But Please Can We Turn Right?

Usually at the turn off we take a right, this year we took a left, on purpose.

This marks the first year that Camp Oshkidee/Pioneer Sask Camps has closed its doors to youth camps. Driving along the highway we drive into North Battleford, usually stopping at the corner Tim Hortons then taking a right and continuing past Meadow Lake into the provincial park where there is a private little lake that, at one end, housed our little camp. And for the last 18 years (missing only one) I have called it my "summer" home. The decision to close was not one that us youth camp people came to decide, and we would have carried it on, however some things in life our out of our hands, and this was one of them.

I think about the beach, cabins, and dining hall as they remain empty as they have already closed up camp for the season. It makes me sad, this was a month that the sounds of children laughing, shrieks of joy, and boat engines on the lake would fill the air.

This year we are at a different camp, not something I really wanted to do honestly, Marshall is cabin leading, I am hanging out with Malcolm and helping in the kitchen when I can. Ironically this camp week landed on the exact same week we would normally be directing Plunge Teen Camp. And on top of that half of the drive to the camp is the same, however today we took a left in North Battleford instead of a Right. This camp is not the same. I knew it wouldn't be. And while it seems to be a very good camp, its just hard for me to be open to it. I am still grieving the loss of my other home and other family.

Marshall and I met at camp, I was baptized at camp, some very good friends came from camp. If I knew last year it was going to be my last year I would have savored it more. Oh just one last year of it would have been a good way to say good bye.

Thank you to those of you who invested in me all these years, I owe a lot to you, thank you camp friends for all the laughs, teaching me how to play Settlers of Catan, thank you past cabin leaders for teaching me to canoe, kayak, wakeboard, sail, work the dish pit, etc. Thank you Lord for giving me this place for as long as I had it. I will truly miss this time of my life. But give thanks for it.