We generally camp at least once a year. And when I say camp, I mean in the dirt, in tents, around a campfire, without easily accessible showers. We use Coleman stoves for most of our cooking and have to be meticulous about storing all food and anything scented (toothpaste, lotion, etc.) away from our tents and out of our cars – for fear of bears. Yes, bears. (They often wander right through your campsite) We even have to remove the kids’ carseats because the bears associate them with food and bust into the cars looking for crumbs!
Brent and I both grew up going to Yosemite National Park – which is gorgeous (if you’ve never been – GO!) The Cox family gathers there almost every summer. This last week was our big Yosemite trip. And between all the planning and packing to get there and then the COLD, cloudy, wet, rainy weather that hit mid week (along with HAIL – and don’t forget… MUD), I found myself wondering several times… Why do we like camping, again? To keep my spirits up during the 2 days we were on tent-arrest I made up some lists of reminders for why I like camping:
Things I’m Glad to Get Away From or Go Without:
- TV, computers, Internet, etc.
- The daily routine, demanding schedules.
- The gym.
- Church callings (sorry, but it’s true).
- Housework, To-Do’s, and my husband’s job.
- My scale.
- Make-up, hair product, and heels.
Things I Appreciate Even More When I Get Home:
- Hot and plentiful showers.
- A washer and dryer.
- My friends!
- All kitchen appliances.
- The fact that electrical outlets, mirrors, and toilets are always close by.
Things That Make Me Happy to Camp:
- My mom’s homemade hot chocolate first thing in the morning.
- The scenery!
- Hearing my dad tell stories around the campfire.
- Setting up “house” in the wilderness… for some reason I find this fun.
- Living in my swimsuit, sweats, and flip flops.
- Watching the kids get filthy every day and have the time of their lives doing it.
- HIKING. Amazing sights, great workout, and good company!
- Watching Brent do manly camping things like chop wood, grow a beard, skip rocks, and back flip off of rocks into freezing water.
- Reading good books.
- Lounging in the sun by the river.
- Eating ice cream cones and red licorice.
- Snuggling up with Brent in our big warm sleeping bags.
See…? Camping isn’t so bad! Ok Ok… camping in the rain really is kinda bad. Which is why Brent and I actually deserted our tent, sleeping bags, etc. and high-tailed it back down to his parents house in Fresno to wait out the bad weather. In the end it all worked out, we got to spend more quality time with the Nef crew and made it back up to Yosemite for a long weekend of beautiful weather. I was actually sad to leave and wished we had another day or two. Especially when we had cute little cousins running along side our car as we drove away saying, “Bye! See you next year!” And Jake and Danny yelling back, “Can’t you come to my house??! Come on, Run! Come with us!”
As my mom put it… THAT is why we camp. The world around us could be going crazy, but Yosemite is always there, waiting for us. It might sound hokey, but there is something about driving into the place that soothes the soul. I think for us at least it kind of feels like coming home. Its’ a place where our family makes memories and comes together. It has been for generations – on both sides. And that is why we love it, and why we keep coming back for more. Even when it rains… 🙂
More pictures here in our newest album.
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