Coming of Age !

Well, it arrived, the day Jared would go on his first boy's camp! How was I going to deal with this especially when I find out that one of the activities was caving! Yes I will put my self out there and openly admit I was freaking out! I have been a cook on a boys camp in the UK, AND, 'that's all I'm gonna say bout that'.So yes I was freaking out . Jared and Aaron, however were not freaking out, they thought it was cool. We had our family safety chat about the need to follow your leaders instructions and to be himself. This part I was not really worried about as Jared has proven himself to be a very obedient son over the years who uses caution and wisdom in his decisions.

I am here to report that I survived young men's camp and am so proud of myself! I didn't phone (although Aaron did, but I'm not counting that haha) I did book myself in for extra shifts at work, which is just sensible to contribute to the finances in such a responsible manner. Ok ok I did worry a little on the day I knew he was caving but figured when I didn't get a knock on the door from the police or a call from the hospital that my son was doing fine.Oh and yes Jared survived too.

He finally arrived home 7pm Monday night, talk about stretch out the fun to the last minute! It was a great moment to see him walk through the door safe and sound. Something was different though, although he was still our Jared expressesing himself with ease and without restraint "I have missed you guys soooooo much." " Oh I have missed you soooo much Mummy/Daddy." This goes on in between each story. I love that boy soooooo much too and am so thankful for our close relationship. BUT something has changed, he has grown up just a little, he has found out that he can survive without his parents there all the time, he has learnt to rely on his young men's leaders. (At this point I would like to point out that we do have the best young men's leaders! A big thank you to the Young Men's President, Wes Prepchuck for helping Jared gain the confidence he needed to go into the cave which he said was such a great experience and " I'm so glad I pushed through my fear and didn't quit otherwise I would have missed out on all the other fun.") He made friends with all the other young men of the stake, he found a hero in his group leader of the Alma Tribe who dislocated his hip and had to be stretchered out from the all day hike but later returned to finish the camp! Jared could not stop talking about his courage and how this has affected him.

He told me before going to camp that " I never thought this would happen to me mum, that I would be so affected by someone in my life. Brother Lelo's talk has impacted every task I do." Yes they are Jared's exact words, we do have great conversations.Thank you for the talk that has changed his life forever Brother Lelo, it was a favourite story of our family but he really got the message when you included it in your talk, "We're going on a bear hunt ....we can't go around it, we can't go under it, we have to go through it ....." This is what he did on camp when he had his 'ups and downs' as he put it. What a blessing in our lives to have such a wonderful community around us helping us to raise our children. It is true that it takes a village to raise a child, but I have discovered that it only really has the best impact if we let the village do their thing when the time is right, and don't end up following our son to camp and spying from the bushes !

Glad to have you home Jared and am so glad that you had your time at camp.