Hallie is not camp material. She doesn't like loud music, she's a picky eater, and probably most contrary to camp-loving, she has serious space issues. 

  
No lie. Her first sentence as a toddler was "I need my space". I don't remember the other two kids' first sentences, it's just that her's was important. She had a five-and-a-half year old space-invading, hug-loving brother. Before we taught her how to say "I need my space",  she would scream and swat at Hayden like he was a gargantuan blood-sucking insect come to sap her life. She reacts that same way on the inside to most social activities. 

But she left for camp this morning along with eight other teens. They'll be at DBU for the week. I took her shopping a few days ago in hopes to get her excited about the trip. I bought her a Marvel t-shirt (she's a big Marvel fan), some gum, and some Pringles. Sour Cream and Onion Pringles are one of her love languages. Solitude is another of her love languages. 

At least she'll have one of those with her on the trip. 

I'm guessing the Pringles will be gone by tomorrow; the rest of the snacks will probably last a couple of days if she keeps them hidden like the strawberry yogurt she sneaks behind the pickled okra in the fridge so Hayden and Rylie won't find it. 

The snacks will quickly disappear, but I've made a list of things I pray she'll bring back with her when we see her at the end of this week. 

Here's the list in case you want to join me in asking God for these things for her (and, well,  the other kids too). 

I pray that she'll learn to experience God alone in a crowded room. 

-That she'll better learn that she's never alone even when she's the only one in her room. 

My prayer is that she'll learn that "God is bigger than the Boogeyman" like Veggie Tales used to tell her. 

May she learn to hear him better when His voice is small, but sure. 

I pray her desire for his word and her desire to obey it will grow. 

Of course I think she's beautiful.  My hope is that she'll hold fast to the kind of beauty God describes in 1 Peter:

Your beauty should not come from outward adornment.....Instead it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight. 

I pray that she'll learn that worship can be practiced when you're out of your comfort zone (in her case maybe touching shoulders with some gregarious fella who wants the whole world to hear him belt out "I can only imagine........yeah"). May she learn that worship sometimes best happens when things aren't comfortable. 

May she find new courage to carry to high school that will help her make new friends and find her English class the first day. May that courage remind her to be a friend to all.

I pray that her heart will grow in its desire to serve. 

Never be lacking  in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.  Romans 12:11

I pray that she will come to know God more intimately than she has before; that all the space in her heart will be occupied with new things from Him. 

I know that's a lot of stuff to ask that she comes back with. But she did take four big bags. 

That's plenty of room.

  

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