Barefoot Hippie Girl: My Church Campout Weekend

I am e.x.h.a.u.s.t.e.d.

It is a good exhausted, but it is exhausted nonetheless.

Last week's schedule was a carefully ordered jigsaw puzzle of lists, shopping, cooking, packing, and grace.

This week's schedule is a carefully ordered jigsaw puzzle of naps, going to bed early, sleeping in and more naps.

Why? Because this past weekend was our annual church campout.

Church campout is a somewhat deceiving term as the majority of the church sleeps at home and treks in each day. But, that's okay. There were the few and the proud who bunked up on couches both nights, plus my in-laws stayed in their camper-van, and 3 brave (?) souls tent-camped on Saturday night.

So, essentially what our church does is rent a rather rustic lodge and the property it is on, for the weekend. Those who want to can sleep over in tents or on the couches. But, the point is to come away from the world and it's pressing business for a short while. To come away and be fed-spiritually and physically.

Mr. Hippie and I took on the responsibility of planning the campout sometime in July. The previous planning couple had planned the campout for the 5 or 6 years we have held our campout. They always did an amazing job and they left huge shoes to fill.

We decided to leave most of the schedule and components the same, but to add a few touches of our own personality.

We delegated a whole lot of responsibilities, and we ended up with a great weekend.

Our weekend included lots of singing and a talent show. Four teaching sessions on leadership from 1 Samuel. A breakout session with groups for the men, women and children. A huge thankful pumpkin that got filled with all kinds of tangible and intangible things that we are thankful for. Monopoly, dominos, fuse-ball, ping-pong, and card games inside. Kickball and a 100% participation scavenger hunt outside. Food-lots and lots of food. Candy apple bar. S'mores. Freshly baked cookies. The talent show. Conversations. A variety of games to determine who goes first through the food line.

Our age mix ran from less than 3 months up to some in their 80s. We tried to plan activities that everyone could enjoy, even if it was just a bit of downtime between activities.

It was cold (highs in the 40s and low 50s). It rained most of Friday and Saturday. Torrentially at times. It hailed and was windy, and pretty generally miserable out. We made up for it with gallons of coffee and cider and cocoa and tea. And fires. Continuous fires-in the fireplace and outside in the fire pit.

(I think) It was great. It was fun. It was encouraging. It was challenging. It was busy.

I spent a lot of the weekend in the kitchen. But, I still managed to sit in on most of the sessions and the fun activities. I enjoy feeding people. Feeding bodies is a way to nourish souls. If you consider food your love language. And I pretty much do.=)

We ate soup and sandwiches; pancakes, sausages and fruit; baked potato bar and jello salads; spaghetti and meatballs, french bread and salad; cinnamon rolls and eggs; poppyseed chicken, mashed potatoes, applesauce, rolls, green beans.

I, personally, ate too much.

I could hibernate on the food I ate.

Maybe that is what I am already doing...

Anyway, I brought my camera, and a friend took over as photographer. The majority of these pictures are ones she took. I am so thankful she went right to it. Sometimes I feel awkward snapping people's pictures, but that was not a problem with my friend. 500 pictures later, and I am still sorting.

Enjoy...(I only used about 20 pictures-not the full 500)