Shreds of My Existence: 10th Annual LIFE Group Camping Trip!

Every year for the past 9 years, my family has gone camping with our "family", a small group from church. We go to my uncle-like friend's (remember him from my birthday party?) parents' private campground on the bluffs and just... camp!

In the past, we brought our pop-up camper, but over the past year it sustained some *cough cough* injuries, making it very probably non-road-worthy. So we rented a cabin. Also a first this year, Jessie could come!

We spent Saturday hiking, swimming, and eating, watched TV at the cabin (oooooh! TV while camping!!!!) Saturday night, and woke up Sunday morning to go to church on the bluffs. It was so beautiful. The pictures would not do it justice. During our short church service, we saw an eagle.

Let me describe how the service went- arrive at the campground, put lunch stuff in the little cabin, and walk out to the bluffs. Spread out blanket, get the dog set up with breakfast and water, and set up chairs. Make sure everyone arrives safely and semi-on time, and open with prayer. Pull out the ol' guitar and the song folders, and start singing! Mom pulls out her flute, steps back a few feet, and starts playing in harmony with the guitar and the voices. Owner of the campground has his beautiful dog, Lizzy, with him, so keep Jessie away from her (they met Saturday and Jessie thinks she needs to play today during church), and as you sing, stare out over the edge of the bluff at the striped water, the sail-boats (not many this year- it was too windy), and the sky blending with the water and distant land, momentarily interrupted by an eagle, soaring past you. Aaaah... Uncle-Friend (that's what I'll call him for now) talked about caring for the land we were given, not taking our fruit trees and rose bushes for granted, but helping them grow out and up to their full gorgeous potential.

We ate a typical-for-this-group huge lunch, went down the long, rocky, muddy, hilly path to the water, swam and took pictures, and then came back up, packed up the rest of our belongings, and headed home.

I love camping. This was a different kind of camping from what I've done before, but we still got to experience the campground, this time with the bonus of extra friends Saturday, and Jessie :)