We just got back from Forest Home Christian Camp’s Family Camp, and it was just as much fun this year as last! Last year, the weather was cold and foggy, but this year was absolutely beautiful, and we loved experiencing Lake Mears, kayaking, and checking out the zip line (okay, only Lissa did that). The food was amazing, as usual, and the worship and teaching were exactly perfect. I am the proud owner of about six CDs by the worship artist, Justin Unger, and checking my mailbox for the new release, which I preordered!
This is about how happy the kids were to be back at Forest Home . . .
We brought some board games to play in the cabin, and Steven spent quite a bit of time chronicling his adventures in a new journal.
Sunday was lake day, when we all drove the few short minutes to Lake Mears, where our kids got in the water, other kids slip-n-slided, Lissa got a “Fo-Ho” bear painted on her back (which lasted about 2 minutes because it got rubbed off by the life vest she wore when paddleboarding), and everyone ate hamburgers and hot dogs.
After lunch, we went kayaking, and Steven happened to be first in line when a “single” kayak came up. We stuck him in it and pushed him off before realizing that we had offered exactly ZERO training in paddling. We shouted “LEFT!!! LEFT!!!” from the dock, and he eventually figured out how to make the thing turn.
Unplugged family game time. Spot It! is a really fun game!
The Craft Cabin is our family’s FAVORITE. A tiny store offers all sorts of fun crafting materials for sale, and everything else you need (paint, scissors, hot glue, leather punches) is provided free. Lissa tried her hand at leather tooling and painting glass this time, and Steven painted a turtle among other projects.
The dining hall is one of the most amazing things about camp. Short lines, excellent food (every lunch and dinner starts with a big dark-green salad), and wonderful servers who are volunteers from a church youth group. This year, the ribs and tri-tip were especially delicious. This is NOT your typical camp food!
This happened.
We grabbed a few photos of Katlyn on Sunday evening. She is Steven’s CCA (Childcare Assistant) and is a HUGE part of what makes Forest Home so much fun for him. While we are in our evening programs, Katlyn comes and takes Steven on adventures. Like Steven, Katlyn is very artistic, so they had a great time in the craft cabin this year, making each other projects.
The LAST DAY. Steven woke up SOBBING because we had to leave. He was just pitiful . . . just like last year. We may need more camp in our lives!
The kids sang “The Change in Me” and “Hip-Hip-Hip Hippopotamus,” and Steven stood there looking handsome but not singing. Whereas his sister would like to be Music Mama (who LEADS and TEACHES the songs) when she grows up, Steven is not an “up on stage” kind of guy.
One last family photo before the drive home.