• About
  • Books
  • One Word
    • One Word
    • Shop One Word Cards
  • 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

Reporting from Cousin Camp!

by Susan Alexander Yates

This past week our 21 grandchildren, ages 6-20, gathered at our little family farm for 4 wild days together followed by 4 days with their parents for Family Camp. Parents are not allowed at Cousin Camp and this thrills everyone.

Since all of our grands are now over 4, all get to come to Camp. Our own kids are delighted to drop their kids off and run away for their own honeymoons!

Pure chaos, pure joy!

How best to describe Cousin Camp?

LOUD as the kids race in the front door to read numerous posted sheets explaining everything from the schedule, to buddies, to sleeping arrangements, to teams, to the camp theme and camp verse, etc. We post it all in the kitchen so we don’t have to answer the same questions over and over. However, we do reserve the right to change anything at any moment!

LOUD as they gather in the kitchen to serve plates for dinner. Our granddaughter Callie (20) plans the meals and recruits the cooking and cleaning up teams. She likes her cooking better than mine. YAY! I do the shopping. We use all paper products because there’s no way to wash that many dishes.

LOUD is the laughter as they jump into the pond on top of each other—and as they cheer for a really big fish caught or a winning shot in the Ping-Pong tourney.

LOUD as we pile in cars to go pick raspberries at a local orchard.

LOUD as each one tries to be the first to raise a hand to answer questions in Bible Study. This year we studied Jonah. Campers have their own journals that live at the farm. They roar as they look back to previous years to their funny handwriting then.

LOUD as they race to the “party barn” for craft times.

LOUD as they engage in the whipped cream war and race in teams to complete a fantastic scavenger hunt that our friends Rachel and Preston Hansen have prepared.

LOUD when we try to get them in bed, on floors, in closets, at night.  Of course, we have arguments and sibling nastiness throughout. These are normal kids!

Our annual trip to Hartland Orchard! This year we picked about 16 pints of berries.

Our Camp theme verse this year has been:

“How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, YOUR GOD REIGNS.”

(Isaiah 52:7)

Four of our grandsons, along with their Uncle Will, left last weekend for a Mission Trip with our Church to Haiti. Each of the grandkids raised money to help them go and we took time to hear about the trip and lay hands on them to pray for them.

Every year we close camp with a special candlelight ceremony called Band of Cousins, or BOC for short. We recite our pledge: “As cousins, we pledge to serve the Lord and to take care of each other always.” This year the 11 eldest cousins shared three things: their favorite Bible verse, one thing they want God to do in their life this summer, and one piece of advice for the younger 10 cousins. Tears came quickly to my eyes and John’s.

Here are a few post-camp reflections from campers:

“Starting from the very original Cousin Camp with five of us, to the most recent with twenty-one, Cousin Camp has always been a very special part of my life. I have been able to form such important bonds with every single one of my cousins, and none of them would have been possible without Cousin Camp. I love getting to play with my cousins and spend time with Ghee and Poppy. I think my favorite parts of Cousin Camp are when we ride horses with Poppy and the mornings when the first thing we do is get a big hug from Ghee. I love Cousin Camp at night when the older kids get to stay up and play cards, eat microwave popcorn, and occasionally stargaze on the roof. Cousin Camp is always one of my favorite things during the year and I look forward to it every summer! I cannot thank Ghee and Poppy enough for doing this for us every year and for putting up with all twenty-one of us, we cherish every minute of it!”  – Sylvie, age 15

“My favorites: berry picking, riding horses, and cooking with Callie. We wrote affirmations for one another and put them in a special box to share.” – Bel, age 13

“I loved the late night fishing and all the tournaments.” – Jack, age 11

“I liked fishing and being with cousins.” – Alexander, age 8

“The whip cream fight was so fun and I liked playing with the dog and swinging on the Swurfer with Mimi and Saylor and sleeping with Ghee and Saylor and Mimi. Poppy slept on the couch so we wouldn’t hear him snore!”  – Sloan, age 6

It’s been a very LOUD week.

But it’s blissfully quiet now and I don’t mind at all. Yes, it’s a bit lonely. I miss the 21 grandkids, my 10 kids (this includes spouses) but I am very glad I’m the grandmother and not the mother!

A reflection: I am asking God to make me “loud,” or at least very persistent in thanksgiving this summer. Too often we “pray up” an event and when it’s over we are on to something else. I don’t want to do that. I want to become more a woman of praise and thanksgiving continuously throughout each day. I know it delights our Father’s heart. Just as my heart is delighted when my kids and grands rejoice and thank me.

My grandkids have reminded me of two things: Thanksgiving and Laughter.

Lord, please increase both within me.

  • Clearly not too sad to say goodbye!
  • Thumbs up for a weekend without kids!
  • Linden (9) clearly enjoyed the whipped cream fight!
  • Will (18) shows off the start of his clay beads.
  • Morning Quiet Time
Share119
Pin1
Tweet
Email
Print
120Shares
Share119
Share
Pin
Text
120Shares

You may also enjoy...

Cousin Camp
June 26, 2018 · 22 Comments

« “It’s Coming! Countdown to Cousin Camp.”
A Different Perspective on Independence »

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

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

Comments

  1. Ann Gemmel says

    July 2, 2018 at 10:31 am

    Love reading about your cousin camp adventure! I read your books as a young mom and you mentored me from afar. Now that my 5 are 23-31 and starting their families – I wonder if you have considered writing a grabdmothering book! What a wealth of experience you have with your tribe of 21.
    Our daughters in law married to our oldest three sons just gave us 3 grandsons born in the span of 11 months. 8/17, 4/18 and 6/18. I (and so many other new gmas, Ghees, Gigi’s etc) would treasure your insights Susan. P

    Reply
    • Susan Yates says

      July 2, 2018 at 11:23 am

      Ann,
      Thanks so much for writing! You have a full family! I have a book ,Barbara and Susan’s Guide to the Empty Nest that has a little on grandparenting and some other blogs but I will keep you suggestion in mind! I might do one on cousins camps and reunions. I’d love your prayers!
      Blessings, Susan

      Reply
  2. Jennifer Tricarico says

    July 2, 2018 at 9:55 am

    Yay! Another amazing cousin camp! So fun reading the summary and the kids’ feedback. Thanks for sharing this!

    Reply
    • Susan Yates says

      July 2, 2018 at 11:24 am

      Jennifer, Thanks so much for reading my stuff and writing! It is an encouragement!
      Love, Susan

      Reply
  3. Ann McRae says

    July 1, 2018 at 11:08 am

    We have an annual Camp HoneyPops but we are stressed with planning and execution for only two families. Only three grandchildren currently qualify for Camp because they must be TWO. Yes, we ARE crazy. Next year it will be four grandchildren. I want to know how you pick the DATE of Camp. That negotiation is worthy of a presidential summit for us. Congrats on pulling this off for so long!❤️

    Reply
    • Susan Yates says

      July 2, 2018 at 11:27 am

      Hey Ann,
      I love the HoneyPops name! We have to plan over a year in advance with our 5 families. It’s usually the first week the last kids are out of school. It’s complicated but worth it!
      Blessings, Susan

      Reply
  4. Betsy West says

    June 29, 2018 at 6:45 pm

    I always look forward to hearing about Cousin’s Camp! These kids are beyond blessed by being a part of this – and even though I know it’s tiring – you are blessed, too!

    Reply
    • Susan Yates says

      July 2, 2018 at 11:28 am

      Betsy,
      You are my most faithful follower! Thanks so much for your encouragement!
      Love,
      Susan

      Reply
  5. Jane Guerard Webb says

    June 28, 2018 at 9:08 am

    Susan, you and Johnny are such amazing people/parents/grandparents and you are so wise to cultivate these relationships. You are a marvelous example for us all. My family didn’t have Cousin Camp but I still have fun, fond memories of time spent with cousins every summer and we are closer today because of those sweet times. Much love to you all!

    Reply
    • Susan Yates says

      July 2, 2018 at 11:29 am

      Jane,
      It’s so great to hear from you. Thanks so much for writing. Big hugs to Catherine from us.
      Love, Susan

      Reply
  6. Joy Mast says

    June 27, 2018 at 8:14 pm

    Thanks, Susan. I always enjoy these “summaries” of Cousin Camp. Now, could you please write a post about the “sibling arguing and nastiness”??? 🙂 or point me to it if you’ve already written it? Thanks!

    Reply
    • Susan Yates says

      July 2, 2018 at 11:30 am

      Hey Joy,
      Thanks for writing! I do have 2 posts on sibling rivalry. Go to the search folder and see if you can find them. Let me know if you have trouble.
      Hugs, Susan

      Reply
  7. Sara Scott says

    June 27, 2018 at 12:03 pm

    I just love cousin camp and this is in my bank of ideas for the future! I didn’t grow up with these types of sweet family bonds and I am so excited to do things differently. I am excited to the point of tears to be intentional about building faith, relationships, and memories with my children (who are now teens) and one day with their children. The tears come when I think about God’s beautiful gift of faith, the Holy Spirit making our family different than my upbringing, and the sweetness of trusting the Lord with our future. Thank you for taking time to share!

    Reply
    • Susan Yates says

      July 2, 2018 at 11:31 am

      Sara,
      Thank you for taking the time to write! God loves to do new things and He will use you to do a new thing in your family!
      Blessings, Susan

      Reply
  8. MJ says

    June 27, 2018 at 10:03 am

    The memories, the bonding, the laughter, the fun timed shared with cousins…This is AMAZING!

    Reply
    • Susan Yates says

      July 2, 2018 at 11:32 am

      MJ,
      Thanks so much for writing! You have encouraged me today.
      Blessings, Susan

      Reply
  9. Wendy Habicht says

    June 27, 2018 at 9:53 am

    Dear Susan, Every year I look forward to hearing about Cousin Camp. What a delightful way to facilitate relationships between family members and create cherished memories! Way to go Ghee and Poppy! Miss you dear friend! Let me know if you’re ever in Texas – would love to catch up!

    Reply
    • Susan Yates says

      July 2, 2018 at 11:33 am

      Thanks Wendy!!!
      Send me your snail mail address. Our letter to you came back!
      Hugs, Susan

      Reply
  10. Allie says

    June 27, 2018 at 7:59 am

    Best post ever!!! Best Ghee in the world love you and THANK you!

    Reply
    • Susan Yates says

      July 2, 2018 at 11:35 am

      BEST KIDS IN THE WORLD of which you are the first born and you set a great example!!!
      I love you!
      Mom

      Reply
  11. Shannon Davis says

    June 27, 2018 at 6:39 am

    Dearest Susan, I always enjoy your blog, but your description of Cousin Camp particularly warmed my heart! I intend to wantonly plagiarize you when I have more than one grandchild! I love that you and “Poppy” make this time to deepen your relationship with each grandchild, faciliate their relationships with one another, and deepen your collective faith. How God must rejoice that you desire for your grands to know Him more fully through this time spent with each of you and one another. You are indeed a woman of thanksgiving and praise. XO+

    Reply
    • Susan Yates says

      July 2, 2018 at 11:36 am

      Shannon,
      Thanks so much for the encouragement. You are already a great grandma! Hope to see you soon. Love, 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

  • Good News: Growing as a Christian is Not About Trying Harder
  • Why Thank-You Notes Matter
  • He’s More Than a Baby in a Manger: Jesus, Our Living God
  • You Don’t Need to “Play God”: Reminders from the Christmas Story
  • How to Transform Your Thanksgiving This Year With Outrageous Gratitude

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

  • How Do You Do It? (Questions for a Mom of Quads)
  • Teenagers Rule at Family Camp: Messy, Crazy, and Oh…
  • Is Resentment or Bitterness Building in Your…

In the bleak midwinter everything is . . . bleak. In the bleak midwinter everything is . . . bleak. But underneath the gloom God is preparing a beautiful garden which will burst forth at just the right time (swipe right!). God is working while we are waiting.
One Word: Everlasting Arms One Verse: “The e One Word:  Everlasting Arms
 
One Verse:

“The eternal God is your dwelling place,
and underneath are the everlasting arms.
And he thrust out the enemy before you
and said, ‘Destroy.“ (Deuteronomy 33:27)

One Thought:

God I love it that you gave your children simple pictures to understand complicated truths. Thank you for your everlasting arms that are under me, under _____ right at this moment. Place this picture in the front of my mind as I live this day.
Did you know that we can't succeed at spiritual gr Did you know that we can't succeed at spiritual growth on our own? We can't just grit our teeth and make ourselves more like Christ? ⁣
⁣
This was a surprising lesson for me as a new believer!⁣
⁣
Read about it in my devotional on @club31women this week. Link in bio, or go to club31women.com/devotional/
One Word: Broken One Verse: And he took bread, One Word: Broken
 
One Verse:

And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” Luke 22:19

One Thought:

There is so much brokenness in our world. I am broken. So is _____. One thing all humans have in common is our brokenness. Jesus, you are intimately familiar with brokenness. Your body was broken for me, for _____. You understand the pain of brokenness but it is in your brokenness that we can begin to experience wholeness.
Recently I’ve been thinking about a new personal Recently I’ve been thinking about a new personal discipline I want to adopt in this new year. I want to do one thing every day for someone else. It’s a practical application for loving our neighbors as ourselves. It also enables us to get our focus off our selves and onto someone else and this brings us joy. It might be a text or email or postcard or call or cookies left on someone’s front door. This joy of giving fills our cup. It’s also a great thing to involve your whole family in. It helps our kids learn to be other-centered rather than self-centered. Two special friends just sent me these flowers and they have brought me great great joy. Thank you for choosing to bless me. I have learned from your generosity.
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.
It’s so much fun to give away some of our old tr It’s so much fun to give away some of our old treasures! I just gave my old Girl Scout badge sash to my young friend Helen, who is a Girl Scout. It brought both of us so much joy and reminded me of how special it is to give things away. I  highly recommend it.

#girlscout #girlscouts
I received this pic and note from one of my nieces I received this pic and note from one of my nieces last week:⁣
⁣
'Your post on thank you notes this morning validated all of my efforts this week!! Look what's sitting on my kitchen counter. Only one more child to go!  Thank you for the good reminder of why we do this!'⁣
⁣
Have your kids gotten their notes done?⁣
⁣
I know it's work to get our children to write thank-you notes, but it's so important! Check out my blog this week for the reasons behind this and some ideas to help make it happen.⁣
⁣
Link in bio or go to susanalexanderyates.com.
One Word: Shows ⁣ ⁣ One Verse:⁣ ⁣ “But G 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.⁣
⁣
⁣
#oneword #onewordcards #christianwomen #christianfaith #bedeeplyrooted #womenintheword #shereadstruth #womenoftheword #belovedlife #womenoffaith #gritandvirtue #choosejoy #lampandlight #biblestudy #shepaintstruth #bibleverse #bibleverses #bibleverseoftheday #scriptureoftheday #scriptureart #bibleverseart #dailyverse #dailydevo #dailydevotion #dailydevotional #dailydevotionals #verseoftheday #biblequotes #illustratedfaith #scripture

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

FREE Ebook: 100 Activities for Your Kids!

I have a gift for you! Camp at Home includes 100 things for you to do with your kids of different ages, from toddlers to teens.
Join my email list now to get Camp at Home for FREE!

120Shares
120Shares