We went up Sunday evening, with campers arriving on Monday afternoon. The nurse, Kristin, sat down with Shannon and I and basically said "whatever you need, we'll do." So, Kristin kept Shannon's insulin and Shannon carried her emergency injection. Her counselor seemed a bit worried at first (the note I had was 2 pages long), but took it all in stride.

The camp director, Corey, is rather disorganized and schedules were mostly a suggestion, especially for morning stuff. BUT, it was clear from early on that he has a passion for this camp and for these kids. He truly loves doing this, and with that I can certainly overlook the disorganization stuff.

I had a cabin of girls ranging in age from a 1st grader (in the fall) to a couple of 4th graders. That caused a few problems. But the biggest problem came from a very insecure almost-2nd grader. She created so much girl drama and I was ready to throw my hands up in the air and run for the hills! She was doing a bunch of "You can be my friend, but *you* can't, and since you're MY friend, you can't be her friend" nonsense. She didn't want to participate half the time, and found all sorts of ways to not wind up where she was supposed to be. To be fair, I had that problem with most of them off and on all week, but seriously, I'd count heads, get to 7 and know exactly which one of my 8 was missing.

I think I've forgotten how to count past 8, by the way, after counting them over and over and over again, making sure they were all where they belonged. LOL! It was a bit like herding cats. And it was exhausting.

In spite of all of that, I had a good week. I was ministered to in ways I did not expect as people came to understand the challenges in our family right now. I thought I would pay my dues and never do this again. Now I can't wait to go back next year.

I probably won't go as a counselor though. It was just too much for me to handle, managing Shannon's food needs (the cooks were SO supportive of that) and her diabetes needs, plus Alana's clinginess (nuclear melt down Thursday afternoon, poor thing), plus the 7 other girls in my cabin. I'll go back as a craft or kitchen helper or general floater, but I need to not be in charge of so much. I don't think I had a hot meal all week, helping the little ones with trays, napkins, juice, etc.

Shannon had a rough moment Thursday night. She got her s'more, minus the graham cracker, and her sugar was 270-something. She just lost it. I think it all hit her at once, the food needs Every. Single. Meal. The can't-eat-anything-without-checking-sugar stuff. She just fell apart. She asked why she can't be normal, like everyone else. And that still rips me to my core. I don't have an answer for her. All I can tell her is that it sucks and I'm sorry.

Even in the midst of that, though, I was blessed by people who were willing to manage my cabin while I tended to my daughter. And Shannon was blessed by a cabin full of girls who quickly accepted her and all her foibles. She had a couple of friends from church with her who are used to her needs and her needles, and that really helped. I think they were able to help set the tone.

People commented all week about how strong Shannon is and how well she manages her needs. Of course, she doesn't feel so strong, but she truly is. Corey has to give himself a shot once a day and he hates it, but he told me that Shannon inspired him to buck up and deal. If an 11 yo girl can do it multiple times a day, well, then he can do it once.

I've been singing Twila Paris' "The Warrior Is A Child" all day, and I sang the chorus to Shannon Thursday night. It really is an inspiration to me...

They don't know that I go running home when I fall down.
They don't know who picks me up when no one is around.
I drop my sword and cry for just a while
Cuz deep inside this armor
The warrior is a child.

That's how I feel. The rest of the song talks about how people see the strength on the outside, but they don't see the wounds and tears. God does though, and I reminded Shannon of that. I reminded her that we're not alone. God has given us friends and loved ones, and even total strangers who care. And God has given us gifts and strengths so that we can meet these challenges, and He's always there for us.

I tucked her in and then fell apart myself. And was again blessed by people who barely knew me.

Anyway, this post rambled a bit. But you get the idea.

I found the song on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K5o2YY5BRUg&feature=related