Camping - A Family Affair

Saw this picture today and it brought back a lot of memories. This is taken in the Shirley Mountains. I have spent many many days in those mountains camping with my family when I was growing up. I will eventually find some pictures from that time and post them - but for now - I was happy to find this picture. After Cliff & I were married for about 4 years, we moved to Wyoming near my parents and we spent our fair share of time camping in the Shirley's (as we called them). We were fortunate to have a nice camper to stay in which was great when you are camping with little children. We bought that camper about 2 weeks before April was born and took it out about 2 weeks after she was born. Many happy days and hours were spent in that camper.

My Dad made a swing out of a milk crate for the little ones to swing in and here is Shannon pushing April in the swing. Dad always made sure there was fun things for kids to do. We loved those camping trips and missed them when we moved away.

We have not been able to do any camping for a long time. I miss it. Our lives got busy taking care of parents, so our weekends were spent doing other things. We sold our camper and I miss it. I wish we had spent more time taking the kids camping. Jake was born after we were taking care of parents and did not get to do family camping like the girls did. He has been camping, but not like the girls experienced.

There is nothing like being out in nature and enjoying the peace and quiet and the beauties that God has created for us. There is something about being in nature that draws you a little closer to God. It is a good place to ponder and reflect on what is most important. When you leave and head home, you feel refreshed and ready to tackle life again a little more committed to do the important things, the things that really matter.

I am grateful that we did get to camp and enjoy those beauties and spend time together as a family. I don't know how much of that my children remember - they were little - but what memories they have of those times together I hope brings them happiness, for it was a happy time.