Missing my Royal Family

Our first Royal Family Kids Camp ended on July 25th.  This week has been spent processing, sorting, washing clothes and bedding.  

And...crying and praying.

Royal Family Kids, is an international ministry focused on establishing camps across the nation and the world for children who have been or who are in foster care.  (More information found at: royalfamilykids.org)

An amazing team of thoughtful people from various walks of life, churches and ages came together to pray, raise money, volunteers and share a vision for our area.  

We want children to know they are loved and adored by God and treasured by us.

Four of us went to Director's training and after months of planning and preparing...... camp came.

Twenty one children excitedly hopped on the bus and asked twenty two gazillion questions as we drove.

What are we going to do?  Who will be there?  What will we eat?  Where?  When? 

Bright eyes.  Anxious hearts.  Busy bodies and minds.  Their stories ran through my mind.  Some were recently placed in care and others had been adopted.  

My mind raced.  Was everything ready?  Medicine?  Water?  Etc. Etc.

I heard a giggle.  

My eyes focused on the bouncing heads scattered throughout the bus.  Children.  

Precious and priceless.  Looking at them is like looking at every other child their age.  And yet,  I knew some of their story.  

I wondered what lies buried beneath?  The fragility of a child's perspective humbled me.  

I prayed for wisdom and for favor.  Prayed for their big camper, as they waited at camp to celebrate their arrival, would find favor in their eyes.

 

Can one week make a difference in the life of a child?  In the life of an individual?  A family?  Church?

It has in my life, family and church.  And I pray it did in the 21 children and families we served.

It was a great experience to be joined by my husband and a son and my Mom.  Our goal was to put ourselves aside and love the kids.  To "give" ourselves to them.

We were the ones who were given much. 

 It was the beginning of a new path.

My favorite and hardest moment was on the bus again as the kids waved out the windows to their big campers.  

Watching my son through the eyes of his little campers as tears streamed down their faces. One stated, "I will miss him until next year."  

I followed their eyes to my son, who was waving to them.

This middle son of mine who is such a paradox.  Sensitive and tough.

My big defensive lineman college football player was fighting back his own tears.  

"I think he will miss you until next year too," I said.

God loves His children and wants to LAVISH His love on us.  

He celebrates our coming to Him and misses us until next time!!!