Today’s guest poster is a mom after my own heart. Bruna of Bees with Honey is truly special. I see beauty in her lovely blog, get to read her heartfelt words in her posts, but it was really through chatting with her via e-mail and on Twitter that I really saw her inner beauty.
We have never met in person yet I feel like I have had wonderful conversations with a friend when I talk with her.
You are so blessed to get to read her words here today.
I was really surprised when Deirdre asked me to write something for her Pause Life for a Moment series. More than surprised, I was honoured that she wanted me to come on over and share a story.
Those of you who already read my blog or chat with me on Twitter will not be surprised when I tell you that I have three girls ranging in ages from 3 to 5 to 13. I am also a part-time first grade teacher. I work half the week in a classroom and all week at home. My work in the home is never ending. Those of you who are Mothers know exactly what I mean.
Needless to say, life at my house is usually really busy. The hubby and I are constantly trying to balance our work life with being loving and involved parents to our children and spouses to each other. It’s not always easy. Most of the time, we find ourselves flying by the seat of our pants. With only three weeks left until the kids are back in school, we are enjoying every last minute of our summer vacation.
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My Pause for Life moment comes from our only camping trip of the summer. All five of us left our civilized residence and headed out to Harrison Hot Springs in beautiful British Columbia. The intention of our trip was to expose our girls to the beautiful existence that is nature and live without the amenities we have at home. No phone, no electronic games, no computer, no TV, no IPods, no toys. We wanted the girls to see how just the simple things in life can be exciting and fulfilling.
Daddy taught the girls how to pitch a tent. Everyone helped by doing their part. The girls were attentive and when the tent went up, they all got to go inside and set up their sleeping bags and pillows.
Big B took her two little sisters on a mini hikes throughout our stay. They went exploring through the bushes, trees and plants around our camp. Big B kept the girls entertained with various scavenger hunts and some good old make-believe Spy game. I have never seen them so engaged.
During our camping adventure, Daddy took the girls out in a canoe to explore the lake and get a taste of fishing. You can imagine their faces when Daddy caught a fish and reeled it in. Little B helped to clean out the fish guts and Daddy cooked it on the mini BBQ.
We spent a day at a local beach close to the campground. The girls frolicked in the water, covered themselves in the sand and tried building a sandcastle. They played happily, cooperatively and without any whining whatsoever. It was so relaxing.
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At no time during any part of our camping trip did any child complain they were bored. The 13 year-old spent most of her time playing with her sisters or talking with us around the campfire. Our nights were spent singing campfire songs, roasting marshmallows and making Smores. When it was time to leave, the wee girls shed a few tears in protest and asked when we could come back to do it all over again. We assured them a summer camping trip would become an annual event.
Oh, how I miss the days when life was much simpler.
I miss the hours upon hours kids use to play outside with a ball or a stick and the use of their imagination to create the play.
I miss the days when people would sit around and talk or sing songs.
I miss the smell of campfire on my clothes.
I miss the taste of hot dogs roasted over a fire.
My Pause Life for a Moment comes from a wonderful weekend spent camping with my family in the outdoors, under the stars, partnered with nature and away from the busy place we call home.
That’s nice camping sis….
take a moment outdoors together with our family will increase closeness and intimate each other….
I grew up in Alaska, and my parents could not afford to fly us down to the lower 48 for vacations. So our only vacations were camping. I have many fond memories of playing with my brother, fishing, hiking, berry picking, etc.. And it all served me well when I joined the Army, as roughing it was easy for me. 🙂
I was at a park this weekend, and I had an eight your old lecturing me on how I should by a Wii for my son so he could still get exercise and not be out in the heat. Sad thing was, we both had extra weight around our middles (the eight year old and I), and I said, nah, I think playing outside will do us just fine. People do not get outside enough and slow down as it is.
I love this idea “Pause for a Moment”… so true to make you stop and see all of the blessings around and to rest! Love it. Thank you for visiting my blog. 🙂
Hey, it’s so nice to meet you! Loving your blog and seeing some similaries from living in SC (at one time) to teaching to being a Christ follower. Oh, I did link up with the back to school tips. Thanks for including me!
Camping with kids is just magical! Love all the pictures – and yes, definitely worthy of a pause life moment!
Hmmm…you almost made me want to go camping with that post. Almost.
Just lovely.
Thanks Deirdre, for having me over as a guest on your blog today! You really made me stop and think about things with this meme of yours. I was happy to share the story of how I made it meaningful in my life.
Thanks for your comments on my blog! so sweet! I hope your son has a great first year!! Good luck xx
I love that you think to pause for a moment. We all should remember to do that more often.
This is why I need to move out of the concrete jungle! My husband and I plan to move to New Zealand in a few years (before the toddler goes to school) as we feel that is the best place to raise a child – where he can go outside and play, away from the TV, iPad, computer, phone. Where WE can reconnect with each other and nature. Where we don’t have to travel far and wide to see the stars, or lie on the grass.
Apartment living in a bustling city really does not cut it. Great post, Bruna.
Thanks for stopping by my blog. Great guest post too….
Love this post!! And it makes me all the more excited to take the whole family camping this weekend. As long as we have good weather. I may camp, but I’m a fair weather camper!
Hope, I don’t do well camping if it’s raining. It’s only happened to me once but that was before having children days which is totally different! Keeping fingers crossed for nice weather this weekend! Happy camping:))
This sounds like such a special time for your family! 🙂
This sounds like such a wonderful way to unwind and just enjoy life w/o the distractions of tv, computer, phones, etc. I’d love to go camping when Donut is a bit older.
Thanks for coming by and reading Rach! Really appreciate it:) Camping is fun with kids.
I love this Bruna! It’s so fun to read about your family getting out in open spaces and making fabulous memories together! I bet that trip makes your daughters’ Best Vacations EVER lists as adults! Way to go mama!
Ha ha, Sarah! I hope they remember trips like these. It’s what I remember and cherish most about my childhood: all the vacations/camping trips we took as a family. Aww, memories!
Thanks for stopping by to read my babble. Love you for it!
Hi Bruna! Nice to see you over here and hear more about your camping trip. Your story sent me back to all the times I camped growing up from Mt. Rainier to the Adirondacks to the Sierras. I loved it and so glad that you and your whole family loved it too! :>
Aww…how lives would be different without technology! Glad you had a wonderful time with your girls!
So many of my strongest childhood memories are of family time on vacation 🙂 We really must give camping a go. My husband loves it but I struggle to be the outdoorsy, nature loving type…at least when it comes to where I sleep!
What a fun time!