Making Monday Magical : Camping In

August 22, 2011

Making Monday Magical : Camping In

Our Res Life staff has their annual camping trip to kick off the school year this week, which, of course, inspires my boys to every variety of epic adventures. As I watched them play this morning, my mind was filled with all kinds of ideas. So we made it a magical morning. The boys had a blast playing, and I am always energized by the chance to stretch my creative muscles. Here's a little photo blog of our morning:

Nothing like a good campfire for all kinds of activities.

Cooking fresh-caught fish...

Toasting marshmallows...

Of course, you have to have lanterns...

... perfect for reading in the tent.

Then a hearty fire-side snack of trail mix (cooked over the fire, of course).

How Miss Fussy-Pants passed the time.

Now off on a hike and picnic!

Taking time atop the "mountain" to survey the scenery.

Calling to each other through adjacent "caverns."

About

My favorite times are those spent gathered around tables. It's not because I'm a great cook--I wish that were true. But it's because those times are always the most intimate. When the plates are pushed back and the bellies are full, we tend to open up and share our hearts.

And there's so much to share. Each of our lives tell an epic story, unfolding one chapter at a time. Some of the chapters are thrilling, others are heartbreaking. But the story promises to be one worth telling.

This particular blog is just one of those stories, my story. I'm a firm believer in the idea of the sacred ordinary, God revealed in the midst of the most mundane moments in our lives. As I write my story, I can't help but talk about those places where Heaven breaks through and we glimpse something greater. That, my friends, is what makes my story epic at all.

I hope this blog reads like a conversation over coffee, gathered around that table. That's how I picture us, as I write. May you find a little encouragement, a little refreshment, and a little reminder to keep your eyes open for the epic within the ordinary.