Camping Do's and Donts

Do cover yourself in MICHIGAN tattoos before you leave. It is imperative that you make your uncle who is a huge STATE fan, angry...at least according to my sons who covered themselves in U of M tats. I drew the line at tats on the forehead.
Do pack bug spray.

Don't bother to spray yourself with it because the mutant mosquito's we have this year are immune to it...even the kind with enough DEET to kill an elephant.

Do take the camper with the air conditioning...

Don't let your kids leave the door open all the time.

Do scream incessantly to "SHUT THE DOOR" to the kids while your camping...

Do feel like your parents for repeating the above a dozen and a half times an hour.

Don't let you four year old take himself to the bathroom in your RV...he will use a full roll of regular toilet paper...and that's bad. My nephew experienced this first hand.

Do let your kids go four wheeling with their uncles, daddy and cousins.

Don't be surprised when they come back covered in mud.

Don't be shocked when you have to wash your hair three times before the smell of the camp fire comes out of it.

Do enjoy sitting by a roaring fire with family and friends at night.

Don't leave a half eaten cake in a box on the picnic table...unless you purposely want the raccoons to eat it.

Do let your kids stay up WAY to late eating junk, drinking pop and playing with their cousins.

Don't be surprised when they still wake up early.

Do let your children have a Pepsi and a Popsicle for breakfast.

Don't deny it when they tell other people that you allowed this to take place.

Don't assume your feet will EVER be clean while your camping.

Don't wash egg leftovers down the sink.

Do take a shower in a campground shower...just so you can experience the smell/feel of well water.

Do take your portable DVD player.

Don't pay attention to people who say.."that's really roughing it".

Do pack several extra changes of clothes...not just for you children but for yourself.

Do not be surprised when you get home when you four year old still wants Pepsi and Popsicles for breakfast.

Do not assume when you see what appears to be a lovely campground pool, that it's actually a "lovely" pool. Do be shocked when you step on the ground of the pool and find it's uneven and clearly put over an area of cement that has been uneven, broken, cement.

Do sign up for the "speel", that gives you 14 free days of camping.

Do not be shocked when the 45 minute talk goes for 2.5 hours.

Do NOT buy the package....it's a scam.

Do enjoy yourself and your family.

Eight is enough

Eight. That's old enough. My oldest blessing is eight. The child I begged God for. We prayed and tried and prayed and tried some more! Finally, our little miracle was on his way. I often think back to the DAYS, yes, DAYS of S's labor. Induction was certainly NOT the way to go with him. After all was said and done our, not to little, blessing was born and after a few small issues was in our arms and healthy!
The time has flown by. I blinked and he was walking, I blinked again and he was starting school. I blinked once more and eight years have gone by! I think I'm done blinking for fear that the next time I do he'll be moving out and getting married!
S is such a sensitive boy. There are times when I desperately want to foster this trait in him and times when I want to yell, "SUCK IT UP" or "SPARE ME THE DRAMA SON...Your NOT a girl". I refrain from yelling either of those things...barely.
He is also a passionate boy. Everything is said with passion and drive. He does little half heartedly. He is always incredibly animated. His stories are full of hand motions and facial expressions.
He has developed a love for all things sports. He often will turn off cartoons to watch a game or monster trucks. HE love history and learning about new things. He's been seen watching the history channel or shows about how engines are made.
He is such a bright boy. He reads far above his grade level and does very well in school. He has lots of friends and is a sweet boy to others...except his brothers. All bets are off with them!
S continues to struggle with anxiety. I hate that for him. He tends to obsess about things...weather, money, people...anything. He has to know the plan for each day and wants to know how it will all play out. He needs details. LOTS OF DETAILS.
He's lost four baby teeth and HATES when they fall out. His grown up teeth are typically right behind the ones that fall out. We've not yet had that big toothless grin! I especially love his front tooth...his adult tooth that I affectionately refer to his "Chiclet tooth". It's far too big for his mouth and doesn't match any of his other teeth. It tends too look like he's stuck a piece of "Chiclet gum" right in front!
S has a tender heart and a love for the Lord. He professed Christ last summer...he's actually done this a few times. He's asked a few times about baptism, but we would like to wait until he can also explain it to us a bit more. We continue to pray that he will follow Him and become a man of God.
S is a cuddler. He's always up for a hug. He doesn't think he's too big to sit on my lap or hold my hand. I love that about him. I'm thankful that he's yet to seem embarresed by me!
S LOVES music. He sings along with almost any song he knows...and even a few he doesn't know all the words too! He doesn't know it yet, but his wish for an electric guitar is about to come true...thanks to his grandma!
I am so thankful for this little man. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't thank the Lord for His answered prayer.