I have been bouncing with my laptop and books in and out of the sunshine as I get my work done this morning. It is another gorgeous day. Currently I am sitting on a porch above our homesteading area; An exuberant group of girls just passed by me heading that way. They were joyfully talking to one another and singing with the easy going brightness that is so characteristic of our Kahdalea girls – a natural result of finding oneself seen, heard, and cared for by an incredible group of mission driven staff. They gave me huge waves as they walked by and it turns out that joy can be contagious!
Our homesteading program is new this year and it has been a huge hit! Its flower gardens and greenhouse sit at the front of camp and greet any arrivals who take the moment to look down along the creek that runs next to the road. Anyone who has taken the time to garden can tell you how joyful and therapeutic it can be to plant seeds and pull weeds. Frankly, it just fills one with awe to do the steady work of tending a small patch and to see life spring forth and bear fruit and beauty. That’s a great analogy for the good habits in our own lives and how we can grow or support them. Nature is a teacher, afterall, and there is so much to learn whether from the ants and animals (Proverbs 6:6) or from the plants in our little garden.
Our blueberries are beginning to ripen as well and the girls just put in a new garden bed with seeds they sprouted in the greenhouse. That is pretty amazing! A sense of awe and gratitude spring from the campers who help just as they spring from the earth: there is an invitation in every garden to join with Psalm 19 in “declaring the glory of the Lord”! There is just so much to be thankful for in the simplicity of growth. This reminds me of the famous statement by Chesterton that, “thanks are the highest form of thought and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder.” What better place for a faith journey to begin than in a garden.
Of course, homesteading offers more than just a greenhouse and a garden bed! As of this morning 3 of our 12 hens received their names (Snow white, Feather, and Chicken Little) and the big old rooster is the next in line, although his naming process will be a little different. Currently a campwide competition for the best rooster name is underway. Top Contenders are Chos, Big Red, Roo Roo… and the Seminole tribe apparently has one but they are keeping it top secret until the voting starts. We’ve tried, but they are a vault. We will keep you in the loop as things progress! In other news, Susan, our resident lamb, is happy and healthy and provides pretty endless entertainment and the bee hives have both had an additional box set so that they are now producing honey. We can’t wait to try it!
As normal for us on a Friday, It is pretty quiet here in the evenings and afternoons. Tonight is Cabin night for our Kahdalea girls and a Cabin Overnight for Chosatonga. These times are special moments of togetherness and quality time to more intentionally be with your bunkmates for an evening and share fun games as well as what you have been up to and learning this week. Please keep your campers in your prayers for quality connection and deepening friendships tonight and through the weekend!
God bless!
