Tree Hugger

I have some weird camping blood in my body and it didn't come from my immediate family.  When I was 15 years old I started working at a camp for children with special needs.  And I worked there for the next 11 years.  I grew to love the outdoors and found that I was in my element while camping in the woods.  I fell in love with the smells and sights of nature.  So now I carry on the tradition to my children.  So far they love camping too.  I am slowly turning Dan into a camper. 

Memorial Day weekend proved to be absolutely beautiful with blue skies and perfect temperatures.  So we packed up Saturday evening and found a campsite a half hour from home.  That seems to be the perfect distance with the kids being younger.  Once they are older we can venture to some new places.  But for now, we go down for the evening, have s'mores, let them play for a few hours, and go home early in the morning.  We found a place with a playground and a small lake so the kids had plenty to do.  My favorite part about these short trips is spending time with Dan.  We are not on our cell phones or the IPad and we can talk for hours.  This time is precious and sweet for us.  And we thoroughly enjoyed watching our happy kids enjoy the outdoors.  When we arrived, Chloe acted like we gave her a tremendous amount of freedom and she did somersaults all over the camp site.  She was so happy to NOT have tight boundaries.....which we give her quite often.  The evening was enjoyable and the kids went to bed around 9:30.  Dan and I went to bed about an hour later and realized we were laying on a slight hill.  We tried and tried to get comfortable, but it wasn't working very well.  We stuck it out into early morning and decided our sleep was pretty important.  So we packed everyone up in speedy time and drove home to our soft beds.  We have decided it is time for an air mattress for us.  The kids are looking forward to some more camping trips in the near future.

Weekend of Wisdom

This past weekend I was able to attend the Women of Faith event in Columbus, Ohio.  I went with five other women from my Sunday school class.  God sure knows how to time things right.  I was due for a break from the kids.  I love my children, but some days it is hard to find a moment for myself.  And I need that time to refuel and rejuvenate so I can be a better mommy and wife.  This weekend gave me the respite that I needed.  We left Friday afternoon and spent some time sitting in traffic, but it didn't matter because the car was full of laughter and conversation.  We had a yummy dinner, a few hours of the conference and then the slumber party began.  We stayed up until 2am talking.  In fact, I was still talking when I heard heavy breathing going on and realized the girls had passed out.  I love talking at night.  Isn't my husband a lucky man?

Saturday was full of conversation and speakers and food and singing and speakers and conversation.  I left feeling filled emotionally and spiritually.  I left feeling like I could hear my God speaking louder and clearer to me.  I left feeling more secure and excited about starting another week with the kids.  I got home that night and spent a few more hours talking with Dan before bed.  Somehow I had the energy for that!  It was great conversation with my best friend. 

The thing that I learned from being away was that I kind of like who God created me to be.  That probably sounds funny, but I had a day and a half to take care of myself and no one else.  I was comfortable with my surroundings and the friends that I was with and just enjoyed the time away.  I struggle with insecurities and I asked God to reveal the root of those issues while I was away.  I felt like he gave me a day of contentment and peace.  He allowed me to feel that and grasp it and believe it.  I felt like He showed me my strengths and helped me like them.  And the best part was that I came home to a clean house, bathed kids and a husband snuggling with all three girls!  It truly was a weekend of wisdom that filled my soul.