Three

"You guys," Griff said, "what we do is really cool."

It hit me today how much I love what I do.
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If you haven't read the last post you should and this will be even better.
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The second day I was at BYU, there was a fair for all the service groups on campus at New Student Orientation. Me, being the overachiever I am, had checked out the Y-Serve website to find out about all the opportunities that awaited me once I got to Provo because, you know, I had to figure it out some time. I meandered through all the options and signed up for a couple things but nothing really got me excited (except for one group that was similar to one in high school but they were really poorly organized. Anyway, not important.) And I honestly got a little discouraged. I'd never had a problem finding something interesting for myself to do.

And then I saw a silly, green and blue caterpillar that would forever change my life.

I'm pretty sure that I ran up to the booth. This was the one group I had gotten excited about when I saw it online. No car needed, work with kids affected by cancer, awesome. All stuff that applied to me.

I listened to the schpeal from Mr. Incredible himself. His passion was shown not only in the words which he spoke but in his eyes. It's this indescribable happiness that comes from working with these kids.

I got really excited about this opportunity and I thought to myself that maybe Provo wouldn't be so bad. I got an email for an application and I filled it out and took it to the first meeting. I remember meeting all these people with super weird names and being so confused - Griff, Eva, Wall-e, Green Monster.. they all had the same look in their eyes as Mr. Incredible did as they showed pictures from camp that year. They kept saying how life-changing it would be and I just brushed off.

"That's what they all say about their service groups. That's what service is SUPPOSED to do," I kept thinking.

But I turned in my application, still so excited.

Then I got an email that I needed to do another application online so I did.

Then I sat around and waited. And waited. And waited.

The timing was too good to be true. It was right around some of the hardest times of last year. I was honestly thinking of transferring schools. I struggled every day to find the purpose in me struggling through school. I just wanted to be home.

Until I got a text from Squishy. She was inviting me over to her house for their coord meeting so I could see more of what they were about. Rumor has it, a lot of people were invited. I was the only one that showed up.

I was still so confused by all the names - Curious George, Glinda, Elmo, Buttercup, Benji, Rev - but that was the first time I met some of the greatest and most influential people in my life. They sat and laughed and had this look of near desperation as they worked to plan a camp for these kids that they would put on if their life depended on it, if it was the last thing they did.

I started working on stuff right away. Looking for donors, telling people about this awesome cause, asking everything I could do. I went in to my interview just so so excited. Honestly getting the call that I'd been accepted as a counselor was one of the greatest ways to be woken up.

I went home for the summer and counted down the days till I got back to Utah so I could go to camp. Literally all my plans revolved around these kids I hadn't even met.

I showed up to camp and I felt SO nervous. I don't know why I was but I was scared to death. I thought maybe the kids wouldn't like me or maybe all the hype wasn't really what it would amount to. There's no way this week could be as life-changing as they said it was.

To say the week exceeded my expectations is an understatement. It changed my life. I didn't just meet some kids. I made a new family. These kids are my inspiration and motivation - they are why I do what I do. The pictures I have of them I keep near to my heart and encourage me to stand strong against my daily battles. Their enormous amounts of courage and strength have spread into my life. They remind me to love the little moments and to appreciate the things I have NOW rather than waiting till later.

Camp Kesem came into my life almost by accident, but it's become my everything. It pulled me out of one of the biggest trials in my life, but I literally am bursting from the seams with gratitude. I finally understand the passion that Mr. Incredible had that first day that I met him. It's one of those experiences you just want everyone to have and you wish that they believed you when you told them it changed your life.

I'm grateful that these kids are here for me, but more importantly that I can be there for them. That through their highs and lows, we're a family. And that means the world to me. 
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If you would like to help me make a difference in the lives of children struggling with a parent's cancer, click here to donate.