To my amazing Royal Family,

Sometime back in the middle of May I really, really didn’t think I was going to make it to camp. 

I was honestly really scared. 

I couldn’t move my body when I woke up, I didn’t know if something was wrong with my heart, I just didn’t think I was going to make it.

And I think I needed camp more this year than I did even in 2022 after missing it for two whole years.

I’ve said it many, many times but the week we’re at camp I feel as if I’m operating out of exactly who I’m supposed to be. I’m using all the things in my hands and it all just works.

And the thought of not having that this year was truthfully enough to break me.

Then two weeks prior to camp I got so sick. I couldn’t sleep, eat or function. 

Then my flight got cancelled.

I just needed to get here.

I am so thankful I did.

Camp was difficult for me in a much different way this year. Because I didn’t feel like I was able to show up at the level I hold myself too.

I mean I only got an average of 14,000 steps a day.

I couldn’t move quickly, I didn’t have the energy to be over the top energetic.

But, I realized something even just a day in.

The kids didn’t care.

I just needed to be present.

Needed to be available for them to come up and show me their bug barns. Needed to be available to distract them when they just wanted to wander. Needed to be available to go up and tuck them in every night.

I learned this year that I didn’t the high energy and the bells and whistles, or even much of a voice, I just needed to be able to stand at a bed for 10 minutes rubbing someone’s head so they could go to sleep.

I didn’t need anything more than to just be present and available.

I’m so grateful at camp that we have amazing activities, and swimming and a rock wall and are able to create moments for these kids they probably won’t get anywhere else.

I’m so grateful we give them opportunities to be kids.

But this year at camp I learned and I saw that what those kids needed most was our undivided attention. 

They just needed us to be there.

Those are the moments that I believe they will hold with them. The conversations, the listening ears, the time.

The bells and whistles are great: the birthday party, zip line, all the projects.

But, at the end of the day, being able to watch the moment where a kid felt seen were my favorite. 

Even if that moment was giving them the ability to preach a mini-sermon and remind that if we “don’t listen to God we will live a short life” (once again not what she said in my ear).

So thank you, to my Royal Family for another year.

Thanks for watching out for me and making sure I wasn’t going at top speed.

Thanks for supplying me with cough drops.

Thanks for making me laugh so much over everything said on the walkie talkies. (#ballsontheroad #xanderandthegrandmas)

Thanks for doing the motions with me (well, some of you- don’t worry y’all will get called out next year).

Thank for being flexible with me in chapel so that the natives wouldn’t get restless.

Thanks for the mushroom coffee.

Thanks for trusting me with the kids that needed a little more love.

And thank you once again for showing up for the kids with me. 

I know this year I have more to process and more to sort through. 

I know I need to retake the color test because my red really comes out at camp.

But, for now, I’m just going to remind myself that I did show up.

It didn’t look like how it always does.

But I showed up for the kids.

YOU showed up for the kids.

And it mattered.

Until next year.

With all the love,

Meg