T'was the night before Christmas....
Merry Christmas Eve everyone!! Its been a Christmas spirit kind of day up here, everyone dressed in red and green and wishing each other Merry Christmas! As all the campers went through their classes, you could tell they were all looking forward to tonights big Santa’s Workshop. We had a Santa’s beard contest, bracelet making, paper chain making (to hang on the Christmas tree of course), reindeer station and of course there was a cookies and milk station complete with a showing of “The Polar Express” as they enjoyed their goodies. One of the best stations was the letter writing station where the campers wrote “Merry Christmas in July” letters to the members of our local MERF house that helps the elderly in the Mentone community. They love to get the letters from the girls, especially ones that say Merry Christmas when its the middle of the summer. Its amazing what one nice letter will do for a person, especially when the recipient doesn’t even know the camper that wrote it to them.
By now everyone is snuggled int heir beds now getting ready for tomorrow when the Big Guy himself will stop by to deliver all the presents to every camper first thing in the morning!! We’ll be there too to catch all the action and let ya know how Christmas morning goes. If you want to send your camper a “Merry Christmas” email, they’ll be printed around 11 AM EST Sunday and delivered to them at lunch, so there’s still time for ya to get that email in.
We had much cooler day up here today and that makes perfect sense. My buddy Jim Cantore down at the weather channel has been talking to me all week about this cold front thats passing through. I know this sounds crazy but he has assured me that Camp Skyline is right in the middle of a blizzard warning for late tonight. You know what that means don’t ya?? If it happens then all our campers will wake to a white Christmas in the morning. I was a little doubtful at first, but we’ve talked bout it again this afternoon and Jimmy says its gonna happen. Be sure to check in and see if he’s right. Wouldn’t that be something…. A white Christmas morning in July….. it cold happen!!
Besides being Christmas in July tomorrow we’ll also have our Sunday school and church service followed by Christmas lunch. After a much needed rest hour we’ll have a huge carnival here at camp complete with giant inflatable slides, a dunk tank, giant Jenga game, snow cones and more!
After dinner we’ll have one of the camper favorites, “Counselor Hunt”. This is where the campers will pair up with other campers in their club and head all over camp trying to find counselors that are doing their best impersonations of trees, plants, trash cans, you name it, they’re hiding behind it. Each counselor found is worth club points for the campers that finds her and the best part is when a camper finds a counselor, she gets to take that counselor home with her for a whole year………. Don’t worry, I’m just kidding, I wanted to see how many of y’all are actually awake out there as you’re reading this. She only gets to keep the counselor for 6 months if they find them……
Well, as you can see, its gonna be a fast paced and fun filled Christmas morning so I’m gonna make this blog short. Besides, with it being the night before Christmas, its time for my T’was the night before Christmas camp poem. I hope you guys enjoy it. Have a good night, and MERRY CHRISTMAS IN JULY!!!!!!!!!!!
Night y’all…….
Twas the night before Christmas and all across camp
the humidity was high, everyones clothes were all damp
The stockings were hung by every campers bunk
In hopes that St Nick would leave something on their trunk
the campers were all nestled and snug in their beds
While visions of ropes course and horseback swirled in their heads
With Sally in her PJ’s and I with my cap,
Had just settled down for a much needed nap
When out in the camp there arose such a clatter
I stumbled out of the bed to see “whats the matter?”
Away to the windows I flew like a jet
if something was outside, I hoped it hadn’t left yet
The moon had a reflection on the river below
If something was in the water, I just wasn’t gonna go
When what to my wondering eyes should appear
but a miniature sleigh, pulled by some nice looking deer
With a little old driver so lively and quick
I thought I was seeing things, perhaps I was sick
More rapid than eagles, he called them by name
No matter who he was, this fella had game
First Driftwood and Joywood, Beetlebum, and Bevshack
Then Bar H, Hot box and Brookwood, he toted his pack
Then on to Rosey Den, Edmae and Totem Hall
Then Hillbillies and Deweys Den, he hit them all
Then across the river he flew in a snap
He knew his way around, he didn’t even need a map
Up on the roof of Summerplace he landed
And quickly left them all presents, and did it single handed
And then in a twinkling, on to Riverside’s roof
He went straight down the chimney, in just a “poof”
As I drew in my head and was turning around
Down Riverside chimney, he came with a bound
He was dressed in all fur from his foot to his head
I though to myself “he’s gotta be hot, if that was me I’d be dead”
A bag was flung on his back full of toys
it was presents for the girls, this trip had nothing for any boys
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry
I hoped for just one present with a name on it for Larry
He had a broad face and a little round belly
He obviously found the dining hall and had some biscuits and jelly
He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf
I thought when I saw him I was looking at myself
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
was a notice to me, its time to go back to bed
He stopped by the infirmary to visit our nurses
and left something for them in each of their purses
Then laying a finger aside of his nose
he was finished with his work so up the chimney he arose
He sprung to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle
He took off really fast, like a Patriot missile
But I heard him exclaim as he flew above the pines
Merry Christmas to all, from Camp Skyline!!
