Family Camping 2014

 For six years now, we have been going family camping at Convict Lake out of Bishop, CA. Some things have changed and some things remain the same. Every year Amber says she doesn't want to go, she hates camping and mom never went when we were kids. Truth is, I NEVER went when Mark took Amber and Tyler on those trips. Yuck was all I could think at the time. Today's truth is, I would never miss this trip and love most all of it, even sleeping in the freezing cold, the dirt and mess, the bugs and so on. The memories we have made camping, are stamped on my heart and never to be forgotten.
Above is this year's crew ~ 13 strong. I didn't realize when the picture was taken, but the kids are standing in the back(with their cousins) in age order! Perfect!! They look like stair steps! Six years seems like a good time to look back and remember when we started these adventures and how small the kids were. Trite as it sounds, I can't believe how they have grown!

 Little Maddy catching her first fish ever and today's Maddy, almost as tall as Grammie. She is beautiful and starting to develop that preteen attitude that is sure to challenge her parents in the years to come. It is all part of growing up and some parts are painful. These family camping trips become even more important as the kids grow up and, sadly, away from us. They may gripe and groan their way through the trip, but in years to come, they, too, will cherish the memories we made here.

 Ahhh, Jack E. Boy, you are a character! We should have known when you decided to fish in your jammies that you would be a fun kid. You keep us laughing with your jokes. You melt our hearts with your constant kindness and concern for others and the world. You have already learned that it's easier to get through life with a smile on your face. Finding joy comes easily to you.

And, as much as things change, some things do not! Abbey is still on Papa's shoulders whenever she can talk him into it, which is pretty often. When we began these trips, Abbey was a mere 18 months old and today she is a very smart kid who keeps data in her head about everything and everyone. Nothing gets past her! Watch what you say because she will remind you of it, and quote it exactly as you said it, ages from now! In the not too distant future, I expect Abbey will take on my organizational role for these trips and probably do a better job than I ever did.

Then there's Pa and me. Wish I could say we were ageless, but that would be a lie. Six years has had its share of good and bad, happy and sad. Life throws us a lot of curve balls. Some days we feel on top of the world, and other days we feel like we are barely keeping up with the rat race. It is these few days each year, when we get to share time and build memories with the people we love so much, that makes it all worth it. I only hope they know how much they mean to us. Like the song says, "God only knows what I'd do without you..."
My sage advice...take time to make memories. They are more valuable than anything you can buy them in the store.