June and July 2019
It was another summer of Howard County Girl Scout Day Camp. Megan and Bridget signed up for Session 1 and the theme was A Space Odyssey. It ran from June 24-28. Megan was working the camp in the role of PA (Program Aide) so she had a series of training sessions in the months prior to camp. She worked in the Kitchen again, which is hot and sweaty but comes with free lunch everyday. Bridget has aged out of being a camper and this summer signed up to be a PAT (Program Aide in Training). They put on their camp mindsets, bug spray, sunscreen, and camp names of Overalls and Smidge respectively, and happily settled into sweat, dirt, service, and fun.
On the last day of camp Bridget completed the PAT program and bridged to PA. They hold a ceremony so I went up to camp mid-day. Meg is the busiest in the kitchen at that time and she wasn't sure she could duck out and be there for the bridging. I was so glad when she arrived. Megan had the honor of pinning Bridget. I am so proud of both of them.
Camp sign up happened back in March and we made the decision not to sign Rachael up, because we had no idea what she would be doing work wise. Rachael did get a job and she had off on one of the Camp days. She went in and helped out for the day. One day was not enough, so she decided to take a week off work and she signed herself up to volunteer for Session 2 which is the 2nd week of July.
While the big sisters were at Session 1 of Girl Scout Camp, Johanna was keeping busy at VBS. Johanna was thrilled to attend with her cousins, Claudia, Victor and Teresa and to have some of her cousins helping as group leaders. Johanna did really well and was engaged with the activities, songs, crafts and theme. The theme was Athens:Paul's Dangerous Journey to Share the Truth. Johanna was in the Galatians small group and she liked learning about all of the cities where Paul visited and wrote letters. Her favorite song from the week was "Love" which was sung in a round.
Love, Love, Love
Christians this is your call
to love your neighbor as yourself
'cause God loves us all.
 |
| Johanna and I on 7/11 before sister pickup |
Summer Stretch coincided with Session 2 GSHCDC. Summer Stretch is the middle school service camp that is run out of St. Agnes. The theme was Moana this year so we donated some of our old party decorations, like the Maui drawing and the kakamora pinata. Bridget was a participant for Summer Stretch and got a lot out of visiting a nursing home, cleaning a soup kitchen, and making sandwiches for the hungry. She also had a blast being in her cousin Peter's group for all of the service as well as the fun games that make up the rest of the week's activities, including on-site laser tag and Water Olympics. Megan volunteered as a Peer for the week, lead her service group at ARC, cemetery cleanup and the pregnancy centers storage facility and fun activities. Megan got to make the water Olympics trophy and I was delighted at the whimsy she put into it. They had new adult leaders this year as the staff at churches have changed and Wayne and Sue moved to other roles. The peers were a little unsure as to how it would go while doing all of the planning but everything went off without any issues.
That same week Rachael spent her time at Girl Scout camp working in a Unit of rising 6th graders. she didn't want to miss her last year as a PA, so she jumped in enthusiastically. She had to skipWednesday because she and I ventured off to UMBC orientation. But she went back that night to camp to work the 6th grade sleepover. She came home regaling stories of being the loudest singer and having a great time energizing the overnighters. On Friday I went up to camp for her Bridging ceremony. All of the seniors bridged to Adults and I was proud to be there to pin Rachael as she crossed over. It is a sentimental moment as you reflect on how little these girls were when they first came to camp, and the reality that the way they will interact with camp will be different going forward. I am so proud of Rachael and all of the service she has done over the years.
Megan also got a the opportunity to attend Steubenville Youth Conference in New York. The teens from Our Lady of Victory piled in a white van and they spent a weekend in pray and praise. Megan came back with her soul feed and refreshed. She also had a great time hanging out with friends.
Johanna spent many of her summer mornings at the pool with Jim. she joined the swim pre-team and got intensive lessons. she was a much stronger swimmer in a short time. Jim said that the coach said she has never had a little kid talk so much while swimming.
This summer Emma was living and working in Towson, and didn't have a regular schedule that brought her down to Catonsville. Sisters though are a good reason to visit. Em and I talked at the beginning of the summer and determined that what was a good night for her to come to Catonsville. Every Monday Emma drove down, sometimes in the early afternoon, and stayed all evening, sometimes she even spent the night. Some night she slept on the pullout couch in the basement and sometimes on Megan's foldout couch in her room.
