akr inspired | 499

Thirty years ago, sometime in the fall,

I noticed a guy standing at the salad bar in the cafeteria.

He was wearing khakis, a white shirt, and a tie.

A year later, we were friends after working at a summer camp together.

Another year later, I was engaged to him.

Textbook | Math

akr inspired | 481

Three places that had a huge impact on me when I was a young adult -

   travelling to Pinellas Park, Florida to be with Melodie

   going to Eastern Nazarene College in Boston, MA

   working at Camp Taconic in Red Hook, New York

@missamykr | Instagram | Project 1,2,3

Sunday's Photograph | January Break

Jim, Jim, Kim and Kerri,

came to Canada for January Break.

Little did I know, I would be married to

the Jim on the left before the end of the year.

- 1993 -

Sunday's Photograph | the kind of

As I scrolled through photos on the computer,

I noticed this one.

I had forgotten that I had taken this picture

and saved it.

I had even forgotten that I had written that sticky note

for the girls to find someday.

On a page of my Camp Taconic notebook,

there is a message from Jim to our college team.

It was written by a young college boy

who was in love with the Lord.

a sentence a day | 28

Twenty-five years ago, Jim flew from Camp Taconic to see me.

- August 1993 -

Slice of Life | Long Distance Letters

Eliza asked the rhetorical question, "How do people have long distance relationships?"

I thought back to how Jim and I kept in touch over the months between ENC graduation and our wedding.

There was no texting and FaceTime in 1993.

To talk to each other, Jim would use a pay phone at the camp to call me at a certain time and we wrote many letters.

One of the joys of letters is that you can pull them from a box and reread them (and find forgotten photos) many years later.

Slice of Life

Slice of Life Challenge | Day 14

Travel Snippets

What is your dream vacation?

I think a dream vacation would be driving with no set time to be anywhere, and being able to stop wherever we wanted to on the way.

Conversations would sound like this,

"There's a charming Bed & Breakfast! Let's stay overnight."

"Look at that ocean view! Pull over."

"It's a market! Let's spend the afternoon looking around."

If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go?

I would go to Germany.

I would like to help Sole Hope in Jinja, Uganda.

If you could return to a city, which one would it be?

I would love to return to Boston with our family. Jim and I could show them the campus and our favorite places in the city. They have heard so many stories!

Adding a little trip from there to Camp Taconic in Red Hook, New York would make it even better!

Slice of Life | Sarah

As I look at this photo from 1992, I have sweet memories of Sarah -

   helping me move into Munro Hall at Eastern Nazarene College

   crying to her about my bad hair cut

   going to the Tom Petty concert with her sister

   having adventures with her around Boston

   taking photos on Wollaston Beach during the perfect storm

   passing notes through campus mail
   visiting with seniors at the nursing home
   seeing sweet (m&m) and salty (peanuts) together for the first time

   sleeping at the end of her bed during a thunder and lightening storm

   reading cards together at the local CVS store
   encouraging me to go to Camp Taconic interview

   going home with her to Warren, Maine

   telling me about a guy from Michigan that I needed to meet

I could write many more jots and share a lengthy story for each one.

Slice of Life

Slice of Life | Munro Hall

Looking back at my Eastern Nazarene College dorm room in 1991-1992, 

I remember -

Sarah helping me move in on 4th Munro

my mom made the afghan and pillow for me

Natalie giving me the little box she painted

the basket full of cards and letters from home

Howie's family giving me a computer to use

the Nike sneakers and mom telling me to not run alone 

going to the gym often to play pick-up basketball

Kent taking me to the sporting store (and their kindness to me)

being thankful that I could stay in the dorm as a grad student from Canada

playing Tetris for study breaks

a big grey squirrel coming in the window and making a mess

rocks hitting the window to see if I wanted to go play basketball or go into Boston

receiving art work every week from my nephew

Sarah laughing when I moved a nail just a bit to make my Canada flag look better

the bear on the dresser and years later it became Annie's favorite bear

Mom's friend, Lorna being nearby and how she cared for me

the interview for Camp Taconic which led to a lifetime with Jim

Slice of Life Challenge 8 | my Camp Taconic notebook

When I was at Camp Taconic, I kept a notebook under my bed in an old wooden crate salvaged from the dining hall. Inside my notebook, I collected this and that.

• camp brochures
• my first note from Jim
• the Camp Taconic handbook for counselors
• goals for the summer
• notes from my team members
• jots from books I read
• photos
• bible verses
• quotes
• names and addresses of all my campers
• letters from campers
• photocopies of cards from directors to our team
• a list composed by Ryan about funny things that happened over the summer

With my grade 4 students, I would often tell them that when they were older, they would enjoy pulling out their notebooks and thinking back. It's exactly what I did with my old camp notebook! I have many memories in my head, but walking through the notebook brought back many more.

Slice of Life Challenge 7 | Camp Taconic Staff

Looking at the 12 of us in this photo warms my heart. It was an honor to serve together and grow as friends. Our friendships went way beyond that summer! I wish I could share all the moments we laughed, cried, wondered, worried, teased, grumbled, cleaned, encouraged, prayed, sang, shared, played, walked, cheered, and more. (Third Row: Jamie Casler, Brad Grinnen, Jim Berger, Tim Carignan, Jim Druart, Ryan Smith. Second Row: Carla Walchle, Loralee Landers, Kim Lahr, Rob Smith. First Row: Pam Rymer, Kerri Alder) We were blessed to be a part of Camp Taconic. Some of us, like Jim, were there for more than one summer.

Rev. and Mrs. Bergers, and the full-time staff, were beyond good to us and gave us a home away from home. They were godly men and women who led by example in their words and actions, whether they were leading us in a devotional or taking out the garbage.

Slice of Life Challenge 6 | beyond Camp Taconic

At the end of the summer, Jim and some of the other guys stayed another week while the rest of us headed home. It was during that last week, Jim said to the others, "I'm going to marry Loralee." I had no idea that he had thought it or said it. I was dating someone from college, but I guess Jim already knew that wasn't meant to be. I tease him that he didn't wait around for me as he still went on dates that fall and it seemed as if someone always liked Jim! 

Seven months after Camp Taconic, we started dating. I knew then what that "something" was when we held hands during prayer a year before. He was the one. We were married by the end of the year.

Slice of Life Challenge 5 | family camp at Camp Taconic

During Family Camp, Kim and I were on the cleaning crew as they didn't need all 12 of us to be counselors. The work load was still heavy, but we enjoyed some free time in the evenings and had a break from sleeping in the shelters.  

If Kim was beside me right now, we would be giggling about the dancing in the trailer, playing volleyball on the wrong day, and Tim and Jim not thanking us nearly enough for cleaning that washroom for them!

Camp services were held under a large tent that was put up for the week. I remember having to patch holes in it. As I worked, I couldn't help but think of all the people who worshiped the Lord under that tent year after year. 

Jim was baptized by Rev. Bergers at the end of the week. In the next photo, Kim and I are in blue shorts just above Jim's head. I was standing beside Jim's family and chatting with them. I didn't know they would be my future in-laws. God is always up to something!

Slice of Life Challenge 4 | Camp Taconic waterfront

When we arrived at camp, Jim needed a certain number of participants registered for his Red Cross Lifeguard Course. I grew up with lots of time in a pool, but I was not much of a swimmer. Most of the 12 had been through the class so I signed up to help out with the numbers. The first thing we had to do was swim forever (can't remember how far but it was like forever). Tim swam beside me to encourage me to keep going (and maybe to make sure I didn't drown). At the end of the day, I talked to Jim and said I wasn't going to keep going with the course. He didn't try to stop me which we still laugh about now! Thankfully, for both of us, Jim only needed certain numbers to start, not finish!

Over the summer, I think running the buddy board was my favorite afternoon assignment. It may have had something to do with Jim being the Waterfront Director. We had become friends and he was a lot of fun to be around!

Slice of Life Challenge 3 | life at Camp Taconic

The first couple of weeks were spent preparing the campground for the summer.  It was hard work, but we had time in the evenings to go into town, play basketball and hang out. Our days changed a lot when camp season started!

On Sunday nights, the Camp Director for the week met with us and then we hit the ground running. A volunteer was paired with us and we were responsible for 16 campers. We slept in shelters in the woods and our days were full of activity. We were with our campers 24 hours a day. It was exhausting, but every week was amazing!

After our goodbyes at noon on Saturdays, there was more waiting for us. While there was a team of teens who looked after the washrooms during the week, we were responsible for going over the entire campground with a fine-toothed comb to prepare for the coming campers and volunteers. I need you to know that Camp Taconic was huge! The photo above captures a moment on a Saturday afternoon. Our list is still long and we are waiting to hear about extra work that has to be done in the guest cottages. 

We made it through those long days. God was our Helper and Strength, and we loved each other. At the end of each week, we would have about 24 hours to ourselves (including sleep and church) and then we would meet with the next Camp Director! 

Slice of Life Challenge 2 | getting to Camp Taconic

In 1992, I spent my summer working at Camp Taconic in Red Hook, NY. Every year, Rev. Jay Bergers would come to Eastern Nazarene College and hire 12 students for the summer. Not a fan of interviews, I almost didn't go to mine. My friend, Sarah, said, "How will you know if  you are suppose to be there if you don't even go to the interview?" I am so thankful that I went. 

The rest of the team knew each other well. As a grad student, I didn't have classes with any of them. I crossed paths with some through the cafeteria, but that was it. Whenever I mentioned who I would be working with, I would hear many wonderful things about each person. Even before I was hired for Camp Taconic, I heard the most about a Jim Druart. 

After the team was chosen, we began to meet on a weekly basis to pray and start team building. (To read about a note Jim sent to me, click here.) I enjoyed those times together and can still picture us laughing through a crowdbreaker and then praying together. (One time I remember being beside Jim while the team held hands and prayed. I didn't know "what" it was yet, but I knew there was "something" about him.)

When my parents drove me from Moncton to Red Hook in June, there were many hilarious moments along the way like Uncle Donald's attempt to drive from the passenger seat, Dad leaving something behind, Aunt Muriel's moment in the changing room and looking for a rain coat. 

When we arrived at the camp, the guys were playing basketball and they came over to help me move into the camp dorm. (To be honest, I remember Tim coming over to help, but Jim said it was all of them!)  Months later I heard what Dad said when he saw them. Remembering his camp days with Mom, he said to her, "Looks like it will be a fun summer!" (Oh my goodness, Dad!)

Side note: I'm giggling as I look at my over-sized, tucked in, white shirt with my waist high, jean Polo shorts. I'm sure I had my Tretorn sneakers on with the outfit!

Slice of Life Challenge 1 | questions

Today is the first day of the annual Slice of Life Story Challenge hosted by the Two Writing Teachers. For the month of March, teachers will be writing and sharing every day. As I read Terje's post this morning, it reminded me of how much I enjoy asking questions. It's a wonderful way to dig deeper, to reminisce and to have ah-ha moments like "I felt the same way!" So for my first day, I am going to answer a couple questions.

What did you want to be when you grew up ?

Wendy and I wanted to be farmers. It was our dream to have lots of animals. While we were growing up, we spent hours and hours playing in our grandparents' barns, and roaming through fields and woods. I could share countless childhood adventures!

What was your favorite summer job?

When I was attending a college in Boston, I worked as a counselor at Camp Taconic in Red Hook, New York. I had great summer jobs when I was young, but this one was my favorite (and the most challenging).

Ohhh! As I answer questions, I now have ideas for what I can write about over the next few days!

Slice of Life | First Note

Camp Taconic

Red Hook, New York

Summer 1992

When I was at Eastern Nazarene College, the president of the university challenged students to write an encouraging note to one other person. A slip of paper with enough space for a couple sentences was put in the mailbox of all students. I later received one from a Jim Druart. Someone I didn't know very well, but was going to be working with at Camp Taconic over the coming summer. The rest of the group all knew each other, except for me. He said he was looking forward to getting to know me better and would be praying for me as we finished the school year.  

I, Mrs. Jim Druart, still have that note.