Soooo ExSKYted about Sky Ranch!!!

Last summer, we sent Jackson to Launch Camp (aka day camp) at Sky Ranch.  If you live around Van, you know Sky Ranch because it's been around forever, we occasionally have local events out there, and some of our local kids work out there. If you "ain't from 'round here," you know where Van is because of Sky Ranch. :)

It is such a great place.

As I said before, Jackson went out there last year and never stopped talking about how great it was and asking when he could go back.  We planned on sending Sadie and him back to Launch Camp again this year, and they were both stoked.

Until. (*Insert audible gasp here*)

Sky Ranch cancelled Launch Camp in Van.

Jackson was bummed, but a little excited because he just assumed Mom and Dad would send him to sleepover camp.    Sadie was more bummed, because she wasn't old enough to go to sleepover camp.

Jackson--unlike Mom and Dad--had no idea how much sleepover camp cost.  Holy. Cow.

Kevin and I talked about the possibilities/options a lot.  The camp was offering former day campers a significant discount to allow them to experience sleepover camp.  But the cost was still prohibitive, and it was by no means a cut and dried situation.  But Jackson begged.  And begged.  Aaannnnddd begged.  We told him that if we did send him, it might be a one-time deal.  He was fine with that.  We told him it would probably  be a birthday/Christmas gift from everyone he'd ever met.  He was okay with that too.  We told him none of his friends would be able to go.  He was even okay with that.  He was serious.

That's when God dropped a blessing right into our lap (or email box), and long story short, Jackson got to Sky Ranch for a very reasonable price. Sold!!

I can't tell you how thankful we are for this opportunity.  It is a true blessing, and just based on what I saw when we dropped him off, there is a reason he was so insistent that he needed to be there.  These people have the summer camp experience perfected.  From the moment you enter the gates, counselors are cheering you on, telling your kid how excited they are that they're here.  In spite of the fact that hundreds of families arrive at roughly the same time, the check-in process is smooth and quick. By the time we got Jackson settled in his cabin, he was ready for us to go, which was honestly a good thing...if he'd been all clingy and sad, it would've been hard to leave him.  His buddy Reed was with him, and after meeting his counselors, I felt completely at peace with leaving my little boy for a week.

One of the best things about the week was their website.  You could go online every day and look at pictures taken of your camper.  In every single picture, Jackson looked like his face was going to crack from smiling so much.

The focus of the week was how to face your fears and how to rely on God when you were afraid.  Jackson and I have talked about that several times since he got home. The whole week was a carefully orchestrated plan to share God with campers.  The younger kids got a different message than the older kids, but the goal was the same: to lead kids to Christ.  I am such a fan.

We are already trying to figure out how we will send him (and Sadie) next year.  It's that good. One of my fears was that Jackson would stick out as a kid whose parents don't live in the million dollar house in the gated subdivision.  But camp is a great leveler.  Kids look and act pretty much the same when riding on the torpedo or bouncing on the giant pillow.

Thanks for a great week, Sky Ranch!!