May 25, 2013

Our second Christmas married, Paul bought me a tent, a propane stove, and a dutch oven.


I camped with my family growing up, and have cherished memories of it.  I wanted our family to be a camping family, too.


When you're camping, you're just together.  Just your family, in the world God created. 


No TV, no cell phones, no homework, no sewing, 


just being together.


Plus camping probably makes you tougher and healthier.  Which are things I hope my children are.


Paul and I limit 'screen time' with our kids, but we also want to fill up their other time with enjoyable, rewarding, 


adventurous, spiritual experiences.



Our first camp out wasn't that great.


We thought we'd make camping simple by having cereal for breakfast.


It's cold in the morning, and we could smell the bacon sizzling in the campground next to us.  


We were in rainy TN, and didn't bring firewood with us, expecting to be able to gather some.


It got dark, and we put the kids to bed.  Paul and I sat at the picnic table, with our lantern, listening to the neighboring family sing songs around a roaring fire.


Every time we go camping, it gets better.


It makes me so happy that the kids love it too.


Axel walked slow with Boone to keep him company.


Nobody was rude about all the passwords required to get past the many created 'gates' by the children.


We held hands a lot, 


and smiled together a lot.


Memories made.  

Now if anyone has tips on how to sleep comfortably on an air mattress, we're all ears.