Nearly 2 months have passed since I last posted.
Summer brings many activites...camping, swimming lessons, outings. All these things make life hectic don't they?
Our family has an annual camping trip to the dunes. Once a year, we all get together and camp out in the sand. Not in a nice "cush" camping/RV area, but literally out in the dunes, in the sand, with no toilet or running water.
Several years ago, my husband and I decided this was a good fit for our family "reunion." My three sons love to ride quads. We love to ride quads. Hence...Florence.
This would be our first family camping trip with lovelygirl. I have to admit, I was a bit worried at the prospect of no bathrooms or running water. I didn't know for sure how she would handle being out in the sand.
Lovelygirl is one of those great combinations of a tomboy and a girlie girl. Given the choice at home, she likes to wear dresses or skirts. But she isn't afraid to pick up a worm, or a bug and even wanted to hold a garden snake once!
She absolutely loved it. The whole experience was an awesome family bonding time.
What is one of the things you absolutely have to do when you are camping?
Why, sit around a campfire of course!
The whole family congregates, and tells stories, memories etc around the fire; roasting marshmellows, making smores and just hanging out in general. These are the memories my husband and I sought to keep within our family. My boys have grown, and it's hard to get us all together like that. Since they LOVE going, they make it a priority every year.
The circle.
For the newest member of the family, this means more than just hanging out. To her, this meant she belonged. Her chair was included in the circle. She was allowed to stay up later, enjoy this special family time, even adding her own stories to the group.
She was accepted. She accepted.
Something changed after that trip. A slight move into another direction.
A slight move into another direction holds alot of change over a longer period of time. Anyone who is familiar with GPS units or hand held compasses know that one degree to the left and you can miss your mark entirely.
I can still feel that change. It's in the air. It's in her smile, in her movements.
She is accepting the changes in her life better now. She is more relaxed. She is more genuine.
The circle.
The family circle.
Powerful stuff.
