One of my very favorite things about camping is that it is a rare occurrence where we are okay with being out of touch. The world today demands constant availability. We keep our phones with us almost every waking minute of the day, we check our emails regularly, listen to voicemails, return calls, check texts.  I remember years ago, before my mom had a cell phone, she would tell us she was going to the grocery store and that was that. We couldn't call every five minutes to see when she'd be home, and if we wanted her to pick something up she needed to know before she left. Somehow, we made it that way just fine for years.  Now, the ability to constantly be in-touch has changed everything. Seldom do we feel justified in ignoring calls, texts, and emails. But when we go camping, I think we sort of tap in to that time when we weren't in such high demand. Our phones lose service or their batteries die, and we are left disconnected with no obligation to be available because it simply isn't an option.

Last weekend we went camping and I was reminded all over again how much I love it. We set up our little tent on a small, uneven patch and rolled out a million blankets. Jeremiah thought the whole thing was hilarious. He laughed and laughed as Kory tried to kill a mosquito in our tent and tried over and over again to stand up on the side of the tent only to find it wasn't as sturdy as our walls at home. He loved it, and I was so relieved that he did because I love it. I read an article a while back about how the best way to remedy self-absorption in teenage kids is to get them outside. It talked about how being in awe of something makes people feel small and puts things in perspective. I love that, and I think it applies to everyone - not just teenagers. There are few places I feel more at home than in the mountains because when I go there I can see things so much more clearly. The mountains have a unique way of bringing the things that matter most to the surface.