Nova Scotia - A Week of Firsts

After 4 months of waiting, anticipating, fearing and preparing, opening day has finally come … and gone; it’s been a time of firsts.

Two weeks ago our first employees arrived. With them new challenges, joys and a flurry of activity that has transformed this tired camp into a renewed camp with lots of potential.  It has been good to get to know so many incredible people with so many gifts, talents and stories.

The next day we woke early to pick up Ashley at the airport. It was her first time in the Annapolis Valley. It is good to have her back in the nest, even if it is only for a little while. For some weird reason it makes me miss Tyler more. It is like having a puzzle almost done except for that one missing piece.

It was also in this time that I stepped on the bathroom scale and for the first time in a years and years there was not a “2” in the number. This has been 1½ year goal that started with eating better and ending with eating whatever I can between all the work that keeps me busier then I have been in years.

Last Wednesday we had our first campers; 9 days before opening day. They were two German couples in rental units touring Nova Scotia – Yogi is an international magnet J

Last weekend we had our first staff training weekend. This training gave us the remarkable opportunity to share some of our story, our faith and the vision we have for this our campground. A vision that includes enriching families by giving them a place where families can be families, and a vision that includes investing into the lives of each of our staff – it was a good weekend  

And Friday was our first opening day, a rehearsal for the long weekend. A chance to see what needs fixing, what needs improving and what is going well. It was good weekend, but most rehearsals are. They are usually relaxed, fun and not a whole lot of pressure and stress. The “big day” often comes with more stress as we try to do everything to make things just right. The trick – often hard to do – is to enjoy the big day when it does come. That is my hope for the Victoria (May) Long Weekend; to be as ready as we can and then enjoy the weekend.    

 Yesterday, was another first; one we would rather not have. Before we were even open for 24hrs, a young boy broke his arm on the playground. He will be fine and things were handled very well by all. Most likely it won’t be the only broken bone, but as much as boys will be boys, you hate to see it happen on your watch.

All in all it has been a good couple weeks. We continue to learn lots. We are busier then we have been in years and hopefully through it all we are blessing others.

HJK