Happy Campers!

Well, we've finally done it! We took the leap, we threw caution into the wind, we've trod where others have feared to trod (or would that be "tread"?). Yes, we are now the proud owners of a brand new, 1997, slightly beat up - yet still very functional - pop-up camper!

I can only imagine how excited all of you are to read about this development...

Actually, we are pretty excited about this camper. It was inexpensive (thank you e-bay) and sleeps all 5 of us with room to spare. After some clean-up and fix-up we have gotten her in pretty good shape, and we really enjoyed it during a recent camping trip to Petoskey State Park.

We have a few more trips planned for this summer - our next one being to Brown City Camp next Friday.

Growing, growing, gone!

This past Saturday our daughters competed in a swim meet at a nearby pool. They only recently joined this particular swim club, and I was out of town for their first meet, so hadn't seen them compete yet. So, last Saturday I pulled up a pool-side seat and got ready for the action. The kids did not disappoint.

Both girls competed in 4 events and they each did very well. What impressed me most wasn't what placed they finished, but their speed in the water. These girls can really move!

As I watched Megan compete in a backstroke event the thought occurred to me, "I don't think I can swim that fast". And the more I thought about it, the more I realized that undeniable truth that Megan has passed me up as a swimmer - she's a better swimmer at 11 than I will ever be.

And you know how this made me feel? Proud. (O.K. and a little bit old too...) But the thing that stuck with me was the question "how many other things will our kids do better than me?" As a father I hope the answer to that question is LOTS! I want to teach our kids everything I know, and then I hope that they take it a step further and surpass me in whatever they put their heart into doing.

For now it's swimming, and I look forward to whatever is next.