Ode to the Cabin

Sixteen years ago a little ten year old girl took her daddy by the hand and led him around the hallowed grounds of Whitehall camp. She had just experienced youth camp, and she said, "Daddy, we must buy a cottage of our own". Thus began our adventure of being "second home owners"; that adventure ended last Saturday as the cottage was sold (yes, for a song, Josh) to another family that will hopefully make as many memories as we did.
"Make a memory" was kind of the theme to our cabin. Over the years we had many nieces, nephews, friends of them all, and our own kids staying in that 5 room cabin. One year during Family Campmeeting, which is always the first week in August, we had girls sleeping on cots in the kitchen because every other nook and cranny was filled with kids! Jon and I had what we referred to as a "sunken master suite", as our bedroom was two steps down from the living room. The boys took ownership of the living room and made it THEIR place to sleep. The girls had a bedroom of their own. In that girls' bedroom, Bethany made it a tradition for each girl to write their name on the wall, along with a memory or two plus the date. Therefore, when the cabin was sold, the new family got a diary of camp stories as well. :)
The kids all attended classes at campmeeting (sometimes dragging their feet) until they were in middle school; then there were "youth classes" that they attended on a hit and miss basis. While young, they also participated in a musical presentation of the gospel with Miss Natalie. These would be with motions, so picture Josh, Jer, Zack, Meg and Bethany all being performers on the big stage in the tabernacle. Quite a scene!
We began (again, Bethany's idea) to have a themed party for all of our family every year. The luau seemed to be the biggest hit, so it was repeated several times with the tiki torches, beach-themed music, barbecue meal and coconut bra being the staples of the celebration.
One year it rained cats and dogs; luckily we had brought a VCR...so we watched "Remember the Titans" at least 11 times.
Water balloon fights were also an annual event, and usually resulted that the inside of the cabin was as wet as any person and that I spent a lot of time mopping up the slippery floor!
The three-on-three basketball tournament is a highlight every year at camp and our kids' participation in it usually brought controversy. So many memories from the b ball court/games. Two trophies sat on the shelf of the cabin living room as a testament of the blood, sweat and tears (literally) that went with that competition.
On Saturday when the cabin was sold, it was very bittersweet. My brood is old enough to go or not to go to campmeeting on their own volition. Jon and I no longer have any interest in the maintenance that goes into a place like that. So I said goodbye to the cabin with a few tears in my eyes, and two trophies under my arm as I walked away for good.