Camping Oasis

 After the whirlwind crazies of preparing our home for sale, we needed a proper time out. So we went backwoods camping for a weekend. That might not sound restful to many but it was just right for us this time. 

Some friends allowed us to camp on their property, so it was not a drive up campsite with water and electricity in a campground with plenty of recreation choices. Rather we had to carry in all our gear, clear ground, find our own wood, etc.  

Dad was kept busy being a Gibeonite - water carrier (we could fill up our containers at the farmhouse but it wasn't that close) and wood cutter :)

Aiden enjoyed learning to and using an ax to cut firewood from the many dead trees around our campsite. He also cooked us breakfast over the fire one morning and had the lovely experience of holding a frypan of grease fire! Now he has 2 small burn scars to boast over :)

Mom did most of the cooking as usual, but doing it outside over the fire made it fun and not just same as usual work. She also really enjoyed the specialness of evening firefly shows and early morning hot chocolate beside a fire.

Jasmin enjoyed the challenge of bird identification in the forest, making a safe fire pit with creek mud, and whittling sticks. Grace (and the rest of us) enjoyed simply not having to do anything but be present with each other.

The weekend was just enough camping time - not long enough to get bored or too disgustingly dirty - but it wasn't quite enough of a rest break to come back to "real life" pumped with enthusiasm.