One year...

One year ago this past Sunday was like many Sundays at Spring Outing for us in YGP. We took one last ride down the zip line, ate biscuits & gravy, cleaned up our cabins, loaded up the bikes and headed on home to Raleigh. But for a dad in Dylan's tribe, it was a Sunday that he, and many of us, will never forget.

That was the Sunday that Mark Newmiller's daughter, Ella, first showed signs that something just was not right. On Monday, she went to her doctor. On Tuesday, April 29 (one year ago today) doctors at UNC Hospitals told the Newmiller's that their 5-year-old daughter had an inoperable brain tumor. Odds were against Ella living to see the start of kindergarten in the Fall.

A lot has happened in a year: Ella had a birthday fit for a Princess; visited many doctors, specialists and holistic healers; friends held fundraisers for the family; prayer circles were formed; donations were made; Make-a-Wish fulfilled Ella's wish of a Disney experience and best of all, a miracle happened...

Not only is Ella still with us, but her tumor has stabilized and her report for today said she "looked like a million bucks." Whether it has been the recent medical help she has received in Boston or the power of prayer, Ella has turned a corner and we all continue to pray for her and her recovery.

And speaking of Sunday, this past Sunday (the anniversary of the discovery of her illness) Ella ran in the Race for Grace and played in her piano recital.

It was all I do to keep my composure as I watched that beautiful little girl smile as she sang and tinkled the ivories with her mother, Renae, at her side - beaming wider than any other parent on stage. Mark took photos and beamed as well. Two proud parents aglow in a miracle before them. I smiled big too watching Ella play, but then it hit me.

I fought back tears as I realized it had been exactly a year since Mark, our Little Braves and I came home from Sea Gull that Sunday afternoon last year as many do, without a care in the world. We waved goodbye to Moose and Double D, stopped at the Neuse on the way down 70 and then unloaded the Pilot at Mark's house, not having a clue as to all that waited for us in the coming year...

How-How!

Two down...

Another bonfire and another fireworks show have come and gone. Three more for me. Four more for the YGP crew of Andrew, Matt & Meredith.

It's been a great weekend. The weather has been perfect. Not too hot. Not too cold. A little chilly when the wind kicks up. But other than the near constant yellow haze drifting across camp, you could not ask for a greater weekend.

Ridge and I came on down Thursday night and enjoyed some fun and fellowship with the YGP spring outing gang: the Big Three, Double D, G.B. and Matt's much better quarter, Allison (oh, and their four-legged son, Jack, too). We grilled up some bbq chickens as the rain fell and celebrated the coming weekend by planning a few surprises for the second year guides. Brown Bear baked up some brownies that Ridge says are "better than Mom's, but don't tell her I said that." Mmmmmmmmmm, tasty good there were.

I hope everyone in the Nation realizes just how lucky we are to have Moose, Brown Bear, Otter, Blind Zebra, et al. They are the glue that holds these Spring Outings together. It is their collective creativity, quest for fun and overall awesome demeanor that make these weekends the special fun that they are. They're the last to bed and the first to rise each morning, so be sure to say "thanks" to each of them for their dedication and hard work when you see them.

Ridge and I spent most of the weekend chauffering Moose around camp in a golf cart. Bugs in cabin 22? Let's ride! Extension cord needed? We're off! Time to sell some sweatshirts? Let's do it, playa! Y'all think The Moose is just a character that turns on and off for camp? Uh-uh. Matt is Moose, 24-7.

Tonight at the bonfire, after Moose sang Tarzan, Andrew heard a kid on the front row say he wants to "be like Moose when I grow up." Well guess what? I do too.