"I'll blog for you and then everyone will be like, 'Sarah! You were hacked!'"

The CILTs did the Wimmick skit at chapel this morning about stars and dots that stick to themselves. Until one day Punchanello meets a wimmick that stars and dots don't stick to. Punchanello starts meeting with Eli, learns that he was made and loved by Eli and the opinions of others stop mattering so much. 

Hallie explained the skit, Devon shared a personal story and Nikki prayed for everyone. I loved seeing these girls take on this really cool opportunity to share at chapel.

It was so cool to see our CILTies up on stage leading the songs for all of the stayovers. They did a fantastic job.

New CILT jar challenges for week 3!

Ellyn helped me with a caper this afternoon. Earlier this year I posted a painting that says, "What the Hobb." Joel commented that he would put it in his office and point to it whenever someone did something dumb. So Ellyn and I sneaked up to his office and hung it up for him to find later.

Madee Andrews has finished for the summer but she hasn't really left because Amanda will keep carrying her around. There was a knock on the Longhouse door this afternoon and I opened it to find SARAH WOODWARD! She's a Varsity FBC champ, one of my old students and a Wyld Life girl. I'm so pumped that she's here this week.

The Bescak's mom came to drop off their brother today and she brought PIZZA FOR ALL THE CILTS. Oh. My. Gosh. Life made.

After planning devotions and playing 4 on the couch, we let the CILTs make their wooden name tags. Emma didn't know what to write on the back of her name tag so it was an obvious choice to write, "I love Sarah Wright." Natalie is so excited about her name tag too- she's precious.

So many wooden name tags, so many cool CILTs. Getting your wooden name tag is #campgoals.

We did some work on our Opening Campfire theme for the CILT counselors while the CILTs worked on their name tags.

Anna Morgan is finally here! She'll be here for the next three weeks. Annie is back again-- love this child.

Our campaigning for Joel was very productive...
Change the I'm Third motto: Joel is first, America is second, Camp T is third
Why they hobb wouldn't you vote for J?
J for President!
Elijah is the next 1st baby
Sieplinga! Why the hobb wouldn't you?!
A vote 4 Joel is a step up the totem pole.
J for Prez

Smooney is in Delaware! Wouldn't you want to be in this cabin?

Our little nugget Haley is back! Can't wait to play with her and carry her around all week long.

CILTies have new units, new cabins and new partners this week. I loved seeing them in their costumes, playing with all their new campers.

Sarah decided to come back for another week! She just can't stay away from camp. Nicole Murino is finally here! I've missed this kid.

Finally our Presidential candidate J made an appearance. Such a fan of our next leader of America.

Riley carried my Diet Coke and water bottle to campfire for me so she got the first sip. That's when you know you're something special.

Tonight when Mike and Tom were talking about camp culture a little girl in the front row said, "Be Awesome!" They pulled Elyza up front and announced that she was going to be the Kid President of the Best Week Ever. Aka she just became the coolest kid in all of camp. I can't wait to shake her hand this week.

After we left campfire, we immediately headed to Joel's office to hang all of the campaign posters upstairs. Hopefully they stick around for awhile.

The Longhouse went a little crazy tonight. When Emma wouldn't get in the shower, Liz forced her to get in while still wearing her clothes. She embraced it. 

Then the childs retaliated and picked Liz up, took her outside and locked all the doors. Just living the dream on a typical Sunday night. 

"Oh, that's your retainer? Can I try it on?"

Saturday morning chapel was led by Joel the scientist. He talked to us about keeping our joy from camp and sharing it with people when we go back home again. 

Han got back from Europe yesterday and is leaving for her lake in just a few days. She decided to drive up to meet me in Lafayette for dinner. WE WERE SO EXCITED TO SEE EACH OTHER. She brought me prizes from Europe, we got to share stories from the past two weeks and just be friends like normal.

Then when I got back to camp SARAH MOONEY ARRIVED! She's taking vacation to work next week and taking opportunities to eat pizza and do all sorts of crazy fun things.

We're thrilled to be reunited with our pal Smoon in real life for the whole week. She's in River Village too and after being a CILT counselor for two years she gets to have CILTs adopt her cabin.

I was off this weekend but was still at camp for most of the time. Love my pal Maggie Drake.

So thankful for Nikki and her wise soul. Next time I need advice, I'm calling this girl up. I'm such a fan of Annie Leonard and love that she'll walk up to me, stuff a handful of marshmallows in her mouth and then walk away laughing.

The CILTs planned their chapel for tomorrow... It's going to be awesome.

Harper was walking around with Scott and Sara and I got her to try on my backpack. We buckled her all in and she loved it for a few seconds before it got really heavy. She's a doll.

 Tonight we did a devotion about friendship and I loved having Smooney here to lead it.  We used a post from Shauna Niequist too, "It doesn’t matter how much you love someone. What matters is that they know it. So let’s do it: who are you going to show love to today? Text, email, phone call, love letter. What would being good at being a friend look like in your life today?" We talked about how we can be a good friend during CILTs and then wrote love tanks to a few friends that we want to be friends with in week two. 

"If you're going to act like kids, I'm going to treat you like kids."

I love getting to stand with CILTies in chapel when they don't have to be with their cabins. It's moments like this one that I will remember and miss when the summer is over. 

Ever tried a 40-person Human Knot before? We hadn't either. They didn't finish it but it sure was fun to try.

This morning was our regular trip to the St. E nursing home in Delphi to visit with residents. Jim, who works there, was chatting with me later and told me, "They really love when you all come. They're still talking about it a couple days later. And your kids seem to really care, to really enjoy talking to them more than most people who come to volunteer." It was quite the compliment to them.

As we always do, the CILTies sang flagpole songs and chapel songs to the residents. I loved listening to the man behind me laugh at the funny parts of songs and seeing so many of the people clap along.

Since I first became a CILT counselor I always find and visit with my friend Ruth. She's 98 now and is doing well. She doesn't love the noise of all of our kids, but thankfully she still likes when I visit with her in her room. I'm glad I still get to see her one more time this summer.

Allie and Alli really love one another, it's precious. I'm such a fan of Elise and so grateful to really get to know her this summer.

We got to pet a horse... Kind of wish we could have ridden in the buggy too.

These girls-- they're pretty special. So thankful for friendships that keep growing with Payton, Maggie, Nikki, Elise, Clare, Izzy, Riley and Natalie.

One of the strengths of this Session is definitely their united singing ability. Playing iPod shuffle to and from town was so much fun today.

Once we got back to camp we played Running Charades in Main Field.

Then we got to hang out before heading into lunch. Today I got a text from Chrissy who said, "Even when I'm not at camp, Fridays always make me nostalgic." There's something so special about the end of the week here. It's even more special knowing we still have more than a week left together.

I love getting to finally be Hannah's counselor. Maggie Morris and Maggie Drake are absolute gems-- they're the kind of girls I would have befriended when I was a CILT back in the day.

Riley and Emma have each become great friends of mine in the past week. I feel like I've known them for years and I'm such a fan of both of them. They're rock stars. 

Precious.

Doing this Session's cheer at lunch is so hype. It's a cheer I don't know if I'll ever get tired of. Things got a little crazy at the end of dessert.

SPORTS MANIA NIGHT! I LOVE SPORTS! Unfortunatalie, Natalie isn't going to be able to stay with me the entire summer.

The avid athlete I am, it probably makes sense that SPORTS night is one of my favorites. The CILTies were such a party crew tonight.

I LOVE the Day Camp staff even more than I love SPORTS. I'm so glad that girls like Ashley, Erin, Brenna, Kate and Shan are here this week. They're fantastic counselors and people.

Elise, Maggie and Clare come to camp together and I'm such a fan of this sweet trio. They're all so kind, thoughtful and joyful. They lead by example and take care of one another.

Oh holy. We love Allie Vanneman. What a star this girl is.

I'm so glad I get to work with athletes as intense as Liz and Alli. They're the sportiest.

I'm such a fan of Alana and Hallie-- they're both so awesome.

PARTY IN THE PARTY ROOM CAUSE SPORTS! And because you can't help but have fun when you're singing along to Space Jam, Get Your Head In The Game, I Don't Dance, Waka Waka, Wavin' Flag and We Are the Champions.

Alli and Ellyn are going to be low key devastated when Adam leaves. I really don't know what they're going to do.

Riley came to visit! We have missed having him with us this summer telling us to scrunch on in, get vulnerable and have a great day. We miss his cartwheels and the way he yells, "And a 1, and a 2 and a skiddly diddly do!"

Of course we made Riley do a cartwheel for old time's sake and he made sure I took a picture for the blog. Sarah and Ellyn daily pics are back... we're working on being more consistent... apologies to Ellyn's mom MK.

The rain gave us the gift of another indoor Closing Campfire. At Tecumseh we make it work, even if plans change, and still have fun.

So thankful for Erin O'Awesome's unrelenting positivity and joy. We'll miss Lilly after she's been here for the first three weeks of the summer.

I love Diggy, aka Emily, and camp wouldn't be the same this summer without her. Tanner has been here the past two weeks and she will be so missed. Thankful for her silliness.

Emma Macabee is my home girl. Ava Baby may not really be a baby anymore, but so glad she'll be here next week too.

Closing Campfire was fantastic as always. My favorite things are always the clinic performances. Hip Hop and Show Choir stole the show.

ELLYN GOT TO PERFORM A SONG WITH JOEL AND TOM! LIFE GOALS! She did a fantastic job, I bet she'll be asked to come back again.

The CILTs did the bead devotions with their cabins before coming home to the Longhouse. We did devotions tonight using Rob Bell videos in our cabins. This weekend marks the half way point for CILTs this summer which is super weird and crazy and sad all at the same time. So glad I've still got just over a week with this group of kids.