Camp Lu-Jo Kismif
Lu-Jo stands for Lucille Jones – she donated the land for the camp in 1960.
Kismif stands for Keep It Spiritual Make It Fun
For those of you who know me from growing up, you know that Camp Lu Jo has a VERY special place in my heart. For the rest of you…..here’s the story.
There once was a little girl who was four years old, her name was Suzanne. Her parents volunteered a week each summer to be on staff at Camp Lu-Jo Kismif. The little girl is now 29 and she has spent a total of 20 summers of her life at Camp. She never missed a week of camp until about 5 years ago. There were many summers she went two weeks instead of one. Once she was out of school she went back to be on staff with her husband. By the way, she met her husband there. They had known each other for a few years but one year that all changed. He was going to be a freshman in college and she was going to be a junior in high school. Here’s the story of how it all came to be.
The next summer, he was about to enter his sophomore year at OC and she was going to be a senior in high school. She had just had knee surgery about 3 weeks before camp, but couldn’t bear to miss it. Luckily for her, there was a boy named Joey that was super sweet. She was quite the klutz and walked into a hole the first day of camp and twisted her knee she had just had surgery on! She ended up in the ER and needless to say…in bed pretty much all week. Some would say that it was a pretty crappy week of church camp. Little did she know it was a life changing week, but she wouldn’t find that out for a couple of years.
Well, that boy named Joey took care of her that week. She really didn’t know him well at all and didn’t understand why he was being so nice to her. He would come and visit her several times a day. He made sure she was fed and any time she needed to go down the hill to the main camp area, he would carry her down. Each of them had a bf/gf at home, so there was nothing really there. At the end of the week they agreed that they would keep in touch during the year. She was planning to attend OC the next year and had trips planned to visit.
So camp had come and gone…the after camp blues had set in and especially so for her. She didn’t realize that she really felt something for this guy until she called his house to talk to him and his dad told her that he had gone to the city to visit his girlfriend. She didn’t give up yet though. She sent a few cards and notes throughout the year. Then the time came to make a trip to OC. Once there she ran in to Joey and he really didn’t give her the time of day. Needless to say she was crushed but moved on and enjoyed her senior year of high school.
Once summer rolled around and the week of camp had arrived Suzanne wasn’t sure if Joey was going to be there or if she even wanted to see him. She was at camp but trying to decide if she wanted to stay or go. Before it was too late, she saw a little red ford ranger pull up and her heart sank. It’s what she didn’t know yet that would change her life forever….To be continued.
suzspeaks.com 
awwww the memories ;)the lil red ranger.. haha i believe i was picked up from junior high in that truck!
awwww the memories ;)the lil red ranger.. haha i believe i was picked up from junior high in that truck!
I didn’t know that was how you guys met. Very cute…can’t wait for the rest. I have a camp story too. It involves a guy that decided to go to A&M and marry another girl; and I think your sister has a whole chapter dedicated to her in my story. HAHA! đ Love ya Stace! I'm happy your story turned out better than mine.
I didn’t know that was how you guys met. Very cute…can’t wait for the rest. I have a camp story too. It involves a guy that decided to go to A&M and marry another girl; and I think your sister has a whole chapter dedicated to her in my story. HAHA! đ Love ya Stace! I'm happy your story turned out better than mine.
Oooooo…I love a good story! Can’t wait to hear the rest of it!
Oooooo…I love a good story! Can’t wait to hear the rest of it!
this is better than general hospital….keep going!
this is better than general hospital….keep going!
Could there be a more precious little boy in the world???? Well his daddy came close……you are a very Blessed wife and mother. You are a wonderful friend and sweet sister in Christ. You are so much more to all who love you. Hugs from me to u
Could there be a more precious little boy in the world???? Well his daddy came close……you are a very Blessed wife and mother. You are a wonderful friend and sweet sister in Christ. You are so much more to all who love you. Hugs from me to u
AHH!! How could you do that to me? I cant wait to hear the rest of the story.
AHH!! How could you do that to me? I cant wait to hear the rest of the story.
I’m on the edge of my seat…pretty weird considering I know you guys are married now, lol. I can’t wait to hear more though…and maybe you could share some old photos.
I’m on the edge of my seat…pretty weird considering I know you guys are married now, lol. I can’t wait to hear more though…and maybe you could share some old photos.
i vote old camp picture post!!!
i vote old camp picture post!!!
Cute story! I went to Lu Jo a few times as a kids also, I wonder if we were ever there the same time.
Cute story! I went to Lu Jo a few times as a kids also, I wonder if we were ever there the same time.
oh my goodness! I love this. I am ready for the rest of the story! Can’t wait!!
oh my goodness! I love this. I am ready for the rest of the story! Can’t wait!!
awe…I love to hear how people meet and fall in love! Cute pictures!
awe…I love to hear how people meet and fall in love! Cute pictures!
I have many happy memories of LuJo. Great place!
I have many happy memories of LuJo. Great place!
what an incredible place! keep the story coming.and i know this was awhile ago but i can’t get enough of jaxon’s toes in those pictures he took. so so cute.
what an incredible place! keep the story coming.and i know this was awhile ago but i can’t get enough of jaxon’s toes in those pictures he took. so so cute.