much more than camping

camping... oh the beautiful scents of being outside in nature... it's as if the whole world disappears and you are left alone with the trees to gaze at the beauty of the Lord's creation. then there's the tent that's always inevitably tough to put together, campfires while enjoying smores and hot chocolate, and rapid adventures down the river. there's time to spend with your family; which is undoubtedly the best part of the whole shebang.

this camping trip was different. as a 3rd grader (an awkward and chubby 3rd grader at that) i had no idea how often i'd recount the whole vacation... my brother and i went camping for the weekend with my dad. my parent's divorced, so any weekend we got to spend with my dad was always a treat. especially if it included camping. this time, we packed up and headed to donner lake, ca.

the camping was usual, we fished, went rafting, enjoyed the mountain air, hiked, hiked some more, had campfire after campfire and smore after smore. it was the last time i camped with my dad. he died the next year of cancer. i never realized that i'd remember eating each of those smores while sitting next to daddy. i didn't think i would recount the whole rafting experience while recalling each paddle forward. it was the best camping trip and one that will be cherished and remembered always. this was definitely more than a camping trip. sweet time spent with my dad was such a gift in light of what he faced in the coming year.

i'm thankful for memories. you never know when certain memories will be the last.

lowercase letters by Carissa Graham
i am a follower of Christ and forever will be in awe of His work on the cross. i know that all joy is found in knowing Christ; i love being a part of mission work. i have an incredibly talented, fun, handsome and overall amazing husband - we were married dec. 19, 2004. he is the contemporary worship director at our church. we had our first child, a son - hunter, on feb. 2, 2009 and are so in love! our second child, our daughter, sage - a blessing in surprise! - arrived june 4, 2010. i'm a stay at home mommy and am eagerly loving every minute of it. i'm a california girl, but since being transplanted to the south, i'm learning to bloom where i'm planted. i'm so thankful to the Lord for directing my path and making it straight!