Camp is Cool!!!

I'm pretty sure that this is the article I wrote for Parents&Kids magazine a few years ago! I edited a little... but here it is!

    Have you ever been to camp? It's a lot of fun. In June, I went to my very first overnight camp. I went to Twin Lakes Christian Camp. To tell you the truth, I was more than excited. I was exploding. My good friend Ellie and her little sister Anna would be there on the same week, and we would be in the same cabin! I couldn't wait for fun, fun, fun!! Sadly, when we arrived at my cabin- my home for 6 days-'Callie' was on the door... and 'Ellie' wasn't. We were in different cabins,and I'd never been to camp before in my life. I had two super-nice counselors who made it a blast- and nine new friends. That week, I got scared in High Advanced Ropes course and Rock Wall, ziplined into the lake, slid into the pool, held baby ducks and little rabbits at Wild Wonderful Adventure(WWA), Slip'n'Slid, had super fun at superfun games, rode a disobedient but fun horse, and kayaked around the lake. It was a blast! Though I missed Ellie, I made the most of the trip, and there wasn't much to shoot down. My new friends and I came up with new, more accurate names for "Happy" Hill, like "Happy top-of the-hill," "Happy we're Suffering here Hill," and"Happy Done-with-it hill." I even learned firsthand what it was like to be Elijah- Ahab and Jezebel insisting Baal was God, fasting for so long, causing a drought. But he also taught Elisha about God, helped the widow and her son live, brought life back to the son, and was taken up to Heaven as reward. I was nervous about making friends, but I want to acknowledge Emilee, Emma, Jimmie Grace, Ginny, Shelby, Kelsey, Chrysten, Gracie, and Sarah Bess for a super fun week- and don't let me forget our counselors, Anne and Anna Kristen! The LITs (Leaders in Training) were also a lot of fun, joking with younger kids, especially if they're scared. But girls' night was one of the best nights.

           Girls' Night is when all the girls get together and have a blast at the pavilion, and eat snowcones and cotton candy, and decorate the counselors in tissue paper. Our counselor named Anne got a super-pretty dress like  a wedding dress, and a bouquet! The other counselor, Anna Kristen, got more of a bold outfit- a Viking suit, it looked like. But they were both beautiful. Again, I want to thank everyone for a fantastic week, and I can't wait to see everyone!I recommend this very highly, so consider going- it's the chance of a lifetime.:D

           Twin Lakes is the place to be this 2012 summer--See you there!!!

    Haha... okay, leave a comment if you saw this coming when you read that last post: I broke my arm at the beginning of the summer, and overall, it was probably the worst summer of my life. Just saying.
    So, I'm in seventh grade now. Tomorrow is my thirteenth birthday! There are so many crazy things going on. Right now, Rico is missing. He has been for almost a full day now-- longer than ever before. It's pretty hard for me. I've been going door-to-door a little to ask if anyone's seen him. Dad says that someone has him, more than likely. I hope that someone is really nice to him. Toby is really sad without his brother and best friend. He cries and whimpers. Gosh, if Rico doesn't come back soon, I don't know what I'll do! It's so, so sad... I've been on the verge of tears for a whole day. If anyone out there knows where he is, by all means-- call my dad. It's really devastating. I haven't been able to eat anything since last night, not that I care, cause I don't want to eat anything. I'm trying not to think negatively, because I know that's just Satan tempting me to despair, but it's really hard. Prayers, prayers, prayers, please! I'm trying to keep an open mind. Everyone in my family is being pretty short with everyone else because we're sad, we're tired, we're just worried, and we don't know what to do about any of it! If you have ever had a beloved pet go missing, you know what I'm talking about. 
       Finally, everyone is gone! As much as we love, love, love our family, we are glad to have our house and routine back. Tomorrow, school starts back. I'm not sure how I feel about it. I'm really emotional and easily aggravated lately. Prayers for this, please. I don't like being short with my family, and I need to work on regaining control of my emotions and behavior. I have to go eat lunch now, but please, please, pray for these things and help me pray that Rico comes back or that we can find him ASAP!!! I love you all. 
                        --Callie