Weekend Happenings

Good Friday morning!

Well, Camp Week comes to an end today. Along with answering the question of the day (What do I look for in a good State Park?), I have also typed a Summer Checklist - Complete Guide to Camping Mike picked up at a sporting goods store. You won't need everything on the list, but it is definitely a good "go by."

Next week we'll get back on our Monday through Friday schedule and finish up January with more fun winter things to do.

I also told you I would have a commercial/announcement for today's post. Next Tuesday, January 27, Sherri Burgess, will be speaking at our church, First Baptist Gardendale, at a Chit Chat and Chocolate event. We will meet for dessert at 6:30 and then go to break-out sessions. There are 29 sessions, and I was honored to be asked to do a traditions class for one of them. Not only will I be giving my testimony regarding why I'm passionate about all things family/traditional, but I will have a handout with over 20 traditions, devotions, dates, and parties. I will also have a resource sheet with books, magazines, etc. to use when planning things or coming up with new ideas for your own family. Some of the ideas will show up in February on the blog; however, I'm going to try to not repeat myself too much. If you're not able to come to the event or you want to go to a different break-out session, let me know and I'll get you a copy of the February handout.

Also, I have been wanting to hear Sherri speak for quite a while now. (For those of you who live out of state and do not know her story, she lost a son in a pool accident a year ago January 19. She and her husband, Rick Burgess, live here in Alabama, and anyone who has heard their testimony has come away deeply touched.) Rick is part of a very popular radio show called Rick and Bubba stationed here in Birmingham. Right now, over 1,300 tickets have been sold to the event, so I am not the only one who is looking forward to hearing Sherri speak.

Mikie and Me

Although it may not be a camping story, since it is our 21st anniversary today, I would like to share a little of bit of our beginning.

I met Mikie at Shades Mountain Baptist Church when I was 22. I was visiting with a friend, and she had gone out with Mike the night before. "There he is," she said as we sat in the balcony looking down.

"He's cute," I approved. "Are you going to go out with him again?"

"No. It's just to soon after the break-up," was the reply. She had just broken up with someone after a long-term relationship.

"Well, it's a shame. He is cute," and then I settled back into my seat and enjoyed the service. As God would have it, Shades was the church He wanted me to join, and I began many new and wonderful friendships within the Singles Department there. Mike was one of my friends. Mike was one of my best friends. When he wasn't dating (and he dated A LOT), we were together or on the phone or hanging out with a bunch of mutual friends. It was an easy and enjoyable friendship.

Three years into our friendship, it became apparent to me that Mikie and I were supposed to be together. As he continued to date every girl in the entire Singles Department (I think it must have been a goal or something), I began to think of a way to tell him the obvious... I was the one he was supposed to be courting.

It was a Sunday afternoon in March, and I asked him over for lunch after church. Since he didn't have a date until after church that night, he was agreeable. As I finished getting things ready in the kitchen, I sent him into my living room.

"Why can't I stay in the kitchen?" he asked.

"Because I have to talk to you," I replied.

He rolled his eyes and went into the living room. From the kitchen, I yelled, "Why don't you ever ask me out?"

"What!" and I could tell he had gotten off the sofa and was coming toward the kitchen.

"No, no, no! Back in the living room... and answer my question!"

"Well, I guess I thought it might mess up our friendship," he yelled back.

"We're supposed to be dating," I again yelled.

About this time, he popped his head around the corner grinning, and said, "So would you like to go out sometime?"

"Yes, I would. Thank you for asking."

Then he started thinking again... always a sign of trouble. "What if something happens and the dating thing doesn't go well and everything is awkward?"

"I've already thought of that. You'll have to change churches immediately. Dawson has a very good Singles Department. I think you'll be happy there."

"You've already thought about this?" He was incredulous (good word).

"Yes, and I'm not kidding. It will be easier for you to change churches. You meet people much easier than I do. Plus, I'm not leaving Shades."

"Okay. Okay. I have a few commitments to take care of the next couple of weeks. Can we go out in three weeks?"

"By commitments do you mean other dates?"

"Uh, yes."

Long story short, I told him to go ahead and finish his "commitments," knowing in my heart of hearts those would be the last girls other than me he would ever get to go out with. (Don't worry. I told him he couldn't kiss his "commitments" good night at the door!)

Three weeks later we had our first date. He took me to Milo's (his favorite hamburger place) and we went to a movie (my favorite thing to do), and we talked about things like how many kids we wanted, and where we wanted to live, and things like that. You know, first date kinds of things.

At three weeks, there was no doubt in our minds we were supposed to be together. We waited three months and met with Dr. Carter, our pastor at the time. We waited three more months and became engaged in August. We waited five more months and married January 23, 1988. As Martha Stewart would say... "It was a good thing."

We've had ups, downs and all-arounds, but it's been a good 21 years. I have never thought I was supposed to be with anyone else. To the contrary, the longer we're together the more convinced I am he's the only one I could ever, ever be with for 21 years... and longer.

Happy Anniversary, Mikie! I'm looking forward to our anniversary celebration.

NOTE: Mike and I never exchange gifts. We exchange cards. Ever since our first anniversary, we've always gone to a nice hotel and had dinner and maybe gone to a movie. Even if we stay in town, it is just such a treat. Some people think it's silly to stay 20 minutes from home, but it's a gift we give each other, and over the years it's one of those things we look forward to all year long. On our 10th and 20th anniversaries, we went to Gatlinburg, Tennessee and Charleston, South Carolina, respectively. I highly recommend getting away for an entire night (even before you have kids... but especially after you have kids).

Part 5 - How to Camp With Your Family and Survive

What do I look for in a good State Park?

Do you know how real estate agents will tell you the three most important things to look for in real estate are LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION? I bet you know what I'm going to say before I even write it down... BATHHOUSE, BATHHOUSE, BATHHOUSE!

Really, everyone is going to look for different things. We like nice, shady wooded areas. We always like to go somewhere near a lake. And we do want to go somewhere that has fairly decent bathhouses. If the bathhouse is not good, we will not be going back. That's what they call a deal breaker.

You'll just have to decide what's important to your family. Do you have a boat? Do you like to fish? Do you love to hike? Do you want to be near a city with restaurants and shopping? Do you want to be close to home in case of inclement weather? Do you want a campground that has a nice playground for the little ones?

After you answer those questions, start talking to people and checking on the campgrounds near your home. You'll make some mistakes, but eventually you'll find one that will probably become your favorite. Again, while you are looking for YOUR campground, flexibility is key.

Here's the list I mentioned earlier.

Complete Guide to Summer Camping

Air Mattress or Camp Pad
Camera and Film
Camp Stove
Coffee Pot
Compass
Cooking Utensils
Cooler (2) One for Food; One for Drinks
Cot
Daypack or Fannypack
Dishpan and Pot Scrubber
Eating Utensils
First Aid Kit
Flares/Mirror (We've never had to use flares. We're not so adventurous we would get lost in the woods!)
Flashlight for Each Camper
Folding Chair or Stool
Fuel for Stoves and Lanterns
Games and Books
Griddle
Ground Cloth or Tarp
Hand Axe or Saw (I didn't have time to tell you the axe story, did I? Hmmm. Maybe another time!)
Ice
Insect Repellent
Jug of Water
Knife
Lantern
Lighter or Matches
Mantles for Lanterns
Maps
Paper Towels
Plastic Zip Bags
Radio and Batteries
Rope, Cord or Wire
Small Folding Shovel (For burying dead fish!)
Sleeping Bags
Soap
Sunscreen
Tablecloth
Tent
Tool Kit, Hammer, Mallet
Toilet Paper
Trash Bags
Water Purifying System (We use the old fashioned water bottle.)
Whistle (DO NOT give your child a whistle in a CAMPGROUND. The other campers will do bodily harm to a kid riding a bike or a scooter tooting a whistle all day. The whistle is for hiking use only.)

Well, it's been a fun week. I hope you have a wonderful weekend... even if it isn't your anniversary. Make the time you have with your family count. Don't waste a minute.

I'll talk to you on Monday!