May 2022 - Slushies, Funnel Cakes, and Water Balloons

Well, the blog title pretty much sums up the highlights for the past month and a half. As the school year reached its end, we closed out the first "normal" school year in a long time, and even then we still battled with consistent attendance due to some illnesses. In some ways, this year felt a little like started over with the elementary school kids. Almost everyone was new to 2nd Mile, the 252 director(s) were new to 2nd Mile, and another year is already in the books.

The last few days of school, we had a massive water balloon war and enjoyed apple pie and a movie. To celebrate the end of the year, the students from 252 and BLOCK had independent field trips to Adventure Landing Water Park and I had the unique privilege to chaperone two days in a row. There's something about being able to instantly quench the Florida summer heat waves with water waves, water slides, and a lazy river. To have the feeling of weightlessness while being rocked back and forth, up and down by the cool water is just such a great way to forget your worries, responsibilities, and relax.

With the after school program director getting covid last minute, I took five boys and one girl alone with two other volunteers. Some of the kids had never been to a water park before. It's always fun, especially now as a dad, to see kids experience new firsts and have a great experience. Pizza, slushies, hamburgers, and fries were the popular items for lunch. Most of the kids spent most of their water park time in the lazy river, not really understanding the lazy part of the name, and would go around as fast as they could. The wave pool was enjoyed by the boys as well, all a little too inexperienced to swim on their own, all wore life vests and pushed off into the somewhat deep waters.

The day after, we had five middle schoolers going to the exact same place. The differences in ages and personalities really showed between the two days. One student showed up without swim clothes because they didn't want to get wet. This required a little more creativity to make sure everyone had a good time. Fortunately, Adventure Landing also has go-kart, an arcade, mini golf, and laser tag. The kids went more for slushies and funnel cakes for lunch items (I know, healthy right?). I enjoyed racing these kids with go-kart, who, in just a few years, will have their own licenses and be out on the roads with me in real life. I'd say 30% of our time that day was spent in the water, while the rest of the time was kept dry. I pray that the field trip would be a memorable one for our students, especially the ones moving on to high school in the fall.

As Summer Day Camp 2022 (year 14) started today, I'm reminded of my first experience at SDC 2010 (year 2). Most of us were college age, putting on a camp, not really knowing what we were doing, but came out of it transformed, having grown in the love, instruction, and will of the Lord. This year, most of the helpers are college or high school aged, while I get to see a new generation learn and grow in the Lord, in service, in leadership, in influence, impact, change for the better. Please pray for those young adults to serve faithfully. Please pray for the kids that come to feel loved, accepted, and have a great time!

Lastly, please pray for me. Starting next week, I'll be taking most of the summer weeks off to refresh and recharge for this rewarding yet exhausting work I've had the privilege to be a part of the last 10 years of my life. I will be back at 2nd Mile August 1st, but until then, pray for my parenting, my marriage, my spiritual walk with God, that they would get more attention and passion than they have normally been getting. Feel free to send me a text, call, or email to see how I'm doing. I will have plenty of time to talk.   :)

Until August, have a blessed summer!