Joshua had a great time at Camp Barnabas, but it wasn't his favorite year ever. I wasn't surprised to hear this. I could tell from the time we dropped him off that this year would be different.
And then there was this statement he made to us before we left: "there's a bunch of wehr-dos in here, but I'll try to make the best of it."
A proud parenting moment.
Is it Jeff Foxworthy who says, "there's your sign?"
Another FRIEND from his cabin was outside just sitting on the ground...which is something that makes Joshua question everything about this FRIEND, because, if given a choice...or if he can see another option...Joshua will not EVER sit on the ground. He looked at him and looked at me and said, "what is WRONG with him?"
Joshua is known for making up words. He doesn't THINK they are made-up words, but either he hears them wrong or hears them and tries to spell them. Either way...funny. His latest word is morphinconally, and we aren't really sure what it means. We think it has it's roots in the Pow-Pow-Power Ranger movies, when they say: "It's morphin' time." Joshua's phrase he came home from camp with is basically and anyway...and he is using it quite often. Like, "the weather was bad one morning, so basically and anyway we stayed in the mess hall for two hours."
The first week at Camp Barnabas is called "Adult Friends." This can include Autism, Down Syndrome and any other type of developmental delay. Typically, Joshua's cabin is mostly FRIENDS with Down Syndrome, and it is so fun for us to see. Young men of all shapes, sizes and abilities...all who happen to have Down Syndrome. I don't know...as a parent, it's just a cool thing because sometimes we feel like we're the only ones. And it's cool because we tell other people that our children are more like us than they are different...and then we get to SEE how true that statement is! Oh, they may all have the smaller bodies, and those beautiful, almond shaped eyes...but different skin, hair, eye color...and LOTS of different personalities!
This year, Joshua's cabin was mostly young men with Autism. Or, as Joshua explained it, most of the FRIENDS in his cabin were "artistic."
So there you go.
Apparently they can all draw.
I'M KIDDING.
We realize that Joshua is really fairly "normal" in the way he goes through life. At least right now. I definitely call these the years of blessing, because the early years and the school years were so very hard...and I know that there are many hard times ahead. Right now, it's like God has given us a breather...a time to catch our breaths and relax a little; A time to reflect on how far we've come...with God's help...and time to allow God and His Word to steel and fortify us for the road ahead.
So the nurses asked me if there was a trick to getting him to go to sleep. "No." If he had to have a Tylenol, was there a trick to getting him to take it. "No." Any fears...security blankets/toys...help needed to dress or shower? "No, No, No."
Jim got Joshua's bed all set up and helped him get settled, while I went to the medical building. Every camper has to be signed off on the medical form. In the line to turn in my form stating that he takes no medicine (thank you, Jesus), the two women in front of me had multiple large freezer bags full of meds for their campers. Makes me so thankful every year, because that might be Joshua one day.
Jim tried to get Joshua to unpack some of his things and put them out on the little shelves that are beside each bed. Joshua wasn't having it. He said those shelves looked "janky."
Such a thankful child.
When I got back to Joshua's cabin, I could tell he seemed a little out-of-sorts. One of the FRIENDS in his cabin had already gotten out his special doll to comfort him after his parents left. Joshua looked at him, and then looked at me and said in his best Fred voice (which is the voice that is unique to Joshua, and he uses it when he is very animated), "what is WRONG with him? A DOLL For a GROWN MAN?"
Clearly I'm raising compassionate children.
So, my prayers all week were pretty specific. Not only for protection from illness and harm, but also for peace and comfort for Joshua...and that he would reach out to the ones in his cabin. I knew he would...it just might take him a while. This whole post is making him sound like a stinker, WHICH HE TOTALLY CAN BE...but he's the sweetest, most caring person I know. Everyone has their moments, am I right?
The main problem Joshua had this year, APPARENTLY, is that he knows it all.
So, basically and anyway, he's his father's son!
I'M KIDDING.
Except that my husband really is the smartest person I know. Really. It's a fact I appreciate every.single.day.
Anyway...baaaack to Joshua: This is his 11th year at Camp Barnabas, and he knows the drill.
Pretty much every camper at Barnabas has a "helper" with them 23/24 hours a day. They're called CIA's, which stands for Christians in Action...and they are buddies and helpers to the campers all week. Joshua's CIA was about 8 years old. Just kidding. I think they have to be at least 16 years old to be a CIA...but Joshua's guy was very young. And the Staffer in the cabin was young. And the Cabin Dad was NOT young, but he had not been coming to camp for 11 years, and Joshua has been coming to camp for 11 years...and APPARENTLY Joshua was all kinds of cantankerous when it came to the schedule and how things were run at Camp. Because he's "been there, done that," and he just thought he was smarter than the ah-ver-age-bear.
Joshua said that when it came to explaining things to the new campers...the CIAs, Staffers and Cabin Dads needed to just be quiet and let HIM explain everything.
Clearly I'm also raising humble children.
Joshua told us that when their activity was "shooting," the Staffer was going over all the safety rules. Joshua said he did the "hurry up" motion with his hands. The Staffer said, "are you trying to rush me, Joshua?" And Joshua said, "I don't care about all the ru-ahs (rules), I just want to shoot a rifle."
A true southern boy.
Hello, NRA?
And I'm pretty sure that they are NOT shooting rifles...I think they are bb guns. Still, I don't want to live in a world where the FRIENDS from Joshua's cabin are out in the woods shooting rifles. OR, bb guns!
In the end, I think it was a learning experience for all. Joshua had a lot of "fussy" words to say about his CIA. He said he was the pickiest person he had ever met. And I want Joshua to be thankful that a young man gave up a week of his summer to come out and help others at Camp Barnabas, but Joshua said his CIA basically survived on bread and crackers the entire week. Joshua had no respect for that at ALL because he eats just about everything without complaining.
Except that he did say that the toast they had for breakfast one morning was as hard as a block of "conCREKE"...and he demonstrated biting it and choking on it...and we all fell out laughing.
He was also extremely frustrated with one FRIEND in his cabin who loved Texas A&M, and that's all the FRIEND talked about ALL THE TIME. Joshua said that he never wanted to hear the words Texas A&M ever again IN HIS WHOLE LIFE. Sorry Melanie.
We are enjoying his stories, now that he's home. One story about a certain event in particular affected us all profoundly...and it might not be what you expect at all! I'll be posting that on another day. I still haven't recovered from it.
"...with humility comes wisdom." Proverbs 11:2
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