A visit with Tanner

On July 23rd, we drove Tanner to JIM Club for Session 2B, 3A, and 3B - three weeks total. Justin was hesitant in allowing him to go for so long, but I am a true believer in teaching kids independence. On top of that, Tanner was very excited!

The next weekend, July 30-31, we headed to Virginia for a wedding and were thus unable to go up and visit Tanner. He had a bit of homesickness when he found out he would be in the Saturday night program and none of us would be there to see it. However, my mom talked to him on the phone and reassured him that he'd be great and we'd make sure to watch the video they make of every show. It's a good thing Justin didn't hear about this until Sunday or Justin may have driven from Virginia to New York!

The next Saturday, August 7, we (along with Emily) headed to see Tanner in the early afternoon so that we could take him to Long Point State Park, which is just a few miles down the road from JIM Club. To say that he was excited to see us would be an understatement. We arrived during rest time, so Justin headed into the house and got him out of his bed.

I wasn't prepared for the 60 pound whirlwind that came running out the house and jumped into my arms. I asked him if he needed a little break for a while and all he could say was, "This is great! This is great!"

We've never been to anywhere but Midway Park when we've gone up to JIM Club in the past, so this was a new experience for us all. Long Point State Park isn't much but a boat marina and a small beach with a playground. We had packed a picnic lunch for us all, so we were set.

He's up, he's down, he's hanging around.

Hayden checked out every part of the playground before he found any interest in the water.

Lucas enjoyed the playground too! Check out the "abs" on that muscle man!

JJ wanted me to get a play-by-play as he went down the slide - there was some graffiti inside that he was reading as he slid down.

He also thought the fireman pole was pretty neat to slide down.

Justin was excited to have all his boys back together in one place!

Tanner, Hayden, and Lucas were the only boys that swam. JJ wasn't really interested after seeing the few dead fish floating around. Welcome to Chautauqua Lake! It's not the cleanest place to go to the beach, but it's welcoming when the temperatures are in the 80s and 90s.

Then true to McCurdy-pond form, Tanner and Lucas had to build a water canal in the sand!

We headed back to JIM Club at about 5 - just in time for dinner. Since we didn't eat our picnic until about 2, none of the boys were really hungry, but Justin ate some of what was offered. Afterward, Tanner treated us to a snack at the camp store and then we headed down to the beach to sit and talk. I took a "family picture"...

and then Emily took a family picture.

Around 6:20, Tanner had to go get ready for the evening program. He wasn't in that night's show except for the choir, but it worked out well because JJ's ankle started to hurt pretty bad and began swelling. A fever also came out of nowhere. Thinking we were through this journey with JJ, we of course had nothing with us (ice packs, Motrin, his prescription steroid). Tanner was very understanding of the fact that we needed to head home immediately. We took a quick picture of him in his handsome duds with the little boys. JJ was sitting on the bench crying in the background.

If Justin hadn't had to carry JJ to the car, I think he would have thrown Tanner over his shoulder and tied him in the car. Justin doesn't like having the boys away from home for that long. I don't "like" it, but I know how much Tanner loves it and how much he's learning about God. That makes it totally worth it to both of us.

We're heading up to get the boy tomorrow. Justin is practically twitching with anticipation! He's in the show tomorrow night and he's learned something new this year (I won't spill the secret yet), so we're excited to see him in that aspect as well. I'll post the video hopefully Sunday or Monday!