Camping Story #4 - Our First Camping Trip Ever

Good Wednesday morning!

Things are warming up here in Alabama. We're going to be in the 40s today... and that's how we Alabamians like our winters. If it isn't going to snow 2 to 3" (with electricity uninterrupted), we aren't really interested in the 20 and 30 degree stuff. The 40s are fine... just right for wearing attractive sweaters and light-weight jackets.

A few announcements before we get into our next Camping Story. Lost starts this Wednesday night. Survivor starts February 12. Amazing Race begins February 15. Austin and I watched 24 Monday night, and it really delivered. (I promise. If I was expecting right now and it was a boy, I would name him Jack Bauer... not just Jack. Jack Bauer. And that's what I'd call him in the grocery store, at church and at school... Jack Bauer Faulkner.) Personally, I like things spread out a little more. I also do not care for all the homework that interferes with our Lost/Survivor/Amazing Race/24/Jon and Kate Plus 8 schedule. I'm thinking about writing a letter to the School Board. I'll let you know the outcome.

For the next three months or so, it is going to be TV dating for the Faulkners. Economically, very good. Mikie will still do the breakfast dating, and in February he has some special dates planned with the guys, but my dance card is pretty full!

I'm thinking about planning a theme dinner night to go with each of our favorite shows.

Lost -- We would have fish and a lot of fruit... you know, island food.

Jon and Kate -- I would make an "organic" dinner... whatever the heck that is.

Survivor -- It would probably be a repeat of the Lost food... except we would add rice and leave the table hungry.

Amazing Race -- We would eat things like octopus heads and drink goat milk.

24 -- We would probably just eat a pack of peanut butter crackers and drink a Red Bull. I don't know if they ever eat on that show. That's probably the theme dinner I'll enjoy the most... little, or no preparation!

Well, enough of my ramblings. Let's move on to our Camping Story.

Camping Story #4 - Our First Camping Trip Ever

We decided to bite the bullet and take our little family camping. Austin was five and Josh was three. Roxie was a toddling baby, so we decided to leave her at her grandparents' house. In my mind, if everything went well, she could start camping when she turned three. (Actually, I was hoping she was going to be a prissy little thing who didn't like camping, and on camping weekends while the guys were out and about, she and I would have manicures and shop and watch chick flicks, etc. That dream never came true... but that's another story.)

With another family who had boys our boys' ages, we planned our very first camping trip. Oak Mountain was our destination... only 35 short minutes from home. We planned a weekend in May (usually a mild month in Alabama). We borrowed the tent and gathered the rest of the equipment from different places.

We arrived at the campground mid-afternoon, picked out our spots and started for the first time ever to set up camp. The boys were thrilled. They had brought their box of dinosaurs (a camping must), other various toys and they had each other in the woods. They were happy. Near our campsite was a large branch which was semi-broken and hanging from a tree almost touching the ground. Our guys were just the right weight NOT to break the branch, and it was like having a tire swing in our back door. They had a ball playing on the almost broken tree branch.

While we were setting up camp, the three year-olds needed to go to use the bathroom and rather than walking all the way to the bathhouse, the dads told them to do what all little boys love to do... skip the bathhouse and find a tree. Life was good.

After camp was set up, we all walked down to the lake to let the boys wade. We hadn't planned on swimming, and we hadn't really packed a lot of extra clothes... plus, if your three year-old swims that means mom has to be ready to swim. We, as the moms, had definitely not packed our swimsuits.

We were very specific in our instructions "to wade" and "not swim." We even went so far as to explain, "Do not put your head in the water. Do not let the water get above your knees. Do you understand?" There was a lot of nodding going on.

And then, Joshua's partner in crime at the time, smiled the smile three year-old boys smile right before they... go completely under the water. Right in front of the parents who had just told him "Do not put your head in the water!" He came out the water, and flashed another smile.

We've all been there. You tell your child not to do something, and they decide to disobey you then and there... and smile at you. He was quickly punished, and we were on our way to the campsite. We had handed all the boys water bottles. "Drink it all. Do not pour it out. Do not waste the water." And then, Joshua's partner in crime at the time, smiled the smile three year-old boys smile right before they... pour the water out of the water bottle onto the street.

Sputtering, the dad of this particular three year-old uttered the punishment then and there.

"NO WATER OR DRINKS FOR YOU THE REST OF THE TRIP!"

Don't get self-righteous on me. We've all done the same thing before. I've told my kids they could never go outside again; never have ice cream again; never watch TV again; never... well, you get the picture. Parenting is hard on the best day... and three year-old boys... WHEW!

"What are we going to do?" I asked the other mom as we walked back to camp. "He'll be dehydrated if he doesn't get to drink until we leave tomorrow."

"I know. I know," she replied. I could see the wheels turning and she walked up to her husband and whispering began.

"We've figured it out," she said as she dropped back to walk beside me.

"What are you going to do?" I asked.

"We're going to give him mercy," she replied.

"Oh. Yeah, that will work," I said. Actually, I didn't know what in the world she was talking about.

When we got back to the campsite, Dad and mischievous three year-old boy went to a picnic table to sit down and talk. A few minutes later, hugs were exchanged and the the little boy came up to me. "May I have a drink, please?" he asked.

"Well, what did Mom and Dad say?"

"They said it was okay. I got mercy," he said simply... and I handed him a bottled water.

Mom and Dad had turned the whole incident into a devotion. Every day we do things we are not supposed to do, and this does not please God. But God has mercy on all of us, sinners that we are, and forgives us when we ask. This little guy had asked for forgiveness and, in return, had received mercy (a/k/a bottled water).

Of course, just like all of us (adults, too), mercy isn't given just once and that's it. We need it time and time again as we go through our daily lives. What a great lesson.

And by the way, the three year-olds ALMOST made it to bedtime before mercy had to be bestowed upon them yet again.

Our first camping trip was short, memorable and went well enough we were hooked. I hope your first camping trip will be just as pleasant and fun to get you over the fear of sleeping in the woods, using questionable bathhouses, and hearing noises you cannot identify in the middle of the night.

Tomorrow will be Camping Story #5. I like to call this one "One Fish, Red Fish, Two Fish, Dead Fish." (You're probably saying, "That's not how Dr. Seuss says it." You're right. The story is a little different.)

Part 3 - How to Camp With Your Family and Survive

When is the best time to tent-camp?

As tent campers, I enjoy camping in March/April and October/November. In a tent, weather is always a major consideration. In Central Alabama, anything can happen during those four months, but in general, they do appear to be the mildest of the year. While spring camping is fun, I prefer fall camping... not just because I am an autumn nut, but because the bugs seem to be a little bit under control. There are very few yellow jackets out late October and early November.

We have been in the months mentioned above and it has been horribly cold, terribly windy, unseasonably warm, etc. Again, flexibility is key... that and a check with your local meteorologist. We've changed a three-nighter to a two-nighter because we wanted to avoid a night of thunderstorms. And, unfortunately, we have had to cancel altogether once or twice because of the weather.

Always, always have a back-up weekend in mind.

We determined early on to camp AT LEAST once a year. We were afraid if we missed a year, it would be that much harder to start back. By making that vow, so far we have been at least once a year for 12 years... and many years, two or three times.

Having a senior in high school this year, we have again scheduled a camping trip during Spring Break. We know Austin may or may not be able to camp with us this fall. And, he could very well have other plans next spring. Things are changing as our family continues growing up. But nothing can replace the memories we've already made... and we'll just keep trying. Sometimes it may be Four Faulkners and sometimes it may be Three Faulkners. But maybe, just maybe, sometimes it will still be the Fabulous Faulkner Five.

Have a happy Wednesday, and I'll talk to you tomorrow.