Stauffer Camping 2013

On Friday, after packing the truck to the hilt, Destiny and I went to Bastian Tire at 5:30 to pick up Dick.  We were heading to Camp Hebron for a weekend of camping with the Stauffers - a weekend that promised rain and thunderstorms each day.  Yikes!  With all the severe storms and tornadoes (one very close to here on Thursday), it was rather unsettling to imagine being in a tent.  It wasn't long until we were driving in rain.  But then we saw a rainbow, and in my heart I felt it was God's promise that we would be okay.

And we WERE!  There was not one storm all weekend, rain just one night, and drizzle a few other times.  In fact, Saturday was an absolutely beautiful day, as you can see on these pool pictures.

No, this was not synchronized water dancing.   Any Stauffer gathering is a competition on its way to happen.  This one was to see who could stand on his/her  head the longest!

As you can see, we were well prepared for rain.  This was our tent...

...the Stauffer tarp village

....the dining room

...the kitchen

...the chapel. (this panoramic shot is from our nephew Joe)

There were several hammocks there for some good napping.

Austin and Lori didn't need a hammock for a nap.  They were zonked out in our tent after all the fun in the pool.

The children have so much fun, and I think we adults have even more fun watching them!

This was our official 2013 picture taken Sunday noon.  (Anthony, Lori, and Austin were not able to be there that day, so they are missing from the photo.)

And what good is a "nice" photo if you can't be rewarded with a "silly" one?

This is a perfect representation of the fun we have together.  What a wonderful thing to belong to this family.  I am very, very blessed.

We had more fun after we left camp at the Longs Park concert and fireworks and a precious visit with our dear friends Jay and Elta Nissley this morning.  Watch for my post about that tomorrow.