GTL and other nonsense

It's Friday.  Friday means laundry.  Since we are in Baltimore that means an early morning and a chance to hit the gym before the sun comes up.  So, I have already done two of the popular GTL combo.  WHAT?????  Here is where my soapbox comes scooting underfoot.

The fact that I even know what a GTL is (gym-tan-laundry) let alone where the phrase comes from (that awful MTV show Jersey Shore) and, worse yet, who says it the most ("The Situation" yup, that's his name!) makes my head spin.  I don't watch tv, much less that show, but I know all about it.  So, if I know this much about it - what do our children, who have seen whole episodes, know???

This group of hard partying, overly tan, gel-haired, 20-somethings has the attention of our children, not just in the hour they are watching the show but, obviously, during the other 23 hours of the day too.  I have not seen even 5 minutes of this show and I know way more than I ever should.  I feel my IQ dropping just mentioning these attention mongers.

It' not just Jersey Shore.  Bad Girls Club, Teen Mom, 16 and Pregnant, I Just Want My Pants Back and MORE are telling our kids that no morals, sex before marriage and parental disrespect are the norm and if they want to fit in this is the way they need to be too.

What are we as parents doing to counteract this attack on our children??  Sadly, most of us aren't doing anything.  Too many parents are more worried about being their kid's friend rather than their parent.  "NO" is not a bad word.  Boundaries are not cruel.  And, setting standards for appropriate behavior and dress does not make you a mean parent.

By no means do I have it this parenting-in-a-social-media-generation thing figured out.  I can't stand the music the kids listen to but, no where in the Bible have I found "Thou shalt not listen to gangsta rap."  It does have plenty of other passages that help me navigate today's culture.

We, as parents, need to start by becoming the person we want our child to be.  If we can't explain to our children why it's ok to rent that movie, download that song or frequent that web site then we need to change our media choices too.  

Like I said, I don't have this all figured out but I do know where I can always find the right answers and I don't have to worry about the content when I read it to the kids!  More Bible, less People parents!

We are currently on our second trip to Daytona.  This past week back in Virginia was hard.  Not just because we had snow and ice but because we had gotten out of a rhythm.  The tent had been taken down before our first trip here.  We are now making due with everything in the canopy tent.  It was just a disorganized mess.  


During this really uncomfortable week I had a conversation with a friend of mine about our camping experience.  It was a conversation I have had with many people many times over.  "I love camping but I don't think I could ever give up everything and do it all the time."  At that moment I was thinking the same thing.  This is sucking big time and it's not fun any more!  I can't find my long johns.  The bed is deflating faster than ever.  There's no room to sit cause we having bedroom, living room and kitchen all in one.  It's snowing.  There's ice. The tarps are making it too hard to get in and out of the tent.  One complaint after another.  I was having a good ol' pity party!!


This is when God shouts, "SNAP OUT OF IT!"  I don't hear His whispers, I'm kind of stubborn that way, so He usually has to shout to get my attention.  Philippians 4:13 came to mind.  We all know it.  It's a very popular verse.  You can go into any Christian book store and find it on plaques and coffee mugs and t-shirts and key chains.  You name it, it's been printed on.  But, as with most of these popular verses we know just that one small part without reading the whole chapter to get the big picture.  

"I'm glad in God, far happier than you would ever guess - happy that you're again showing such strong concern for me.  Not that you ever quit praying and thinking about me.  You just had no chance to show it.  Actually, I don't have a sense of needing anything personally.  I've learned by now to be quite content whatever my circumstances.  I'm just as happy with little as with much, with much as with little.  I've found the recipe for being happy whether full or hungry, hands full or hands empty.  Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am." 
-Phillippians 4:10-13 (The Message  Emphasis is mine.)

That's it!!!  Until last week I had been so content in our adventure but one moment of discomfort and I was questioning the whole experience.  We're out here for Him.  We're out here because this is where He wants us.  Hot or cold.  Sunshine or snow.  Bed or air mattress.  It's all for Him.


Am I still going to complain when it's a bit colder than I want or when things get misplaced?  Yeah!  I'm human.  But, I know that contentment can be found just as quickly remembering that His strength, not mine, is what will get me through.

New Year, New Adventures!

We love the outdoors.  Obviously.  You don't make a choice to live in a tent if you don't love being outside all the time.  Even so, I am thankful that this winter has been very mild.  Every day we learn a bit more about what to do and what not to do.  Being able to do that without having to worry about several inches of snow and constant bitter cold has been a blessing.  Our heaters can only do so much in an enclosure that has plastic walls and no floor.

We have had a wonderful time this winter.  There is a certain perspective of what is really a need when your resources are limited.  I thought I would miss all the "fluff" that comes with having a house.  No pictures on walls.  No knick knacks to dust.  No floors to mop. No grass to mow.  No tv.  None of these are bad, but are they necessary to have a full life?

We traveled to Daytona Beach, FL this week and are back in a hotel.  All that is provided in a hotel was taken for granted before we began our adventure.  Now, there is a great appreciation of simple things like running water and electricity.  The ocean view and kitchenette are nice and we will enjoy it while we are here but we miss our tent!  Simple is good!!

Our winter adventure hadn't been as "productive" as far as helping people that we had hoped it would be. Until we started thinking about it.  When we help a stranger we know it's God putting them in our path to help.  When it's family, it's not so clear.

In Virginia and Maryland it's impossible to find a state park camp site that is open in the winter.  There are plenty of private campgrounds that have RV sites that you can put a tent on but they want a king's ransom for the privilege to stay there.  Darren's brother, Trever, cleaned out his backyard and it has been an ideal campground this winter.

Cleaning his house.  Picking up dog food.  Adding an extra plate when I make dinner.  These are all things that if it was a stranger, I would know instantly that it was a "God thing".  Since it's family we just do it without seeing that God had us right where we were needed most this winter.  He didn't want us out helping strangers when there was a greater need right in our own family.

We are really looking forward to all the adventures that God has in store for us in the coming year!!  Where will God lead YOU this year?

As of tomorrow we have been living outdoors for four weeks.  A whole month!  We've done a couple days and even a couple weeks but a whole month is a long time to live outside.  We LOVE it!!!!!

This adventure is definitely not for everyone and we are constantly asked: "How do you do it?"

Here is a quick run down of our tips and tricks to living outside in the middle of winter.

1.  Fleece is your friend.
Not flannel.  Fleece.  That wonderfully fuzzy fabric is an outdoor enthusiasts best friend.  We have several fleece blankets that we use in our double sleeping bag (more on that later).  A queen size blanket on the bottom to block the cold, another for each of us to wrap up in and smaller ones to go around our pillows.

Fleece is what lines our mid-weight long johns.  There are other options for long johns and you might make the mistake of getting the extreme cold version but don't!  Mid-weight is all you need since you should be layering your clothing anyway.  And, speaking of layering - a fleece pullover is a must!  It does a much better job of block the cold and wind than a sweatshirt does.  Fleece is our choice of fabric for our...

2. Hats!
Not just any hat - warm beanies (Darren's choice) and snuggly ear flap hats (my choice).  Day and night these little fabric wonders keep us warm.  With night time temperatures in the low 20's sleeping in our hats is a must.

I love my UGA hat!!

3. Double 0* sleeping bag
You're sleeping outside in the middle of winter - DO NOT skimp on your sleeping bag!!!  We have a double sleeping bag, also called an Adan & Eve sleeping bag.  It is rated for 0 degrees.  When you combine the sleeping bag with the fleece blankets (we've already covered their awesomeness) it is so warm you forget that you're outside.  We've actually tested the outside vs. inside the bag temps.  Outside one day was 27*, inside our sleeping bag it was 90*.  Now THAT'S warm!!

4. Tents and heaters
I know a lot of winter campers use a four season tent but the thought of crawling in and out of such a tent for two months was anything but appealing.  We use the same tent now that we use in the summer - the Coleman Vacationer.  With a bedroom, screen "porch" and 8 ft ceiling this is the most comfortable living space for the amount of time we are spending in it.  The screen porch area can also be used as additional sleeping space when any of the kids are with us and we don't want to pitch another tent for just a night or two.

Our Mess Tent, as the kitchen/living tent is called, is a pop up canopy with windscreen and netting attached.  The Mess Tent is the main gathering area when we aren't around the campfire.

Both tents have the Big Buddy Indoor heater.  This heater lets off some heat!  We can do from 20* to 70* in under 5 minutes.  Nothing like taking the chill off first thing in the morning.

5. A campfire!!
And finally, the trusty campfire.  Used for both warmth and cooking if we didn't have the campfire this whole adventure would be miserable!  The best way to spend a cool Sunday afternoon is around the campfire enjoying the company of family and friends.  S'mores, of course, are a must along with clam chowder or Hobo Stew.  Yum!!

We have truly been enjoying our time with Mother Nature.  The brisk mornings, sunny afternoons and cool evenings are all a blessing that we would not have fully enjoyed if we had the creature comforts of a brick and mortar home.

From our home to yours we wish you a very MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Wendall the Reindeer and our Christmas tree.  Yup, we put a tree up in the Mess Tent!

Perspective

Perspective has been the topic of quite a few conversations around our home lately.  It usually has to do with the weather.  Before starting our adventure 27 degrees was extremely cold.  Now it's normal and the chill in the air doesn't bother us as much any more.  For me, a clean shower now means one without the company of spiders and other bugs.  And, the most enjoyable time with the kids is around a campfire playing Catchphrase instead of going and doing (fill in the blank with any activity that costs money).

We finished up our visit with the Texas kids with a trip to Minnesota to spend Thanksgiving with Nana and Nana B.  The kids were super excited to be headed north to the possibility of snow.  There was a bit on the ground when we arrived.  It stayed around the next day long enough for the little girls to get all dressed and play in it for about 30 minutes.  So, it doesn't matter if you live where there is snow all winter or if you only get to experience it for a short time - kids only play outside in the snow for the amount of time it takes to get them dressed for it!

Chloe & Buggy

Spending time with The Nanas is exciting but getting to spend time with The Cousins is even more fun!!!  Mason and Chloe arrived the day after we did and it was nonstop noise and play until we all left on Saturday.

Aunt Courtney getting squished by Mason, Beck, Chloe, Bug & Jac
(James was playing on his computer)

It was a quick trip but the food, fun and family time were FABULOUS!  After unloading all the kids and their stuff our trip back to Virginia was extremely quiet.  You spend all that time telling one kid or another to please stop bothering their sibling and keep their hands to themselves and when you don't have to do it anymore, you miss it.  The up side to traveling without the kids was that we were able to stop in Shreveport, LA for dinner, watch a little football and get some Christmas shopping started.  Any time I can get that started before Dec 24 is a bonus!!

The trip between Texas and Virginia is always made easier when we stop in Atlanta and visit Les and Judy (aka: PopO & G2).  Extra hot, extra crispy, extra wet wings at $3 Cafe is a MUST and getting to visit with the in-laws is always a pleasure.  Darren's brother, Kyle, and his wife, Laura, also live in the area.  When we are too tired to drive another mile they always have a bed to spare for the night.  Ok, we really like staying there because their girls, Taylor and MacKenzie, make us smile!

Christmas is right around the corner.  I thought I would miss having a house to decorate but the past few months have all been about simplifying and finding out what really matters.  A wreath on the door.  A red and green towel on the kitchen counter.  Pine scented candles.  That cute red cup at Starbucks.  They are all nice but not what it's about.  We all hear about keeping Christ in Christmas but what does it mean?  I think the simplicity of His birth is what we need to remember.  He is a King and could have been born in any mansion or palace but God chose a smelly barn to present His Son to us.  Celebrating His birth and the love that He wants you to show every (and He means EVERY) person throughout the year is more important than what's being wrapped in the pretty paper.  Spend the day greeting everyone with a smile, putting change in the red bucket, take the long way home so you can keep listening to your favorite carol, let your kid read to you instead of you to them.  Slow down your pace and your perspective will change too.

Texas!!

WE LOVE CAMPING!!  It has been an amazing couple weeks here in Texas.  This is the first time we've been able to set up camp and stay for more than three days and we are truly enjoying it.  The only downfall has been the weather.  We packed for cold and it has been really warm.  Yup, I'm complaining because it's been too hot!!  You can take the girl out of North Dakota but can't take North Dakota outta the girl! This week is looking more promising with lows in the 30's & 40's the next couple nights and highs in the 60's.  That's much better for November.  We are headed to Minnesota for Thanksgiving where the daytime high is only 25.  That's more like it!!!

Tent City: Blue tent is Rebekah's, red is James', we share the other one with the little girls and the green topped one is the Mess Tent. 

Cooking station inside the Mess Tent

Jac playing in Tent City at night. 

We have a Mess Tent set up so breakfast can be quick and easy since the kids still have to get to school.  Inside we have a propane stove, cooler and all the food and snacks set out ready to go.  The best part is that all of this can be left out without having to worry about bears.  Not a luxury we have had at other sites!  Dinner, however, is a different story.  That's done over the camp fire.  Clam Chowder is a crowd favorite!

Clam Chowder

My men chopping firewood.

Chappa-Chappa Man.  James was in charge of getting all the little branches chopped up.

Darren stoking the fire

Our weekends were filled with soccer tournaments for Rebekah and James but there were times when we got to sit back and relax.  Firewood needed to be collected for dinner and Jac loves pulling the cart.  Sometimes the load got a bit heavy...

after this picture was taken, Jac let go of the handle and let Beck roll off the path.  "Oh, no!  Run away cart!" she said as she giggled.

The hammocks were also popular past times:

Jac relaxing in the hammock

Beck's a bit camera shy, until it's her idea

silly girl

All and all a wonderful trip and a lot of fun family time!  Thanks to all the wonderful park hosts at Hickory Creek Park.  Wish us luck as we leave for Minnesota on Monday.

Cardinals WIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Darren and I are Braves fans so, a Cardinals win would not normally be reason to celebrate but this win is different.  This win was for our friend Corey.  Corey worked with Darren at BSI and in April while at home for a week off while the rest of the crew was in Martinsville, Corey died in a motorcycle accident.  He was a husband, father, son, brother, friend and fanatic Cardinals fan.

Corey Twait
1971-2011

This week we are back in Martinsville and the World Series concluded last night in game 7 with a Cardinals win.  The connection wasn't lost on anyone however I cannot say it any better than Darren did when he sent out the following email.  We miss you Corey!  Go Cardinals!!!!

To all of you who knew Corey:
You may or may not know that he was a devout St. Louis Cardinal fan. And, you may or may not believe in God.  However, it was in Martinsville that we got the horrible news of his death. And now with his favorite team winning the World Series, God has given us a reason to smile in the same place, Martinsville.

I ask you each to take a moment to pray for Corey's family. And, take this as a true sign that there is a God that loves each one of us.

If I sent this to you then it means I care about you and pray for you to have a closer relationship with God. We may not always understand the things that happen all around us or even to us, but faith is how we are able to endure. With out faith, Corey would not be celebrating the Cardinals victory. He wouldn't be able to if the afterlife didn't exist. So, I hold tight to the belief that there is a God and he probably had to tell Corey to hold it down a few times during the Cardinals unbelievable come from behind season and playoffs, especially game six when they were all but done twice in back to back innings.  They had overcome unbelievable setbacks several times but I never thought they were done. I knew that Corey had sweet talked God into a Cardinal victory in his calm collective way. He can only be gone if we forget him, so please remember him this weekend and his family and yell out: "How 'bout those Cards, C Twizzle?"

Your friend in Christ,
Darren