Florida College Camp - Part 3

Remember how I told you that FC camp brings a lot of special people to the area??  Well, my college roommate Erin is one of those VERY special people.  After Erin and Wade dropped their oldest daughter off at camp they came to our house for a very long overdue visit!!  No matter how long it has been since we have seen or talked last we are always able to pick up right where we left off!!  Byron and I miss Erin and Wade so much … we are trying to think of a way to get them to move to Gainesville!!

Friday morning was pickup day at camp.  I was super excited that Erin and their youngest daughter Lauren came up Thursday evening to spend the night so that they wouldn’t have to make the 2 hour drive on Friday morning.  I didn’t want Lauren to be all alone so I rang up my sister (in-law) to see if Hayley Bug could spend the night as well and as usual she said that was fine and thought Hayley Bug would enjoy it.  Just a side note here – I must tell you how much I appreciate my sister for always allowing me to take the kids pretty much anytime to do whatever we want.  I love my nieces and nephew as if they were my very own – I was there when all 3 of them were born and I will continue being there for them FOREVER – I would lay my life down for them and there is NOTHING or NOBODY who will ever change that!!!!  It was AMAZING to be able to spend so much time in one week with Erin!! 

I must admit I was SUPER excited Friday morning to be able to pick Brooke up and hear about all the fun she had at camp.  Hayley and I went by Brooke's chalet first to pick up all her stuff so that we didn’t get caught up in all the craziness with everyone else loading up - a trick my sister taught me!!  Once we had all of Brooke's stuff we headed over to the chapel for the closing activities.  Just as we walked in they were honoring an AMAZING MAN who has devoted 20 years of service to FC Camp and I promise you there wasn’t a dry eye in the house!!  As if the last day of camp isn’t sad enough and full of enough tears in saying your regular “good byes till next year” everyone was saying “good bye” to a man that is “retiring” from camp.  I know the first thing Brooke said when she got in the car was how sad she was that Mr. Spriggs won’t be there next year for her first year of war games … 

I remember crying so hard the last day of camp … especially because our closing song was ALWAYS “Friends Are Friends Forever”

Packing up the dreams God planted
In the fertile soil of you
I can't believe the hopes He's granted
Means a chapter of your life is through

But we'll keep you close as always
It won't even seem you've gone
'Cause our hearts in big and small ways
Will keep the love that keeps us strong

And friends are friends forever
If the Lord's the Lord of them
And a friend will not say never
'Cause the welcome will not end
Though it's hard to let you go
In the Father's hands we know
That a lifetime's not too long
To live as friends

And with the faith and love God's given
Springing from the hope we know
We will pray the joy you live in
Is the strength that now you show

We'll keep you close as always
It won't even seem you've gone
'Cause our hearts in big and small ways
Will keep the love that keeps us strong

And friends are friends forever
If the Lord's the Lord of them
And a friend will not say never
'Cause the welcome will not end
Though it's hard to let you go
In the Father's hands we know
That a lifetime's not too long
To live as friends

And friends are friends forever
If the Lord's the Lord of them
And a friend will not say never
'Cause the welcome will not end
Though it's hard to let you go
In the Father's hands we know
That a lifetime's not too long
To live as friends

Though it's hard to let you go
In the Father's hands we know
That a lifetime's not too long
To live as friends

No a lifetime's not too long
To live as friends.

I thought it was neat that this is the song that they chose for the slideshow of pictures of Mr. Spriggs!

Brooke is VERY lucky in that so many of the kids from camp are right here in this area and she won’t have to wait a year to see them!!

Remember all those goodies I delivered to my girl while she was at camp … well this is what she gave me on Friday … Brooke said that it was so crazy and not everyone signed it BUT that they all had good intentions!!  The card alone was enough for me!!

Click on the card to read the VERY sweet note ...


After we left camp we headed into Alachua for a nice lunch - Brooke was starving …

Brooke told story after story after story while we all listened intently – especially her little sister!!  Not long after our food came and Brooke finished about half her meal you could see he fading fast …

I’m so glad she had such an AMAZING week and that she is already looking forward to next year!!  Lord willing I will be there as a counselor with Hayley Bug in my chalet and then Jake said he guessed he better go too ...