Sunday

Sunday is still a special day at Greystone.

It used to be that Sunday was special almost everywhere (at least around the South). A Holy day, set apart to show honor to God in lots of ways. All commerce would stop (even grocery stores and gas stations). The roads were sparsely traveled and the people you would meet on them were usually dressed up as if going to church. Sunday dinner was the meal most looked forward to during the week… heaping platters of fried chicken, beans, creamed corn, tomatoes straight from the garden, Lazy afternoons marked by naps and long conversations with family and friend. It was a blessing.

In the interest of convenience, we have given up that gift. Nothing closes anymore (except Chic-Fil-A, God bless them). A quiet day of rest was too much for our economy to bear, I guess. Well, camp still takes a breather on Sunday, and after the week we have enjoyed— we need it!

First comes Stumblers. This is the running club that the “early risers” go to once a week. My father started this club about 25 years ago after a visit to Lexington Kentucky where he was introduced to the Todd Road Stumblers. Every Sunday morning they would meet for an early morning 3 mile run on a beautiful country road. It was so much fun, we copied the tradition at Greystone. Since the girls like to get up early, most of the camp will be there! It is a very fun social occasion (most girls walk and talk), though some of us will get a good workout as well. Main Camp is a running camp. Cross Country is a very popular class… I get my laps in with Gervais at 7:15 so as to allow a chance to take pictures. If your daughter sleeps in… she won’t be in my photo’s of stumblers this morning but I will try to get everyone else so beware (it takes a lot of photos when shooting with a “long lens”). I got about 1,500 today… sorry.

Breakfast is a serve yourself cereal and coffee cake affair. Not a big breakfast, but a nice change of pace (we serve sweet cereals on Sunday… enough said). A long clean up and shower time in the cabins (first chance to really straighten out the bunk drawers and sweep the nooks and cranies). The Honor Council meets for a short devotion and a little chat with me, they will be running the Morning Assembly for the whole camp tomorrow and will spend the day preparing for that big event.

Sunday School meets by cabin groups, everyone is given a private little spot and they have a short lesson tied to the theme of the summer “Rejoice”. Church will meet at Noon, Tim Udouj (our camp minister for Main Camp) bringing the message. Having a camp minister has proven to be a huge blessing over the years. We have a high view of the church and a high view of preaching. It should be done by those called to that task and accountable to the Lord and to ecclesiastical authorities outside of camp… it is a big deal. We used to bring in outside ministers, but it is SO MUCH BETTER for the minister to be a part of this community. They know what the “tone” of the summer is and are able to preach with that authentic voice that children respect. All of our devotions and Sunday sermons (and morning devotions) are online, this is another way for you to connect with what is going on with your girls! After church we change into our traditional “whites”. Camp is really beautiful when every one has on their whites.

Margaret and I asked all new campers to meet with us for a little visit and “get to know you” time at White Hall after lunch (cheesy chicken, yum). We will sit in a circle and everyone will introduce themselves while munching on “goldfish”. There are only 32 new campers at Main Camp, they tend to be very wonderful girls with dynamic personalities (convincing their parents to let them go to camp for 5 weeks sight unseen takes a special kind of intensity!). I fully expect that these girls will be coming back for many years to come, time to say “hi” specifically to them.

We will take a long rest hour after a big lunch, then enjoy and afternoon of free activities. Do whatever you want or nothing at all. We blob, canoe, swim, slide, run, and play a variety of sports and challenge games. FUN. The Senior girls will be given a big surprise party at Putt Cove (complete with frozen drink treats and a catered dinner by “Moe’s”).

Picnic dinner eaten with friends around the campus (Tentalow 1 will be at Greylodge with Margaret and me… we are giving them a special pizza dinner from Papa Johns). About 7:30 we will gather on the pagent court for our first summer concert “on the lawn”. Former counselor Meg Murray will be returning to Greystone as a star! She is wonderful, talented, sweet, and knows the girls. These concerts are the very definition of summer to me and are becoming a real part of the Greystone legend around Tuxedo (the whole valley can hear the music when we play outside). It is a GREAT DAY.

Thank you for sharing your girls. It is a delight to be included in their lives. This first week has been very good, we think that it is as good as we have ever done and are very pleased with how well the community is coming together. To say the girls are happy and well adjusted is an understatement. The ‘feeling” of camp is sublime… silly, sophisticated and sweet at the same time. There is a very complex dynamic taking place as we settle into the routine and embrace the personalities of camp. Much can go wrong, but NOTHING has. Sounds like an exaggeration but it is not. Nothing (much) has gone wrong!

Blessings on your family,

Thank you for making this possible.