Camping is Fun?

We just got back from 4 days of Church Family Camp. I'm not sure what I expected going to camp with 5 kids under the age of 9 but it wasn't this. When we left Grant was throwing up, Maren screamed the whole first night and had a fever, Abby got bit by a dog, Mike left early to take Grant to the doctor because he wasn't getting better leaving me alone with the 4 girls. After Mike and Grant had left, everyone was going to go on a pontoon ride (a very old pontoon!). I continued to decline because Maren doesn't like to sit still for more than 3 seconds. They finally talked me into going and we ran out of gas in the middle of the lake. We tried to paddling back but the wind was too strong. So we sat out there for 2 hours and sang songs. Maren cried a little until we found some lifesavers in the first aid kit. Finally, we heard the camp dinner bell ring and we knew they would miss us. A few minutes later the camp staff came and rescued us in their speed boat. So, it sounds like it was a miserable week right?

The funny thing is that it wasn't. Either I've finally gone crazy or I'm maturing just a little bit! We still had a great time with our church family and our own little family. We canoed (or as Annie would say we went on a 'noe ride), played on the beach for hours, tie dyed shirts, played games, sang songs and had campfires. There was coffee and hot chocolate in the morning while sitting by the lake. No laundry or cooking! It was a restful change of pace.

It's so easy for me to focus on the problems and negatives! As if it's going to make me feel better to complain about how bad things are. I was tempted to pack up and go home at 3 a.m. or sit and pout but I'm glad we were still able to enjoy what we could.

I hope you can enjoy a change of pace adventure in the last few weeks of summer. It will probably have kinks and craziness in it, but I'm trying to remember not to let those things ruin the whole experience.

Psalm 62: 1-2
My soul find rest in God alone;
my salvation comes from him.
He alone is my rock and my salvation;
he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.