What A Weekend

To begin! Where? At the beginning I guess. At 11:45 AM we picked up 2 young people and started a 3 1/2 drive to Youth Haven Camp in Rives Junction, Michigan. A camp for at rick children in a 200 acre woods in near the center of Michigan. The words were good and we arrived safely at our destination. (Only one stop at Mc.D's for lunch)We arrived at 3:30 PM, unloaded the car and said good by to my husband who was turning around to make the trip back home. My daughter is the cook at the camp and I was going to spend the weekend watching and listening and working and crying for 70 kids, from the age of 7 to 12, who needed a safe place, if only for a weekend. I boned 4 turkeys, stirred chili, washed many, many, pots and pans and most of all watched my girl in action. I was so proud of her, for I know she loves the kids and has a passion to make it easier for them and to tell them about God and the haven He is in their daily existence.

On Friday evening during chapel I heard praises going upward to the God of us all. One song I want to share with you. It was the last song and I cried when I felt the Holy Spirit in Holy goosebumps. The song for me is a prayer and after they sang it many times I could not help but cry. I hope it will be a prayer for you.

Come and make my heart your home
Come and be everything I am and all I know
Search me through and through
Until my heart becomes a home for You
I Home for you Lord
A Home for you Lord
Let everything I do, open up the door for You to come through
that my heart may be a place that you want to be.

The staff put on a skit for 5 Chapel services on the birth of Christ in the setting of a news broadcast.

Saturday night the 70 young people enjoyed a full Christmas meal, with white table cloths and green and red place mats. The surprise I heard in their voices made all the preparations a piece of cake. To know that most of them will not be getting a Christmas meal on Christmas Day brought a lump in my throat. The four turkeys and all the fixings were devoured and enjoyed by all.

Sunday they received donuts and milk in bed. A treat. After lunch the children were taken to what is called the Hay Loft on the camp grounds for a Christmas party. There they sang Christmas songs, quoted scripture, heard the final story about Jesus, and were given a huge shopping bag of Christmas gifts. I heard one little 7 year old boy say "Is all of this for Me" Again the tears were flowing.

We arrived home to ice, but the trip was good. The 2 young people we took was in heaven on the way home. I could hear their chatter all the way home. Arrived home at 8:30 PM.

My daughter has help from LIT's (Leaders In Training) for serving and clean up from each meal. I met and fell in love with 5 of the most adorable boys and girls who want to give back to a place where they had attended as a younger child. Their sweet personalities won my heart. The hugs were heart felt as I said good by to each of them and wished them a good life.

Now for the birthday. Turning 60 was not the end of the world after all. My family played it very low keyed. My other daughter and her husband surprised me at the camp on Sunday morning. They gave me a plant in a box. It was so good to see them and see them jump in and help clean the kitchen so the cook could be at the Christmas party. The cook gave me my most favorite candy, sugar free taffy. Today my husband is taking me out for my most favorite meal of prime rid, backed potatoes, and the most melt in your mouth roils in an inn along the Kankakee river.

This is the end. Love and Hugs to all who sent birthday wishes to me.