Parent Blog: The View From My Heart

“The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched, they must be felt with the heart.” Helen Keller

I’ve never been a Greystone camper, I never attended any summer camp. But, goodness do I love Camp Greystone and all it has meant to my sweet Greystone Girl!

I tell everyone that Olivia’s ten summers at Greystone truly shaped her in the most beautiful and profound ways. Much of this camp character shaping is gratefully evident today, but possibly more significant are the blessings that will continue to unfold and be revealed in all of Olivia’s days to come. Camp Greystone is a place for girls to learn, to love, to grow in the 4-fold way, and to be just who they are.

Olivia learned to live in a community with a selfless, kind, and thankful attitude, navigating relationships on her own. She was able to be just who God intended her to be without the shadow of mom or dad or other judgments.

She discovered what deep, meaningful friendships are all about and was allowed to simply be a young girl without worldly expectations pressing in; she was shown what loving leadership is and what it means to commit to excellence in all that you do and all to God’s glory. Olivia learned more about God’s word and prayer, she deepened her relationship with Jesus and came to see Christ in others, too. Did I mention she had a tremendous amount of fun and laughter?

My eyes have seen the joy on the faces of Greystone Girls and the deep happiness their friendships bring, my eyes have seen the beauty of Lake Edith and the splendid surroundings of Greystone. But, it is my heart’s view that has been abundantly blessed and so deeply touched by all that Greystone means to my daughter, and ultimately all that it means to this outsider looking in.

I would cry every time I arrived or departed Greystone…Every. Single. Time. It is because of how Greystone touches your heart. The view from this mama’s heart is full and grateful because of Greystone’s irreplaceable imprint on my favorite girl’s heart, character, and life. Forever changed and blessed by Camp Greystone.

“Start Children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old, they will not turn from it.” Proverbs 22:6