Preparing for the Great Outdoors

The countdown for our camping trip has begun and the last-minute gathering of supplies is upon us.  Time for lists and enlisting help!  This is our first official camping trip in years, since the girls were younger and we were able to escape from the trappings of life more easily.  Now, work schedules are unforgiving and three adult daughters have agendas of their own.  That being said, it is a major accomplishment that we actually got all of our schedules to coincide for five days.  Thursday morning we leave at dawn for the drive to the ever-enchanting Yosemite!  This is the first place I ever camped, back at the age of 24, having just met my future-husband and willing to try new adventures.  The park holds a dear place in my heart.  We took our oldest daughter there when she was three and watched her play in the low river, ankle-deep.  Another trip found the two younger girls captivated by the multitude of pine needles perfect for constructing small villages and houses, which kept them occupied for hours.

What is it about being in the forest that brings the imagination forward?  I am looking forward to a reprieve from technology, a break from schedules and breathing clean, mountain air.  I am excited about our new smaller tent, just for us.  The girls will have their own tent this time.  We are meeting my oldest daughter and her boyfriend as well as his parents, whom we’ve not met.  It will be a family affair, complete with campfires, stories and s’mores.  This is the stuff of memories; the ones we remember and the new ones we are creating.