Let the Camping Begin

Our new tent

Our camp

This past weekend we headed up to the Pinalenos mountain range (aka Mt. Graham) for a fun weekend of camping our Life Group. Friday morning we met 3 other familes at I-10 and Houghton and drove off. After a few planned and unplanned stops we finally started up the mountain road. It had been a long time since I had been on this mountain but I knew the road was full of hairpin turns and I had remembered correctly. After about 20 minutes we arrived at our campsite, Upper Arcadia of the Arcadia Campground.


The group site for the campground was apart from other camp sites which was nice. However, there was a road that went through our camp to access water reserve tanks and the gate was locked at the beginning of the road. This meant we had to park our vehicles and carry our camp equipment to the site. It was probably about 20-30 yards but it still made things a little more difficult. The campsite also didn't have the best areas for tents but we made it work. There were a lot of huge trees offering shade throughout the day, 6 nice cement tables, two large bear-boxes for storing our food, and toilets.

We arrived at the campsite at about 2 in the afternoon and started unloading our cars. We had all our tents setup and had checked in with the nice camp host when another family arrived, the Robinsons, with all the cooking gear. We helped them unload and get the kitchen area set up when the last family of the day arrived. The weather was wonderful! Not too cold and not too hot.

The Kitchen area

We ended up making our own fire ring out of big rocks, as the one provided was not in a good spot for the amount of people we were going to have. All we had to do was tear it down before we left on Sunday. It was time for dinner so while other families made a Hobo dinner, we roasted some polish dogs over the fire and they were delicious!

Hadley hadn't been feeling well before we left. Thursday she had a low fever but by Friday she seemed better. She didn't sleep much Friday so she was ready for bed Friday night. The kids were put to bed and the adults stayed around the campfire making s'mores and talking. It was a nice evening.

That night when we went to bed my legs and knees were aching really bad so I had a hard time falling asleep. It wasn't too cold and so I think I fell asleep around midnight. About 3am I was woken up by blaring rap music and Jon rustling around in his ammo box. He said he was going to go out and talk to whoever was out there and he was taking his gun with him just for safety. I was then wide awake with my heart pounding, listening to what was going on. I heard some guys talking and then a car drive off. Jon came back and said it had been a couple of drunk guys looking for a place to drink. They had pulled right up to the closed gate by our campground. Most likely they were residents of the nearby town Safford. I'm pretty sure Mt. Graham is the equivalent for Safford as Mt. Lemmon is for Tucson. I don't know how these guys were so plastered and made it up the windy mountain road safely. Both of us were wide awake now, I was kind of freaked out just not knowing if those guys would do anything to our vehicles parked out there or even come back to our camp to mess with us. I was very grateful for Jon asking them to leave and scared at the same time. About 3 minutes later we heard a car drive up and headlights were shining right into our tent (we were closest to the driveway). We both laid in the tent listening while the car idled there for a few minutes. Jon got back up and stood outside the tent waiting to see what they would do. After a few minutes they left, Jon walked down to check on all of our cars and then came back. They must have thought they found a new place to bump their music and drink and then realized it was the same place. I was fairly certain we'd find out they drove off the mountain on the way down, but there was nothing. Needless to say Jon and I didn't sleep the rest of the morning.

Saturday we were exhausted but ready to have a good day. We enjoyed some delicious breakfast burritos made by the Robinsons and hung out. One more family showed up early that morning and got their tent set up. By 11 that morning we had a group getting ready to go on a hike and 3 more families showing up to join our camping group. With everyone at camp who planned on coming and ready to hike we set off to the trail head of the Arcadia trail which ended right in our camp. It was a long hike and rough hike but what a fun adventure and memory. There had been a fire so a lot of trees were fallen in the middle of the trail and burnt to a crisp. A few of the logs we were able to push out of the way but most we had to climb over or under with one side of the mountain all uphill and the other side all downhill. It was neat to see all the new growth coming back along the trail and there were definitely some spectacular views. It took us about 3 hours and we finally made it back to camp. Jon was carrying Hadley the whole way and they both did great!

Hadley enjoying a Capri Sun

Hadley missed her nap again and became pretty whiny so we decided to check her temperature. Our thermometer battery was dead, of course, so we just gave her some ibuprofen in case her fever had come back. It was hard to tell if she was warm just by touching her forehead because our hands were cold and she had been running around a bit. We made lunch and hung out around camp. Dinner came and our camp host joined us. He was a nice guy, a sort of vagabond, traveling from campground to campground as a camp host. He ate quite a bit and was grateful for the invitation. We again put the kids to bed and enjoyed s'mores and hot cocoa around the campfire. Jon and I were exhausted so we went to bed first. The weather had gotten considerably colder and yet again I had a hard time sleeping.

Jon and I were ready to leave early Sunday morning but we didn't want to leave without helping everyone else pack up so we got everyone packed up, destroyed our fire ring, cleaned up camp and headed back to Tucson by about 10. The Johnsons were following with us down the mountain so we all stopped at The Thing (Jon and I have yet to actually go in there) for lunch and a DQ treat. Then home. We reached home around 1:30, unpacked, showered, and NAPPED. It's been a long time since I've slept so hard. Jon and I took a 2 hour nap and Hadley took a 3 hour nap. It was awesome!  Turns out Hadley was still running a low temp so I think that along with no naps during the day made it a little harder of a trip for her but overall we had a great time!

We have a few more camping trips planned for the summer and I'm so looking forward to them! I love the memories we make as a family (and life group) when we go. It was something I cherished as a kid and I hope Hadley does too.

Bin Laden

About 54 years ago a child was born. A child God created. And on May 2, 2011, it was announced to the world this child was killed. Osama Bin Laden became the most wanted man in the world. Whether his followers had more respect for him or his enemies wanted him dead, he was a sought-after man. I was deeply saddened that such a man would wish and execute the death of others. I was equally as saddened that people, Christians especially, would wish this man dead. I can easily say what he did is not as bad as the lie I told last week but truly the statement goes against what I really believe, all sin is equal.

I go back and forth on this event. The God of the Old Testament allowed victories and assassinations in wars. The Bible also clearly states God hardened Pharoh's heart, apparently influencing this man's decisions. So God does bring justice through humans, as it appears. Does this all change with Jesus' new Covenant? I know the beliefs and actions of Bin Laden is not in line with who God is. Is it ok to say, "God Bless America, We killed Bin Laden"? I have a hard time believing God is celebrating Bin Laden's death. We are told God delights in His creation. It could be argued God hardened Bin Laden's heart just as he did Pharoh's, but does this mean God is less saddened by Bin Laden's death? I guess I can't say for sure. I tend to think not.

A few things I know, as Christians we are told the greatest commandment is Love. Wishing the death of someone, no matter their iniquities, is not loving. I also know justice is not ours (Deut 32:35; Rom 12:19) and mercy is better than judgement (James 2:13). I appreciate the military and all their service and sacrifices in this war. I sympathize with people who lost loved ones in the attack on 9/11. I am angered at the evil of terrorism which has affected so many. I am disappointed in the attitudes of Christians throughout this whole thing.

These are just the thoughts I have running around in my head about this whole situation. 

Life Lately

In trying to keep this blog going daily I want to post something but I don't really have the time to do a long one and I don't really even know what to post about.

So here's our life in a nutshell lately.

Our kitchen remodel has dominated our life for the last two months. We were without cabinets, counter tops, and appliances for 3 weeks. We managed because we kept the toaster oven and microwave in the garage. We also had a sink in the garage for laundry/brewing so we could wash dishes in there. We lived on paper plates and plastic cups. I also had kept the croc-pot out so we did a few crock-pot meals which were great. I lost all motivation to grocery shop. It wasn't too bad, although it did get old.

We had drywall work done, did some painting and then our cabinets and counter tops were installed. I set to work washing all our dishes before putting them in the cupboards. They had been sitting in boxes on our back porch so they were a little dusty.

We absolutely LOVE the new cabinets and counter tops. They look wonderful. And we now have 3 of the 4 appliances. We're going to be using our microwave in the garage for another month until our new one comes in. It's inconvenient but it's doable. We're still working on finishing the flooring because we'll be doing it ourselves and it will be throughout the hallway, living room, dining room and kitchen. We just haven't had time!! Here are pictures of our remodel.

Hadley is just growing by leaps and bounds. She's talking up a storm, starting to use full sentences. She loves water and "MM's " (aka M&M's). She's learning her letters and how to count. She just loves life and we love her. She's been sick a lot in the last few months, a few colds and a stomach bug. We've been pretty lucky she's overall a pretty healthy kid. We've only taken her to the dr. once because she was sick. I was worried with a recent cold and cough she was getting the Croup but she was fine the next day.

We're getting ready to go camping on Mt. graham this weekend with our bible study crew. I'm really excited to go, I think we'll have a lot of fun! I suppose that will have to be its own post.

Journaling (Apparently it's not a real word but I'm using it anyway)

Part of being a writer, so I'm told, is constantly writing. I've never really been good at journaling. I have certainly been consistent at being inconsistent with it.

I remember the summer our TV broke, I think I was still in elementary school, and my mom bought my brother and I notebooks to journal in. With no school to keep us busy and no TV to help us veg out my mom thought this would be a great idea. I thought so too at first and went along with it. I don't remember how long I did it, but I do know I abandoned it before school started the next year.

I kept a diary as a child too, which I still have. Every now and then I look back at what I wrote and just laugh. Most of the entries were about friends. Some were about vacations and general day to day happenings.

I also had a journal for my trip to the Ukraine when I went in high school. I also, still have that one. I did my best to journal daily during the trip but after about a week and a half (the trip was two weeks long) I stopped. What's great about looking back on those specific entries is reading the details I have since forgotten about the trip.

I then started an e-journal on my now dinosaur- laptop when I went to college. I actually kept that going, inconsistently, for about 4 years. I saved those files and have moved them onto my current laptop. I like to reread those entries but for some reason they're harder to revisit. Part of it is I wasn't as confident in myself back then so I focused on a lot of the wrong things in life. Perhaps part of it is they're still a little fresh.

Currently, as I started my writing journey with the Christian Writer's Guild, I've tried to start up another journal as well as maintain this blog. The e-journal is not going so well although it does allow me a place to vent in writing what I'd like to put on the blog but I know is not appropriate for any audience. Sadly, I'm still not very consistent with it. I'd like to get better because it certainly helps when I'm thinking of ideas for my writing assignments. I've already used two of my blog entries for assignments. As you may know I attempted a Blog-a-day challenge and couldn't keep up with that even.

Journaling is to me what a New Year's weight-loss resolution is for most of America, a lost cause. At least in one aspect: trying to achieve journaling. This goes along with my post from yesterday. If I think I can set a goal to journal everyday then I will achieve greatness, no I mean, I will achieve being a good writer. If I look at journaling as an experience, something that is on-going, then I can let myself off the hook when I don't journal that one day or maybe even one week. I have a desire to do it so I can look back and remember details or so my children can learn more about me and different things that were going on.

What about you? Do you journal?

By the way if you like to journal, I found some nifty, creative journals sold here. A little pricey but a neat gift idea for someone who loves to journal.

Acheivement vs. Experience

I'm going through a study with some women at church discussing Bruxy Cavey's book The End of Religion. I've really enjoyed it and agreed with most of his thoughts. Essentially he says, "Jesus came to put an end to religion, not start a new one." He defines religion as rituals, routines, and most importantly laws that are necessary to have a relationship with God. Jesus came to do away with all of that. Accepting Jesus' deity, death, and resurrection is the key to our relationship with God.

Anyway, toward the end of this book Cavey discusses the difference between achieving a relationship with Christ and experiencing a relationship with Christ. He says, "Christ-followers participate in spiritual practices (like prayer, Bible study, and meditation), not in order to achieve something, but in order to better experience what they already know to be true. I talk with my wife, not in order to achieve marriage, but in order to experience the marriage we have." (pg 220) Most religions, law-based ritualistic religions, have ways in which you achieve something. We could say they are works based. Jesus came to do away with laws and rituals (I say this in a general manner that laws are not needed to experience Jesus) so that we might have a true, uninhibited relationship with God. Cavey continues, "But according to Jesus, the connection already exists, as far as God is concerned. All we have to do is welcome it. God's loving presence surrounds us like air; it is the atmosphere we live in -- we simply need to stop holding our breath." (pg 220)

Achievement, to me, signifies an end result. Experience signifies an on-going journey. God has already offered us the achievement of Grace without having to do any works, so we can experience Him to the fullest. Why do we make things so difficult?

What about you? Are you trying to achieve a relationship with Christ so you can check it off your list and move on or are you longing to experience the wonder that is God?

You've got a hold on me

This will be a short post, but it's one I don't really want to put as a Facebook status so I figured this is a good place to do it.

If there is one thing in my life that can really take hold of my thoughts, emotions, and even affect my relationship with Christ, it's my relationships with other people.

If I think I've offended someone or upset someone, it's all I can think about until it's smoothed over. If someone says something that bothers me, I can't get over it until I feel like I've figured out why they said it. I say it gets a hold of me, but usually I only let it take control for a week at most. I can't stand to wallow or play the victim for too long. It takes too much energy and robs me of good times.

In the past I would work extremely hard to please everyone, now I only work at pleasing people. I praise God for helping me grow in this area as it has had a more positive effect on my relationship with Him, however it still lingers.

I'm learning to trust God more in this area. Allowing Him to stretch me beyond what I am capable of doing on my own. He is faithful.

Ok so this was a little longer than I first thought, so I guess it was a good thing I blogged about it instead of putting it as a Facebook status.

I feel like Chicken tonight, like Chicken tonight....

Here's a new favorite crock pot recipe: From Fix it and Forget it 5 Ingredient Slow Cooker cookbook.

Lemon Pepper Chicken and Veggies

2-3 Chicken drumsticks (skinned)

2-3 Chicken thighs (skinned)

4-5 Red potatoes chopped in 1 inch cubes

4-5 Carrots cut in 1/2" discs

2 Cups of Frozen Green Beans (optional)

Chopped Garlic (optional)

14 oz Can of chicken broth

Lemon Pepper

Sprinkle lemon pepper on both sides of chicken pieces.

Layer carrots, potatoes, green beans and garlic if using, and then chicken. 

Pour in Chicken broth and cook on low 4-5 hours or until chicken falls off the bone and veggies are cooked through. If you're crockpot doesn't cook very fast or very hot, you may need to increase the cooking time.