LLFC - Day 6: Last Hike to Circle Bluff & Saying Goodbye

Saturday - Day 6

It was a double edged sword. I woke up 45 minutes before my relatively early alarm went off to do our last morning hike to Circle Bluff. I stuggled with what caused the early awakening, excited feelings of wanting to embrace every second left in this magical place or the real world stressors waiting for us when we drove out of the safety of the Laity Lodge front gates back to cell phone signals, to-do lists, and the uphill battle of playing catch up at work and personal emails. The hike was perfect way to start our last day and transition back to the real world. Addison and Hadley even ended our hike with a jump in the Blue Hole at 7:30AM!

We had fun pretending Henley was Delaney for pictures!

Addie really enjoyed spending time with Hadley Holmes from Houston and they got along really well. Hopefully they will be able to say in contact.

They were passed out within about 10 minutes of pulling out of the front gates.

I struggle with knowing for sure if I want to bring our family back next Summer. 90% of me says without a doubt, these are the memories that I want and I plead with God to make for my children. These are the stories I want my children to to tell to their friends, spouse and children one day. I want them to feel like this truly is a piece of them. I would love for them to be able to say, "I spent 14 Summers out there and this place has helped shaped me from when I could first remember." I know for me, I want a time similar to this as a family, non-negotiable way to truly disconnect from the pressures of the world. Blake and I are very certain the 2 week Summer camp is something that we want to invest in them immediately. So that brings me to the struggle of time and resources spent is this one location. We don't want our time here as a family to diminish the uniqueness of their Summer time here at LLYC. I feel like we will register for family camp and work diligently to get into Summer Youth Camp and if we do make youth camp, we will probably wait to come out at as a family until the late Fall of 2018 or Spring of 2019. I probably wouldn't do 2nd session again, if it was Alumni weekend. Even thought it was only 1/3 or the families, it caused a different dynamic of them being pretty closed off to their group. Although it was great to see all the traditions they brought and re-lived and we loved hearing some of the stories, I think I would do the 3rd session. I think first one is for getting kinks out and 3rd one would be good before the counselor starts getting exhausted.

Things I'd packed or would want to pack:

• I really don't feel like there is much we missed packing this trip.
• I loved the packable cubes I brought and next time would bring 6 or 8 for our master area alone to hold things.
• I'd bring hangers to hang some items in all 5 of our areas.
• The scooters and/or skateboard were key and I would find a way to label them really well to help discourage them from being taken all the time - perhaps NEON duct tape.
• I would bring 5 folding chairs for sitting outside, instead of just our 2.
• Hammock was nice
• Laundry bags were great and our large EB Rolling Duffle s were perfect.
• The glow in the dark bands ended up being perfect for the girls for Talent show night
• Think about Talent show - bring anything, like we brought Carter's Rubix cubes. They have piano there.
• Case of water to keep in cabin, especially if cabin farther away again.
• Water bottle over the shoulder holders for kids and one for me.