They Call it Camp Blessing for a Reason

I know it’s been a very long time since I last updated, but things are moving so fast these days, it’s a miracle we get anything accomplished! But summer is finally here!! The kids have so much going on and so many cool adventures in the next few months I know it’s going to be a fantastic time!! I hope to be able to give more updates over the next few weeks as we venture through the summer!

This coming Sunday we drop the boys off at Camp Blessing (formerly known as Camp Barnabas). They are both really excited about going. The last few nights we have pulled out Spencer’s camp book from last summer and go through all the pictures and journal entries. He gets such a big smile on his face every time! We ask him if he wants to go to camp and he gets a huge grin and says “ess”. I can just tell by the look on his face he actually knows what we mean when we say “camp” and he truly is looking forward to it and is very excited!!

One of the neatest things this year is that Parker gets to go with him. They have one week each summer where the siblings of the special needs child can come along and they have activities just for them. I’m not really sure what to expect and neither is Parker. I have to admit I’m a little skeptical about sending him. He is a “seasoned” summer camper and has gone to Pine Cove in Tyler, Pine Cove in Columbus for 2 summer, Camp Allen in Navasota, Second Baptist Kids Camp and Second Baptist Next Level Camp. I’m sure it’s similar but these other camps are the “big guns” and cost a small fortune to send him. That being said, they are PACKED with so many activities that an ADD kid feels right at home! Anyway, we have been trying to tee him up for it and setting the expectation a little lower than what he is used to from Summer Camp. Last night we were in the car talking about summer plans and all the different camps he will be going to and he then started asking me about Spencer. It’s funny how an 11 year old thinks, he asked me “mom, since you and dad weren’t supposed to have kids because dad had cancer, is that why Spencer has Autism?” We had a long conversation about Autism and Spencer, why he has it, how his autism is different than some other kids. As we talked I realized, that Camp Blessing CAN give him one thing that all those other camps can’t--a broader view of people with disabilities, much farther reaching than what our family experiences.

What I pray for now and will continue to pray for over the next several days, is that Parker leaves camp "blessed" with a better understanding and appreciation for his brother, himself, our family and what it takes from all of us to raise Spencer up to be the most that he can be.

We are blessed, we are chosen, and it takes EVERYONE in Spencer’s life to help him and each other along the way.

Until next time...grace, peace, hope, love and prayers

T