summer camp

For keepsake, here's the letter I am sending to the president of Youth Haven, a Christian camp in Arizona (and Michigan). I am going to start using their new middle names to make them less easily google-able.

Dear Larry Carlson,

My children's case manager at Touchstone Behavioral Health in Phoenix is urging me to enroll my kids in your summer camp this summer. She says that all of her kids that have gone have had an amazing time. That's exactly what I wish for my children.

I have adopted four children who would grow so much from a camp experience like yours. Eva is 7 in April. She has had many 'firsts' since living with me for the past year. She is growing like crazy, both physically and socially, now that she is in a safe, secure place. She is acting like a 'big girl' now, and I am so excited for her to get out into the world a little and grow some more. I know she will be safe and secure at your camp as well.

Elisa is 8, and very social. She thrives on attention and being with friends. Like her sister, she has had few life experiences before moving in with me last year. She needs alot of positive educational experiences to erase the years of neglect and bad influences. Elisa is quite the little star. Wait till you see her smile!

J*** is 9. He prefers to be called JJ now. I think he is trying to put some of his past behind him. He likes to be active outside, and loves to play video games. JJ is the most cautious child I have ever met, probably from years of taking care of his little sisters and his birth mother. He is just starting to learn to just be a kid. He needs alot of fun experiences with kids his age, away from me and his sisters, so he can start to have FUN.

Brennan, 14, has been with me since he was an infant. His first several years of life were extremely difficult, and he has worked very hard to learn boundaries and healthy emotional expression. As a result, he missed tons of social growth, and is now hanging out mostly with 8-10 year old kids. He will learn so much about hanging out with teens socially, and taking care of himself, at summer camp if you have a teen camp this year. Brennan is an awesome kid, and a successful-adult-just-waiting-to-happen. It is critical that he experience as much success as possible in the next four years.

My kids are 4 in a thousand, I'm sure, that are applying for your AZ camps this year. Please let me know what I need to do to register them. I pray that they can go some time this year. I am not working this year, and am not able to give them as many opportunities as they need. Thank you for considering my kids for your camp. What a fantastic opportunity you provide!

Thanks again,

Jen

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Oh, by they way, who spreads peanut butter with a knife, then puts the knife back in the drawer?! YUCK.