So recently I have been really itchy, or I guess you could call it restless. I don’t know if it is because I am about to turn 40 or what, but I have definitely had a shift in my thinking. One of those restless, or itchy, things has been desiring to be outside more and really be intentional about making memories. So, a few weeks ago, I suggested we go camping. I haven’t camped in years! I was a Girl Scout all throughout elementary school and we CAMPED! Like pitched a tent in a cow field and peed in a hole, camped. Back then I knew all about how to cook a meal over a fire and all of the camping songs but that was a LONG time ago! Since then, I’ve decided I really love a shower and a toilet. I think I camped a couple of times in college but my memories of those are pretty fuzzy! Probably because I thought I was too cool to be sleeping on the ground and really wanted a mirror to fix my hair. My husband has taken the kids camping at times over the years, either in the backyard or even once on an island at the lake. I never chose to go. I just didn’t want to! But all of a sudden this year I wanted to go, and couldn’t get there fast enough! When I suggested it to my husband I really thought we would just camp on our property, but instead we found a campground about 45 minutes from our house, made a reservation and planned it!
Last Friday night was our big adventure!! I spent all week trying to plan the perfect menu for the trip. It boiled down to hot dogs and sausages over the fire for supper and eggs and bacon for breakfast! I stocked up on instant coffee (I KNEW we would need tons of that!). I packed our minimal amount of clothes needed and Adam packed our camping gear and off we went! We camped at Imagination Mountain Camp Resort in Cosby, TN. They have cabins, yurts, RV parking and tent sites! Since it is not high season yet, we had the tent area all to ourselves. We had a sweet little site beside a beautiful mountain stream and were conveniently located by the bathroom. We got there, set up, and then played!! When I say play, they had putt-putt, a playground, and a nice arcade! TJ was in heaven! They have a large saltwater pool they were starting to fill for the summer season. There are also hiking trails located adjacent to the property in the Great Smokey Mountains National Park. Supper was amazing cooked over the fire. I just gave up on trying to be healthy and I ate 2 andouille sausages and a tons of chips and guac! Something about being outside makes me so hungry! TJ LOVED cooking his own food over the fire! He stated it was one of his favorite things about the trip!
The night went as well as expected. TJ had a hard time being convinced it was ok to sleep in clothes and not pajamas but other than that he settled in to his blow up mattress well. I knew I wouldn’t sleep well. I’m not a good sleeper in my own bed and it’s always worse when I am away from home. It also started out pretty warm but cooled off a lot! I failed to pack TJ a big enough blanket and he got a little cold in the night. The next morning we were up at the crack of dawn thanks to a crow that decided to fly around our site making a racket. We were quick to get the water boiling for our instant coffee and then Adam cooked eggs and bacon over the little camp stove we brought. After that we packed up and came home.
Ya’ll this little night away could not have made my heart happier. Being in nature, with my family, doing things that were new or different to us, was simply amazing. It didn’t take much money or really much effort but it made memories that will last a lifetime. I encourage you to bust out of your comfort zone and try something new with your family. It may be a disaster but it may be simply amazing. Most importantly, it will make a memory.
