I think the beach is very therapeutic in several aspects. I love laying on the beach listening to the waves crash into shore. I love the smell of the sea air and even the taste of the ocean water. Its very calming and for me triggers long periods of time for thinking. I did a lot of thinking this past week, and after just ending camp it was just what I needed. Time to put all my thoughts from the summer or about the summer away and prepare for getting back into the groove of school. There was a realization that I came to, one that I've known all along, but finally accepted it I guess. Camp is not a settling ground. As much as I would love for it to be, it can't be. It is merely a temporary stop in life. For me it was a 4 year stop. For others its longer, and for some, shorter. I wanted this summer to last forever. I wanted camp to be a year round thing and just continue rotating through my campers. Camp has taught me much over the years. God has brought me unexpected friends into my life and turned people whom I couldn't stand or get along with into my best friends.
I guess its a protective thing for me. As long as I am there, I know my campers are getting the best love and care that they can. Some are from group homes that don't show them much love so its very important that when they arrive at camp they are loved beyond what they know to do with. If I'm not there, how will I know they are being loved and cared for? I realized this week, I know they will continue to be loved and properly taken care of because I've watched the best of the best counselors come through and train me to love and care for this population in the best ways. Through their training, I learned how to train those behind me. Its a chain reaction at camp. You are trained through experience and through the friendship of coworkers. Once it is time for some to move on, those who are left behind train those coming in. I've been trained by the best. I've learned so much by the people I've worked with for the last 3 years. Our campers will never lack love at camp. It will always be there. I just wish I could be apart of it forever.
There's a country song that's played in my heart since the last morning of camp and the chorus seems to match just perfectly.
You're gonna miss this.
You're gonna want this back.
You're gonna wish these days hadn't gone by so fast.
These are some good times.
So take a good look around.
You may not know it now, but you're gonna miss this.
-Trace Adkins-
And I do. I already miss it and I cherish every moment I had or will have at camp. My campers are my good times. Most of my stories come from them. My favorite memories are from them. They are my life and my joy. They have shaped and molded parts of me into who I am today. I am so thankful for that.
Tomorrow I get back to the daily grind of my day job. I am excited about it. As much as I love camp, I love my job teaching 2 & 3 year olds. They keep my laughing and I see things through different lights because I have their perspective. Its a good age to work with. They tell you how it is and how they see it. I love my job and am excited to get a new group a week from tomorrow. In the mean time I have so much to get done! I feel very overwhelmed at the moment, but I know in God's strength and the amazing help of my co-teacher Alisha, everything will get done. Though my summer in paradise is ending, my life in paradise is beginning. And in someways, continuing. Maybe I should change the name of the blog to "My Life in Paradise".... hmm... we'll see. For now, I am signing off and jumping back into life. Unless you hear otherwise, this is me closing my Summer In Paradise. What an amazing summer it was!
