Special Days

For a long as I can remember, my grandparents have done this really cool thing where they take each of their grandchildren out one at a time and let us pick everything we do that day. We got to pick where or what we ate, a big activity (like bowling or visiting the Yellow River Game Ranch), go shopping, and spend the night if we wanted. They called them Special Days because it was on those days we were special and we knew it. Cousins and siblings could choose to combine days and enjoy the day together, but often the one on one time was something we didn't want to pass up. They would come up around birthdays, the start of school, Christmas, or sometimes just because we could. As we grew up, Special Days followed us to college with care packages, a trip to the grocery store, and dinner on them. All of us love and look forward to these special times with Grandma and Grandpa because we love spending time with them and who doesn't want to feel special?

Special Days Athens Edition

Her first Pumpkin carving experience.
Oh what an experience it was!

When I got to college, I volunteered for a mentoring program called CrossTrainers. I was paired with a sassy, beautiful, hysterical 3rd grader that I spent my four years in Athens getting to know and love. Once a week, or sometimes less often, we had our own kind of Special Days together. She had my undivided attention as we played Connect 4 at Menchies (she always beat me!), made cookies and cupcakes, took countless trips to Zaxby's, and the many other adventures we went on. She taught me so much about how important intentional one-on-one time can be for a person. It was good for me and it was good for her. Our last year together was a busy one and we didn't see each other as much a we had in the past, but the times we spent together were more precious because we knew it wouldn't last forever. For whatever reason, in our last few hangout times, she let me know that everything I had been trying so desperately to tell her for the past 4 years about family and friends and her bright future she understood and was putting to practice. Watching her grow in maturity, patience, and self-control was more than I could have ever hoped for. It took everything in me not to cry tears of joy in the middle of our favorite Zaxby's as she said, "You know, you're right. I don't want to try to be popular this year. I just want to be around a few people who actually care about me instead of a lot of people who get me into trouble." There were so many times that I wasn't sure my presence in her life was making any difference. I was alright with that though. I'm not her Savior. I very selfishly prayed that God would let me see the fruit of seeds that had been planted in her life someday. I never imagined that He would be so good as to let me spend our last year together seeing the fruit of the previous three years and that she and her family would give me any sort of credit for the positive changes in her life. Special Days are so important.

Special Days Clarkston Edition 

Love catching up with this girl over dinner.

These days in Clarkston, I can't spend one-on-one time with each youth every week. There's so many of them. Every now and then, though, I get the chance to take one out for a Special Day. Most recently, was a trip to the China Buffet with a camper I've known for a very long time. Her family in particular is where I pull from when there's opportunity for a Special Day. There are five children in the home and really only one parent. The children do everything around the house as far as day to day making sure everyone is up, fed, and bathed. They are a resilient, loving, compassionate group of siblings. They don't often get one-on-one time with anyone because there are so many. In large groups the younger ones in particular are quiet and shy. As they hop in my car though they start talking and just don't stop. They'll update me on the family, school, sports, crushes, and neighbors. We'll reminisce on camp in years past and talk about the upcoming summer. Sometimes we just sit in silence. Always, we spend hours in the China Buffet (their top choice for a dinner out) after we are finished eating because they just don't want to go home yet and I don't have the heart to make them. Spending time with the oldest sister recently we were trying to remember as many summer interns as we could. She didn't remember several of them which prompted her to ask, "Why don't people who work at camp every come back for more than one summer?" I did my best to explain that interns have school and other jobs and some live really far away. Then she said, "You moved away for like 5 years and I didn't forget you because you always came to visit." I was reminded again of how important intentional investment is.

The Essence of Special Days
Considering that it's impossible to give hours of uninterrupted, intentional time to each youth in Clarkston, it seems as though we have found a way to capture the essence of that special time in our programs. Whether it be a short, yet intentional conversation in the car on the way home or making sure we celebrate birthdays, we strive to run programs that promote dignity and every youth involved feeling loved as an individual. Having amazing staff and volunteers makes this possible. But one of the youth recently gave us the highest praise I think we've ever gotten. Understand this, this particular youth used to be a apart of Summer Camp and the Friends of Refugees family, but in moves and changes in structure and leadership, this particular youth slipped between the cracks and we have only recently re-established a relationship with their family. This youth has every reason to hold bitterness towards us. What they said though was along the lines of, "A lot of times in Clarkston people only go half way. Because it's Clarkston they think things don't have to be nice. Friends of Refugees always goes all out, though. They always do things high quality which I appreciate." To receive this high praise from a youth means we must be doing something right. We do care to operate the highest program possible for the community. Knowing that our heart is recognized in that is an awesome feeling.

So thank you, Grandma and Grandpa, for teaching me about the importance of Special Days. Know that even though your youngest grandchild is a junior in high school and that we are more spread out than ever, Special Days still happen and have grown to include more people than ever. I love you!