Micah Goes to Camp

This is my sweet sleepy headed little Micah John on the drive to be dropped off for church camp this week. He's nine years old. I wasn't going to let him go to camp until he was ten, like I did with Jarod & Seth. But he wanted to go sssoooooooo badly. I know the children's minister & helpers a lot better than I did a year ago, when we were fairly new to our church. I know they do an AWESOME job with the kids. It's only two hours away. And, really.............would YOU be able to disappoint that cute little face??? Micah is an easy-going, sweet kid who doesn't ask for much. I had to let him go. But that doesn't mean I have to LIKE it.

                                        Brother hug!!!!!

                                       All ready to go!!!!!!!!

                               So excited to spend the week with his buds!!!!!

                                            Group hug!!!!!!!

             On the bus! I think he's a little too happy to be leaving me.


                      Boys dog-piled on Jarod while we waited to wave goodbye to the bus. Seth had disappeared somewhere with a friend who was there. While this still looks like a lot of boys, there will be a big hole in my heart until Micah is home.

          However..........we are ALL going camping this week (in a couple days). Coincidentally, of course. In the near vicinity of Micah's camp. Of course.....that is also a coincidence.

         Oh, but......if they see a strange woman lurking in the bushes outside the camp ground with a pair binoculars, it's NOT me. Nope.

         I feel pride that Micah is well adjusted enough, being the poor, sheltered, home schooled boy that he is, that he desires to spend a whole week away from his family with other friends. I am often asked if I am worried about "socializing" my children. Not really. I think my kids are pretty well "socialized". I kind of wish they were a little LESS "socialized" & wanted to stay home with mama. Forever. *Sigh* But eventually, they all want to leave me. My kids going off to camp, for some reason, is always a reminder to me that God only is letting me borrow them for a while. When they are born, it feels like they are MINE. All of a sudden, when they appear into the world out of no where, it's as if they've always been there, as if I've always loved them & I can't imagine life without them. First they go to summer camp. Then they go to college. Just like that. And why do I have to love them so very much, just to have them leave me?! It hardly seems fair. But at least I know they are "socialized" & will make lots of friends wherever they go. And now I'm going to go have a good cry.

        Incidentally, does anyone have a really good pair of binoculars & a set of camouflage fatigues I could borrow? No reason. Just curious.