Over two weeks ago, I was the adult chaperone for our senior high youth on their summer beach trip to RYM. RYM has been the pinnacle event of the summer for my daughter K, who came home two years ago in a deep depression because it was over. Last year was not quite so dramatic. So I waited to see what the reaction to this year's event would be, especially with me in tow.
What a trip! I think I had more fun than she did this year because it was new to me, and I had no expectations. We got there Monday afternoon relatively early for youth groups. It was me, K, her friend Jamie, Ally, and another chaperone, Maryann in the girls group. There were two youth guys and two male chaperones. Girls and boys had separate rooms, and we settled in very quickly. We had a room with 9 beds, two which were full size, and we knew we'd get roomies. And they arrived very quickly, from New Brauntfels, TX. Thankfully they were nice!
The days were fairly structured but still had lots of room for different activities. In the mornings, we'd eat, then go to two lessons, and then eat again. The afternoon was free time, and then we'd eat again, and have our final lesson. I went to all of the lessons, all of the meals, and participated as much as possible. Realize that I never had this type of activity as a youth. But, of course, I wasn't a youth. Ha.
The lessons were a bit hit and miss. The first class we had on college prep was okay, but not life changing. Could have skipped it. The second class on "Sex, Dating, and Marriage" was actually really great. The teacher was pretty charismatic and had three teenage daughters and knew exactly what he was talking about. I didn't ask questions at all on the first day but of course I did on the second day. None of the kids really wanted to talk, which surprised me, but then I realized...they were youth. And I was not. Ha.
The evening study was, in a word, awesome. We reviewed scripture from Revelation and discussed hope. Why do we hope? What is it that makes us different?
And the afternoons at the beach...you can't get much better than sitting in the sand with a book and just enjoying the waves. The unique thing was that I was surrounded by girls in one-piece bathing suits, which quite honestly is unheard of. Girls don't do that anymore! And getting to know these youth and hanging out with them, watching them play b-ball, get in the ocean, talk with them about deep topics, have prayer time with them and by myself...it was really amazing. Seriously...an unexpectedly wonderful week.
Wednesday, July 16, 2014
Sunday, July 13, 2014
Visit From the Sis
My daughter commented that I hadn't written much lately. She's right. I haven't felt like I had anything to say. But the point of this blog was not to have something to say, but to remember what happened. I have a hazy memory. There is a lot I don't remember - the fine details of life, really - and this was meant to keep those, but it also has recorded some philosophical, theological, and emotional thoughts too. Those can be necessary sometimes.
Regardless, I have a few memories of this summer that need to be recorded. And the most recent memory is a visit from my sister.
My sister Kavitha and I have never been really really close. She and I are opposite personalities. Where I am serious, she's accepting. Where I am joking, she's either matter of fact or she might be negative. Where she is hard-working, I'm lackadaisical. We both love each other though and come from the same place, which gives us a sense of connectedness.
She brought her daughter to visit last Friday. We ate and watched fireworks that day and she got to hear the call of a bullfrog, well, 10000 bullfrogs, and it surprised her and her daughter because she'd never heard them like that before. The song of the bullfrog combined with the sweltering humidity made for the perfect southern backdrop to the fireworks that couldn't be missed.
The next day, my daughter K took her daughter swimming, while I fought with my parents (also visiting) at Sam's about the way I am so scatterbrained at times. We were searching for a new phone for mom, who probably wants a smartphone but decided to go with a flip phone. That evening, my sister and I cooked together, and we made burgers. That turned out to be a bit of a disaster too, since the burgers went up in flames and the house nearly burned down. She helped me put the fire out and it turns out she's great to have around in a crisis. We also watched Charlotte's Web as a family together because my niece has to read that for school next year. Apparently in California even third graders get assigned summer reading.
On Sunday, we went to the McWane Center together, and it was a special time because my parents enjoyed it as much as the girls did. Dad made sure to lie down on the bed of nails, but we had to steer him away from all of the electromagnetic interactive displays due to his heart device. "Oops, Dad, stay away from that, you might die!" Still, K pronounced it the best day ever, she really enjoyed all of the different science activities, and I even petted a stingray. K also tried to buy food for the homeless man on the street, which I always deny her. K's heart is big. We pitstopped at PF Changs on the way home and I realized the extent of what my sister has to deal with: my niece has nut and seed allergies, and we had to get a special menu for her. Apparently a LOT of things that restaurants make are with nut-based oil or seeds.
They had fun times the next few days at VBS, at Krispy Kreme, at CHOM, which I had to miss all of because I had to work. We did have a great dinner on Monday night, even though mom seemed skeptical of the blackened catfish, but we had fun making it. We also looked through old pictures together. Since it was summer, both of my daughters were able to entertain them; I am glad that they got to spend time with my girls because my sister hasn't done that in a while. And what a joy it is to spend time with a 7-year-old. I love that age, and it just so happened that it was my niece!
Regardless, I have a few memories of this summer that need to be recorded. And the most recent memory is a visit from my sister.
My sister Kavitha and I have never been really really close. She and I are opposite personalities. Where I am serious, she's accepting. Where I am joking, she's either matter of fact or she might be negative. Where she is hard-working, I'm lackadaisical. We both love each other though and come from the same place, which gives us a sense of connectedness.
She brought her daughter to visit last Friday. We ate and watched fireworks that day and she got to hear the call of a bullfrog, well, 10000 bullfrogs, and it surprised her and her daughter because she'd never heard them like that before. The song of the bullfrog combined with the sweltering humidity made for the perfect southern backdrop to the fireworks that couldn't be missed.
The next day, my daughter K took her daughter swimming, while I fought with my parents (also visiting) at Sam's about the way I am so scatterbrained at times. We were searching for a new phone for mom, who probably wants a smartphone but decided to go with a flip phone. That evening, my sister and I cooked together, and we made burgers. That turned out to be a bit of a disaster too, since the burgers went up in flames and the house nearly burned down. She helped me put the fire out and it turns out she's great to have around in a crisis. We also watched Charlotte's Web as a family together because my niece has to read that for school next year. Apparently in California even third graders get assigned summer reading.
On Sunday, we went to the McWane Center together, and it was a special time because my parents enjoyed it as much as the girls did. Dad made sure to lie down on the bed of nails, but we had to steer him away from all of the electromagnetic interactive displays due to his heart device. "Oops, Dad, stay away from that, you might die!" Still, K pronounced it the best day ever, she really enjoyed all of the different science activities, and I even petted a stingray. K also tried to buy food for the homeless man on the street, which I always deny her. K's heart is big. We pitstopped at PF Changs on the way home and I realized the extent of what my sister has to deal with: my niece has nut and seed allergies, and we had to get a special menu for her. Apparently a LOT of things that restaurants make are with nut-based oil or seeds.
They had fun times the next few days at VBS, at Krispy Kreme, at CHOM, which I had to miss all of because I had to work. We did have a great dinner on Monday night, even though mom seemed skeptical of the blackened catfish, but we had fun making it. We also looked through old pictures together. Since it was summer, both of my daughters were able to entertain them; I am glad that they got to spend time with my girls because my sister hasn't done that in a while. And what a joy it is to spend time with a 7-year-old. I love that age, and it just so happened that it was my niece!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)