This July marked twenty-two summers at camp — twenty-two seasons of sun and rain, familiar traditions, and countless small moments that have shaped our life here.
Over those years we’ve lived through Mission Impossible games and Talent Nights, energetic teenagers and the soft wails of newborns, scraped knees mended with bandages, and spirited soccer matches on the field. We’ve gathered in chapels and firesides, sung silly songs and shared heartfelt stories. We’ve swung on the big ball swing, ridden horses, shot arrows, and paddled canoes until the light faded on warm evenings.
When I realized last week that this year marked my sixty-sixth family camp — spread across those twenty-two summers — it felt both astonishing and deeply familiar. Camp life is a little bit crazy, endlessly busy, sometimes messy, and always a blessing. Those years have given us countless memories, friendships, and a sense of purpose that keeps calling us back each season.
Last November I began praying for a fresh passion and renewed excitement for our ministry and the work we do here. I didn’t want our long tenure to become a source of weariness or complacency. Instead, I asked God to place a fresh vision in my heart, to make each summer feel as vibrant and new as that very first season twenty-two summers ago.
Over the past months He has answered in small and beautiful ways. The routines that once felt like repetition are renewed by the faces we see each year and the new stories that arrive with each family. The blessings of this life — the shared meals, the late-night conversations, the moments of laughter and tears — far outweigh the burdens. For that I am deeply grateful.
Summers here move at a breathless pace. I always intend to prepare guest posts and projects ahead of time so my blog readers have fresh content throughout the season, but the reality is that once summer arrives my priorities necessarily shift. Camp ministry, family schedules, and the daily rhythms of this place take precedence. Still, I appreciate everyone who follows along even when updates are sporadic.
Next week I’ll head back out to Woodsman to cook for a family camp — a first for me and something I’m looking forward to — but this week I carved out some time at home to catch up on a few things and to reconnect with creative work. I even had a burst of inspiration and pulled out my paints.
I decided to try something a little different and gave owl art a go. The process was playful and restorative — sketching shapes, mixing colors, and finding personality in each little face. It felt good to create for the joy of it, without a strict plan, and to remember that small creative experiments can be re-energizing.
The results surprised me: whimsical owls with bright eyes, soft textures, and a bit of playful charm. Creativity at home is a nice counterbalance to the structured, communal rhythms of camp. It reminds me of the simple pleasure of making something by hand and the satisfaction of finishing a project, even a small one.
It was honestly a hoot to work on these pieces — a chance to slow down and enjoy color and texture. I played with pinks and neutrals, tried a few lettering ideas, and let each painting evolve naturally. The studio time felt restorative and reminded me how important it is to keep creativity in our lives, even amid busy seasons.
How is your summer going? Are you finding pockets of rest and creativity amid the busyness of life? I’d love to hear how you carve out time for the things that refresh you.
On a different note, for those who use WordPress: I’ve been getting an unusually large number of spam comments lately. If you have experience or recommendations for reliable spam-filtering solutions or plugins that perform well without blocking legitimate readers, I would really appreciate your suggestions.
Thank you for reading, for supporting this small corner of camp life, and for understanding when posts come more slowly during the height of summer. Your encouragement means a lot as we continue this work and celebrate another summer filled with new memories and familiar joys.
