Camp Joy III

I have such an amazing family!

Grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins who are so hands-on and love my children as their own.  For this I am truly and incredibly grateful...blessed, that's all I can say.

Over the years, my sister-in-law took a special interest interacting with the youngsters in the family.  Out of this desire to spend quality time... Camp Joy was birthed!

The first Camp Joy was in 2008.  Hard to believe it's been five short years and how small the cousins were!  Really precious times.

This was the first outing that both children had been gone from ME for any length of time.  A full weeks worth of engaging activities that can't possibly be given justice through my simple recollections.  Camping, river rafting, horseback riding, just to name a few adventures.  Each day was filled with structure with many life lessons taught plus crafts, reading and table etiquette classes.



Evenings were reserved for Bible stories with Papaw.

Mamaw loved tent camping with her grand babies.

Aunt Karen even included take home bags filled with goodies and compiled notebooks with activities and photos of their time together.  Truly special mementos that will be treasured forever.




Unfortunately, I don't have digital photos from the second Camp Joy because the kids were all given personal photo albums but it was the same structure as the first.  Went to cool places like Creation Kingdom Animal Zoo and the Narnia park.  Such a great time!



Now FAST FORWARD to a couple of months ago...

Camp Joy III,  now with slightly older faces AND a new addition.  Yes, little Lilly is now of age to join the fun.  This time camp was done during the winter and even though not a full weeks worth they all enjoyed being together for an intensive mini camp.

Surprise kids...cupcakes!

No snow?  Who says you can't slide... at Chill Hill!

The gang's all here!

At Brushstrokes ceramics they were able to paint and kiln dry their own mugs.

Lilly meticulously choosing her colors.


As the children grow, the face of camp changes.  There are a few more young campers climbing up the ranks that hopefully will get to participate in the legacy of Camp Joy.  Counting on those veterans to council and show them the way.