July 10

My daughter went on a camping trip to Arkansas with the youth from our church over spring break. Let me correct that, it was a backpacking trip. Backpacking means stuffing the least amount that you can live on for several days into a contraption that is strapped to your body and becomes your soul source of survival. Never having been on a backpacking adventure, I knew little in helping her prepare. A suggested list of survival items assisted us in preparing. Let me remind you that she is thirteen, that in itself should be enough said. Hotels, condos, swimming pools, air conditioning, running water, fresh towels, are all essentials that she is used to on vacation. When gathering the survival items I knew this expedition was going to prove to be interesting for her. The morning of, backpacks had to be weighed in. Sleeping, living accommodations, clothes, food and water all strategically place to balance the load. Twenty-eight pounds, that was before the “ugly” water bladder was included. So off they went. Three days and two nights of pure nature, no cell phone, running water, or electricity.