• About
  • Books
  • One Word
  • Cousin Camp
  • Speaking
  • Audio
  • Blog
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
Susan Alexander Yates

Susan Alexander Yates

Wisdom for Every Season

  • Character
  • Faith
  • Family
  • Seasons
  • Marriage
  • Parenting
  • Cousin Camp
  • Ask Susan

Highlights from Cousin Camp 2017

by Susan Alexander Yates

We just finished our tenth Cousin Camp and it was an incredible, exhausting, thrilling blessing.


Our eldest granddaughter, Callie Gaskins (age 19), put together a video of some of this year’s highlights:


Our granddaughter Isabel Yates (age 12) wrote this beautiful poem about our farm—where Cousin Camp takes place:

I Am the Farm

I am the farm
I am the steady galloping of horses hooves
As they run
Through my wooded trails
Ever listening
To the song of the birds
Each whistling
Their own tune
Yet singing
The same song

I am the soft smell
of fresh picked mint
Wafting through the leaves
Of the Indian cigar tree
As it sits
Under the cloudy sky
Oblivious to
The rest of the world

I am the old fence
The dusty
Weathered boards
That so many of us
Will never forget
The gentle curves
Of the Appalachians
In all their hidden splendor

I am the trickling of water
Rushing
Over eager feet
Of happy children
Playing
In my bashful stream

I am the memories
Old and new
Shared by all
Who come to me
The meaningful gatherings
Of families and friends
And the love
The strong
Unfailing love of God
Coursing through every inch
Every corner
Of me
Every corner
Of the farm

Share491
Pin
Tweet
Email
Print
491Shares
Share491
Share
Pin
Text
491Shares

You may also enjoy...

Cousin Camp
June 28, 2017 · 9 Comments

« The Power of a “Buddy”–Cousin Camp is coming!!
Beating Boredom »

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Comments

  1. Mary Boxley says

    November 16, 2017 at 2:59 pm

    Isabel Yates should be published! What a priceless video. We continue to marvel at & love your Raleigh grands! So blessed by your Thanksgiving tips! With love , Mary & Mac

    Reply
  2. Jordan says

    July 1, 2017 at 12:28 am

    Love it! You are so inspiring! I loved all the hands raised during Quiet Time and that they all taste-tested their whipped cream before spraying it on each other. Making memories like no other, y’all! Way to go! xoxo

    Reply
  3. Mary Jenson says

    June 28, 2017 at 10:45 pm

    By the way, SMASHING poem, and the music was perfect!

    Reply
    • Susan Yates says

      June 30, 2017 at 12:34 am

      Love hearing from you Mary!! Please come to DC!
      Hugs, Susan

      Reply
  4. Mary Jenson says

    June 28, 2017 at 10:41 pm

    You know how Jesus says he’s going to prepare a place for us? I want mine to look just like this. But no bugs. Miss you guys. Wish we had a date in the near future! Love.

    Reply
  5. Sydney Marple says

    June 28, 2017 at 9:32 pm

    Such special people and such special memories. Miss this whole clan!

    Reply
    • Susan Yates says

      June 30, 2017 at 12:33 am

      Thanks so much Sydney! You are missed:)
      Love, Susan

      Reply
  6. Angela Dusenbury says

    June 28, 2017 at 9:24 pm

    Another year of bonding an learning how to live and love God and each other. Another year of priceless memories. Truly wonderful. Loved seeing all the fun and activities! Happy R & R time to John and Susan!!

    Reply
    • Susan Yates says

      June 30, 2017 at 12:33 am

      Thanks Angela and Don!
      We love you two!
      Susan

      Reply

Hello, I’m Susan.

Susan Alexander Yates

I’m a wife (of more than 50 years), mom to five children (including a set of twins), and grandmother to 21 (including a set of quadruplets!). My favorite time of the year is when all my kids and grandkids are together for a week of “cousins and family camp” in the foothills of the Shenandoah Mountains of Virginia.

Read more…

Recent Posts

  • Let Me Tell You About Family Camp: Crazy, Wonderful, Fun & Incredibly LOUD
  • How to Support Your Husband (Whether He’s a Pastor or Not!)
  • My 7th Big Hike (and 4 Metaphors for Your Spiritual Life)
  • A few good reads…and a summer break.
  • We Need the Comfort of Being Fully Known. Where Do We Find It?

One Word

One Word: Sufficient

Featured Book

Cousin Camp

Cousin Camp
Buy This Book Online
30% Off
Buy from Amazon
Buy from Barnes and Noble
Buy from Christian Book Distributor
Buy from Lifeway
Buy from Books-A-Million
Buy from GoodReads
Cousin Camp
Buy now!

Barbara & Susan’s Guide to the Empty Nest: Discovering New Purpose, Passion & Your Next Great Adventure

Barbara & Susan’s Guide to the Empty Nest: Discovering New Purpose, Passion & Your Next Great Adventure
Buy This Book Online
Buy from Amazon
Buy from Amazon Kindle
Barbara & Susan’s Guide to the Empty Nest: Discovering New Purpose, Passion & Your Next Great Adventure
Buy now!
  • Certainty In Christ
  • Subscribe
  • Contact
  • Media Kit
  • Privacy Policy
  • Site Index

Search

Cousin Camp

Cousin Camp
Buy This Book Online
30% Off
Buy from Amazon
Buy from Barnes and Noble
Buy from Christian Book Distributor
Buy from Lifeway
Buy from Books-A-Million
Buy from GoodReads
Cousin Camp
Buy now!

Popular

  • What’s the big deal about a donkey?
  • 10 Questions to Ask Yourself When You Need to Make a…
  • How Grandparents Can Make a Positive Difference in a…

More of our Family Camp fun from Labor Day weekend More of our Family Camp fun from Labor Day weekend. Such a joy! ⁣
⁣
Be sure to check out the blog for more details and pics. (Link in bio or go to susanalexanderyates.com/blog)⁣
⁣
* Poppy (John) is always happy to get help with the horses and the kids love them.⁣
* There's always a competition of some kind going on! Volleyball, a hula hoop contest, a ping-pong tournament. ⁣
* The "ice cream gutter" is a cherished annual tradition!⁣
* Lots of hanging out, and even some quiet moments, but not a lot of sleep. ⁣
⁣
If you want to host a camp or family event of your own, check out my book Cousin Camp for all kinds of ideas. (Link in bio.)⁣
⁣
#christianmom #christianfamily #grandparent #cousincamp #familycamp
One Word: Mystery One Verse: “To them God ch One Word: 
Mystery 
 
One Verse:
“To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” Colossians 1:27
 
One Thought:
You are a God of mystery. It’s a glorious mystery. I can’t explain you even though sometimes I want to. Your mystery is part of what makes you so much greater than man. Thank you that you, with all of your glorious mystery, have chosen to dwell in me.
John and I are in Colorado for a week’s vacation John and I are in Colorado for a week’s vacation, still celebrating 54 years of marriage! We had a fun dinner, sharing about folks who have been role models-mentors for us in ministry and family life over these years. It sparked a fun discussion and thankful memories!
We're so grateful we got to host another Family Ca We're so grateful we got to host another Family Camp over Labor Day weekend!⁣
⁣
Here's a peek behind the scenes. I'm sharing all the details (and more pics!) over on the blog, check it out. (Link in bio or go to susanalexanderyates.com/blog)⁣
⁣
1 - We had 33 of us this year!⁣
2 - So much prep and shopping. But I never clean before they come because I learned that's futile. 😜⁣
3 - Lots of cousin bonding.⁣
4 - My daughter-in-law @christenbyates, who's a professional artist, set up an art station this year and the kids loved it.⁣
5 - Cousins with their camp journals. (I keep the journals at my house and they get to write in them every year.)⁣
6 - John led a short teaching time every day, this year on Psalm 139.⁣
7 - Meals are crazy when you're cooking for 33 people!⁣
8 - There are shoes everywhere. 😂 ⁣
9 - The kids actually did dinner cleanup this year, without any prompting! ⁣
10 - A few of our guys.💙⁣
⁣
#christianfamily #cousincamp #familycamp #christianmom #grandparent
One Word: Shows One Verse: “But God shows hi One Word:  Shows
 
One Verse:

“But God shows his love for us in that while we were sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8
 
One Thought:

If you, God Almighty, would send your son to die for me in my own wickedness, then how much more will you show me how to make the decision I need to make.
Cousin love at Family Camp! These are 2 of our you Cousin love at Family Camp! These are 2 of our youngest grands. (We have 21!)

Catch the blog later this week for details and more pics.
This photo of me and John is from our trip to Isra This photo of me and John is from our trip to Israel last fall. When we first got married, I didn't know what being a pastor's wife would entail. Now after more than 50 years of marriage I understand a little better (although I can always learn more!).⁣
⁣
I'm sharing an interview over on my blog with @thegospelcoalition's Front Row Seat series on Supporting Our Husbands.⁣
⁣
We discussed how pastors’ wives can support and encourage their husbands in ministry, marriage, and life. But so much of this applies to any marriage, whether your husband is a pastor or not.⁣
⁣
Check it out -- link in bio, or go to susanalexanderyates.com/blog⁣
⁣
You might want to share it with your pastor's wife -- it will encourage her!⁣
⁣
@kristen_wetherell  @kario312⁣
⁣
#christianwife  #pastorswife  #christianmarriage
One Word: Founder One Verse: “...let us run One Word:  Founder
 
One Verse:

“...let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith." Hebrews 12: 1-2
 
One Thought:

You are the author of my faith. You began it, Father. It is yours. I ask you to be perfecting it. Thank you that even this isn't up to me. My part is to fix my eyes on you and let you do your work within me.
This is how we feel right now -- we finished our A This is how we feel right now -- we finished our Annual Family Camp yesterday!

4 days with 33 kids and grands; 19 teens sleeping on floors and outside, 44 bags of trash, 15 gallons of ice cream, 67 dirty towels, 135 ping pong games, 90 individual miles hiking on the AT, gleaning from Psalm 139, 532 tickles and hugs, and 2 exhausted grandparents--who are deliriously grateful!

More pics coming soon.

* numbers are estimates 😆

Copyright © 2023 · Susan Alexander Yates · All Rights Reserved
Calligraphy by Jessica Blanchard · Paintings by Christen Yates
Blog and Ask Susan Photo by Natalie Puls Photography · Books Photo by Cambria Elizabeth

491Shares
491Shares
We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.OkayPrivacy Policy