What a way to celebrate 100 summers of Camp Desoto but going back to those woods.  The work God has done, the friendships made, and the memories shared, it was all so much happiness! We started planning this trip as soon as we heard about it! My childhood friend from my hometown (Jean) who I also camped with and roomed with in college, and I joined another 3 good friends in an vrbo.https://t.vrbo.io/RuNesfQcnVb

We arrived a day early and explored the area. We did a little hike to Desoto Falls, dinner at The Wildflower Cafe and caught a sunset at brow Park.

Saturday was the day the celebration events started. It was a lot of standing around, sweating and visiting. I have not talked or laughed that much in a 36 hour span in a long time. The most fun I’ve had sweating without doing any exercise! One of my friends described it as speed dating.

At 5 was assembly where we tried to do the Desoto line dances. There were old and new ones being done.. Hamburgers at the team sports field followed by ice cream sandwiches at the store. At 8 the program started . Here is a link to some of the songs https://docs.google.com/document/d/1S3d05Gid37Z9Ii1PnO4tPMMirHmTqyP_/edit?usp=drivesdk&ouid=106751629391196609550&rtpof=true&sd=true

There was a wonderful tribute and history of the Camp shared by Norma Flora Cox, who is a granddaughter of one of the founders Norma Bradshaw. Then a tribute to Sue Henry, Phil and Marsha Hurt and Sarah Hart.

I was camper from 74 to 78 and a counselor in 85. My mother was a camper in the 50s and a counselor in 1960. She was also a camp representative. Both of my sisters attended camp, as my daughter, nieces and first cousins all on my mom’s side of our family . All Creeks! 💙

Sunday morning we hung out at the Airbnb before going over to camp for church. It was wonderful to walk into the gym singing onward Christian soldiers all in our Sunday whites. After lunch, lots of pictures were taken. We had our traditional Sunday lunch. Then back to the gym to sing some Sunday lunch songs, and then the weekend was over! There was so much to take in, to remember and to reflect. Camp has been such a big part of my family. My husband was a counselor at Alpine Camp for Boyshttps://alpinecamp.com/ and has been on staff as the Camp doctor for 28 years. This past summer, my husband was asked to be part of the mission impossible lunchtime skit. It was one of his top moments in all his years on the mountain ! He also shares his story of alcoholism to all the counselors every summer. My three sons camped there from age 10 to 17 and my daughter at Desoto. 3 of my 4 children were counselors!

Here are Sunday Church pics and some random pictures—I’m not good at selfies but it’s all I’ve got.

Camp Desoto was definitely a place that I learned how to have a personal relationship with God. When you’re on that mountain top you just feel like you can talk all day long to God. It is definitely a spiritual place and I will always jump at any chance to go back there.