I Miss Katie
Katie went to church camp on Sunday and while I’m glad she gets to have this experience, I miss her. *sigh* It’s only been two days and I still have five to go.
I’m thrilled she had the opportunity to go – we were actually supposed to be in Arkansas this week. There were four other girls from church going, none of whom she knows very well. She is a little bit on the shy side until she gets to know you. The minister and his wife drove their van so the five girls rode together. The other four girls were very nice and told Katie they had a spot for her and she quietly climbed in.
I rode with another family and followed the van. We got to the campground about an hour and a half later and the girls spilled out, giggling, laughing, running to claim the best cabin, and Katie was in the thick of it. I think she’s going to have a great time. Just hope she spares a thought or two for me.
I went to church camp every summer from the time I was 8 until probably 14 or so. Every year was a different experience, but a great one each time.
One year I learned you can make yourself throw up by sticking your finger down your throat. That was my very first camping experience and I was probably the youngest kid there. Some of the older girls thought the very rustic camp was disgusting. So they got the bright idea that if they could throw up they’d get to go home. Silly, silly girls. Apparently I made an impression on the camp dean because he told my parents I was the smallest one there, but the most active. His very polite way of saying I was hyperactive. I can guarantee you I’ll NEVER hear those words again.
Another year at church camp I learned all about M&Ms. I can only remember two. Green ones make you horny (and I believe that was when I learned what “horny” meant and still probably didn’t really get it) and orange ones make your boobs grow. I’ve mentioned this in another post, but after attaining that knowledge I ate an inordinately large amount of orange M&Ms. I can tell you for an absolute certain it was a lie. Now if the rule was orange M&Ms make your butt grow then there would maybe be some truth to it.
I was on Catalina Island – another very rustic camp – at the end of July in 1981. The counsellors talked the dean into bringing a TV into the mess hall, the only building with any electricity, so the girls could watch the Royal Wedding. And if I’m not mistaken, it was in the middle of the night.
There’s a lot I’ve forgotten in the last 25 to 30 years, but I do know I looked forward to camp every year and loved it. It’s my prayer she enjoys it every bit as much as I did. I can’t wait to see her on Saturday and hear all about it!
Oh, I know the feeling of missing your daughter well. Katie will have a blast at camp. She’ll come home with great stories!I missed Brie so much while she was at my FIL’s house. And then she came home and has been C-R-A-B-B-Y as all get out!
Awww….poor Mom! I hate missing my kids when they are away from me. I have not had to endure a whole week yet though 🙁 Big Hugs!Orange M&Ms make your boobs grow?? Why did no one tell me this? LOL! Could have saved me some grief 🙂
Katie will have a blast at church camp, just as you did, just as I did. I still have some memories of church camp (although they are getting REALLY fuzzy by now!)I’m glad Katie got to go, first year is always the best… but, I kinda wish you could have made your trip to Arkansas, and your side trip here. **sigh** Oh well, maybe next time.
Monnik – I thought of you as I was missing her. lolJen – It’s that infamous parental conundrum. You want them to have these experiences but you miss them so much!Terri – I wish we could have made the trip, too. But I know it was the right decision. I’m still so tired by the afternoon and I don’t think I could have made the drive yet. Next year for sure!
I never had the pleasure of going off to camp but wished I did.My wife has some good stories from her camp days.
Yes, I must say that i received quite an education at church camp myself. This was the first place that a boy had ever been FULLY de-pants’d in front of me. I was horrified. Needless to say, I didn’t share that part with my mother. LOLI hope Katie has fun too and doesn’t get quite the learning experience that I did!
While I can’t say I share the same experience (I’ve never been to camp), I have sent the kids off and know how much I missed them. My wife especially misses the kids whenever they’re gone. Most recently, our son went on a week-long school trip to Washington D.C.
…and I wonder what things she will learn there & bring home to you???
I went to church camp a lot when I was little, and I NEVER heard the orange m&m thing! If only I had known!I was just talking about church camp with my husband the other day, saying I would love for our kids to have the experience, but I wouldn’t want them to be away from me. I completely understand what you are going through! Hopefully it will go quickly and she will be back!
Oh, and I thought you were missing me!!! ;-)I LOVED summer camp, and I completely DREAD the day my daughter gets to go. I don’t know if I’ll be able to handle it for a week!!!!
Travis – I think you should talk Jenn into doing a post about her camp experiences!Jodi – I hope she doesn’t have that kind of experience, either! Naughty boy!!Dan – Wow! DC is a long way from La Habra. I want my kids to have these rich experiences and I suppose the missing them is good. Maybe when they’re driving me crazy I can remember how much I missed them when they were gone. lolLainey – I’m a little afraid… :o)Tori – I’m always happy for both kids when they get to do something like this. But I never fully relax until I’ve got all my chicks in the nest. LOLKatybug – I meant to say “I Miss Katies”. teehee. When the time comes you’ll be able to let her go. Maybe not easily, but you’ll do it. :o)
The only camping I ever did was when I was in Girl Scouts. I never liked it much because I’m too much of an indoor girl. Gotta have my conveniences! LOL. But I hope your daughter has a great time. It sounds like she’ll make lots of new friends. 🙂
You are too funny!! Last year Hannah and Christie went to an overnight camp too, and I missed them so much. They had a ball, but they got to e-mail everyday, so that helped. Talk about high tech. camps.I use to go to a Christian Horse Camp in Canada called Frontier Ranch. My parents sent me for 2 weeks each summer, it was the best time of my life. I wanted a horse so bad at the time. This camp gave you a horse to take care of for the 2 weeks. My dad said if I still wanted a horse after the 2 weeks he would get me one. I did not want a horse, way too much work, but I sure loved going back to that camp. I tried to google it to see if it still existed, it was near Ottawa, but no luck. Camp really gives some great memories.
One year when I was at camp my parents sent me a letter with a “little something” for everyone in there. It was a bunch of very small squares with the word “something” written on each one. They also put a bunch of other silly things in it. It made me laugh and it made me homesick, but I’m pretty sure that to this day I still have all of it because it also reminded me what a great family I have.
See? You learned all of the important things in life at church camp! LOL.
Well, I knew about green M&Ms, but I didn’t know about the orange ones! Gee, I missed out on something great!!I did camp only once. I had a lot of fun, but was homesick so seriously that they let me call home. Two days before we were leaving! Ah, well, it made me feel better, and I enjoyed the last campfire.
I used to go to camp every summer and when I was a teenager I got to be a junior couselor! I loved it! So many many great memories were made there. It was so nice that when I was in college I spent my summers going to camp and being the counselor. You little girl will LOVE it SO much!