A Tough Goodbye

Today was the last day of summer camp. The parents were invited to come and watch the kids sing songs, perform skits and have lunch with the campers. The kids put on a really cute show. There were still several hours left after they finished, so the Nature Girl and I headed home. We hung out at home until we got a call from my husband telling me he was done working for the day and was hoping for a ride home. Since I had heard that the counselors would be leaving the area at 8:00pm that day, I wanted to grab something for dinner for them. The Nature Girl and I grabbed Korean pizza, ran over to get my husband and then headed over to pick up the Artist. I was about 10 minutes late and I was feeling badly thinking that the counselors were stuck there having to watch my daughter when they needed to get packed up and on a bus in just a few hours. I was not prepared for the scene I walked into... Kids were trickling out of the building crying. One of them stopped to tell me that my daughter was in there crying and so was everyone else. The campers and counselors were having a tough time saying goodbye. The Artist was sobbing standing next to Miss Rainbow and she was crying, too. Kids everywhere had tissues. The counselors were signing shirts and arms and bracelets and passing out their email addresses. Everyone was lingering, unwilling to have the camp come to an end. Ms. Rainbow came up and thanked me for my help over the past 2 months and I almost started crying! When we were heading out to the car, the Artist said, " This is my first 'Last day of camp'. I have only had a first day of camp." She was so upset. Poor thing.
Thank you Mr. Monsoon and Ms Rainbow! You two have really touched our family's life and we wish you both the best. Thanks for letting the Nature Girl and I join you for swimming and field trips. We had a blast!


The Artist and Miss Rainbow


Mommy and the Nature Girl grabbing lunch


The Artist grabbing lunch


The Artist and Zay with Mr. Monsoon and Miss Rainbow


Camp Casey Camp Adventure


Campers with Miss Rainbow


Campers with Mr. Monsoon

Camp Adventure

When we got to Korea, The Artist was having trouble getting settled. She had spent 6 weeks saying goodbye to many friends and family members. I wasn't sure how I was going to help her get through the heartache of moving and missing her friends. I checked out a magazine put out by MWR (Morale, Welfare & Recreation) to see what was going on in the local area and found Camp Adventure. It is nine 1-week camps with arts and crafts, games, field trips, bowling and swimming for 40 hours a week. It sounded like the perfect opportunity to help my daughter get settled. We weren't able to get her in until the 3rd week and she just loved it. It was the solution she needed to finally feel settled and at home. She had a great time with the other kids and the counselors, Mr. Monsoon and Ms. Rainbow. And she can't wait to go back again! She went to a beach in Korea this week. The family was invited to join the kids, but the Nature Girl and I didn't... wished we would have, but I needed to get some things done around the house. I'm still trying to get moved in. Maybe next time.

North Carolina

The drive to NC was pretty. It seems that NC, like TX cares to plant flowers along the roadsides to make the scenery more attractive for those stuck driving the highways. My dear friend, Jenn, was kind enough to let us stay at her place for a few days. Poor Jenn seemed to have nothing but car problems while I was there, but at least she was not alone as we drug one car after the other to the garage! When the guys are away, it seems like nothing but trouble follows. It was nice just to do the mundane stuff of hanging out, grocery shopping and staying up all night talking... it was relaxing and fun. And, oh, the fun the kids had! My girls just loved hanging out with Jenn's kids! They have missed each other since Jenn and her family moved away more than a year ago.

Now, my eldest is not fond of dogs, especially ones that are taller than her knees, so she kept her distance from Jenn's boxer for most of our visit. But, by the end of our visit, she had finally warmed up to the pup. My youngest on the other hand, is VERY fond of all living things. She had a blast playing with the dog and the cat and chasing squirrels out in the yard.

While we were there, my eldest saw Jenn knitting a prayer shawl and asked her if she would make one for her stuffed bear so he wouldn't be cold on the airplane flight to Korea. I didn't know what to make of my daughter asking for a gift like that, but Jenn thought that she had asked so sweetly, that she found some yarn laying around and got right to knitting up a little blanket for a stuffed bear named, Pete. What a blessing to have such wonderful friends!

It was sad to drive away that morning... my oldest daughter is having trouble saying goodbye to loved ones every few days as we move from one house to another traveling across the country. We still have several more stops to go before we get to Korea... I pray she will be alright.







Jenn working on my eldest's blanket with
my future cat, Lucky, and my youngest





My eldest with the pup and
her stuffed animal, Pete



Our kids