More and more this summer, God has shown me that the little things are what are most important. The smaller the event seemed the greater it impacted me. Want some examples?

Building a campfire — it is so simple to do (if you have tons of
cedar) but so symbolic. The campfire you build will have songs sung
around it, have memories made that last forever (like me falling
backwards off a log), and maybe even have someone accept Christ there. I know I am taking this to the extreme but the take away from
campfires each week got intense.

Hanging up a hammock — simple again. But making a hammock village could make or break a kid’s summer camp experience. Whether it is a night being bit up by bugs, or a night full of cuddly blankets and star gazing, it will be memorable. The week I made a hammock village with my campers, it kept getting pushed back. Either it was too cold that night, my girls had just played an intense game and were scared, whatever it was, it got pushed to the last night. We were sleeping
outside and every single one of the campers shared their testimony.
They all came from different walks of life, but that night they bonded. It was simply amazing to see.

Hiking — seeing God’s creation. Seeing he had no reference point for any of this, but he created it with a painter’s attention to detail. From the way the birds of color chirp in the morning, to the cicadas’ song at night. Each week we had on the schedule to go on a hike with our girls, and the hike was what you made it. Yeah, some weeks I was not as appreciative and it was just a chore; other weeks it was the most meaningful thing to those girls. Realizing that this was all his plan, all God’s creation, it was indescribable!

Meeting a new friend — I have made three of the best friends I have ever had this summer. I can be vulnerable and real with them. That
means more to me than words can describe. Legit, I now miss them so
much and it is so hard not to live with them anymore.

Seeing friends from home — it was amazing even to just spend a fleeting day with them, the people I love and cherish more than I ever thought I could. It meant all the world to me.

Talking to someone you missed — just a quick text, phone call, or visit is so precious. You may miss them now but it will be ok you will see them again, and you will have the best time catching up. This was a new experience for me. It was hard but I’m glad someone is important enough to me to be missed.

These things may seem insignificant to you, but they changed me. I am now so appreciative of everything around me, may it be the smile of a friend to me sitting down and writing this. These things held me together more than I could ever put into words.