Summer Camp 2014 #1

Summer camp #1

Well Vern is back from his first camp of the summer. This was confirmation camp through the church. As you can see from the photos below it is a lot more than studying the Bible. It is fun together time with great counselors. 

I asked Vern so what did you learn?  His typical response, "Oh stuff I all ready knew like God loves you."

This year they got to stay in a new building - more of a dorm style. This was much nicer than the old sheds converted into sleeping quarters they had in prior years.  Vern did say he did not like his counselor and one time a counselor hit a boy. I don't know what was all up with that but plan on looking further into that.

This week Vern is off to Summer camp #2. I do not know if I will get any photos from that camp out but will be sure to update how it went.

Paddle boating -

Fishing - Vern said they only got to fish for a short time and the other kids kept catching his line. No fish either. :-(

Vern is the second kid on the high ropes. He ended up with a nasty scrape down the front of his leg from falling once.

Zipping down the line at the end - always fun!

 

Confirmation Camp!

Another Vern activity for the summer was church camp. This is a required camp when the kids are in confirmation. They spend a week there and are busy sun-up to sun-down.  Some of the things I gleaned from Vern are as follows.

The toilets are disgusting. He was glad he was a boy and didn't have to sit down. Let's just say he was pretty "backed-up" by the time he got home. ZOWIE

The showers were not much better but he did say he took quick showers daily. One day he washed his hair - one day his body. At least he ran some water over himself that week...

One painful event was during horse time. The horses stomp their feet when trying to keep the biting flies off themselves. Well Vern's horse decided to do this maneuver when Vern's foot was under the horse. Yes that hurt he told me. I bet. Luckily didn't break anything.

One thing Vern did enjoy at camp was learning to make "survival" bracelets. Below is a photo of the one he made for me. These are bracelets made out of para cord and the logic is if I get lost in the wilderness, I can use the bracelet to help me survive!  Great idea and Vern did a wonderful job of making this for me. I am going to take this on my vacation to the wilderness just in case.

One thing Vern did not enjoy to much were the high ropes. He said it would have been fine except his legs were to short to reach between the steps on the high ropes and his safety rope kept sticking.  Besides the high ropes they did do a zip-line. Here is a shot of Vern going down the zip-line. He did enjoy this part of the rope activities.

Here is Vern having some Bible study time.

I believe this is opening day and some group activities. His shoes still look clean which makes me believe it is the beginning of the week!

 

Here is Vern in front of his cabin for the week. I guess this is the last year these "cabins" are going to be used. They are building more of a bunk house to replace these as they all have seen much better days. 

 

Vern had a good week and very much enjoyed the soda as we left camp!

Crushed

So the other week we were sitting in church.

Things were going OK for once. Vern and Ann were on each side of me. No shoes were being tossed. No whining, pinching, poking, prodding, or otherwise goading was occurring. They were awake but slouching. I call that a win for our family in church.

Then I look over to my right...

Vern had begun moaning loudly - holding his crotch.

"What happened?" I whisper.

"Moooom, I moved wrong in my chair and crushed my balls."

More writhing in agony but maintaining his balance on the chair.

"Mom, can I go to the bathroom?"

"No."

"But I maybe bleeding to death. I need to check."

"Church is almost over you can wait until we are finished."

Picture more groaning and writhing and carrying on in his chair.

"Mom, there go your grand kids!" (still holding his crotch and rolling to the floor)

I am trying SO hard to keep a straight face and finish church. I fail - the giggle escapes.

"Go in Peace - Serve the Lord
PEACE BE TO GOD "

Church is officially over. Vern sprints to the restroom to verify the family jewels are indeed not bleeding. Once reassured of that fact, he comes to the realization he will live. Life is once again good in Vern's world.

Sometimes it won't pass the brick wall...

Sometimes I really believe there is a brick wall around Vern's brain. The information is held at bay like a fortress. Nothing will enter unless Vern decides to let down the gate and allow minute bits of information to flow in.  Those bits of information are usually football related stories or statistics.  I keep praying that useful information will be allowed to enter but to-date the jury is still out.

Here is an example of what I mean.

We were at church Sunday. The entire service and sermon was focused on loving everyone, we all have a purpose no matter what we look like or how we act, God created us special, unique and for a reason.  You get the picture.

As we are watching a group of kids sing, Vern leans over and asks me "Mom, is that one in the middle a boy or girl? I can't tell. How can you tell?"

Me: "SHHHHHH"

A little later Vern asks, "Mom, why is that kid tttt-tal-tttalking funny?"

Me: (getting more upset) "It is called stuttering, you stutter when you get excited. It is no big deal. Now shush!"

Fidgiting continues followed by giggling.

Me: "What are you laughing at?"

"Mom, there is that guy over there that looks like Superman."

I shush him and grab his leg to be quiet.

"YOUR A WITCH!"

I then had to remove him from church (by his ear) for a good talking to in the entry.  Why did I draw the straw to sit by Vern today I am thinking...

We go back into the santuary and he sits arms crossed with a scowl on his face glowering at me the entire time.  I manage not to hurt him the rest of the service.

So we get out to the car for the journey home and Vern starts in A-G-A-I-N.

"That kid was a girl. I just couldn't tell. Why did she look like that?"

The 3 of us also in the car all say in amazing unison "DIDN'T YOU LISTEN TO THE SERMON???"

"Hu?" Blank look on Vern's face.

Me: "About how everyone is made special. We should love everyone like God does no matter what they look like?"

Vern: "No."

Silent exasperation follows.