Steve and I found out about a camp last summer when a group of young couples from our church stayed for the weekend. We fell in love with this camp! We stayed in our tent right near the waters edge. At night across the water up in the mountains I could hear Bobcats. 
*I do not know how I have gone my entire life having not read Pilgrims Progress. My friend Shanda (Purpleamethyst76) sent me a great version written by Helen Taylor. I have begun to read it to my kids, usually in a patch of sunlight in the yard. We are all so involved with the story already, I can't wait to read the original! 
*Chloe waking up from a nap in the tent The camp has row boats, canoes, and kayaks free to use at any time of the day. Steve and I had never been in a kayak before this. He went out first while I was back at our "camp" and then I went out alone. He said it felt organic and wanted me to try it, to me it felt like poetry. We both love how you are so low it feels like you are sitting waist deep in the water. It glides with more ease than the canoe and the motion of the double sided oars feels poetic (I know I am using the same word twice but it works). Jeff and Eti went out in their own kayak. As soon as we got home we drove straight to Gander mountain to price kayaks! (too much) When we were there with our church group Steve and I hiked for a long time with our kids, we watched deer running right past us through the woods and it reminded me if the time Jenean went running through the woods behind her house following a baby deer. I love that mental image I have of her, (the pictures of her pregnancy below were taken in her woods). Later Steve ran around with the kids in the large soccer field while I sat in the middle of a wheat field, still enough that all the bees and butterflies and even birds came close. Some of the butterflies landed on my shoulder. I was barefoot then and as I walked back I felt the wheat brush on my open hands. What I loved most about this place was a sense of safety, at any time you can go and get a boat, I woke before the sun was up and went out in a kayak, I circled the pond hardly making a noise. I studied the turtles who were sitting on rocks, and got as close as I could to dragonflies and lily pads. In the little cove I rested my oars and leaned back watching the sun stretch and yawn it's way up into the day. 
When you check in with the camp office they give you a trail map and on the back is verses about creation, it has renewed my idea of making a journal to bring with me every time I am on a hike. A nature meditation journal full of thoughts on creation and verses that point to the Creator. I have been thinking constantly about meditation and what it is that God wants us to think about. Psalm 77:12 I will meditate on all Your works and consider all Your mighty deeds. I LOVE to study the meaning of words, I knew already that Mediate meant "To ponder, imagine, study, speak, muse.." But I found another description in Strongs concordance.. To Murmur in pleasure So these past few days I have been filling index cards with things from Scripture that I can murmur back to Him, promises, truths, His good works, Psalms... 
*Etienne 
This past Monday was our second time there. Janet set it up to have memorial day weekend with the family. It was so different on this visit, there was no hiking, or solo time, but nourishing in a different way. Instead of feeling wheat on my hand I sat close to my sisters, and let their laughter land on me. Being with family is...how do I describe it?...I felt fed and comfortable. Juls took this picture of us, the clouds were so beautiful on Monday. I had just finished swinging with my Sister Martha, you can see the view we had, and then I came to lay in the grass with my best friend and watch the clouds go by and listen to the cousins play.  *Nate (Julie's son) and Chloe going down the slide that I would buy in a heartbeat if I could find where they sell old school slides like this. 
*Chloe and Ally (Jul's daughter) I do not have as many pictures from this past Monday I decided to leave all my professional gear behind and instead brought my little Lumix point and shoot so that I would be more free to enjoy family. The last four shots were taken with the Lumix.
| 
