Camping can be so fun if you let it… for us it’s a nice time to just unplug, unwind, and get dirty! I think my favorite part of camping is just seeing how happy our girls get… that quality time preparing our site and just figuring things out together. The way they learn how to trust their instincts and use their practical skills builds their life confidence in ways they’ll appreciate when they are older and need to survive. If you can survive in the wild you can survive life, college, a city, a relationship, a heartbreak.. it’s a beautiful thing…
As I watch my girls grow together I feel so happy… I know they’ll always have a best friend. I know time is fleeting and gosh, it just has to… but slowing down helps my heart…
This year my New Year’s Resolution was to “slow down…” Say no more, say yes to the things I want to say yes to… be happy over an empty calendar… sit back and enjoy these girls…
On every camping trip we learn things we didn’t know before… we add to our camping list… one day we’ll get it right… and maybe that one day we’ll need to add something more. We also learned that you MUST MUST MUST always REMEMBER your sleeping bags! This time… yep… forgot the sleeping bags! hahahahaha! We didn’t panic we just put on more layers and used our beach towels and table cloth for blankets… socks on our hands, leggings for scarves… it gets cold at night. Camping teaches us to be resilient … The fun is in the journey… don’t you think? Things happen and they will… instead of getting upset, you should laugh… we sure did!
I highly recommend camping at this incredible spring in Florida!!! The campsites were beautiful! and this gem of a swimming spring was just steps from our tent! Alexander Springs! GO THERE! We hope to go back again, even for just the day, this summer! I think the cool spring water could be quite refreshing. I also highly recommend renting a canoe for a couple hours! We did and saw some beautiful things! The lily pads and lotus flowers, oh my! we even saw a baby alligator! It was so peaceful and just the most perfect day with my family!
Before I forget… a quick recommendation… CAMP PANTS!!! Our family is big Columbia clothing fans! The quality of everything we ever get that is Columbia, we use for years and it’s so durable! On our way up to the spring we stopped off to get the girls their first pair of zip-off camp pants! They were thrilled and wore them every day! They are so practical but to them… they make them into “real hikers!” So cute! It was a big deal because for a few years their Pappa has had the same pants and they always wanted a pair…. Each camp trip we get things here and there to build up our camp inventory. Some things make life easier… some things are just plain cool!
I hope one day if you have not been camping yet, I hope you try it out! Even in your backyard! It’s very empowering! I grew up camping with Girl Scouts so maybe that helps! My husband also grew up camping. Maybe now-a-days the art of camping is getting lost but I can honestly say it’s a fantastic memory to have with your family! That closeness falling asleep under the stars with no electronics to even tempt me to check my instagram! Telling spooky stories with flashlight hand shadows… having marshmallow guts stuck in your hair… these are those memories that last… Go make some!!!