Kaitlin's FFA Leadership Camp...

Kaitlin returned on Saturday from a 4 day FFA Leadership Camp. It is funny because on the evening that she was packing she was basically begging us not to make her go. But we told her that she could not back out at the last minute like that. The FFA sponsor could only send 2 people and out of her whole FFA club he chose her and one other person.

In March when the FFA sponsor asked her to go, she really did want to go. She filled out all the paper work, and wrote an essay to get a scholarship from the FFA Alumni Assoc. so that we wouldn't have to pay for it. In April we found out that the Alumni Assoc had granted her the scholarship to go, and all the paperwork was filled out and sent it.

As she began packing to go I think reality set in that she was going to be gone from home for another 4 days. I truly think that because our vacation was so long, and that she had only been home for less than 3 weeks added to her anxiety of not wanting to go. So in the end we pretty much forced her to go. I kind of felt bad because I understood her desire not to be gone from home again, but at the same time she was one of only two people that were picked from her club to go. We felt it was important for her to go and make the Alumni Assoc proud to send her.

Well, when I went to pick her up on Saturday the first thing out of her mouth was...Mom, I cried so hard because I did not want to leave camp. I started laughing...she cried because she didn't want to go, then when she was made to go she had so much fun she cried because she didn't want to leave. Oh, the irony of it all!!!

Anyway...she had a great time, she made lots of new friends, and most of all she learned what it takes to be a quality leader. She is trying really hard to keep in touch with her new "camp" friends. Kaitlin has talked endlessly about her camp experience...the fun...the drama...and the trauma. I am so glad that her FFA sponsor gave her the opportunity to go to this leadership camp. So I am sending out a big THANK YOU to the FFA sponsor for choosing her to go, and to the FFA Alumni Assoc. for making it all happen. She had a blast, and she has developed a confidence in herself that wasn't there before she went to this camp. Thank you all so very much!!

Love to all...