Camping for the first time

Before I begin the post about camping, let's take a quick moment and discuss coffee.  Love it.  My husband is a "barefoot coffee" guy (meaning he drinks it straight black).  I guess that would make me a "fancy-shmanchy boot-wearing coffee" kind of girl.  I like some 1/2 & 1/2, sugar and a bit of flavoring in my cup to jazz the coffee up a bit.  When I order coffee at Starbuck's, he says I get terrible coffee with a side of candy.  Oh well.  He can have his opinion and I can have mine.

Today I went by Starbuck's (brilliant marking plan to have it right there in Target) and got the best drink ever:  a short cup of blonde roast with a squirt of salted caramel.  For $1.77, I got a cup 2/3 full of mellower flavored coffee with a this yummy sweetness that the sweet barista concocted just for me (wow--I am very special) and I got to fill the rest of the cup with 1/2 and 1/2.  Life seriously doesn't get better.

Thanks for following me down that bunny trail.  Back to the subject at hand:  camping.  As a child, I slept in a tent once with my brother and my grandma.  I was about 10 and we slept in our backyard.  It is a good memory, but that was my extent of experience in a tent before last week.

I married a mountain man.  He could seriously live off the grid and be completely happy as long as he had a supply of coffee.  I, on the other hand, am just a bit more froofy.  I've learned that as the mom of 3 boys who are growing to be very much like him, I can choose to toughen up and join in the fun or choose to stay prissy and clean and abstain.  It's a choice to make as situations arise, but camping is something I decided to embrace.

Our Spring Break was last week and it was a chilly one.  When I suggested going camping for a night, I fully expected we would rent a camper of some kind.  Many of my friends camp with their families and almost all have campers or RVs.  Aaron priced said campers and decided we would give his tent a go before forking out the money.  I reluctantly agreed.  I stressed over what to pack and made the mistake of going on Pinterest and seeing how others pack to camp.

In theory, this was a great decision and I will say it really paid off when I had packed an extra pair of shoes for all and they were needed thanks to a poor decision by son #1.  But beyond that, seeing what all everyone else did just stressed me out.  A good friend sent me a list of what she and her husband had on their list and that was very helpful.  The great thing was the Aaron had about 98% of the gear we needed from previous hunting trips, so the shopping was easier than I had anticipated.

When he made our reservation at a state park about an hour from our home, he chose to get us a site with water and electricity.  The morning of the trip, I was a bit overwhelmed with the vast amount of stuff needed to camp out for one night, but Aaron and I worked together with the huge list we had compiled from my friend's list as well as a handful found on Pinterest.

We stopped at DQ on our way which is a treat for all.  When we arrived at the state park, we all went in and the boys were very impressed with how many toys were available to buy there.  I wasn't.  We made it to our camp site, #38, and I was struck by the fact we had a parking space, a picnic table which was good-sized, a cleared out area that seemed to be gravel and the water and electrical outlet.  Not lots of space.  Very close to numbers 37 and 39 which also had families at them. 

Aaron made short work of putting up the tent with all of us helping.  He then aired up the air mattresses like a champ.  I would still be blowing those up if it had been my job.  With camp set up, we headed out to explore.

We did a geocache to start off.  The boys enjoyed the hike and weren't too interested in finding the treasure, but Aaron liked it.  I'm not good at looking for things and tend to get bored quickly.  Aaron's a much better treasure hunter than me.  I was relieved when he found it because I was afraid the treasure wasn't there.

After that, the boys played at the playground for a bit and then we headed out to fish.  The adventure with fishing was that we walked around the lake to find the perfect spot.  There was a narrow trail that Aaron led us down that got more and more narrow.  We had to climb up the bank at one point because neither me nor Aaron wanted to jump in after boys if one of them lost their footing.

We found a good spot and fished for a bit.  The boys aren't great at casting, but they liked being on the water.  If it had been warmer and I had planned a bit better, they would have worn waterish shoes so they could wade out a bit.  The shoes didn't stop #1.  They loved the shells and the water.

At one point, #2 needed to use the bathroom so I took him.  He loved the hike around the lake.  Honestly, I did, too.  No fish were caught but we had a great time.  At the bathroom, there was a mom who got irritated at her daughters for wanting to climb the tree just up the way from the bathrooms.  I was thrilled my boys were interested in the tree so I could pop into the facility while Aaron was gathering fire wood.  To each his own.

Watching the boys "help" Aaron start the camp fire was a cool moment.  They were so impressed with how he could use the magical tools to start a fire.  If that would have been my job, we would still be out there waiting for me to get one lit.  The hot dogs were yummy and I totally enjoyed not feeling like I had to also have a vegetable at the dinner table.  S'mores were hit and I learned that for next time, #2 and Aaron really don't need S'mores.  Marshmallows are really all they want.  Good to know.

As it got dark, I thought it wise for Aaron to take #3 and #1 to the bathrooms while #2 and I watched the fire.  I don't really know what we would have done had something have happened to the fire in Aaron's absence, but luckily we didn't have to see.  Aaron and the boys were gone for over 30 minutes.  I started getting worried.  #2 asked if he could go ahead and put on his PJs since it was getting cold.  I told him he could.  Turns out the bathrooms were a 20 minute round trip for me to walk.  Yikes.  Good to know for next time.

Our tent is for 4.  We are a family of 5.  It was a bit snug, but at least we were warm on a chilly evening.  I tend to get cold and than stay that way which makes me whiny.  Aaron thought ahead and got a sleeping bag rated for 30 degrees for me.  I was warm and toasty.  With my air mattress I was very comfy except for #3 kicking me in the head throughout the night.  He had turned 90 degrees during the night so he would head butt Aaron while also kicking me.  Quite an adventure that he doesn't even remember.  Boy #1 woke up at 5, totally ready to take on the day.  The rest of us weren't.  Aaron convinced him to keep resting until about 7. 

On my morning constitutional to the facilities, I noticed that those of us in tents were up and about but those in campers weren't.  I also noticed that my boys were noisier than I would have preferred, but quiet isn't really a setting for #1.  He lives life loud.

Aaron made us bacon and eggs and we enjoyed coffee.  So glad I packed the coffee creamer.  That hazelnut sure tasted good in the chilly air while trying to hush my boys.  We broke camp and went on to explore.  There was a historic fort we got to see and of all of us, Aaron liked that the most.  The boys liked seeing the weapons.  I was just happy to be there.

We did another geocache that was easier, but the boys were tired.  It was time to head home.  Rain hit as we drove.  So glad it didn't come in during the night.

My goal with this adventure was the leave with a smile on my face.  I met my goal.  I loved being out in nature with my family.  Even when I swear I heard a coyote outside our tent somewhere around 3AM, it was good.  My boys had a great time.  We're making plans to get a bigger tent and go again before the heat hits this summer.

I like that I can be a froofy coffee girl but can also brave the wilderness with my boys.  Motherhood helps us grow in many ways, toughness being one of them.

Resume updating

Since writing my last post, I heard back from many friends encouraging me as I figure out Laura 2.0.  I also downloaded an ebook of Restless by Jennie Allen per the recommendations of two different people.  It addresses exactly where I am.  I'm two chapters in now and would recommend it.

This weekend, I need to update my resume.  I haven't done that in quite a while.  The good thing is that my husband is very good at things like computer formatting and being able to put lots of bang into very few words.  Helpful skills that tax me quite a bit.

I'm not a fan of resumes.  I get why they're important, but I'm a girl of many words.  It's tricky to express all I want to say in a short phrase.  Another tricky thing about resumes is that they are to be job-specific.  I imagine an arrow pointed directly at a target and the purpose of the piece of paper is to summarize exactly why you are the perfect fit for this job.

I won't go into specifics, but an opportunity has come my way that could be the answer to my prayer for part-time employment for next fall.  The resume will be for this purpose.

My prayer for this:  Lord, grant me the wisdom to accomplish the task of writing this resume in a way that honors you.  Help me not let worry, pride or any other thing that's not of you get in the way of your purpose.  Thanks for loving me.  Amen.

My existential crisis

A few weeks ago I heard a speaker at our MOPs meeting that really challenged me.  She's a world changer.  She's taken on the issue of sex trafficking and she's doing a lot to rid the world of that evil stench.  She's doing all this while being a mom of kids not that much older than mine.

She shared her story of how over the last 4 years she's been able to follow God's call to create a ministry to these girls pulled into the sex trade.  As she spoke, I was encouraged, inspired, but also really humbled.  What am I doing to change the world?  I play board games with my 4 year old a lot.  I make lots of meals.  I grocery and everything else shop.  Laundry gets done.  Friends are visited.  Lots of time and energy go into church.

Yes, I get it--in the season of having small kids, my mission field is my children.  Sometimes it's hard to feel a lot of satisfaction in folding laundry or reminding them once again to feed the dog.  I've accepted that during this season of my life, my focus is on them and I've worked hard to be content with that calling.

But now, that season is coming to a close.  3 kids is more than enough for me.  I know we're done.  I taught elementary before kids and I've always known I would eventually go back to something to help earn a wage when the time was right.  Even more than that, I miss teaching.  I miss the fellowship of the other teachers.  I miss the connections I made with the kids.  I miss lots of things about teaching that I won't list now.  But that was 7 years ago.  I've heard lots of things about teaching have changed, not to mention I still have 3 children that I will need to dress, feed and nurture even though they won't be preschoolers anymore.

My husband knew I had been considering going to something part time next year when I plan for #3 to be in MDO twice a week instead of once.  I've kicked around some different options but haven't pursued anything.  When I start to do that I get all weepy that the boys are getting big.  I've learned that as my kids grow, I get sad.  The passing of time and change just bring me down.  However, I've also learned to give myself permission to grieve the change but then focus on the good things coming.  There are great things on the horizon for our family in the next season, including me.  Just wish I knew what they were.

Aaron challenged me to figure out what I want to be doing in a year and a half when #3 starts kinder.  My knee jerk response is that I'll be crying because he'll be gone.  Not what he was aiming for.  He then asked me to figure out what I want in 5, 10 and 15 years.  Yikes.  Big points to ponder as I'm trying to convince #3 to not pretend shoot other shoppers in the grocery store with his finger.

I've decided to use this blog to sort out my feelings as I ponder.  I know I've changed over the past 7 years.  Motherhood has made me better--more patient, kinder, more accepting while at the same time more sure of how to assert myself and demand respect.  But how do you put that on a resume?

I don't like dark roads.  I like seeing every bend coming my way.  I'm prayerfully asking God to reveal His perfect will to me and to give me the strength I need to lean on Him as I work to figure all this out.

TV show memoirs

I read the other day that creating is a great way to keep your mind active.  For me, I love to create using paper and photos in scrapbooking.  I love creating beautiful music on the piano, with my guitar or using my voice.  I love using this medium to create words that synthesize my experiences or moments that I want to share with others.

Today I'm creating a memoir that is pretty silly, but here it is anyway.  I'm not a TV on all the time person.  My husband is.  Many friends and family members are.  I prefer to only have the TV on when I'm really focusing on it.  Ambient noise is soothing for many, but for me it's distracting.  So, when I do watch the TV, I like for it to be worth my time. 

With NetFlix and the DVR I can be selective on what I watch.  I thought I would chronicle my TV shows from the last few years and just share what I liked or maybe even learned.

Rachael Ray--I've taped her show since #3 was a baby.  Wow--5 years of Rachael.  I'll be honest--I delete many of them and I only watch the segments I want to see, but I've learned how to cook in the last 7 years and much of that is thanks to her show.  She makes me laugh and I watch her while I fold laundry.  If boys wander through, I don't have to worry about missing an important part of the story.

Gilmore Girls--loved this show.  A friend of mine had the first 6 seasons and when my twins were in the NICU for almost 3 months, she loaned me the DVDs.  I would watch episode after episode as I pumped milk for them.  Sweet show.

Little House on the Prairie--so wholesome.  After the twins were home from the hospital, I had to be very cautious about germs due to their tininess.  We were home a lot.  I recorded this show and watched it a lot, especially while nursing.  It was calming, sweet and reminded me to trust God.  These tiny babies would grow and the lonely season in my home would end.  It did.

Monarch of the Glen--silly Scottish show about a Laird running his estate.  Just silly, sweet fun.

The Grand--an actress from the previous show was on this.  It was fun at first but got too dark.  When British TV shows go into WWI I just turn off.  I know it was a sad time, but I like TV to be sweet, fun and entertaining.  I don't want to have nightmares.

McLeod's Daughters--oh my.  I loved this show.  It was an Australian soap opera that ran 8 seasons.  I watched them all.  As far as soaps go, it was maybe PG.  It was about a group of women that ran a ranch.  I actually learned a lot about sheep which is helpful because we have some.  I also learned a lot about organic farming which my husband will tell you wasn't all that based in reality, but they sure made it look cool.  Aaron liked that they used their sheep dog to actually work sheep.  The dog was his fave part of the show.  This show had a bad habit of killing its characters.  The first time was such a shock.  A woman is driving along, has a horrible car wreck and dies.  Oh my.  No warning.  Just dies.  I did notice a trend over the 8 seasons, however.  If  a character was about to leave the show, all of his/her loose ends would be neatly tied up.  I thought that was kind to the audience.

Downtown Abbey--I wanted to love this show.  It really is beautifully done.  I liked the first season, but after that, it's the whole war issue again.  I chose to not get pulled back in.  Just too sad.

Lark Rise to Candleford--this is actually described as a "feel good" show by NetFlix.  So, so sweet.  It's a coming of age story of a girl who grows up just before the Industrial Revolution in a small English village.  She get a job in the post office in the neighboring town and has all kinds of sweet adventures.  Lovely clothing, good morals.  I was sad it was over.

The Pioneer Woman--I so wish she were my neighbor!  She makes cooking look glamorous and just easy.  I've learned a lot from her.  I also love that she makes rural living look sexy and well, normal.  I sent her a fan letter a while back and am honestly disappointed I didn't get a response.  In my mind, I thought she and I would become friends.  I feel like we already are.

And now I'm without a regular show.  I watch some on Food Network and that's OK.  Aaron is pulled into Band of Brothers.  Oh my.  Yes, WWII happened, but watching those episodes just makes me sad.  Luckily, we're getting close to the end of the war.  I'm so glad.

TV can be a medium for sharing truth or it can be as I use it--a happy escape from my reality for a bit.