nostalgia

the last few days i've been feeling a little envious of all the nyr packers that are getting ready to head back out to colorado next week. i hate not going even though i know i'm probably making the best choice for my body & my baby (the altitude does funny things to my blood sugar).

mike hasn't gone without me since the first year we started dating in 2002 & although i'm super glad he's going i want to be with him. the last few years both of us have stepped up in different ways and taken more active roles while we're at nyr. mike has been helping with security and this year will probably help with med services, while i've spent more and more time in our camp's kitchen. some people would wrinkle their noses at the thought of missing a service or two, or coming back early from them, but nothing is more rewarding then having a cold drink & warm meal ready for the kids in the afternoon when they come back from classes & a hot drink with a cookies after the chilly evening service.

there was never a time when i came up to our camp when i was a camper that someone wasn't there--whether because my blood sugar was acting up or because i needed to talk to someone. there was always a cheerful face in the kitchen (usually aunt marcia & the lady that has now come to be my mother-in-law), acting like they'd been expecting me & i'm so happy to be that person to the group of kids we take out now. for me its not a sacrifice to miss a class here or come up from a service early there--its an act of love...you see, nyr is about the kids (nationwide youth round-up)& i want them to have the most rewarding experience that they can have, so if that means that a class is skipped so lunch can be eaten on time so the kids can let their food settle and get to recreation on time then that's okay by me. i still get ministered to and my cup is filled by the services, but more than that i'm filled by the light and the passion that i see in our students' eyes.

crazy or not, mike and i are planning on taking our family out to nyr next year...we'll most definitely be going out early--another experience that makes nyr more worthwhile for me (nothing like the calm before the storm), so we can get set up & have the kitchen ready before the campers get there. i'll be excited to see old friends that i'll miss this year & to introduce my baby to the mountains. i'll also be ready to get back into the swing of serving those just like was done for me.

okay, enough rambling...to all of you going this year, have a great time! i'll be thinking of you!!