Living Joyfully: June 2014

First Camp-Out of the Season

We packed up our camping gear and headed for the mountains last weekend. I am so glad we did. It felt good to slow down together.

Highlights of the camp-out, in my mind, were:
1) The boys getting to paddle by themselves for the first time
2) Greg's burgers on the charcoal grill
3) Campfire and s'mores
4) Snuggling down in the tent that we've almost outgrown
5) Morning campfire and eggs, sausage and pop-tarts
6) Paddling in the morning
7) Hanging out on the rocks in the morning sunshine

It was a great trip - one to remember.

Mark getting a feel for the kayak while it was still in the garage

Our fearless leader

Keepers of the fire

On the water

Waiting on the rocks with Mark

Nathan paddling up to say hello

Mark rinsing his feet off post-paddle

Visiting Ridgecrest after the camp-out

Wading in the Montreat creek

Baseball Ready

This spring found us full-swing in t-ball and baseball mode. Weeknight practices were new for me. It was a little tricky at first, but we settled into a nice ritual of the library and picnic suppers before practice that made it fun for all of us.

I think the boys enjoyed the experience. Almost every day, they come downstairs with their gloves on and want to practice catching. Outside, we keep saying, so out they go. There is a makeshift baseball diamond in our backyard now, and we have made two trips to retrieve balls from neighbors' yards.

Baseball is a good game. And we have a lot of good pictures. Here are a few to share.

Tulsa Time

Back in March, Melanie and I flew out to spend a weekend with Kate. It was a good time together...pretty weather, great food, and nice, long chats. The flight in itself was a retreat for me...uninterrupted reading time! We left really early, which suited me fine. I think Nathan even got up early enough to kiss me goodbye!