25 years ago, my parents started this thing called Family camp at Young Life’s Lake Champion. I remember years of watching Dr. Bados and Blockhead and other classic characters wide-eyed while sitting beside families instead of the normal high schoolers who filled the camp all summer.

In 1997, a few days after moving back into my dorm at Grove City College for my senior year, I drove myself to family camp to serve and be with folks there…and I met my husband who was there serving too.

These days, my sister and her husband run the whole deal. And, we still get the pleasure of being a part of it as do our kids.

This year, 5 of us did the ropes course together while Lydia obliged by sleeping in her stroller. Once I was up there, I realized a mama can show no fear 40 feet up in the trees while helping her 3 children walk wires and logs and other treacherous elements.

Though it may look like an incredible mini family vacation, there’s more to it than that.

Take families away to a beautiful place where volunteers serve them their meals and folks provide goofy entertainment and great kids programming, and something supernatural happens. Phones are turned off, distractions are cleared. And, in the midst of laughter, hearts open up to hear God speak. And, He always does.