Camping with Jackson

Jackson has joined the Cub Scouts, as an entry-level Tiger Cub, in Pack 942 hosted by Calvary Baptist.  Last weekend, they had a Parent/Son Camporee out at Raven Knob, the Boy Scout campground for this area.  We caravaned out there on a gloomy Saturday morning, with the threat of all-day rain, nippy temps, and a brisk October wind ahead of us.  Being novice campers, Jackson & i were especially worried.  Well, Dad was worried, but the Tiger Cub could only think of all the fun he would have with his fellow Tiger Cub pals.

Everyone set up camp, pitching their tents on whatever flat plot of land you could find.  Saturday ended up being a wonderful day of good weather and lots of fun activities for the kids.  The Tiger den went on a hike through the woods and the mud.  They made terrariums (little flower squares in a sawed-off 2-liter soda bottle) for their moms.  We did the kangaroo hop (a sack race).  Jack did the indoor climbing wall, and did it well.  Then he got to shoot a BB gun for the first time.  Two hits on the target out of five shots.

Back at camp, the scoutmasters cooked chili and peach cobbler for dinner, then we went back to assembly at the big ampitheater for fun & awards & such.  Before it started, they piped music over the speakers, and when Macarena came on, a bunch of kids, including Jackson, ran down to the front lawn to dance around.  They kept dancing through several more songs, including YMCA and Sweet Home Alabama.  It was quite funny to watch a frenetic lawn-full of white, suburban little boys attempt all the dance moves they've seen on TV.  The running man, the robot, the Charlie Chaplin, hip-hop freak moves, etc.

After a campfire with s'mores, we all retired to our tents.  Before midnight, the rains finally came.  And they came and came all night long.  Heavy, torrential rain.  At least that's how it sounds under a small tent, with a tiny rain flap.  It didn't take much rain before i realized that our tent was leaking.  After that, i couldn't get much sleep, worried about disaster.  Water was seeping in along the walls where our gear was touchingthe sides, along the zippered front whereour heads/pillows lay.  Jack's pillow was wet.  The bottom foot or so of my sleeping bag was soaked, causing me to lay in a fetal position all night.  Please God, we pleaded, let the rain stop.

I was so proud of Jackson, because he never complained.  Not once.  I know his pillow was wet, and he had to be uncomfortable, and i kept expecting him to whine, but he never did.  It wasn't until he got up and found all of his clothes were soaked that he got upset.  We had to just pack up and go home, skipping the Sunday morning Vespers service, because the Scouts were supposed to wear their uniforms and Jackson was stuck in his pajamas.  Plus, i was just exhausted and frustrated by it all.

On the drive home, we heard the song "Praise You in This Storm", by Casting Crowns.  I know it's about a metaphorical storm and not a literal one, but we thought it sounded like our theme song of the day. 

"I was sure by now that you would have reached down, and wiped our tears away, stepped in and saved the day.  But once again, I say "amen", and it's still raining."

Jackson probably summed it up best, when he remarked sweetly and without an ounce of sarcasm, "that's OK, it's not like it's the end of the world."