Loyal Scouts

After much preparation over the past couple weeks, I got my boys on the road to Bartle Scout camp this morning.  Ryan will be going as a leader for the first 5 days, but Brevan will be staying the entire 10 DAYS.  My son has never spent more than a night or two away from me, and it was always with a relative, so I'm having a bit of a hard time.  Luckily, "family day" is on Sunday, and me and the other kids will get to travel the 2 1/2 hours down to the campsite for a Sacrament meeting in the local Catholic church.  I will be bringing many home-cooked favorites, since the boys will be living off scout food for the rest of the time.  Ryan says I'm worrying far too much, but how can I not worry when the temperature will be in the high-90's or low-100's the entire time they are there?  After you factor in the humidity, I'm terrified of Brevan becoming dehydrated.  And how on earth are they supposed to sleep in that kind of heat?  My knowledge of Boy Scout camps is mostly provided by the news reports that tell me when a young scout has become lost in the woods or killed by lightning.  I'm just so grateful that Ryan will be there for the first 5 days to keep an eye on Brevan (and all the other Deacons) and help him feel comfortable with all the older boys.

Ryan buzzed Brevan's head yesterday to help him stay cooler in the extreme heat. 

 And I had to add in this picture, mostly for my mom!  Brenda came over yesterday to help me sew on the basic patches that were required at the camp.  It was my first time ever sewing anything with needle and thread, besides the time I looped a bunch of string around a button and called it good.  Usually a popped button at our house means we throw the outfit away and hit the store again.  Brevan spent his entire 4 years as a Cub Scout without one patch on his shirt.  I'm downright proud of myself, even though the sewing job looks absolutely horrible up close!

Say a prayer for my trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean and reverent boys.  I won't mention which of those attributes my Scout actually lives by.  Let's just hope he remembers the "clean" virtue every so often during the 10 days away from his nagging mother.