Camping 2014

I survived three days of camping.  While I have been camping as a kid, the last time I camped was with some friends in Midland just before Alan and I moved to Fort Worth for the first time.  I did not enjoy roughing it.  It was July and I managed to freeze in the mountains of Ruidoso, New Mexico during the night time.  I was miserable!  I had to buy some Indian blankets the next day in town just to stay warm at night.  I love the outdoors but roughing it, is not fun to me.

A year ago I was with my High School choir in New York City.  I really thought I had the better end of the deal while my family went with my in-laws camping.  My kids told me how much fun they had and that I needed to go with them next time.  Well, I tried to think of ways NOT to go this year.  I was hoping rehearsals for Peach Festival would interfere with the camping trip.  It did not!  I finally gave in because my kids assured me that Nana and Papa's camper has an air conditioner, which is really important to me ever since I had chemo.  I am almost always hot now.

I actually not only survived, but actually enjoyed it.  We went hiking through the hills of Llano State Park, swimming and tubing down the Llano River.  We enjoyed a lot of great food such as hamburgers, steaks, hot dogs and of course S'mores.  We saw some of the most beautiful birds I have ever seen in the wild. We saw deer at our camp sight and on our hikes and I even stumbled on an armadillo on one walk back to camp. On one hike, we came across small lake, green grass and tall shade trees....just beautiful and Peaceful.  I even sat down on the grass and took it all in.  We gazed up at the stars at night and sat around the camp fire.  My Mother In Law even suggested that we may need to make this a yearly tradition..............I did not cringe when she said that.

Anna helping setting up the camper

Andrew helping leveling the camper

Had to celebrate the Spurs!!!

On our hike up a big hill!

On top of the hill

Anna and I beat Alan and Andrew....how did that happen?

Anna recording what she is experiencing and seeing in the State Park journal for others to see.

Bird Blind

The hill we were on

The Bird area

There were many opportunities to talk about God and His creation during our hikes and I did!

We played Yahtzee and Clue.

Buck Lake

More of Buck Lake

Camp Sight

Where we started tubing or where we swim

The fall was fun!

 

While I was a little apprehensive about camping I have to say that I am willing to try it again.  I am thinking the beach, since it is my favorite place to be.  More importantly, we made more memories and spent quality time as a family.