Camping

The weather is warming up and that brings camping to mind!  This is a favorite activity for our family, and we look forward to "camping season" every year!  Camping Season will probably start a little later for us this year than it has in the past.  We have found that while the days might be nice and warm, the evenings and nights are NOT!  We have found that while you can survive sleeping in 35-40 degree weather in a tent, and it's not as bad as you might think, it's not all that comfortable!  Also, the late night potty runs are no fun at all! So now we are trying to watch for at least 50-degree nights before we jump into it this year.

Every time that I mention camping to my boss, he always asks me why I like it so much.  If you really think about it, there is a lot NOT to like:  bugs, community showers, bugs, hauling water, cold, bugs, heat, bugs, noisy neighbors, and did I mention bugs?  Actually, of all those things, the only things that I really mind are the bugs!  What I DO like about camping is that our family gets away from "life" together.  While we are camping, there is no house or yard work beckoning to us.  We get to do things like play games, chat, read, hike; that we don't normally get to do.  Yes, we have work to do such as cooking, washing dishes and hauling water; but somehow, we all seem to pitch in together and the work passes quickly and easily.  I think the reason that I enjoy camping the most is that we get back to basics.  We have a couple of changes of clothes, a few dishes and a roof over our heads - and that's ALL we need to survive physically!  When I get home from camping, I look around at all the "stuff" we own, and just sigh.  We really don't NEED 98% of it, but there it is!  Of course, I have yet to come home and get rid of all that "stuff", but that's for another blog!

I also love camping because we are outside all the time.  I don't love this during extreme cold and thunderstorms, but we have been very blessed to not have experienced much of that during past camping trips.  I wasn't sure why I loved being outside so much, but after I got to thinking about it, I think it's because it feels like there is less between us and God.  There's something about being in the middle of nature that helps me to remember that God is always there.  I should remember that all the time, but I think the "stuff" of everyday living clouds my mind and keeps me from being tuned in to God.

So my thoughts are definitely on camping now!  I'm praying that the warm weather gets here soon!

God Bless!

Here are some verses that came to mind as I was working on this blog:

Psalm 105:24 ~ "Oh Lord, how manifold are Thy works!  In wisdom hast though made them all:  the earth is full of Thy riches."

Psalm 139:7 ~ "Whither shall I go from Thy spirit?  Or whither shall I flee from Thy presence?"

Phillipians 4:19 ~ "But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus."