Get out of the boat!

That was the theme for Joyworks this year. And on Wednesday night, the last night of the camp, my daughters demonstrated it for me.
Mikayla: 
Dress rehearsal started at 9:30.
P.M.
4th-6th graders.
After 3 days of "camp" and swimming and giggling all night.
Everyone was just exhausted. It was supposed to start at 8:30, but worship and the message went long, and how do you complain about that?

I was asked to help watch the doors, because some boys had snuck back to their dorms during talent show the night before. When I thought the boys had given up for the night I went back in and the other chaperones from my church beckoned me over and whispered to me, "Mikayla's having a really hard time." I looked at the stage, and there was my baby, on the front row, singing with all her heart...and crying at the same time. I was told that one of the workers asked if she was okay, and she said she was shaking and felt sick, but she'd be okay. And she stuck it out to the end! She looked miserable, but didn't quit.It broke my heart, but I was so proud of her!
Jessica:
One of the classes the kids rotated through was learning choreography and using "God Rods" to the song, "Voice of Truth." But all 170 kids couldn't do it at the same time on stage, so the leader chose 16 to demonstrate it to the parents at the performance--and Jessica was chosen!! I was really excited for her, and couldn't wait to see her do it. Maybe I took a little too much pride in it, and that's why things turned out the way they did.

After the late night dress rehearal, the kids doing the sticks were asked to stay late and practice their part. They all went up on stage, and Jeff, the leader, started showing them where to stand, when he was reminded that other kids would be standing there. He said he was under the impression that row would leave, and they said no, they wouldn't, yadayada, and he said, "Then we won't all fit. I'm going to have to get rid of some kids. And I don't know how to do that." Long pause. "Do any of you kids want to voluntarily give up your spots?" One boy took his rods to Jeff, then another, then one more. Someone said, "Boys, I'm so proud of you for doing that. That was a very unselfish thing to do." And Jeff said he needed a few more to quit. And I thought, 'Oh great, now Jessica's going to feel like she should do it.' And sure enough she did. I felt sick, I was so disappointed. She came behind me and sat down and put her head on her arms, and my heart broke for the second time that night. And it made me mad. I was proud of her for what she did (sigh), but not as proud as I should have been. I really wanted her to do the sticks, I'm ashamed to say. Even watching the performance the next day, I was wishing she was up there--but she seemed fine. I think it bothered me more than it did her.
I learn a lot from my kids.