We just finished our tenth Cousin Camp and it was an incredible, exhausting, thrilling blessing. Our granddaughter Isabel Yates (12) wrote this beautiful poem about our farm—where Cousin Camp takes place—and Callie Gaskins (19) made the video below of camp highlights.

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

……….

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

To read about past Cousin Camps click below:

Getting Ready for Cousin Camp 2017

Getting Ready for Cousin Camp 2016 ; Cousin Camp Highlights 2016

Getting Ready for Cousin Camp 2015 ; Cousin Camp Highlights 2015