I remember the Sunday in late winter when we first heard about Young Life Family Camp. Lily and I were in the pew sitting next to each other and she made the comment that it sounded like fun. I thought to myself, hmmm it does sound like fun, and if Lily is on board, well, I am sure I can get the rest of the family on board too. Then, a few weeks later Corrie Inman got up in the service to share about her own experiences with Young Life and what a fun weekend this would be for our community. She sold me when she said that this was a perfect way to spend Motherâs Day: no cooking, no laundry, no chores, the kids would be entertained, and we could really spend time together in a beautiful place â whatâs not to love about that!
When we arrived, I was blown away at how beautiful Sharp Top Cove is. I had gone to Windy Gap during my high school days, but certainly donât remember it being quite as nice! Hadley said, âMom, this is like being at a really nice hotel with a camp in the backyard!â And, indeed it was just that.
We had a fantastic weekend. I could go on and on about the beauty, the activities, the funny skits and loud music at meal time. The games during Club, the meaningful messages from Randy Eberhard, the opportunities to connect with other families were all priceless. It gave you a feeling of pure and authentic joy.
In addition to the authentic joy our entire family felt, was the feeling of gratitude that took me by surprise. It is extremely rare as a wife and working mom of three children & two dogs to get a moment to sit back and relax. To have a moment to absorb my surroundings without the tug of a chore that needs completion, an email that needs to be sent, a word of encouragement that needs to be said, was something I had not had in quite a while. As I sat there in a rocking chair I realized how grateful I was to be in this space, to be in this place in life, and to be a cherished child of God. I am grateful that we have the resources to be able to spend a weekend at family camp. I am grateful that my children are old enough to run around with their buddies and explore. I am grateful for the beauty of Godâs earth. I am grateful for my husband and for the moments we can be together without the pulls of our normal busy lives. I am grateful for my childrenâs budding friendships with people in our community. I am grateful for words of wisdom from people who have been in our shoes. I am grateful for the reminders about forgiveness, expectations, and that God has a purpose for each us. I am grateful for the people who made a weekend away possible so that I could sit back and absorb this beautiful life around me. I am grateful that I know the power and redemption of Godâs love.
I was not ready to come back to our crazy busy lives in Atlanta. I was fearful that the stress would creep back in and ruin my gratitude. In all honesty, that stress has crept back in (school ending, work commitments, surgery for Scott) but it has not ruined or diminished my gratitude. The âRe-Setâ that I desperately needed has endured and I feel calmer, safer, and still immeasurably grateful. Joy, that elusive thing, has also endured. My children are calmer, safer, more joyful. They are wondering why I donât play crazy music as I am serving breakfast, but I tell them they will just have to go back to camp for that!
– Lindsay DeMyer