Camp Joy-el Day Camp

Pappy Sweetheart decided to send Ava and Christian to Day camp this year as a surprise treat.  He ended up taking them to Jubilee on his own one day, so they would be prepared and know what to expect and so they would have anticipation for the big week.  It worked!  All anxiety was gone and they were super duper excited, as they counted down the weeks until they got to go to DAY CAMP!  Ryan and I told them tales of when we went to day camp and what sort of things we remembered and loved about it.  They couldn't wait and we scheduled Nana's trip to happen right before the camp so they would be distracted and hopefully make missing her that first few days a little easier.  They would get sad that their week with her was coming to an end but then they would get really excited that it meant their week of Camp was happening soon. :)

 

 

 

 

 

Day 1 - We had to meet at the K-mart Parking lot in Chambersburg and so I swung over to pick up Reece and Nana, because Nana had spent the night with Reece that previous night.  We were driving to K-mart and the kids were getting so excited.  They were chattering and talking the entire time.  As we pulled up and had about 5 minutes until the bus arrived, Reece decided he had to poop and he had to poop right then.  Mom ran him up and had him poop and get back on the bus in plenty of time. :)  As they were pulling out, they were both waving and so excited to be heading on their adventure.  Ava had packed her bag the night before with her swimming gear, a bag for her wet stuff, money for canteen, her Bible and a journal to write notes in during chapel.  She as ready! Above is Ava ready to conquer the day! When they got home they both had LOTS of stuff to talk about and share on their big days.  They couldn't wait to go back.

 

Day 2 - This was saying goodbye to Nana day and though we knew it was coming, we also knew it would be hard.  Nana rode with Ava and I as we headed over to pick up Reece before heading to K-mart.  Reece was his joyful and excited self and Ava was very quiet on this particular car ride. I knew she was processing but didn't want to make it worse.  Finally the bus got there and they headed on and that is when she said she didn't want to go.  She said she didn't have any friends there and they separated the girls and boys so she didn't get to be with Reece.  (he is usually her confidence in these sorts of situations)  So, this time I basically forced her to go. She wanted to stay home with us and I told her all we were doing that day was driving to take Nana back to the airport, say goodbye and driving home.  I basically shoved her on the bus and as they were pulling away, she was crying pretty hard. I felt so bad and I asked Lois Ann to let me know how she was when she got there.  Needless to say, her sweet little eyes were puffy and red when she came home. . she had cried quite a bit during the day and it was pretty apparent. I think the real issue was that she was sad to say goodbye to Nana but she didn't want us to be sad that she was sad about that, so she just carried the anxiety into her not wanting to be at camp.  The sad part. .  . I was the same way.  She said she hates being away from me and I was the same way every time I went to camp too.  She decided to try it one more time the next day.

 

Day 3 - Seemed to go off without too much of a hitch.  She was ok, and seemed to be a little more ready to face the day.

Day 4 - this was a tough day.  It started out well and she was ready.  We picked up Reece and he was ready too.  She was fully anticipating getting on the bus and seemed to be fine with it all.  Then we got there and Reece had to poop again.  We were really going to miss the bus so we rushed to Wendy's but they were closed so we drove to k-mart and ran in real quick.  While we were there, someone was using the bathroom, which made us even later.  The ladies bathroom was closed for cleaning too. :(  So, as we were waiting, I had to call Brianna to tell her what was going on.  She left her house to beeline it to K-mart to ask the bus to hang on or wait a second.  All of this was in front of Ava and her anxiety started to rise.  I could see it happening but didn't know what to do.  The bus was running behind so we got back in time. . .but by then Ava had heard Brianna and I talking on the phone that if they missed the bus we would just drive them there.  Ava was much happier with that and so when we got back in time for the bus. . . she was disappointed.  So Reece went bouncing on and Ava stayed back.  Then Reece started crying because he didn't want to go if she didn't want to go but she didn't want to make him feel bad, however, she really didn't want to go.  Long story short, Brianna sort of forced him to go and he was looking out the window crying pretty hard. :(  Then Ava cried and cried and finally after an hour asked me to drive her down so Reece wouldn't feel all alone.  Awww, it was a frustrating day to say the least but mostly just disheartening to see their emotions all over the place like that. :( 

 

Day 5 - They both got on the bus heading to Camp without a hitch. I promised I was picking them up from Camp that day since I was going to see their closing program.  They seemed to both be happy about that idea.  Below is a picture of Ava's best friend she made at camp.  She became friends with her counselor and her name was Rachel.  She was really good with Ava and it was cute how Ava really looked up to her. I remember doing the same thing.  Also below is a picture of Ava's group as they went up to share their Bible verse.  She was behind two taller girls but I got the peeping of her little face. :)  Then there was Reece and his counselor too, who really seemed to hit it off too.  I think his name was Austin and he was really great with Reece's group of boys.  Joel was in Reece's group too.  Overall it was a good 'stretching experience' for Ava and I promised her that next year, if she goes back (she says she is not going back ever) that we will make sure to sign up another one of her girl friends so she can have someone to pal around with. :)  I will say this. . .watching that girl grow up and face her hardships and fear makes me so proud of her. I tear up every time!