→ SOON TO END, ALL SMILES

Tomorrow is the LAST day of 2011 Re:New Day Camp, and I really can't put into words how fast this camp went by. I'm really going to miss my cute kids, the fun-filled counselors, the great atmosphere, and most of all just being in a big family. It's funny, if you were a stranger walking into our day camp during worship, you'd see everyone go crazy for their group "GUMMIE BEARS! SKITTLES! AIRHEADS! STARBURSTS!" as if we were in a war or something. But totally opposite, we're all part of a family, a family where people truly care about each other. I think this is what I loved about SDC this year, I felt wanted, belonged, and just.... happy. You walk in tired as hell at 8am and everyone is there just sitting around doing morning devotion but, you have this feeling of, oh we're in this together, we're happy doing this for God and the kids.

The aura everyday is just magnificent, you see counselors in a rush to print out math worksheets, freaking out over the weather/activity, finding missing items just so everything can be PERFECT. You wonder, how can all this chaos be magnificent? Don't you see? All this panicking is to make things run smoothly for the kids, realizing that you have a group of counselors so highly devoted in their activities or classes trying to make the best out of things is wonderful. Being overwhelmed but succeeding in the end describes this camp very well. Things can be an utter mess in the beginning but sticking it through and seeing the wonderful smiles on our kids faces after a day in the park, or Chuck E Cheese, or just arts & craft is worth it.

It's sad for me to come to this realization this late in the camp, I wish I would have cherished my kids and counselors earlier.. but better late than never right? What opened up my eyes was the Counselor Swap day that put me in a position at Hope that helped me in the long run. I was put into a group called the Cheerios which were K-2nd as well, but couple things that differed was the counselors and the lack of discipline. Counselors lacked experience and discipline themselves, the kids were crazy at the wrong time. I guess it was just frustrating to see how.... let's see if I can put this nicely... nope! how.. BAD everything was going. It made me appreciate my kids, my counselors. When I saw them after in a meeting, I had so much to say, I wanted to hear so much about their day... It really opened up my eyes, they came up to me and said "RYAN! You have no idea how happy I am to see you" And... DAMN, it was from KB (a guy) and I just felt soo good! I don't know, I guess I'm just enjoying my group so much more after that day. It's a family for us, our own little family. We have group bonding on Saturday, and I can't wait to just summarize our experience. To just sit back and say "remember when..." "oh dude, when so and so did that!" It'll make me smile, BIG.

Not to get ahead of myself, but there still is Closing Ceremony tomorrow. And I'm so excited for it, it's definitely bittersweet since this is the time to say goodbye to your kids, as well as seeing an ending video... I hope to smile and tear, hug and get hugged, and just cherish what happened int he past 6 weeks and what is instored for the Gummies. I can't wait.

2011 Re:New Summer Day Camp, I'll miss everything about you..., you have been the highlight of my summer.

Loosely Photos: