MY STORY:
Since June 2008, I have been falling in love with the beautiful people of MDA's annual summer camp. As a result, I began my application process in February so I would have no doubt about attending camp. Yet, despite my eagerness...they just would NOT accept me. I shed a lot of tears from February to June before finally accepting that I just wouldn't get to go to camp in 2010. Then, on June 11th, 8 days before camp, my parents received a letter of my acceptance as a counselor. I was bitter and not wanting to go, but a dear friend gave me a harsh reality talk and, on the morning of June 19th, I headed south from Lawrence to Guthrie, OK. I spent the drive listening to Shane & Shane and praying that God would soften my heart and use me for His glory. When I got to Wichita, though, I got a phone call from MDA chewing me out for not being there on time. I had no idea what this was about, and they hung up before I could question. As I continued driving, my heart filled with a fear of getting to camp and then being sent home. I arrived ready to fight...and was informed that I was a cabin leader.
Uhh...
I was rushed into my duties and informed that I was in charge of Cabin C--the same group of campers I fell in love with at MPH camp last summer! All the stress of getting to camp disappeared as the love for my girls filled my heart. I was in charge of 6 girls, aged 12,13,14,15,16, and 17. Since there was a lack of counselors, I was asked to be counselor for two campers in addition to my cabin leader duties. I chose Emily (because of our bond formed last summer) and her best friend, Savannah. My other campers were Deavonna, Laci, Katelyn, and camp graduate Jamie. The bond that Em, Savannah, Dea, Laci, and I formed last year was even stronger than when we had left each other, and bonds with Jamie and Katy were quickly formed as their beautiful personalities lavished everyone around them with love. Even on my most exhausted days, my wonderful campers would somehow erase my fatigue and fill my heart with unfailing joy! It kept me in awe to see how these once shy little girls have grown into strong, outgoing, and absolutely exquisite young women! The week wasn't easy--I had to deal with dress codes, accident reports, and a counselor from hell--but one glimpse of my six lovely ones made all the stress 100% worth it. I've always heard that every once in a while, if a volunteer sticks around long enough, they find a group of campers that is explicitly theirs, forming a bond of love and sisterhood. I never dreamed I could ever be a part of something so special, yet somehow God saw fit to give me these ladies to love on for a week and pray for and love them still in the year between camps.
The exciting part comes from a night when the MDA staff pulled me aside. I was wary, but they apologized for the stress they had caused and promised me any favor I asked. My answer was immediate: I get to be with these ladies until each one graduates. I am so grateful to be blessed by these girls and am exultant at the thought of all our future inside jokes and experiences in the years to come!
"Your love is extravagant!"
MEMORIES:
Dea was my third child.
Office talks with Savannah.
Letting Laci watch Looney Tunes during the thunderstorm
Always singing with Jamie at lunch
So...I may or may not have stolen a ton of chocolate.
Cussing Thursday never dies!
Playing 'Love Game' and 'Poker Face' at the dance...and Tonia making up explanations for the meanings haha
God-talk with Nikki from MDA
Tonia saw the food...and decided to be a one-night vegetarian
Emily curling up like a rolypoly in her sheets
Mina begging me to start the Austrian song
Grandpa Alistair and his opera bursts!
"All the new counselors look like unhappy Taylor Swifts!" -me to Kyla
Ari and Garrett fought for my friendship, haha
Dea fell in love with a 10 year old :)
I always volunteered to be lifted in training
Turkey pancakes!
Peace, Man!
Dea starting every fake fight with "Katie, your campers are picking on me!"
I was told we were making birdhouses. We planted flowers instead. Hmm.
Sandwiches. Always.
Laci's "dates"
Katy caught her frogs!
Faulty Walkies...ugh!
Me:"KEEP IT G-RATED!"
Girls: "But, Katie....we're all old enough for PG!"
All the girls told me how surprised--and grateful they are--when counselors actually return
NOBODY knew the Black Socks song. Nobody.
Tyler Duffey's quote: "I'm with stupid (aka Caleb)."
Counselor-Jamie was my crying buddy, kept me sane all week!
Activity Leaders dressed in 1970's clothes. All Collin had to do was put on glasses!
Talking with Miss Kristen again
Threatening to throw Emily in the lake, pool, floor, etc....(sorry, Mom...)
"Chauncy! Don't eat the sponges!"
Drive-In Movie bug attack from hell
SPOONS! :D
Dea HATES orange. Emily HATES hamburger meat.
Jamie loves her Panthers!
Helping Dea look groovy with her acid pants
"KATIE OH MY GOSH! Did you know Caleb works in a gas station?!?" -all my lovely girls
Camper Katy, Counselor Katie! Camper Jamie, Counselor Jamie!
I paddled the boat perfectly into harbor! :) But we floated away before gettign pulled in :(
I became an official ipod DJ!
"This sign says *in a bored voice* 'turtle race'. But THIS sign says, 'BOWLING! :D :D :D'"
Everyone thought Savannah was a counselor and Emily's last name was Rogers
Campers caught some MONSTER fish, no joke!
On the final night, I broke rules. I gave goodnight hugs. I'm a rebel.
Casino Night with Chanse from FireLake
Braxton was too short to reach the pedals on our boat ride!
The little boys sang "Baby" :)
CONFUSED, BUT GROOVY!
"You were gone so long, we assumed you were dead. So we came up with creative ways of how you died!"-Emily to me, haha
Dea wrote "My Personality" on a piece of paper. She would then ask people if they liked her personality. If they sad yes, she would hand them the piece of paper, then inform them that even though they liked it, it only worked for her. She also informed us that she got her personality in a box for Christmas, hahaha
"Hiding" in bed every night with my shoes on to avoid not being ready to sleep at curfew
Last year, Emily wouldn't talk. Now, she won't stop! Love it :)
Kyla's failure as a magician's assistant, haha
Dea always sang "Dora the Explorer" songs
FINALLY hearing the troll/gnome/bridge story!
Jammin' Jeff played TobyMac for SAM!
Popsicles at the dance?
Savannah wanted to call home to see what happened on "True Blood" haha
The lunch lady yelled at Garrett for dancing with the ketchup bottle! bahaha
Talking with Thomas and James at the pool
"Man, I got colors that ain't even on the rainbow!"-Savannah and Dea, all week long
Dea kept drawing before and after pics of Emily
Laci wouldn't wake up. I pulled a Mr. Happy and sang the Bedbug Song as loud as I could
Fire Drill....FAIL.
Dea finally told me I've always mispronounced her name....gee...
Laci refused to get on the paddelboat unless we had matching blue life jackets!
Every morning Jamie would wake up, stretch, and say "Good morning Miss Katie! I love you!" Made my mornings :)
Katy and the Molecricket
Emily using my legs as support beams
We actually DIDN'T have eggs every day. Whoa.
Savannah forgot her pillow. For once, I didn't :)
Tonia was my mom :)
'Replay' was our cabin song! :D :D
Jamie Bronson, dancing queen :)
"You trusted my life with Garrett?!? I thought you loved me!"-Emily to me :)
"Repeat after me: I, Deavonna Mitchell, will not stalk little boys that I think are cute!"
Hey, Emily? Are you having as much fun as possible?
SAM!
Foreheads!
Wanting to kidnap my six ladies plus Sam and raise them like Snow White
Nicole, Counselor-Jamie, and the spider in the bathroom story!
Activity leaders spoofed "Fresh Prince"
Twelve Rules of Summer Camp song!
Making everyone beautiful paper flowers
"Katie, I was trying to pray, but the night nurse interrupted me!" -Dea
Forcing the girls to pose for pictures, mwahaha
"My goal in life is to be one of those kids you always see in the background looking like they hate life!"
Accident report forms made me cry my heart out.
Jamie glowing after all the boys wanted to dance with her :)
Having to include a "NO bumper cars in the cabin" rule
"Seriously, life is awesome. I wouldn't change a thing." :')
EVERYTHING was deemed awkward by the ladies...
All my girls got interviewed!
"You have something special with these girls. It's clear they love you and view you not as a cabin leader, but as a sister and friend. They're YOUR girls." :')
Garrett and Texas doing the chicken dance
Dea claimed Collin was our best friend since he was "the only one who ever sat with us".
Savannah saved me the pain of another watch dead in the pool
Emily waited till Wednesday to inform me of a better way to lift her. Thanks, Em :p
Karen from MDA telling us about her love story, haha
"But we kick them to the curb if they don't look like...ALISTAIR!"
"My grandkids don't like the smell of moth balls, but I don't mind it!"
Having to announce the time every ten minutes to the chatty girls on Thursday night
Trying unsuccessfully to steal Laci's Lowe's apron...at the end of the week, I ended up with three aprons!
Admission to the movie: one smile!
Emily and I felt that Savannah and Dea must be clinically insane to not like pickles or bananas!
Giving a warm fuzzy for my suddenly shy girls to Daniel for "having an awesome voice"
Always telling the girls that bad things were "frowned upon"
Collin's job was to explain Random Acts of Kindness to new counselors
I traded my camper for half a bag of sunflower seeds! ;)
Caleb came down to help for the first two days....LOVE that kid!
"Oh my gosh! Katelyn is....Katy?!"
NEVER knowing the OneRepublic song Emily loved
Having to bait poles because new counselors were afraid of worms...Ari, included, in this...
KATY THE DOG! :D
"I'm going to draw a picture of our faces on a rainbow!"
Way too much Justin Beiber...
My song of the week: "Your Love is Extravagant" by Casting Crowns :)
"We hate fish. We hate fishing. We only put it as a goal every year to get counselors off our backs!"
Riding paddleboats all day Tuesday
"I remember when you were just a little thing doing the annual, and now you're a cabin leader and I am SO PROUD!"--Brenda, the nurse that never speaks
Since Happy couldn't be there, he sent a happy face ball for Jamie to have during the Talent Show so that she wouldn't have to sing alone on her last year of camp. She held it and sang to Happy, there in spirit. Everyone who knew about it was bawling the whole time she sang.
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