Daddy's Little Girl

As we grow older there are certain events that demonstrate time is passing faster then one cares to admit. One of those moments took place for me a few days ago.

What do you do when your child begins to beat you at the game you taught them? Not talking about Chutes and Ladders or Go Fish because those games daddies are good at loosing. Nope, talking about my game. The one I have played for years. I am talking about golf.

There I was last week on the 17th tee box with my 14 year-old daughter. Was having a pretty good day and thanks to a few good shots, seemed headed toward one of my better rounds in awhile. Ran a quick total to see how things were going. Wait, this can't be right... I am only ahead by 1 stroke? Are you kidding me? Recalculate. Yep, numbers are correct. Knew she was getting better but almost even after 16 holes? Wasn't it just a few months ago she was getting a stroke per hole?

After a couple of lucky shots on the final two holes, I was able to leave the course with an ounce of dignity and the narrowest of victories. However, it is painfully obvious that it is only a matter of time before old dad will go down in flames. That day will present both a difficult reality to accept and a magnificent moment in time to realize how my little girl is growing up and moving ahead in life.

She starts high school this week, which has its own realities to accept. However, it is apparent, as she spreads her wings; it is time to step back a bit. With lots of friends, facebook, texting, phone calls, drop offs and pick ups., no longer am I plugged into every minute by minute detail of her life and admittedly finding it difficult to fade into the background.

So I guess I will just enjoy my daughter getting better in golf because time on the course may be one of the few places where it is just me and her. A chance to still teach a little bit of golf but now even more importantly teach a lot of life. All the things that we have talked about for years are no longer way out there some day but have become the days she is about to step into. So it seems well worth the trade of the inevitable loss on the scorecard for the uninterrupted time together.

Now just fear the day she says, "Hey Dad, let me spot you a few strokes to keep it interesting."

10 Summer Camp Memories

Yesterday dropped my daughter at Kanakuk K-West Kamp in Missouri. Absolutely the best christian camps and her favorite place in the whole world.

Got me thinking about going to camp as a kid. Ten things I remember about Summer Camp:

1. The List - that long list of everything to take.
2. Night Sounds - Fan spinning and the crickets chirping as I fell asleep.
3. Shaving Cream - Not to shave but for fights or filling sleeping bags.
4. Smells - Waking up to the smell of bacon in the morning.
5. Kids - Thousands of kids. Camp was almost bigger then my hometown.
6. Vespers - First time I remember sitting still long enough to hear God work in my heart.
7. Top Bunk - The only way to go as a kid. Now bottom bunk sounds so much better.
8. Food - The food may not have been great but being so hungry it all tastes good.
9. Girls - At 12-17 years old, nothing like the chance to meet and date girls you didn't grow up with.
10. That Mountain Top Experience - Actually finding myself changed when I got home. Too bad it too often faded away.
    

I pray she finds God around every corner the next two weeks and builds strong friendships with girls from around the country. It is hard to let go for two weeks but I know she is building her own list of summer camp memories that will be with her the rest of her life.