Camping 101

For those of you who camp you know that when you pack you try to prepare for everything and anything that could happen while you're gone.  Sunscreen, swimsuits, sweatshirts, bug bite cream, extra socks, first aid kit, etc...  We just spent the last three days camping at Mirror Lake, and I thought I was pretty well prepared.  This included not only what should be packed, but what we would be doing.  I am such a planner!  Apparently, I didn't think of everything.  I definitely forgot the snowsuits.  We certainly could have used them today.  Nothing about this trip included anything to do with my plans including the snow!  It started out with sunshine, which turned to rain, then to hail and eventually snow.  We did get some fishing in, and a hike while JM fished on the pontoon boat, but everything else was improvised.  The girls had a beauty shop in the trailer, Lou and Doop snuggled tight while watching a movie during a really loud thunderstorm and JM and I got soaked to the bone in the snow while packing up to come home this morning.  Guess what I learned?  All you can do is prepare the best you can and your knowledge and skill will allow you to make the best of what you have prepared yourself with.  Guess what else I learned?  Sometimes improvising and shooting from the hip using each others strengths and creativity is much more fun than sticking to the plan (although those of you who know me know it's very hard for me to deviate from the plan!).  There is beauty in being random, and this definitely wasn't our typical trip.  We saw every kind of weather there was to see, we got soaking wet and we were freezing cold, and we created a memory together that will last much longer than the snow that fell on the mountain today.  It was stressful and peaceful at the same time.  It was our family alone together for 3 days.  It was laughter, and late nights, and it was beautiful!

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