Godmother Cathy

Andrew's Christening Day

The most wonderful thing a child can have in addition to their blood-relatives are those special people who gently get  inserted into your life and who, over time, become as important and wonderful as any in your immediate family. Andrew's God-mother is a friend from years back who has stayed by my side through the good and the bad. One of my best life decisions was to ask her to be Andrew's God-mother. While this title has remained, she has gained a dual role into into a very special aunt as well. As a make-up artist she has created some incredibly authentic looks for Halloween and she has included my son into her family until he has gotten a status of his own, a "cousin" to her precious nephews and neice. They seem to look forward to spending time with "big" Andrew as much as he does with them.  Andrew has visited her extended family so often that  Cathy's mother has his room ready for him when he visits each summer. This past week God-mother Cathy did one of her favourite traditions which involves a shopping trip with Andrew for his birthday. She added on a special treat with a trip to Upper Clements Park for Andrew and her nephews. They had a day of roller coasters and log rides and waterslides....so much fun for all. Hallelujah for God-mothers and for all they do.

His make-up looked so authentic
 that folks thought he was
 really wounded.

Fun at Upper Clements

Week One....

This is what I came out to find one summer day in 2005
when Andrew was playing with a friend...the
look on their faces says it all...

Week one of camp is finished in approximately 3 hours. It will be interesting to see just how muddy the clothes are that come home to be washed as the weather here in the Halifax area this past week was not exactly pristine and of course, my son did not take anything remotely water-proof to wear. I have learned  that to a kid, playing in the mud makes life more fun. The more dirt the bigger the smile. At Bayside Camp, they even have a mud pit the kids love to use. I am ever so thankful for the huge lake that is less than 100 metres away.  For one week, reality is suspended; being surrounded by both old and new friends, swimming, canoeing, playing games, staying up late by camp-fires all make for magical memories. Being picked up at the end of the week must feel like the world is ending. I am expecting a quiet drive home tonight. I am happy that this is not the end of camp for the summer - two more weeks of fun and mud are still to come!

Summer time.....

It is the Canada Day weekend; the sun has decided to come out, the temperature is warm and we are doing nothing.....hurray! That means school has finished, most of my work is done and our schedule is free and clear for two months. Well, not quite; beginning tomorrow Andrew starts a new adventure at Bayside Camp. He has been accepted to the CORE leadership training program. I am so excited for him as he gets to experience one week of leadership training, a week of being a junior leader and then a third week volunteering in the maintenance department. What a fantastic opportunity for a teen. Even when working hard enough at camp that you may fall asleep on the deck while waiting for supper, it is still camp - the best place ever for a kid in the summer! If you want to learn more about Bayside and give your kid one of the best summers ever then look them up at baysidecamp.org

Retreat directions.....

So....we are really close to the retreat! We have been planning and planning and are so excited to be going to the new Bayside Camp in Sambro Head.

Directions to Bayside Camp
Drive along the Herring Cove Road out approximately 20 minutes and you will pass Spryfield, and Ketch Harbour...eventually you will see a Bayside Camp Flag on your right. Turn right onto the gravel drive and go three kilometres in.

See you there Wednesday at 10am!!!

The best way to begin a school year...

What better way to begin a school year than by going back to summer camp for three days. That is what I get to do Sept. 16-18 with all of the students at our school in grades 7-12. For three days, all of the junior/senior teachers spend time getting to know the students better and on a more personal level. Classrooms are wonderful places to learn but I relish the learning opportunities that take place each year at our retreat. As the coordinator of our retreat, I break all of the students into six different groups - with each grade represented in the groups. I love watching the grade 11 and 12 students take leadership seriously as they help the younger students feel welcome and at ease in their new grade.

Since I have been at HCA, we have gone to a wonderful camp, Scotian Glen, located just outside of New Glasgow. This year we made a change - with the new Bayside Camp opening just 25 minutes away from the school we felt it would be a great year to try something new. A gorgeous new facility is awaiting our arrival and the director of the camp, Ben Trites, will spend some of our time challenging us through talks he will give. We stay up late, eat fantastic food, spend time in worship, play sports and games, get lots of fresh air and throughout it all we learn more about each other.

It is the highlight of the year for many students. I recently ran into a student who graduated over six years ago, and as we were chatting she brought up the retreat and how it helped to shape each of her years at the school.

I am so excited to see what will happen at this year's retreat...just over two weeks to go til I will find out!