Camp Wesley Woods

WHAT. AN. AMAZING. WEEKEND.

Friday afternoon found us excitedly packing for a "camping" trip with our "church friends" (as the kids call them) to Wesley Woods. WW is a camp in the Smoky Mountains supported by the United Methodist Church. Friday evening we had dinner cooked by camp staff, did crafts and watched a camp staffer build a fire so we could roast marshmellows and make smores.

Saturday morning came quickly. Very, very (very!) quickly. Followed by another well-prepared breakfast (and COFFEE), a hike, facepaint, canoeing, lunch and swimming.

We are very blessed to have a church that supports young families and children/preschool ministry leaders that make us feel like we're the most important people in the world. We have a lot to be thankful for after this weekend. For example, great friends, new friends, being able to watch your children have THE time of their life, using their imaginations to the fullest and laughing so much you can't tell whose laughing kid is whose. We were able to enjoy absoutely perfect weather, gorgeous surroundings, caring camp staffers and absolutely no major problems the entire time. We weren't even there for 24 hours, but I felt like one of those families on those weird farms (sorry, I mean no offense with the word "weird." But...I'm going to anyway)...where everyone raises all the children. Some kids sat with other parents at mealtime, no one blinked twice at disciplining other people's kids and parents shared their shoulders, canoes and hands with all children, and some parents even slept with kids that weren't theirs! Now, that's the definition of "family" and "friendship!"

On the other hand, there are also some other things we're really grateful for. Like being at home in our own bed that doesn't creak everytime you take a deep breath and has a real boxspring instead of plywood. We're also grateful that our children both have their own rooms and that we don't often have to share a bedroom with other bears, errr, I mean, friends. We're grateful for alarm systems and doors that have child resistent locks on them. I'm so happy to have spent this time with our friends and I truly, truly cannot wait until this time next year!!

Moral of the story: We feel very, very blessed for many, many reasons. If you were a part of this weekend with us, you are definitely a blessing in our lives!

Cooper, Kendall and Ty patiently wait on our camp guide to get our fire started.

These look like two VERY experienced boaters, eh?

A picture-perfect Saturday afternoon A family photo in front of the waterfall. Yes, I said "waterfall." Listen, it hasn't rained a lot lately. Give the Smokies a break.

A HUMONGOUS thanks to Mrs. Brittany and Mrs. Denise for a fantastically memorable weekend. Our backs and necks are thankful to be home in our own beds, but we still can't wait until next year!