McKinney Falls State Park – Thanksgiving 2013
My family seems to be making it a tradition to go camping for Thanksgiving. We’ve done it the past few years and always have a great time. This year we went to McKinney Falls State Park and met my brother’s family, my sister’s family, my mom, and my aunt there for the week. We also broke in our new camper for this trip. It was a little cold and rainy the first few days but then ended up being really nice. We did a little geocaching with the kids, rode bikes, hiked to the waterfalls, and even took a little road trip to Lockhart for some great BBQ. (Black’s and Kreuz’s) It was a great way to celebrate Thanksgiving.
I’m grateful for Jesus, family, friends, camping and our new camper, football games, and time to get away from normal life and remember the things that are truly important.
I had a great conversation with Kasen, my 4yr old boy this past week. We went camping in Cuchara, Colorado and were hiking by a spring on our way back from “Blue Lake.” We took a little break from our hike and I convinced him to get a drink of water right out of the spring.
Kasen: Why can we drink it?
Me: ‘Cause it’s good water. It’s clean. In the Bible, they call it “living water.”
Kasen: Living water?
Me: Yeah, ’cause it moves. . . like it’s alive. It’s not dead like the water in the lake.
Kasen: Why is the water in the lake dead?
Me: ‘Cause it doesn’t move. It’s not good to drink ’cause stuff grows in it.
Kasen: Stuff grows in it?
Me: Yes. In the Bible, the best water to drink came from springs like this one. It’s good for you to drink. It’s healthy and makes you feel better.
Kasen: And it tastes good.
Me: Yeah – and it’s cold too. I like it.
Me: In the Bible, Jesus says He has the “living water.” He is good for us and makes us feel better too.
Kasen: Jesus is the “living water.”
Me: Yeah, He nourishes us and quenches our thirst. Jesus is the best thing for us. Even better than this water.
Kasen: Daddy, Can I get some more water?
Me: Of course. I’m gonna get some with you.
Check out these verses:
John 4:13-14 – “13 Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”
John 7:37-38 – “37 On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. 38 Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.”
Our family took a quick trip to McKinney Falls with some friends this past weekend and Kasen (my 2 and a half year old) and I slept in a tent one night. We had a great conversation as we settled down for the night. Here’s how it went:
Daddy: Kasen, you know who loves you?? Kasen: Yeah. Daddy: Who? Kasen: Daddy does. Daddy: You know who else loves you? Kasen: Mommy. Daddy: You know who else? Kasen: Kasen. Daddy: You love yourself?? Kasen: Yeah. (laughing) Daddy: and Kesleigh loves you too.
We continued through the rest of the family – grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, etc.
Daddy: And do you know who loves you more than anybody else? Jesus. Kasen: Why he love me? Daddy: Cause you’re his little boy just like you’re daddy’s little boy. Kasen: Where is Jesus? Daddy: He’s right here. Kasen: No he’s not. (laughing) Daddy: Yeah, he’s right here. You just can’t see him. Kasen: He in tent? Daddy: Yeah. Kasen: Why He in tent? Daddy: Cause He loves you and wants to be with you. He likes being with you. Kasen: I’m sittin’ on Jesus. Daddy: You’re sittin’ on Jesus? Kasen: Yeah (giggling)
pause…
Kasen: Why the grass makin’ noise? Daddy: Those are crickets. They’re makin’ noise ’cause they’re happy. Kasen: Why they makin’ noise? Daddy: ‘Cause God took care of them today. They’re trying to tell Jesus how much they love Him. Kasen: I make noise for Jesus too. Then he let out a big scream.Aaahhh!!
We laughed together.
I’m so glad that I’m able to have these kinds of conversations with my son. I look forward to the future as he is able to grow in his understanding of God and our conversations grow deeper. I pray that he remains inquisitive. I pray that he also keeps “sittin’ on Jesus” and “makin’ noise for Jesus.”
Just wanted to post a quick pic of the view I had last week on our camping trip. McKinney Falls State Park is a pretty cool place.
We had 13 youth/adults with us for 4 days worth of camping. It was a great trip. Swimming, Hiking, Hanging with friends, smores, cooking over the fire, a side trip to Volente Beach Waterpark, etc. Good times. I missed my bride and kids, but had a good time too.
OK – he’s only 16 months, but close enough. Kasen loves tents! When we go to the Bass Pro Shop, one of his favorite things to do is to run in and out of all the display tents.
Our small group went camping at Brazos Bend this week for Spring Break so Kasen and I made a quick day trip up to spend a night with them. He loved it! His first tent camping experience was a huge success. He went on a bike ride, played with his friends, helped find a geocache, fell asleep by the campfire, and slept til about 3am. He woke up and looked around a bit then snuggled back down into his sleeping bag for the rest of the night. He was still up like an alarm clock at 7am, but it was a good night.
Side note: We did have a little scare. Kesleigh had a skin infection and we were told we might need to take her to the hospital. The good news is that the antibiotics are working. Pray for her to have continued improving health.
I’m also grateful that we were also surrounded by great, caring friends (our small group) who prayed for her and engaged in some incredible conversations around the campfire. There’s just something about a campfire that brings those things out.
McKinney Falls State Park – Thanksgiving 2013
