Camping Time!!!

I can't believe summer is here!!! Where did the month of May go? We lost it somewhere with baseball, camping, and end of the year activities. At the end of April we purchased a used camper. I cannot even begin to tell you how excited I am about this purchase. We had a pop up camper when I was a kid and I have so many fond memories of camping trips. We spent many days riding our bikes, playing on rocks in the creek, hiking, making new friends and seeing new places . To contrast with other vacations, camping is all about spending time as a family. It is not about staying in fancy places, doing expensive activities, or dining at five star restaurants. It is relatively cheap after you make the investment of a camper and it just reinforces the ideals and values that I want to teach my kids. The values being to appreciate the world that God has created. To work hard and then have time for play. To enjoy being together, spending time together and just learning how to get along. (The longer I live, I realize that learning how to get along is something that many of us did not learn how to do as children) I think that is part of my job as a parent. Not just to hope and pray my children get along, but to teach them the life skills they need to get along, communicate effectively, and to work together as a team!) That sounds really good 1 week into summer vacation--I may not sound so optimistic after we have been out of school for a couple of months and it is 95 degrees outside!!Ha! Also on the practical side, I want to show my kids that taking a vacation and having lots of fun, does not have to involve spending lots of $$$$$$ and buying lots of stuff. All of that to say!!! Will will be doing lots of camping this summer and hopefully for a long time to come!!

Our 1st camping adventure was at Red Top Mountain the end of April. We only went for one night more or less to try out the camper. I am so impressed with my hubby. He has jumped right into all the "behind the scenes" work it takes to manage a camper. He is already great with pulling the camper, hooking it up, setting it up at the campsite etc. It is ALOT of work, and I am so thankful he is willing to do all that for us. He is slowly teaching me how to do it, but I am much slower to learn than him!! We loved Red Top and would like to go for longer when we get the chance.

Our second camping adventure was over Memorial Day weekend. This time we stayed 3 nights. We had an issue with the fridge and lots of rain...more like a real camping experience! Ha! We went to Cheaha State Park. I had gone there as a kid when I was little, but I had forgotten how beautiful and untarnished this place was. We were18 miles from the nearest store. I little bit of an inconvienence, but the natural beauty was worth it. I was amazed at all the wild Oak Leaf Hydrangas. They were everywhere. I have never seen Oak Leaf Hydrangas growing wild, they were beautiful. We hiked to Cheaha Falls--okay some of us hiked-- M and E got tired and we ended up carrying both of them almost the entire length (one mile) back. Maybe we should try something a little shorter for our next hiking venture!!! We had a great time minus an issue with our black and grey water. Who knew there was so much to learn about campers!!! Can't wait for our next adventure.