Today as I was having some tests done (nothing wrong) thoughts began to come to me as a child. Going to church camp was always fun as a teenager. Vickies father was our pastor and on Sunday night after the evening service, he would load us up and away we would go. It took us about 9 to 10 hours maybe more. Vickie, Kaye (Vickie's sister) and I would sleep in the back seat with all of our pillows. I wonder how many times he fought sleep driving us to camp. We were so watched over by our heavenly Father, thank you God for caring for our pastor. When we got to camp, such fun we had, running around, watching the boys and even going out for rides with them, yes we were NOT suppose to do that but we did!!! One time when I was about 14 or so I must have picked up a virus. I threw up so many times, stayed in my upper bunk with no AIR CONDITIONING...oh how miserable I was. The virus must have stayed with me for awhile as I threw up alot for several months. Dr Carr could not seem to find what was wrong...so I just drank ice tea and very little else for several months. I lost alot of weight. My sophomore year of high school was good as I met a young man named Jim who would talk to me, make me feel good about myself. He sat in front of me in Algebra and I must confess he helped me with my tests...I made good grades in Algebra...lol lol..Mr Darrow was the teacher and I am sure he knew but never said a word..smiled and told me one time" you are the bane of my life" ......had no idea what that meant and still don't care as it made me feel good at a time when teenagers do not feel good about themselves...Jim graduated that year and off he went and I never had another friend like him.
Back to camp....mother used to tell me that when I was a baby, her and dad would take us young children to camp which was located in Swanee Florida , the same camp that Rev Frederick would take us as teens. Once we were at camp, I was about 5, Shirley was 3 and Charles was a baby...we visited the Wheelers who were our former pastors and friends of our family. They had an outhouse ( you know what that is don't you!!!:) Shirley and I were going to the bathroom and guess what happened...she dropped her doll baby in the hole!!! Then cried and cried until mother HAD TO HAD TO get it out of the HOLE!!!! that was the smelliest doll I have ever smelled...it didn't matter to my sister, she loved her baby doll... I remember that doll and the smell!!!! Remember mother putting a whole can of Johnson;s Baby Powder...yes cans!!! over and in that doll! lol lol
When our children were small we would take them to our camp in Millport Alabama. There we would give them some money for the "snack shack" and if their money ran out, we sent them to their granfather Shirley!!! we have laughed and laughed about that. Another time ..I was working at WT GRants and could not go, so I packed the suitcase with clothes; underwear, sock,shoes, outer clothes and pajamas for each child enough for 5 days. Each child was lined up in order in the suitcase. But when they got home, they would have 4 days worth of clothes still clean! Why??? I would implore of their father who said" I just turned them loose and rounded them up at night!!! lol lol Windy would tell of having so much fun with the teen girls and of course Vann and Jeff with other boys. Even though they were small
they always found someone to pal around with... teens would tell us later of how much fun they had with the kids..now about this day? Ummm don't think that would happen...would be afraid of what might happen. God cared for our children and to Him we are thankful. They were in camp from the time they were small until through their teen years until they left home for college. They loved camp...we had the privilege of taking our grandchild to camp several times while they were small. Those are treasure days.
Camp is where you are renewed in your faith, being with others who share your faith. Would not take anything for those days.
Thank you grandpa for listening.... I love you J
8 comments:
Oh do I remember camp!!! Such good times we had. I remember you getting sick too. Who was Jim??? Don't remember him?? I do remember Mr. Darrow - I had him to for algebra. He was the greatest teacher - even though I didn't understand a lot about the subject - I did make A's, but don't know how. LOL such good memories. I'm glad your kids got to enjoy camp. Mom and Dad used to take Kevin when he was little too and he still remembers those days! Nothing like church camp. Love ya.
Jim Loftin was a senior when I was a sophomore. He was so nice...he worked at the local theater and begged me to come down...he ran the projector..kinda knew what He "wanted" but dad would not allow me going to the movies plus "no dates for me"..lol I did love going to camp...love you!
I think I do remember Jim,now. Meant to tell you also that I worked at W.T. Grants in Albany GA when Chuck was in the air force! They sent me to Macon GA for a week to train cashiers at a new store there. Boy, was that a treat - put me up in a great hotel and took cabs to and from the store. HA HA That was the beginning of "I love to travel and stay at great hotels" part of my life. LOL
I didn't know chuck was in the AF!!! See alot I don't know either...that sounds like a job for me but mine wasn't like that....I worked as a sales person in the childrens department..one day a member of ours saw me there, walked over to me, said "go get your things, my pastors wife will not work at WT Grants." " You will work at the mill to where I work." She drove over to Columbus GA, walked into the office and got me a job!!! In the office!!! I made $100 a week!!! unbelievable in those days of the early 60's...Windell on made $75/week.!!!! She was a very brassy lady but she knew what she wanted..she loved us...thank the Lord for her...we liked living there but that soon passed.... lol! Thanks for the memories..love you! j
Yep, C was in the AF when we married and lived in Orlando-he was stationed there; then transferred to Albany GA; then went to Panama, and I went to Tallahassee and stayed with Mom, Dad and K while he was gone- 6 mos. Worked for the State there. Then he returned to Albany and was discharged from there - back to FL for us. More later.
interesting!!!
Camp was never the same to me after MIllport. i went every year of my life until i left home too but Calera was never camp for me. I did like the airconditioning in the lunch room and the tabernacle but there was something about Millport that i dearly LOVED and sometime wished they had never moved. I will never forget the sound of the dinner bell. Dad wanted that bell and they said that he could have it but he never got it.
I think the reason your dad didn't get the dinner bell was it is now at the camp at Calera and they still ring that bell before the meals...I too loved Millport the best, it had such good memories, we visited the old grounds several years ago...you can still hear the shouting in the air!!!!
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