Camping Trip with Maw Maw and Poppa!

cooking marshmallows!

Get back here Reese!

climbing a mountain!

Picture of a herd of deer--kinda:)

**Guest blogger: Maw Maw Stamps--Greg's mom

God blessed us with perfect camping weather and a perfectly wonderful trip altogether!

We got to our campsite & Poppa told us we needed to get our things unloaded &, without another word, all 4 of the kids, Abby, Charlie, Reese & Landry, started taking things to our campsite then returning & asking Poppa what else they could carry. They kept up that spirit until Poppa told them that was all--they'd finished the job!

Besides perfect weather, we were also blessed with the best campsite at the park! When these kids' daddies were little guys we discovered this spot & always requested it when we went there. It has a rock table, benches, and fire pit & wonderful big rocks to climb & hide around--all going right up to the lake.

Our activities Friday night & Saturday included lots of hiking; hide and seek and climbing on & among the giant rocks (yes, they're "bigger than GOLIATH"!); sitting on those rocks and looking at the stars; a campfire, complete with s'mores; Abby & Charlie dancing by spotlight; several Brer Rabbit stories (the kids discovered that his hole just happened to be at the bottom of a tree right outside our shelter!); a big camping breakfast; and lots of sweet and simple thanks to God all mixed in. Oh yes, we also had a raccoon visit our site and saw a deer with a pretty good rack of antlers crossing the road! After that the kids all became deer. You can see their antlers in the picture. We woke up to a rooster crowing (he looked a lot like Charlie!) and immediate giggles all around!

We talked about God telling Jeremiah how He knew him before he was born & even had a plan for his life! And the same's true for each of us. God even told Jeremiah not to say, "I'm too young" but to be a bold messenger for Him. We talked about how we can know God's plan by knowing His Word because His Word is a light along our path. Poppa showed us how the flashlight lights our paths when it's dark--just like God's Word guides our lives!

Probably the biggest highlight for MawMaw & Poppa was watching the kids all interacting. All 4 of them were so thoughtful, encouraging and respectful to each other and to us. They all looked out for each other and showed thankful hearts toward each other, toward us and toward God. As we prayed at bedtime, Reese thanked God for "letting us go camping with MawMaw & Poppa and for the fun, fun, fun we're having...." As we ate our ice cream before heading home, Charlie said to all his cousins, "Don't we have a sweet Poppa!" They all agreed--& giggled!

Father, please bless Abby and Charlie and Reese and Landry, and each of us, with tender and thankful hearts toward You! Please help each one of us to learn & love Your Word, to be bold messengers for You and to walk on Your path for us all the days of our lives!