Grant's Best. Summer. Ever.

This summer goes to Grant who had a remarkable summer at Camp Seagull. While we love all of our children's accomplishments, every once in a while, you need to remark on exceptional performance. 

Every year we drop the kids off at Camp and cross our fingers that they are with other kids who they like, that our kids try something new, din't embarrass us, and that they continue the tradition of wanting to go back again next year.  Camp has become a thread of our lives. It was instrumental in Sam learning she was capable of doing things she never thought possible - going from being terrified on a sailboat to being an accomplished keelboat sailor. Camp brought us to North Carolina and a whole new amazing chapter of our lives. Moving to NC included Betty moving and living near us in the last decade of her life and getting to have the full "Grandma Experience" with her grandsons.  Camp helped TJ this year as he learned about leadership for the first time as Counselor in Training. Camp is more than a thread. It is a part of the patchwork quilt of our lives. 

This summer Grant entered Camp Three in Cabin 44 with all of the expectations of a 12 year old; whatever.  

About a week and a half after he arrive we got our first letter from Grant. In it he causally mentioned that he wanted to swim the Neuse River. The campers who take on this challenge will swim the width of the Neuse River, about 2.5 miles, however for safety purposes it is a big 2.5 mile loop.  We both read it and thought it would be a huge challenge for Grant, but clearly one he had put some thought into.  The next letter home reiterated the same challenge. He also mentioned how well he was doing in archery and sailing.  His counselor also lauded Grant's service in the cabin and how great he was doing. These were all of the things that made his mother's heart swell and had me beaming with pride.  

Three weeks in, Grant's letter home still had the same level of determination in it and it appeared that he made the team.  

Of course he made the team. Of course he swam the Neuse. Of course he completed it.  And that was just for starters.  He casually mentioned that he received the highest rank in Grant archery.  Then he dropped the big one on us. He was such an amazing camper that he received the Camp Three Honor Camper - such a rare accomplishment that we were awestruck.  He received awards and certificates and a real plaque for his wall.  Truly an awesome summer for him.  

Grant is so quiet at home. Being the youngest will do that - according to Lisa.  He is easy going and comfortable watching TV or throwing the football in the pool.  The other morning he left a note on the counter saying he was going for a run - at 6am.  He is a hero and has done more incredible things at 12 than most teenagers do before they hit their 20s.  And for that I am so proud to be his dad.

 

Minor Moments of Grace and Beauty

Once in a while magic happens so quietly and with so little fanfare that we fail to enjoy it.  It's the hot, hot of the summer and right now the days are too humid and stifling to be outside until the evening.  On these days you have to wait until the sun sits low on the horizon to go outside. At that time of day, the birds still chirp and sing and the cicadas make their noises mixed with sounds of kids playing down the street and mowers running off in the distance. Those are the comfortable sounds of a suburban summer.  

Our house sits on a small pond and we built a patio so that we can sit outside and enjoy the sun backlighting the trees on summer nights. There is just enough lawn where the kids could play football and soccer when they were little - or better yet, set up the Slip-n-Slide for some real fun.  Somehow, taking a moment to sit outside seems like a luxury, and we do not do it often enough.  Yet the other night, there we were, Lisa and I just sitting and talking, with our faithful dog, Lucie, at our feet.

Lisa saw it first. It looked like Odin, our neighbors Doberman Pincher.  I was walking out in the trees and shrubs between the pond and the lawn. I came into the open. It was a young deer.  Lucie, sat up and stared. Lisa and I went quiet. We quietly ordered Lucie to "Stay" since she wasn't on a leash and loves to chase deer when she can.  The deer stopped, stood, and stared back at us.  Maybe it was the first-time seeing humans and a canine just doing nothing. It seemed neither intimidated nor concerned with seeing us, but still kept its eyes on us.  It bent down and nibbled some long blades of grass and poked around the bird feeder.  

It walked out of the wood line and onto the yard - maybe thirty feet away.  We. All. Just. Froze.  The moment seemed to go on for minutes. It stood there in the warm summer air at dusk. Our souls swelled a little, just caught in that special place of something so unique that seemed to be just for us.  

Then it turned and walked further down the pond.  

Sometimes life is about the value of small things.