On the Road Again: Back from Camping, and at Heartbeats ~ Soulstains

photo credit: Kalexanderson via photopin cc

Friday came and went without a Go Ask Daddy.

And the world? She kept spinning. I knew she would. I fell asleep 17 times Thursday night as I tried to write it. Seventeen is the limit. Seventeen is when I say, ‘no mas.’ If I wake up at 3:37, I’ll do it then. If not … maybe I’ll take Friday off.

Today, though, I’m at Debbie’s. She writes Heartbeats ~ Soulstains blog, Hers is an intriguing story I can’t do justice to. Go check her out yourself to see what I mean. I’ve written a guest post for her today about the lessons my kids have taught me.

Some of them came into play during that couple of days I didn’t check in for comments*.

Grace and friends on the Lake Norman Soccer Club float for the Independence Day parade.

Grace’s view of fireworks over Lake Wylie…

… and her glow-stick dance on the fishing dock one night later.

 

 

 

 

 

 

at sunrise at camp Pacheco …

 

… or sunset on Lake Wylie.

You never know what will happen when the kids get a hold of your iPhone.

“Daddy, it says right here … DO NOT SIT ON LID.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It was a great run for my girls on the lake, too. Final count: 20 fish, including this baby largemouth bass Elise “wrestled” in.

The doe and me

On our way to the lake, I stepped into the woods because, well, nature called. I chose a lucky tree, unzipped, and felt one with the forest. I also felt eyes on me.

I looked up to see a kind and gorgeous doe looking me straight in the face. Mostly. She twitched her ears and looked me up and down again. What did she see in me? A new buck, marking his territory? An old stag, overstepping his bounds?

I zipped up, and at that, she bobbed her head, made three snorting sounds, and ran away.

Time will pass and years will fly by, mating seasons will come and go. But, that doe and me … we’ll always have McDowell Nature Preserve on Independence Day.