Slowing Down

I can't wait to tell you about our weekend. It was absolutely grand in the slowest of ways. 

The whole purpose of camping, I think is to be able to slow down, retreat from real life, and enjoy some rest. Unfortunately, with the increase in popularity of camping, it feels like campgrounds are the hub on weekends like the one we just had. 

I follow a bunch of full time RVers on Instagram, and last week one of them asked what everyone planned to do for Memorial Day weekend, and I think the response was nearly unanimous: HIDE!!!!!! Hide until all the rest of the campers go home!

It's true. 

We didn't know where we would be living or working or what our schedules would be when the time rolled around to start making campground reservations for this season, so therefore, we did not make any. By the time we knew where we would be and what our work days would be like, it was too late. Anything in a respectable driving distance was booked more than solid for this weekend. 

Even if we found a spot, we were pretty sure that wasn't how we wanted to introduce Lexi to camping life. Oh, the overstimulation. She wants to meet everyone she sees. If there are 200 campsites and each one has anywhere from 2-8 people...oh my. Poor girl would never sleep, would she? 

And so it was that we took part of the weekend and did a trial camping run at our friends' house. We asked if we could hide on a back corner of their property, plug in the RV and just hang out for a couple of days. And they said yes! 

We've made so many memories this weekend, and we've learned the pros and cons of camping with Lexi. It was absolutely the right move to do a trial run away from the masses and the chaos. It was much more enjoyable!

But in addition to that, Ryan and I enjoyed the chance to simply slow down. We sat outside every chance we had, coming inside only to cool off from the sun. We had long conversations together, brainstorming for the future at Ryan's work, dreaming about our 10th anniversary, and talking about things we're learning from the Lord about our lives.

Ryan told me that he had enjoyed the weekend of resting, since he hears that is something he's not great at doing. ;) I loved WATCHING him rest - and Lexi, too!

I am not sure what we will do for camping locations for the rest of the season. It is most definitely true that gas prices will keep us from going very far. And we may not be able to find anything any of the times we can go. But we are trusting we'll have chances to get away and rest somehow...somewhere. 

Slowing down is a true gift.