camping – Ericka O Smith

Camping & the Apocalypse

I am a fan of the apocalyptic genre. I don’t read or watch it exclusively, but this has been a summer of reading and watching rather a lot of it. Need proof? Over these short summer months, I have binge-watched The Last Ship, Containment, Survivors, Fringe, 12 Monkeys, Primeval: New World, and Zoo. I recently began reading Station Eleven since one of my friends suggested it based on my like of the aforementioned binged show Survivors. And if that isn’t enough to convince you, our family read-aloud has been Battlefield Earth, a quasi post-apocalyptic gem. Needless to say, it’s been a rough summer of near-annihilation for the human race all within the confines of my own head!

I share this about myself to help you understand my doomsday mindset while we were recently on our annual Labor Day Weekend Campout with our youngest kids in the breathtaking panhandle canyons of northwest Texas.

This naturally made crevice in the rock was much explored by the other members of my family during our recent visit to Palo Duro Canyons State Park. Climbing to, in, through, and on it was a highlight of our trip! — This naturally made crevice in the rock was much explored during our recent visit to Palo Duro Canyons State Park. Climbing to, in, through, and on it was a highlight of our trip!

I ventured about this close to it. My cowardice won and I stayed behind while the family explored the nooks and crannies with other brave hikers that day. — The family explored the nooks and crannies of this magnificent fortress in the cliffs.

Simon and the kids couldn't resist climbing down into a ravine and then through this natural "tunnel" under our hiking trail. If you look closely, you can see Simon's head in the center for scale. — Simon and the kids couldn’t resist climbing down into a ravine and then through this natural “tunnel” under our hiking trail. If you look closely, you can see Simon’s head in the center for scale. While they were exploring, they talked about making a Western in which the hero used a place such as this as his hideout.

With a mixture of both imagined images (due to my favored genre of late) and real images (due to my current locale) floating through my mind, I was primed with a mental slideshow as I read these Words early one morning –

“Enter into the rock
and hide in the dust
from before the terror of the Lord,
and from the splendor of his majesty.” Is 2:10

“And people shall enter the caves of the rocks
    and the holes of the ground,^[b]
from before the terror of the Lord,
    and from the splendor of his majesty,
    when he rises to terrify the earth.” Is 2:19

“to enter the caverns of the rocks
    and the clefts of the cliffs,
from before the terror of the Lord,
    and from the splendor of his majesty,
    when he rises to terrify the earth.” Is 2:21

As you can imagine, these words & images reverberated through my apocalyptic mind all day long as we hiked and explored the caverns! Later, I went back and reread Isaiah 2, which I admit was rather discouraging the first time through, and that time God illuminated the {more encouraging} beginning of the chapter –

“and many peoples shall come, and say:   ‘Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,
    to the house of the God of Jacob,
that he may teach us his ways
    and that we may walk in his paths.’ ” Is 2:3

Where am I going with this? Too many times I stumble on the negative. My mind dwells on the half-empty glass. I focus on the fears. I cry out in despair when the Lord doesn’t move the mountains I want Him to move or part the waters I wish I could walk through. And yet, His purpose for me isn’t to make my journey easy or smooth, but worth the effort, worth the struggle. As I go to Him each time I face a mountain or have to cross a sea, He teaches me more of His ways and I learn to walk in His paths.

What about you? What obstacles is the Lord eagerly waiting to teach you His ways as you walk His path with Him?

Smith Family Camp Out – September 2016

As one friend commented, "you have good knights - in shorts!" And we did! Simon and Jesse set up our camp perfectly while Chloe & I reclined in the tent on air mattresses. — As one friend commented, “you have good knights – in shorts!” And we did! Simon and Jesse set up our camp perfectly while Chloe & I reclined in the tent on air mattresses.

Our sweet home away from home for 5 glorious days at Caprock Canyons State Park. Chloe and I sold everything we could get our hands on from the garage to buy a big 3-room tent and two oscillating fans. It was worth it!

Sunrise and sunset were my favorite times of day...so beautiful. So peaceful. What an awesome experience to walk with God in His beautiful creation during these times of the day. — Sunrise and sunset were my favorite times of day…so beautiful. So peaceful. What an awesome experience to walk with God in His beautiful creation during these times of the day.

After setting up camp, Jesse walked down to Lake Theo and began catching (and releasing) these little guys. He is an angler to the core.

(deep, contented sigh...muscles relaxing...soaking in God's presence) — (deep, contented sigh…muscles relaxing…soaking in God’s presence)

I looked up from my Bible to this sweet sight - my boy on the lake, early morning, fishing in his kayak that he saved and bought off Craigslist. — I looked up from my Bible to this sweet sight – my boy on the lake, early morning, fishing in his kayak that he saved and bought off Craigslist.

I discovered how to use the panorama feature on my iPhone this trip. LOVE this feature! This is a panorama of our campsite. It is the most private, spacious campsite we’ve ever had! Seemed like we were the only ones around!

Raccoon (whom we named "Oscar" because of his location) stuck in the dump, so he decided to take a nap. Someone put a log in there for him to climb out on and he was gone by evening. — Raccoon (whom we named “Oscar” because of his location) stuck in the dump, so he decided to take a nap. Someone put a log in there for him to climb out on and he was gone by evening.

Saturday - Palo Duro Canyons State Park was breathtaking! It is the second largest canyon in the U.S. We explored it's nooks and crannies all day. — Saturday – Palo Duro Canyons State Park was breathtaking! It is the second largest canyon in the U.S. We explored it’s nooks and crannies all day.

Spent a LONG time here, hiking in/out/over that cave.

Great memory-making day exploring God's magnificent creation. — Great memory-making day exploring God’s magnificent creation.

It was mesmerizing watching Jesse fish with his net for bait fish. I took wayyyyyy too many photos for a sane person, but come on...it's poetry in motion. — It was mesmerizing watching Jesse fish with his net for bait fish. I took wayyyyyy too many photos for a sane person, but come on…it’s poetry in motion.

Spent the day at Copper Breaks State Park. Unanimously, we do not recommend this park. This shot reminds me of Huck Finn, so I thought I'd share it. — Spent the day at Copper Breaks State Park. Unanimously, we do not recommend this park. This shot reminds me of Huck Finn, so I thought I’d share it.

On our way out, we did enjoy some time with some longhorns the park keeps.

The second of MANY upclose and personal encounters with the bison herd back at Caprock Canyons State Park. This pic is taken through the open door of our Suburban. He's not even a really big one, either! — The second of MANY up close and personal encounters with the bison herd back at Caprock Canyons State Park. This pic is taken through the open door of our Suburban. He’s not even a really big one, either!

Ribs and salad kind of night...yum! — Ribs and salad kind of night…yum!

Another early morning on the lake with Jesse as he enjoys his favorite past time.

As our vacation progressed, our interactions became closer and closer with the resident bison herd. They were around every corner, literally.

This was the day we explored every nook and cranny we could at Caprock Canyons State Park. I cannot state clearly enough how you should visit this gem of a state park. It is beautiful. It is clean. The weather is COOL, believe it or not. The campsites are PRIVATE and it is hands-down our favorite campground to date.

Fun with panorama selfies! Can you see all of us?

This is right before we discovered Cedar Flies...and their tenacity...and the fact that they bite...hard. This is the canyon behind our camp site. — This is right before we discovered Cedar Flies…and their tenacity…and the fact that they bite…hard. This is the canyon behind our camp site.

LOVE this shot of the three of them watching the bird flying high above the canyon.

Simon and Jesse heading out on a 2 mile trail. Chloe and I picked them up on the opposite side.

This is what Chloe and I did while the guys were hiking... — This is what Chloe and I did while the guys were hiking…

...and they are back! — …and they are back!

The photos just don't convey the vastness, the depth, the beauty of Caprock Canyons SP. — The photos just don’t convey the vastness, the depth, the beauty of Caprock Canyons SP.

The guys loved the 2-mile trail so much they took us back on it. We discovered a great natural bridge/tunnel. Obviously, it needed to be explored.

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Sunsets were a daily ritual for us and so breathtaking.

Last night - (decaf) coffee before bed for this modern-day knight of mine. — Last night – (decaf) coffee before bed for this modern-day knight of mine.

En route home, we stopped at a fourth state park (gotta love those state park passes, right?).

The guys fished while Chloe and I played Rummy and Whist in the Suburban. This place boasts a prairie dog town, but Simon said it was more like an infestation. We all agreed.

Brave. Boy. I shudder to imagine how many snakes are in there with Jesse, but he's a wild-at-heart kind of manling like his dad, so... — Brave. Boy. I shudder to imagine how many snakes are in there with Jesse, but he’s a wild-at-heart kind of manling like his dad, so…

Bonus - Jesse asked if he could make dinner when we got back, so he used stuff on hand (plus some kale I went to buy) and made this ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS SOUP from scratch! It's his own creation, people. He's 16! — Bonus – Jesse asked if he could make dinner when we got back, so he used stuff on hand (plus some kale I went to buy) and made this ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS SOUP from scratch! It’s his own creation, people. He’s 16!

Girls Only Weekends

Once a month, these two head out for a weekend of camping and adventure. These are special weekends spent bonding over learning new outdoor skills, cooking over a campfire, and growing ripe from days without bathing - you know, boy stuff. — Once a month, these two head out for a weekend of camping and adventure. These are special weekends spent bonding over learning new outdoor skills, cooking over a campfire, and growing ripe from days without bathing – you know, boy stuff.

For years now, the girls and I have been having what we call “Girls Only Weekends” once a month while the boys go into Bear Grylls mode.

When my sister and niece lived nearby, we included them in our adventures, like this one to an indoor ropes course…

417692_10150690577382915_1095526943_n — My daughter was fearless! This is right before we found out she needed glasses, but still. She earned a ton of street cred that night.

My niece was brave and tore through the challenges like a boss!

Over the years, we have also made some great memories with fantastic Mom & Daughter Duos like these at our Pinterest Party –

This Pinterest game was so fun... — This Pinterest game was so fun…

...the Moms decided to give it a go! — …the Moms decided to give it a go!

Making some good memories with these sweet Moms & Daughters — We made some good memories with these sweet Moms & Daughters, one game at a time.

These sweet Mamas & Daughters joined us for a Back-to-School Hair Bash one year –

Sometimes we do something completely new, like here when we volunteered with these cuties at a For the Nations Refugee Outreach event –

Or here when we volunteered in the community at the annual Plano Balloon Festival…

Or here volunteering to walk four-legged friends at the local animal shelter –

My sweet girl has such a soft spot for furry friends. Volunteering at the animal shelter is her most requested Girls Only Weekend activity.

We’ve camped out at a state park, just the two of us in the tent…

Thankfully we travel with books because this campout, it rained. We spent a lot of time chilling on the bed reading about the Netherfield Ball. — It rained, so we read about the Netherfield Ball – together.

And we’ve hit the trails, like here –

Tonight is another such night. It is the annual Mother/Daughter Lock-In at my church, where we have bonded over things like fashion shows and scavenger hunts, like here –

My daughter is too old for us to attend now, but the two of us will still arrive early & leave late…as volunteers. We will serve alongside other Moms & Daughters who have “aged out”, setting up, cooking, helping with crafts, organizing games, taking pictures and cleaning up. And in the doing of these things, we will add another mental image to the photo album of our daughter’s childhoods.

You, too, are in the midst of making the memories of your daughter’s childhood. Look for ways to turn the ordinary days into extraordinary ones. These are the days that will stand out in her mind in the future – and she will have shared them with you. Seize the circumstances that present themselves! Create your own opportunities! Invite other Moms & Daughters to join you. Or keep it simple, just the two of you. Ride a bike. Have a picnic in your daughter’s bedroom. Pick something from here or here or here. Just do something. Don’t put it off. They are memories that will be enjoyed by both of you long after the moments have passed.