Camp Sierra Vista...Here We Come!

     

Chickasaws, Kiowas, Golden Arrows, and Sioux...Starguiders, Cabs, Gazigers, and Mohawks...Highland Games, Sing-Yell, Superthon, and War Canoe.  What is this crazy gibberish, you might ask?  Two words:  summer camp.  And not just any summer camp, either.  Vista Camps, nestled along the Guadalupe River in the picturesque "hill country" of Texas, is beyond special.  

Comprised of Camp Sierra Vista for girls and Camp Rio Vista for boys--where, incidentally, my husband attended camp when he was a kid (go GAs!!)--Vista Camps is the place where my daughter found her voice, boosted her confidence, met life-long friends, discovered the true magic of summer, and realized that all of her dreams really are within her reach.  Oh, Sierra Vista...how we've missed you these last nine months!

As Jordan prepares to embark on her third consecutive summer at Camp Sierra Vista, there's no need to ask if she's excited or to question her loyalty to this particular camp.  Purple hair dye to show Chickasaw pride--check; trunk packed and ready two months early--check; rigorous conditioning exercises begun in the hopes of helping her tribe win more competitions--check.  There are but a handful of things that light my daughter up like the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree, and Camp Sierra Vista is one of them.  

Diggin' the purple hair :-)

What is it that makes this camp work its way into the hearts of campers and parents, alike, so firmly and irrevocably?  Narrowing it down to only one or two things would be impossible...it's the camaraderie with fellow tribe members, cabin mates, and camp counselors; the obvious love that the founding family has for the campers and for the camp, itself; the teamwork, laughter, and tears shared during tribe competitions; the self-confidence earned through individual achievements in daily camp activities; and the feelings of belonging and pride that come from being part of a close-knit sister or brotherhood.  

Cooling off in the Guadalupe River on a lazy summer afternoon

Jordan zip-lining

She's a natural archer!

Jordan kayaking

Jordan celebrating War Canoe victory with fellow Chickasaws

The Chickasaw Tribe - Summer 2013

It's also the silliness of shaving cream fights in the river; bonding over s'mores and songs at overnight camp-outs; the uber-coolness of movie night in the pool; Ms. Becky's legendary, mad-awesome cooking; and the end-of-term, co-ed dances and carnivals that the campers look forward to for weeks.  Oh, and we cannot forget the wonder and awe that are inspired by the many time-honored traditions and tribal ceremonies.  Together, these things create the magic of Vista Camps, and this magic is unrivaled by any other summer camp that my daughter has ever attended.  The look in her eyes and the excitement and pride in her voice whenever she speaks of Camp Sierra Vista are all that her dad and I need to keep sending her back every summer.  The rewards are truly innumerable and priceless. 

One of the infamous shaving cream fights

Jordan with friends at the big dance last summer

Well, I would say that I need to go help Jordan with her packing list now, but since she's already done with that and is now threatening to wait in the car until it's time to go (still a month away!), I guess I'll have her teach me some camp songs, instead. :-)

In the spirit of my daughter's tribe..."Chick-a-saw...Chick-a-saw...CHICK-A-SAW!!!"  Camp Sierra Vista, here we come!

Vista Camps...where memories of a lifetime are made...

Jordan with her Dad on the very first day of her very first summer at Vista Camps, walking the same road that he walked as a camper in the 1980s  :-)

Campers traverse this low-water crossing once upon entering the camp and again upon departure; as such, the sight evokes both excitement and sadness.

Teamwork

Jordan and fellow campers accepting their awards for The Mile Swim

     

     

Home is Where the Heart is

     It's another beautiful day in Grenada; the sun is shining, the air is fragrant with the ever-present scent of tropical flowers, and my car, clothes, and shoes are full of sand from the beach--the mark of a very good day, to be sure.  Still, as we near the end of another term here on this tiny rock in the middle of the big, blue ocean, I find myself thinking a lot of "home."  Where is that, exactly? Is it here in Grenada or is it back in Texas? Maybe "home" is in some other place that I haven't been to yet.  Home.  Never before has a simple word held so much meaning, mystery, and intrigue for me.

     You never know where life is going to lead you--that much I've learned.  I've also learned to never--and I mean NEVER--say never.  I mean, seriously...look where I am!  Did I ever in my wildest dreams or imagination think that, at the age of 40, I would sell almost everything I own and move to another country...on an island...in the Caribbean???...or that I would be home schooling my 13-year-old daughter and not working for the first time in eons?  Negative, Ghostrider.  Who knew that the Universe has a sense of humor? ;-)

     I struggled with this move at first.  There were so many changes--EVERYTHING changed--and there were days when I just wanted to stay in bed, because I felt scared, lonely, and confused, and I just thought, "What's the point?"  For a brief time, I lost my way...my sense of purpose...my goals...my personal "mission statement," if you will.  I did get out of bed, though...every day...and I brushed my teeth, and I combed my hair, and I kept putting one foot in front of the other and doing yoga (LOTS and LOTS of yoga--lol), and, before long, I found my way again.  The way looks and feels different than before, but it's mine, and, strangely enough, it still feels like "home."

     Home, sweet home...it truly is wherever the heart is.  Home is the infectious laughter of my daughter, her smile--radiant as the sun, or her soft cheek pressed against mine as she gives me one of her awesome hugs.  Home is the familiar and comforting scent of my husband and the way that he makes me feel like the most loved woman in the world.  Home is the sunshine warming my face, the breeze ruffling my hair, and the sand or grass between my toes.  It's the first sip of my morning coffee, the smell of fresh-baked banana bread, my favorite song on the radio, and the "ahhh" moment of slipping into freshly-laundered sheets at night.  The laughter, tears, and time shared with family and friends...the sweet, wet puppy-kisses from my dog...the pride and excitement I feel for David when he passes a hard exam or for Jordan when she achieves another dive certification...the joy that comes from doing things that light up my soul and make me feel alive--yep, it all feels like "home."  Home is wherever I feel happy, loved, and grateful, which I've learned can be anywhere and everywhere.  The path may have twists and turns, but it's always lit for us.  We just have to remember to keep our eyes open.

     I have no idea where life is taking me, and that's okay.  After all, home is where the heart is.  Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to go rinse the beach sand out of my shower...did I mention that today was a very good day?... ;-)