camping |

These next two months will hold many moments for me to stop and reflect. My firstborn is 18 years old today and will be graduating from high school next month. If time were personified she would obviously have wings. I’m really not sure where the last 18 years has gone.

I look back at clouded memories wishing every moment had been recorded. But they weren’t.

It’s up to me to hold those memories close to my heart.

It’s up to me to remember the good times, and let the bad memories remain in the past. Because let’s face it—they are not all good memories.

Which brings me to today’s tip to a happier you: Take time away to rest and create some great memories with those you love.

This week was spring break, and my family definitely made memories this week we will carry with us forever. With money a little tight right now, we—well, David— ran upon a Living Social deal and rented an RV for the week. Now let me tell you, camping for this girl is the Fairfield Marriott!

We spent three days as a very close-knit family of five.

No television
A shower the size of a locker
A kitchen table converted to a bed
Five suitcases crammed in a pile in the corner
Wet towels and washcloths hanging on open cabinet doors

With those circumstances, we spent great family time.

We play game after game of cards and UNO on the table/bed before anyone slept on it
We didn’t have the distractions of a normal home: No laundry or dishes to be done, no cooking, and no point in straightening up.
Lots of outdoor time together hiking and climbing on rocks up the river

We had a great week and actually spent time together as a family, which life has a way of making impossible sometimes.

The funniest memory of the week, though, was one I wouldn’t have anticipated. In an RV, there’s the dreadful task of emptying out the “black water.” For all you campers, you know what that is. For those of you like me, it’s the poop tank.

The law of gravity is quite an important one to consider when emptying out the poop tank. There is a nice sized brown tube that connects from the RV to the hole in the ground that I suppose is a septic tank of sorts. The more experienced campers had a nice little wire rack that held the tube at the correct angle to drain the poop. We weren’t in the “experienced camper” category. In order to empty the tank, all five of us had to hold the tube off the ground at the correct angle. When it got too heavy in one spot and sagged, we had to get the “wave” motion going with the tube to drain it correctly. Teamwork! There’s nothing quite like feeling the weight of human waste flowing through a tube to create a family bonding moment that will last forever!

So while we must exercise, eat correctly, clean house, work, and all the other stuff that takes our time, don’t forget to take time to just get away and rest and spend quality time with your family. And if you decide to embark on a camping trip, be sure to call me for tips on the poop tank!

From my heart,

Celeste

Here’s a few snapshots from our trip…hope you enjoy! 😉