To Camp or Not to Camp

That really is the question.

Happy Sabbath!

Today is a very nice day (very warm, a good breeze, quiet).  I went to church today and tried to sit in the sanctuary with my son but after what he did today, I’ll just have to wait until he is five before I try this again.  He’s the one who thinks he can run all around the church during service and everyone thinks it’s funny and cute, but it’s not to me. 

Life has been quiet for the most part this week.  I did drop the ball on something and dealt with some of satan’s attacks but other than that, it was a good week.  I bought a seedless grape vine to add to my growing apartment garden.  The avocado plants are really taking off.  My majestic palm is still alive, the rubber plant, pothos is doing good and the ginger root has sprouted two more tree like stalks which are well on their way to touching the ceiling.  

Even my son's Nastrium is holding on after re-potting and moving it to another room.  Since living on my own again, I am really able to enjoy God's creation in the comfort of my own home.  It would be more comfortable if they fixed the AC, but I thank the Lord for the breeze because if not for it, we would be baking in here.  I signed a new contract for another year to rent my apartment.  I hope to get a house in 2018 so this is the year I’m saving up. Ugh, my son just told me he wants to go camping.

It’s something I’ve been debating in my mind all week after the last adventurers meeting.  Camping is going to cost more than I thought, but the cost is not the issue.  It’s being a magnet for bees, bugs, spiders and more and not having that adult friend to talk to other than my son for 2-3 days.  The last time I went “camping” with people, I stayed in a cabin with my Mennonite friends for 4-5 days (in August actually).  We went out for a walk on the grounds the first day and found a nice spot on rocks to sit and sing hymns and other songs (one of which we decided to learn together and sing one day back at church).  The cabin was deep in the woods and with the shade, it was cooler and there were few run ins with bees strangely enough.  I remember that day wearing GI-Jo pants carrying a stick and I believe a cast iron skillet to protect myself from bears as we definitely could have run into one of them.  The girls wore skirts every time they stepped outside and someone ended up getting a rash from poison oak or ivy.  I had no problems. 

I’ve been a few places in my life and hope to add to that list.  I’ve been to Italy, Germany, England, the Bahamas, and even Ontario.  I’ve been as far west as Nevada, but no trip compares to that trip to central Pennsylvania with my friends.  We didn’t talk about nonsense, vain things, or watch tv.  I had no reception for my phone and only one person brought a computer on which she looked at photos of friends and family.  Each person went off to a room, a rock, the swinging bench on the porch, or some place to spend time communing with God.  I remember sitting in the living room or going upstairs to read. I tried listening to the radio and only one radio station had a somewhat clear channel and I think they were playing a song from Randy Travis, something real Christian and country-like. 

When visiting my friend’s family home a few miles away, I saw the most beautiful scene, it was like out of a fairytale and we were walking along a glistening bubbling brook in the middle of the woods.  My camera decided it was not going to work that trip and I couldn’t take not one photograph of this beautiful scene. It was where my friend grew up and I’m sad that I have lost contact with her.  She is married to one of the twins and has at least two little girls now (probably 9 and 8 years old now).  We celebrated her birthday on her family’s property (her dad had a logging business there). They also had a vineyard, corn, raspberry patch, blueberries, and other crops that we were able to sample.  We sat around a fire making mountain pies, singing songs, and getting to know one another.

Another day we went swimming in a lake and stopped at the one business to shop for fabric, bobbins and things.

Back at the cabin, the price point for the trip was $10 per person (suggested donation but not required).  We had to just make sure everything was put back the way we found it and cleaned up.  We put $10 on the table, locked up the doors and went back home several hours drive.  It was so simple, but I really enjoyed it.  It was a good time in my life and nice to unplug for a while. 

So now I am faced with a new opportunity in a different state to go camping (in tents, on the ground, in the heat….camping) with a bunch of people I am very cautious around.  I remember the wounds that satan inflicted through people who were supposed to be Christians.  Because of them and my own choices, I have gone through great humiliation and distress and don’t want to make myself a target again. 

So my four year old son wants to go camping.  I need to confirm a pledge of $90 for this trip by next week or tell them I am not going. 

One of many things I need to pray about. 

The funniest thing is that when I was younger, I used to make a game of stepping on the biggest bees and wasps and never realized the danger or thought I should be afraid.  It was only until I saw my sister stung on the hand and the pain in her face that I decided I would be terrified of bees and other stinging flying insects.  After I saw a cousin scream while I was playing with caterpillars, I became afraid of almost every harmless creature.  Fear has a powerful affect on others and I don’t want my son to be afraid of the same things.  I flinch at a gnat and he is afraid of them.  He is just getting better and able to tolerate flying insects coming near him. 

So I am blessed with a new opportunity and who knows; it may be the best experience I’ve ever had.  If I go, I will be ready.  I’ll look ridiculous and reek of bug spray, but I’ll be ready.  I want another great experience with the Lord.  I hope it can be in August, but I am planning an attempt at the beach ….tomorrow?  I’ll see.

God is good.