This started out simply as a post about how our family all went tent camping the other day and about what a blast we had. But, as you probably well know by now, I have mothering and big issues about life on the brain a lot lately. So, the direction of this post kind of, ahem, deviated from my initial, simple idea.
Just call it poetic license. Or something.
I have but one life to live. We all do. Of course, I have known this for some time. That I have one life to live, as do of course our children, hardly counts as new news. But I’m telling you (again and again) that giving birth to our fifth baby, along with some other big events in my life in the past handful of years, has changed me. Brought a new slant to my mothering. Adjusted my attitude, which definitely needed adjusting in a few ways, towards the long days my husband and I are currently living with five children ages five and under.
There are times when I really, really want to escape the noise, clamor and needs of my children. But looking down at our sweet newborn, growing already too fast for my taste, reminds me quickly that we have but one life to live. Small Fry, for example, has one life to live. Will I ever regret giving her the chance in that life of hers to eat S’mores for breakfast in her pajamas?
I’m pretty sure I won’t.
We want the world for our MSC; it’s likely that nearly all parents do. The kind of world I long for my children to have has changed as I’ve aged. What my husband and I desire for our offspring isn’t what the endless commercials that flash on television screens across our nation tell us to desire. The last thing I want our children to become is selfish, entitled creatures who are not satisfied with what they have. I’ve been that creature (I still am at times), and it isn’t pretty. I don’t want to raise little American dream seekers, to allow our children to think that the world revolves around them or to let them believe that having just a little bit more will lead to true contentment.
I long for our children to enjoy life, to know about Kenya, to savor the small things, to meet children in our own area who are so much less fortunate, to learn help and love and compassion. To embrace the idea that they have but one life to live. There are no do overs.
I will consider my life well lived if our children (who still wear their Crocs on the wrong feet which still brings a big smile to my face) mature into adults who can see what is eternally important in this life, while also being able to live in, and enjoy, each and every simple moment of their lives as they live it. To know that it is not just the destination in this one life we have to live that matters but the journey as well. And our family believes that the journey doesn’t need to be complicated. Being with our children, running errands as a family, attending church, finding teachable moments as we wander the aisles at Wal-Mart, prioritizing the simple, choosing to be spontaneous with our MSC, camping.
This is the journey we have chosen.
I was never much of a camper. Or, ahem, a camper at all. I mean, not even a little bit. I loathed the idea of tents just a couple years ago. My idea of roughing it was a cheap hotel with really slow Wi-Fi. But my husband loves to camp. He’s always been much better than me at enjoying the process of life and not needing fancy things to make him happy. And, well, he’s rubbing off on me. And with our fifth baby here in our arms, it is constantly clear to me that we have but one life to live.
Am I going to look back and regret taking our children camping with four hours notice, leaving in such a hurry that we forgot a few important comforts and outdoor necessities (while certainly remembering the marshmallows for roasting burning)? No. I finally realize that I am not. Instead, I will cherish the memories and photographs we now have of our only daughter, looking out at the lake, wearing a sling I fashioned for her using Flurry’s blanket (at her request) for her to carry her baby (monkey) in.
We have one life to live.
Am I going to wish we’d stayed home more when MckFlurry was a baby? Will I look back and wish we’d have been worried that he might get sick or that Stellan would have a hard time snoozing in a tent? That we never tent camped because we might have gotten sore backs from sleeping on the ground? Will I be proud that our children ate healthy, organic food every day of their lives and that we never allowed them a weekend of ingesting only cold brats, S’mores and Gatorade?
No, I don’t think I will. I’m transforming as a mother, and it feels so good. We have one life to live. All of us. So I am trying to say yes more. Yes, you can play with sand in the garage. Yes, I’ll put (even) more bubbles in the bath. Yes, you can eat peanut butter for dinner. Yes, I’ll ask Daddy if he’ll take us camping. (And he said yes!)
This is it, our one chance at life. I could mope around with regret that I didn’t live this way years ago, that I was too busy being a planner, a worrier and realist. But I’m not going to. Instead, I am so thankful for my children, for they have taught me to dream and to savor every moment. Each one of them, and each year of life I’ve lived since becoming a mother (and each experience I’ve had in those years, namely our trip to Kenya, nearly losing my marriage, struggling financially due in large part to our own poor choices and nearly losing our sweet Stellan), have slowly helped me learn to embrace life. To spend my time remembering that we have one life to live. I think I become a better mother each time I give birth.
Well, if not that, than at least I for sure get more spontaneous and laid back with each child I birth. Less worried about dirt and schedules and nutrition. More focused on family and faith and relationships. And fun.
Please don’t misunderstand me, though. I still have a long way to go. I am neither the perfect mother nor always a loving wife. I all too often forget to practice what I preach. But I do not focus on those times. I am so thankful for this blog and humbled that any of you even read it. I am glad to have a place to record some of my failures, but more importantly to celebrate my successes.
They are what I want to remember.
And, sometimes, our success as parents can be clearly seen in the eyes of our children.
I don’t know, maybe you’ll think I’m making a whole lot out of just a night of tent camping. But for me, it was huge. Yes, since being married, this was my first time ever sleeping in a tent (You might remember that the last time, which was also the first time, we camped, I might have gone home to the comfort of my own bed after nightfall.). Plus, we camped with a newborn (Which in my opinion is nowhere near as hard as camping with a toddler is.). The other night, under the stars with the six most important people in my life, was amazingly fun. Yes, I’m sure that has something to do with the fact that my husband, who stayed up super late with me, playing cards and eating candy by the campfire, did nearly all of the gruntwork. And because I had an inflatable mattress. And because I slept to the sound of a white noise app (after making my way around our campsite by the light of a flashlight app on my cell phone).
But I also think it was so amazingly fun because I remember that I have one life to live. Yes, I am so very much enjoying life since becoming a mother, as my children are teaching me great lessons such as those. So, yes, we threw caution to the wind, left sensibility at home, eschewed rational thought, and took our five children ages five and under camping. And not only did we live to tell about it, we also cannot wait to do it again.
Our MSC were beyond ecstatic when we gave them the news. We threw our tents (we brought two this time) and some gear in our car, ran to Wal-Mart, and off we went!
My husband is awesome in so many ways, one of which is the fact that he sets camp up all by himself. While I watched our miniature campers find frogs, collect leaves, squeal with joy and break into our marshmallow stash a mere 7 minutes after arriving at our lakeside camping site, he worked.
Of course, we all got to help make sure the tents were comfortable. They were! I loved sleeping on an air mattress, and MckFlurry did great beside me. I was so very thankful that my husband thought it would be best to bring the Pack-n-Play for Stellan. Our little nearly 22 month old was unsure about falling asleep at the very beginning, but it didn’t take him long before he was out. He slept all night without a hitch; all of the children slept until between 7:30 and 8:30 the next morning. Success in my book!
There was loads of graham cracker eating, playing in the dirt, story telling and relaxing.
Our sweet babe did great. Taking him camping was an absolute breeze. The weather was gorgeous: neither too hot nor too cold.
The setting was perfect for pinecone hunting around our super secluded campsite.
And Small Fry wore her monkey in the sling I made her for the bulk of the second day we were there. She even wore him again once we were home. Monkey see, monkey do. Literally! She’s an amazingly nurturing “little mama”; I love her heart!
Rubber mallets, camping chairs, candy and Daddy kept everyone very happy. The tents were the perfect place for me to hang out with the Flurrster, although nursing him by the campfire in the wee hours of the morning was definitely the best.
I haven’t been able to stop thanking my husband. For taking us camping. For being spontaneous and fun. For living in the moment and teaching me to do the same. For doing the gruntwork when we travel. For being a great dad. For living like we have one life to live. For giving me these children.
Seeing Nuggey holding “his” baby (He asks all the time now!) in this outfit reminded me of this post, when little Nuggey cradled Stellan in the same romper.
More dirt, marshmallows and a campfire. Yes, I have one life to live. And this, my friends, is how I want to live it.
And these are the people I want to live it with. Whether we are camping, jumping on the trampoline, eating hummus, homeschooling at the kitchen table, splashing at the Splash Pad or playing cards into the wee hours of the morning, I cherish these times with my family.
Before we knew it, though, our camping adventure was over. We (and by we, I of course mean he) took down our tents. We gathered our garbage, wiped the marshmallow stickiness off our fingers the best we could, ate one more brat for old time’s sake and hit the road.
Another day lived in this one life to live that we all have been given.
I like life.
And now, apparently, I also like camping. Which is still a bit of a weird concept for me to grasp. But I’m getting used to it.
What a wonderful post – one of my favorites from you!
I try really hard to relax and let go and it’s so hard! I struggle with it daily and applaud you for “changing” the way you see life and mother your children. We all live and learn and figure out what’s right and change our attitudes to fit our lives. I’m so happy that you all had a wonderful time! You are a brave woman! : )
awe friend, I love you. This was a beautiful piece of maternal art. Love love loved it. Now if the weather would calm down here, I wanna go CAMPING!
This is such a beautiful post! Great reminder to live life to the fullest. Keep enjoying those little ones, they are all adorable!
The look on Stellan’s face with the hot dog is hilarious! But my favorite was Small Fry in PJ’s and choc. What better combo for a morning?????
Great pictures!
i so desperately needed this today. i am a scheduler, and i try so hard to not be, but it’s always been my nature to be one. my hubby and i have been trying to decide about going somewhere in a couple weeks. it’s bad timing, particularly for our son, and i’ve been very adamant about not wanting to go.. but, i think sometimes, i just need to let caution to the wind, and do it… thanks for encouraging me in this way today.
You hit the NAIL on the head!!!!! These are my exact words. I have actually NEVER been camping and am freaking out thinking about doing it with 3 under 4, but you DID IT!!! Amazing. Thanks for sharing. I too am a scheduler, planner, realist, wanna make sure it is done right kind of mama. In my case, I have an issue with leaving no room for error. This is something God is revieling to me everyday. I am thankful. I need to learn to say YES more. The kids are small and want memories…and the hubs and I will give them GOOD memories!!! WAHOO!!!!
thanks for sharing!!!
k
Really makes you begin to understand what Paul said in this verse: “Nevertheless, she will be saved in childbearing if they continue in faith, love and holiness, with self-control.”
1 Tim 2:15
I am a long time camper and have taken all 4 of my kids out the summer they were born. Camping with a newborn is way easier than camping 8 months pregnant, when bathroom treks are the worst in the middle of the night. Our youngest was just 2-3 weeks old when she went camping for the first time. I have always felt that the time spent in tents and around a campfire was worth double our time anywhere else. Our now 17 and 16 year old girls have had some of the best conversations playing cards by a lantern, late at night or just before falling to sleep.
One hint, as you get older, a raised platform for your air mattress can make a world of difference. We have had ours for years now and it allows my over 40 year old body to survive in a tent for days on end. Also having a good tent and screen house, in the east, are a must. It is no fun to have a leaky tent and wet gear. Rain is not the enemy, as one of our most memorable and fun camping trips was dubbed ” camping under the big blue tarp”. After threatening rain, we went to the local Walmart and got the biggest blue tarp they had, no idea what size it was when we got it. Turns out it was about 20 x 40 feet. We were able to cover the entire site, tents and screen house, with one tarp, tied to various trees. It rained for three days!!! we managed to have campfires under the edge of the tarp and the rain sounded like drums in the tents. What could have been an awful trip, turned out to be loads of fun and one of the most memorable for our family.
You will NEVER regret spending this time with your children, they will remember these trips and what you did, long after you have forgotten them.
hope you have many more camping trips in your future and mine !
Cindy,
mom to, Lindsey 17, Emily 16, Andrew 13, Abby 9
and wife ( of reluctant camper) Ken
Jennifer…thank you so much for your post. I might just actually print it out and save it.
I long to gain the peacefulness you seem to have in your heart. I long to just relax and let things be as they will be, instead of worrying over everything and stressing about everything. I truly do.
I am sitting here looking at pictures I’ve taken this summer and realized…that only once did I let my girls stay up past their bedtime to look for lightening bugs. Isn’t that sad? Just once? How much longer are they even going to be interested in doing that.
I also long to have another baby….but I constantly worry that another baby will add to my already stressed mindset. I wish I could know that if I did have another baby I would just instantly turn calm and let things be as they should be.
Thank you for showing me that life is beautiful.
Just thought you should know that I really needed to read this post! Had a trip on Saturday that I felt like I forgot EVERYTHING for. None the less, it was an amazing day with my family. So, I felt silly that I had spent so much time feeling stressed about what we forgot. Need to take hold of the day(s) and live them to the fullest and go with the flow more. Thanks for the reminder!
You are brave, brave, brave! I’m grabbing my 1 year old and taking him for a wonderful day of adventures instead of cleaning my house today. Thanks for inspiring me:)
Oh. My. Gosh. The pics of Stellan with the hot dogs are the cutest pictures ever. EVERRR. I’m freaking out here. Something about them. AAAAH! Shutting up now.
This was such a beautiful post. Everything you wrote about are things I strive to remember and embrace. I love the life that I have been given, usually. We all have strife and I need to remember that and embrace it, pray about it and live joyfully despite it! Thanks for the reminder
makes me want to take the little ones camping! i have always thought they were a little young, and we dont have the money to buy any gear, but perhaps when it is less than 98 degrees out in the fall we can try to borrow some stuff. my oldest would love it!
I especially appreciate this post, as we just got home from our (“routine”) weekend camping trip! I never thought of myself as a camper either. I too, have recently come to the realization that life is a gift to be cherished and I can’t be afraid to do things (like ride the 4-wheeler or jet ski by myself, drive through a mountain range when I’m afraid of heights, or trying lobster!) Instead, I use my best judgement, understand that I might actually LOVE it if I give it a try! I do think I enjoyed my life before, but now I love it! Every weekend (literally for the whole summer) that we’ve spent at the lake, as tired and sore as we are when we get home…all of it so worth it! So…thanks!
P.S. Yep, we totally sleep on an air matress too!
AMEN! Thanks for sharing your thoughts, your pictures and your life with all of us! My current motto is, Choose Joy. It’s that simple. You are definitely choosing joy every day.
Oh I just LOVE this post…I Love the way you try to simplify life for your family, I Love the way you embrace your one life to live! I too strive to live like this…I want SIMPLE for my kids, heck for me too! My husband just showed me a tv commercial for a new tv coming out that is basically a computer/TV all in one, so while you are sitting there watching tv (which I could do without, he Has to watch his sports
) you can check facebook, surf the web…etc. etc. I know that is the way our country is going, but I DON’T like it!!!!!! I think having kids changes you, and aging also makes you keenly aware of this one life we have to live!!! This was deep, I like it, and I like to know that I’m not the only one who thinks like this 
Love all the pictures, Love your family & the way you embrace life
This post brought tears! very well written. makes me want to be spontaneous and throw our kids in the car to go camping. we have gone every year for 7 years and this year we couldnt as we decided to build a house instead. yur pictures are beautiful and i love reading your website. thanks for the inspiration to live in the moment!
What a beautiful post. Thank you so much for sharing what you are learning as you journey through life and motherhood. I am so glad that I have an example and a reminder of what I should be focusing on, enjoying and cherishing. My babies are so small and so close together, I have spent a lot of time feeling frustrated and lonely and wishing these “baby days” were over.
But since you’ve had Mckflurry and have been sharing how much you are enjoying the newborn days, and trying to remember that you’re going to miss this, I am seeing this time with my children in a whole new way. I am stopping and cherishing my time with them each and everyday. I am spending more time just watching them and enjoying them. And I am learning to be more relaxed and to not let the little things bother me. And I am convinced I will be a better mother because of it. Thank you!!
That looks like a good time to me, I love getting away with the kids. My JC is Stellan’s age, but he just isn’t as tame. Maybe its the photographs that make it seem that way?
I think the more kids you have the more you are able to enjoy life and live in the moment. I have 3 kids under 5, and I enjoy it more now than I ever have! I would’ve never done the things with our first born during her first year as I have done with #3. We’ve gone camping nearly every weekend this summer…and our youngest is 15 months. And I so agree with you, camping with a newborn is SO much easier than a toddler!
Oh I loved reading this! So true. I can definitely relate! You have such a sweet little family!
On a different note…I am considering homeschooling. It has been on my heart a lot lately. My husband works long hours so I am nervous about schooling my 8 year old and taking care of the 2 littles. Do you have alot of help from your husband? Any advice? Tips?
Thanks!
I have LOVED reading about how much you are enjoying life! Makes me smile
What an absolutely BEAUTIFUL post. I am SO thankful that your marriage survived and that Stellan prevailed over his early health issues and that you were blessed with a fifth beautiful McBaby!!! The thought of breastfeeding by a campfire sounds heavenly. May God continue to bless your life and your family!
We took two camping trips this summer – my first real camping trips ever – and while I didn’t love all of it (camping with a 9 month old is actually not very much fun for us panicky mommies – hopefully she and I do better next summer!) I really did kind of love the imperfection of it all. So important to let go sometimes and just enjoy the moments, good or bad! I love your comment about saying “yes” more – I *need* to do this, to simplify and let go of my need for more stuff. I’ll get there – this turned out to be a very inspiring post Mckmama!
Glad you tried camping–its super fun-all the fun of outside and fewer dishes to boot haha. We camp and boat a lot. We live about half of our lives on a houseboat. Nothing beats plain old tent camping though. Smelling like campfire and burnt marshmallows for days and finding leaves in the laundry–the best ever stuff.
Well said, MckMama! One day at a time with those little ones – some slow days but always fast years, and I just love your attitude in this post! Camping always provides my family with great memories as well.
Keep up the great work with your MSC!
Your children look so precious! They look like they had alot of fun!
You are such a brave momma. I hate camping!! We’ve tried it twice and it wasn’t pretty at all. I’m an indoor girl. This is why we’re saving for a trailer.
Glad you had a good time. God bless.
I only recently found your blog through another sweet and wonderful mother friend of mine. You really have encouraged me as a mother, wife, planner, worrier, perfectionist, and all the other “super-mom” things we try so hard to be. The first blog I read was- I’m gonna miss this….Oh how I needed that particular encouragement that day. My hubby had been gone on business all week and I had been home all week with my three kids -school, soccer practice, guitar practice, church , ect. Instead of living in the moment , I selfishly was thinking how tired I was. You spoke to my heart , and my kids thank you for that. Although still overwhelmed many days as a mother of three, grad student, wife, and taxi cab driver – I got up the next morning with a smile and remembered that some day I was going to miss this – It made it seem more like a calling than a chore. Thank you for that perspective.
Jennifer this is SUCH a beautiful post. You truly inspire me! You do that with so many posts, and this is just one example of that. I have been reading your blog now for a couple years…when you were pregnant with Stellan and I haven’t been able to stop reading it. It’s my daily indulgance
Just like your “I’m gonna miss this” post you make me think really deeply about life and how we only get once “shot at it”. My husband and I have been trying to have a baby now for almost eight years. And as I look back on that time I am seeing, through your help, that a lot of those days were spent, pining, longing and crying for a baby that never was. Don’t get me wrong, we still would LOVE to have a baby. But I think my perspective truly has now changed because of your beautiful words. And one day if we DO have a baby I know I will miss THIS. What I have right NOW. Time alone every day with my husband that I know I won’t get back. Thanks for your heart and for sharing it with us. You are such a gift and I’m truly honoured to “know” you 
Blessings! Sharon
creatorsclay@hotmail.com
Awesome! We just did a campout in the backyard last weekend with our 3 year old. It was great! I didn’t sleep, was sore all the next day and I thought it was a waste since we couldn’t have a campfire or anything. My son, however, thought it was awesome. He talked about it for days, “Remember how we went camping, Dad?” That makes it all worth it. It’s so cool that being with family is all it takes for them to have a good time sometimes!
You must be a great mom!
Great post! Sweet pictures as usual! You are a fantastic writer with quite the message to share.
we camped this summer, we stayed in a cabin. It is the best thing ever, to do with kids! And my 2 1/2 year old only ate macaroni and cheese ALL 3 days. Can’t wait to see what you do next!
I’ve been reading your blog since you had Stellan and it’s amazing to see how you are evolving as a person and a mother…..allowing God to mold you into the person he created you to be. That is something I pray on a weekly basis for. I am pregnant with #3 and will hopefully mellow out even more as I raise this baby. I am realizing motherhood is not a competition. It is not about perfection. At the end of this life, the people I want most to please are my heavenly father and my husband and children. And by being in the moment with them as often as I can, I think I will accomplish that.
“motherhood is not a competition. It is not about perfection. At the end of this life, the people I want most to please are my heavenly father and my husband and children.”
Such an important reminder!
Super sweet post-your children will have those wonderful memories forever! Nothing beats a cozy campfire and smores! You rock!
Thanks to this post, my kids each had an ice cream cone for breakfast! Loved it!
Thanks for sharing your beautiful words and educating the world, one blog post at a time.
My husband is much more spontaneous that I am too. When we were first married, it really annoyed me. But now I’m so thankful for his spontaneity. He is definitely the “fun” parent! He thinks of doing things with the kids that I would never dream of doing. Three cheers for fun, spontaneous dads!
Awesome! If I’m ever a mom, I want to be able to do this–be laid back and live remembering that we only have one life to live. Well, even if i’m not ever a mom…just with life in general!
Gosh, this is so beautifully written, thank you so much for sharing your thoughts with us readers. It is really something to sit back and enjoy. Isn’t it what we want yet rarely do? I am definitely a person that should take my children camping. Once again, thank you!
Thank you so much for this – for opening your heart. That’s what I want for my family too…and while I’m stuck here, having all-day sickness, I feel as though I have failed miserably at being the way I WANT to be for my family. I realize that this to, shall pass, but it’s hard. I long for the days that I’m “fun” and spontaneous again – and I’m sure my family does too. In the meantime, I’ll just live vicariously through you and your adventures.
That’s kinda what my comments were about towards the bottom… the timing for me to really “enjoy” things isn’t great right now either as I too am struggling with physical “morning sickness” (all day) and fatigue. After the birth of a baby or another happy life event, it really helps with hitting the “reset button” so I’m also reading and waiting patiently as possible for my turn!!
This is probably the best post I have ever read from you (and I have a LOT of favorites!!) I am newlywed and have been thinking about things like this, with life in general. Why not just go have a picnic when your husband gets home, even if you had a 4 course dinner planned? Why not just stay in your pj’s all day, because you can? I am a huge planner like you are….er….were and sometimes the unplanned can cause me to hesitate and miss out on the fun I could have if I just went along with it. Thank you for this post! I hope to raise my children much the same way as you do – living life to the fullest, taking every opportunity to just BE with your children, not caring what the world thinks about you, not caring that it takes an hour and a half to pick up a few items from the store with your brood, but just simply being Mommy and living in the moments that God has given you currently. Not in the past, not in the future, but NOW.
Love this post! This is the type of mother I’ve vowed to be since day 1 – there are so many important things to keep track of (nutrition, education, etc) for your children that you need to take the everyday moments and still go with them. “Let them be kids…”
We went camping when our daughter was 4 months old…she slept in a hamper and we loved every second!
What a great post! Take nothing for granted, enjoy every moment, have no regrets. Live, love, laugh. Coose camping with your family over cleaning and laundry!
I am a fairly new reader and I have to say that this post touched my heart deeply. I often find myself in a deep “pondering” life funk! I always pictured my life as a busy mom of several kiddos. I always longed for my own MSC however I am blessed by infertility. I say blessed because it took a very long time to understand that yes my husband and I adopted our daughter from birth and that she might end up being our only child but that’s okay! Finding peace in that has been a long road for me and this post made me realize that I do infact only have one life to life and aslong as I enjoy it and give my child the best that I can it’s all going to be okay.
Thanks for this!
Bless your heart Jen. You made more great memories with your family. I love camping. The peacefulness of what nature has to offer is so appealing,how could one not like it. I love the sweet pics of the kiddos,way to cute. To bad I’m not closer to you or we could maybe make a weekend of group camping.
LOVE this post! I see a post very similar in my near future! I’m only a couple months pregnant with our first, but I’ve already begun brainstorming camping with our new addition! It’s so true – you only live once so you may as well make the most out of it, without being paranoid about sticks and stones and dirt and bugs!
SO inspirational. I love reading your blog. =)
This has been a lot of what has been on my heart recently, too. It’s so wild how I didn’t realize I’d be on such a journey of discovery about life in general WHILE I was on my journey of motherhood. Or maybe becoming a mother, and through lots of trial and error, this is where I’ve ended up and who knows? But I think about this stuff alot.
But, I don’t know if you could ever convince me to love tent camping…
Steph
What a great post. Looks like camping success to me. I think we may try this with our 3 kids 3 years old and younger!!! Thanks for sharing your beautiful pictures!
We went camping for the first time in 9 years of marriage a few months ago, with our three kids (7,5,1). Our 18-month-old was in a Pack n Play, and our experience was similar to yours, lots of Smores and dirt and relaxation. My husband, an Eagle Scout, definitely did all the grunt work.
It was exhausting, but worth it, and we’ll do it again.
ps Can you believe how much Nuggey has changed since Stellan was a newborn?
Great message, i appreciate you sharing it. I try to live be the same philosophy but I am not always successful. I have five kids as well and all too often I get caught up in what must be done (laundry,bills, etc.) and forget to enjoy the little things going on around me. Life with five kids, is as you know, chaotic and sometimes I get caught up in that and forget the thing I should be focusing on!! Being a mom is hard isn’t it?
I needed this post this morning, as I sit here nursing my little man, bleary-eyed and hormonal after a literally sleepless night. THANK YOU.
Great post. The pictures were so cute.
Hooray for camping!
Great post. Great thoughts. I love your philosophy on life and raising children. SF melts my heart with her Mama-ing instincts, and modeling her Mama, of course!
Those “flashback” pics of Nuggey with Stellan are precious! I just can’t get over every time I see a pic of Stellan now, in his almost-2, totally normal, healthy, toddler self–how miraculous “normal” can be…for a baby that was so sick even a year ago now, to see him this way reminds me that all things are possible with our great God.
Thanks for the good reminder that we have “one shot” at this life. Thanks for sharing pics of your precious fam. I hope you enjoyed the rest of your weekend.
FYI Choking is the most common cause of death in kids from 1 to 5 years of age, and hot dogs cause 17 percent of those deaths.
You have to cute it in half (excuse my English…).
As someone who works with children in the medical field, I can tell you that the particular statistic you quoted is true, but involved hot dogs that are cut into circles, not whole hot dogs. In my 25 years in the field, I have yet to ever see a child choke on a whole hot dog.
Also, if you watch your small children, not a problem.
You did good. Some of our children’s favorite memories are camping out in the backyard! So simple and so fun.
We are also living our one life to life on the frozen tundra…to the west of you. We had dramatic life changes to get to where we are today. It is our perfect little life I could have never planned! And I also have learned through my husband’s love for camping that I love the family time and enjoy camping myself. Fabulous pics & words. Thanks for sharing.
Amen! Amen! You are so right about the things that are remembered. My husband and I took our children camping and then later it was just the two of use. As time went by the more primitive and challenging the camping adventure the more satisfying it was. I vividly remember the time we stopped overnight in a layby well off the road and I managed to wash my whole self and my hair in about a cup of water. My daughters were scandalised when I told them about it. Wasn’t I afraid someone would see me. No, we were way out in the country off the road and my husband had thoughtfully rigged up tarps for cover.
Now my husband is gone and I am alone and I miss camping more than I ever thought I would.
I LOVE This post. It actually made me cry. I do agree that with each child,(we have 3)you do get a little softer (if that’s the right word) Thank you for the reminder that we do indeed have only 1 life. I have been telling myself just the last 2 wks, to say “yes” more to the kids and STOP and take a little more time to do the simple things with them.
I have three “babies” (6, 4, & 1) and I think with each child you really start to realize how fast life goes by and how fast they grow up. It’s easier to just relax about the things that used to get you all wound up. I still have some work to do on that, so thank you for the reminder.
I absolutely loved your post. You are so right. We have one life to live. I want to run out right now and have some fun with the kids (but they are all sleeping). Thank you so much for the inspiration.
Blessings
Honey
Your camping post caught my eye and I had to stop for a look. Kudos to you for taking 5 kids under five including a newborn camping. I am not sure I could attempt that but we certainly LOVE to camp as well. There really is something to packing up, leaving the world behind and relaxing in the beauty that God created. I wish you many more wonderful trips!
Thanks for making me cry.
I don’t ever get all wrapped up in blog posts, (well yours maybe) and I rarely comment to tell everyone so (well yours maybe).
———–
I just want to tell you thanks for being real.
Being you is so much better than being anything else.
I have a 10, soon to be 5 and 1 year old(s).
I’m generally the following: uptight, gotta homeschool, gotta be organic, everything homemade, can’t have sugar, clean up your room (everyday), yadda yadda.
AND you just made me see myself.
I’m crying. rrrr
I wish my husband would let me have more babies so that I too could loosen up and get real with life. Go camping, If that works?
My blogs name is THE LIVES WE ARE GIVEN.
We have ONE.
and in that ONE we influence and affect MANY.
Not to be cliche but I think of the saying WWJD.
Really, I don’t think he’d be too worried about eating smores for breakfast.
Thanks Jennifer.
dream big!
So happy that you went camping….I had never been camping until I met my husband and now it is something that I love to do. We have so many wonderful memories of every one of our camping trips. Every summer for the last 20 years, we go camping in Colorado at about 9600 feet at a wonderful state park. This year we were there for 12 nights and I still could have stayed longer. One of the new traditions that we have while camping, is to wrap ourselves in blankets, lay on the picnic table at our camp site and watch the falling stars. Some of the best conversations that my husband and I have had in our marriage, have been while we have sat by the campfire late at night while our children slept. Our kids were born in 1977, 1988 and 1999. The youngest is a boy and he loves going as much as we do. I can honestly say that with each of our children I got better at saying yes more often. Today at 53, with one married, one in college and one in 5th grade….I have seen how quickly the time goes. I hope you enjoy each and every one of your camping trips…we do.
Okay, you have inspired me! My husband has been trying to convince me that we should take our 3 year old twins and 2 year old son camping. I always come up with every reason NOT to…I just read this entry and turned to him and said “Babe, let’s take the kids camping!” He just looked at me and said…”is this a joke?”
I have so much to learn!
Thank you for your inspiration!
I loved this post almost as much as I loved the I’m Gonna Miss This one. I shared that one with my SIL yesterday (although I still haven’t been able to make it through without crying) and we both have really been thinking about that. These are the kinds of posts that I love and why I have read your blog for so long. I really love the ministry that the Lord has given you to inspire us to be better mamas and wives!
In camping we always operate under two principles:
1. God made dirt. And dirt don’t hurt.
2. Calories consumed camping are completely wiped out by whatever hiking, nursing, swimming, running around, tent hitching you do. I haven’t done the math…but I am pretty sure…
The first time I took my babes camping it rained in the afternoon and we all took naps in the tent and it was seriously a splinter of straight up heaven. Rain thumping on canvas…everyone I love piled onto air mattresses and blankets with sticky, dirty faces. Life well lived.
Now, later that night when raccoons were ravaging the food left out and all I could hear was the scurrying of little rodents and them brushing against the tent….NOT straight up heaven. Straight up somethin else.
Straight up an enjoyable comment to read!!!!
This post just blessed my socks off! God is really working on me in these areas…I too often say no. “No”, out of fear of raising an overly indulgent child with an uncontrollable sweet tooth like me {we’re still working through the Easter jelly beans…I’m THAT stingy}. “No”, out of fear that saying “yes” will develop an overly-optimistic expectation for hearing “yes”. I don’t even know why I hold on so tightly…and am finding tremendous freedom in realizing that a little TV will not infact be the death of her, getting ice-cream twice in 1 week won’t replace her love for green peppers and hummus. I’m letting go…and loving it. After all…it’s all about HIM. I just forget that a lot.
You are learning exactly what I am, it seems! I also don’t want an overly indulgent child and can be super stingy with jelly beans…but I’m learning that it might not be as great of an idea as I thought it was for me to be so free with the no’s. I still know what’s important…and I’m turning into more of a yes mama!!
Thank you.
Awesome to hear.
Growing up I was never much of an outdoorsy person either. The summer after my ex-husband left me I got a wild hair and took off with my 2 kids and we went camping for a week. I had never even built a fire or put a tent up before. We had such a great week and it was so great to bond with them so much during this awful time. It was the moment I realized I could do this alone… Now we camp several times a summer and LOVE it!! Thanks for the wonderful post!
Though I totally, totally agree with the sentiment of this post, and totally think there are times when uptight-ness should be thrown to the wind, don’t you also think that nutrition (except for on those special occasions) IS something worth being mostly uptight about with children? I feel like throwing caution to the wind when it comes to nutrition is causing a lot of people’s *one lives* to be shortened, you know?
No disrespect meant.
I know what you mean, and I bet we’re on the same page…but for me, I don’t want to be “uptight” about nutrition. Yes, I still think it is very, very important in the grand scheme of things. But I am learning not to freak out (like I used to be tempted to do) when those instances come up when our kids don’t eat healthy (like when we’re camping!).
Wow! Great post and kind of weird because our priest tonight at church was kind of talking about the same thing…. dirty,soily,earthy… all come from the latin word humus(sp) which is derived from the word humble(I think I got that right) anyway he ended the sermon by saying there are two people in this world people who are humble and people who are about to be humbled! (: I long for that day…. way to go Mckmama! I am sure the feeling is awesome!!!! He also said, if you ever have the chance dig your hands deep into some dirt and let it seep through your fingers, let the stains stay there and be humbled. Peace and humility is what I wish for everyone and myself.
So I have to ask..how were the mosquitos? I, like you, never really used to be much for camping but my outdoorsy husband made me love it also. Such great fun and relaxing time unplugged from everything – plus s’mores! We’ve been talking about taking our 3 year old for his first time but one thing I can’t stand in the frozen tundra is mosquitos! Plus my little guy just gets huge welts from them. Were they still pretty bad or not so much? Thanks!
You are so inspiring…I have tried super hard to be more of the “yes” mommy to things. My babies are growing so super fast and I don’t want them to grow up not having fun or great memories of being small! So thanks for the wonderful post. I do give you the “Supermom” award though for taking 5 kids camping! Sheesh girl I admire you!!! I don’t think I could do it!! You ROCK!
Tara
OMG YOU LET STELLAN EAT A HOT DOG OFF A BIG POINTY FORK? Don’t you know how dangerous hot dogs are for toddlers? He could choke! And put an eye out with the fork!
LOL Kidding! I’m sure he was closely supervised and not in any danger! Just thought I’d break the ice before the more…*ahem*…judgemental readers (you know, the ones who freak out about wet trampolines and too much sun exposure…) go for your jugular. Great pics, sounds like an awesome camping trip. My family never did any camping when I was a kid (too many seasonal/outdoor allergies in the family to deal with, and this was in the pre-Zyrtec era!) and I always felt like I was missing out. Definitely something I’d like to do when I have a family of my own some day.
ROFLOL! When I started to read your comment my first thought was, “OK, here it is.” Boy did you get me! Thank you!
You are such an inspiration Jenn and your children are all so cute and sweet. I love your BLOG!!! You make day to day life so interesting and make my life less lonely. I personally think you should go for #6 – hopefully a little sister for Maisie.
Take Care, Enjoy your children and thank you for sharing them with us of us!
Sincerely,
Jenn from Canada
This post made me cry! So beautifully written and such a profound reminder to enjoy life more and live it to the fullest. I am not a camper. Frankly, I was never a nature lover, except for the beach, always loved the beach. Does that count as nature? lol. But you have given me a different perspective on this. You are truly an inspiration! I think every mom needs to read this. Thank you so much for sharing your adventure, for having me, as a reader, feel like a part of your family. And my goodness, what a BEAUTIFUL family you have!
That’s so interesting…before I got married to my “nature” husband, I was never a “nature” girl either….except for the beach!!
So, we’re the same there. Anyway, thanks for the sweet comment.
Beautiful – we had an amazing vacation too this past week in SDakota – and stayed at a camground in a one-room cabin, complete with bunk beds that fit us 5 perfectly. We had one awesome adventure after another. Some of the best moments were the unscheduled bits. I’m going through my pictures now too and it’s such a joy to remember we said YES … yes to climbing that really big rock, yes to horseback riding (a first for me) and yes to cap guns and toy bows & arrows and the big one … yes to one more night at the campground instead of returning to MN. That was a big sacrifice on my husband’s part, because it required him to drive the whole way back in one day, but we did it!
Yes!!!!
Love camping with my kids. I for one thought i would never be much of a camper but I love the family memories it makes with the kids. We always have an awesome time! I to have had the realization that how fast time goes by and how quick the kids are growing. I am finding my self taking time to just play with them more and say yes more. Yes to playing with them, coloring with them, taking them outside, siting down and cuddeling with them, singing in the car with them, and just talking with them. I want them to have memories of me doing things with them and having fun with them.
This is a post I needed to read! I agree with the others. I LIKE the new you! You are such an encouragement. This post encouragement me to stop sweating the small stuff. Looking at the children for who they are and celebrating their lives daily. I need to learn to celebrate my husband! And I, too, have one life to live! Have a happy day! I am so blessed to come here and be encouraged.
loved the pics of stellan and the brat/hotdog!!
Seems like a lot of you guys do!
Yup!
I like the new you!
And yes, air mattresses and pack-n-plays are great for family camping
Awesome. I absolutely adore this post. Thank you for the reminder to be so thankful and grateful for this life and the sweet people in it.
You rock. I so enjoy watching you to continue growing as a wife, mother, and daughter of the King. It seems as though I’m learning quite a bit from you, and though I’m not a mom yet [we're getting married in November
] I’ll tuck the motherly advice you give away for when I am blessed to be one.
Love!
We went camping in July, with our 2SC, and it really does make you realize the beauty of simple little things. My barefoot little mama ran around playing in the dirt and went swimming in the river with her daddy, and I cuddled our 4 month old and breastfed her by the campfire. These are the memories that your children will always appreciate having, and you are wonderful parents for giving them such memories.
Beautiful photos, beautiful post. Thank you.
I too am the same way.. Hubby is the naturist outdoorsy camping guy ansd I was moor the indoor gal. With the limited experience I had with camping as a a child even a teen it was ok. As I matured and opened my mind and of course fell in love with hubby I started to open myself up to camping. Although we haven’t taken our sons camping yet we sure do plan to and we both looked forward to experiencing and enjoying every moment through the eyes of our children.
Quality family moments have never been made in front of a TV in my opinion…My son and I love to just go out and see all we can and rarely do I spend a dime other than gas because I always take my own food and drinks and we truly enjoy those days the most! Looks fun I wish we were there camping too we have to wait until October around my parts so it is cool enough to stay over night and super sweat
That was awesome to read. Thanks for the inspiration!
One question though, why the two tents? I remember taking separate tents when we were huge groups camping, the smaller always for the food. Our tent is enormous… plenty of room for our family of 5 plus another. But the two, was it so you and Flurry to sleep in? Please share
Our first tent really isn’t that big…but I really thought we should bring the second one because of Stellan and his Pack-n-Play. I thought we ALL might sleep better if the kids were a bit more separate. Falling asleep mostly….seeing as only our oldest two are used to falling asleep in the same room as someone. But once we were there, I totally changed up my ideas of who should sleep in which tent. And the configuration we used ended up working perfectly!!!
I have a six man tent and once u inflate that queen air mattress. There is not much room in the tent anymore.
This was such a sweet post. Love all the pictures. Looks like you all had a great time. I tell myself every day that I have to stay in the moment. All the clutter and toys and messes will all be gone one day. I love spending time with my little family, whatever it is they want to do!!! Thanks again for such a loving post.
I love this post. Even though I’m not a mother, I can relate in some ways as a big sister
Beautiful photos!
Oh, I meant to tell you – a few nights ago I totally dreamed about you, Nuggey, and Stellan. I was taking pictures of Stellan, then he disappeared and Nuggey took his place. So I took pictures of him. Then NUGGEY disappeared and you took his place. Only I didn’t take your picture – rather, I showed you the shots that I got.
I’m a bit obsessed with your blog, I guess…hence the dream
Oh I love dreams!! Thanks for sharing yours…too funny!!
I had a Mckmama dream once! It was weird. I was humming/singing the theme song to the TV show, NCIS. Except I was in the police station and Big Mac was there dancing and singing with me! All of a sudden Small Fry arrived with a police officer and THEY joined in the number! SOOOO weird!
p.s. Big Mac was dressed up like Big Bird!
I love this post! I’m trying to live more like this (MINUS the actual camping!)…mine are growing up too fast, and I’m already seeing how quickly the years go. Thanks for the encouragement and reminder. Darlin pics as always!!
Minus the actual camping.
Hehe. Well, that’s fine! But still, you NEVER know, you might like it! I’m telling you, I used to want NOTHING to do with camping! But, either way, I know you know that’s not the point. 
Glad you were encouraged!
You will never know how much I needed this post tonight! I am in the midst of getting my degree in nursing. I get so wrapped up in studying that I forget sometimes about spending time with my family! THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!
I absolutely LOVE it when you get to take pictures of your kids wearing the same outfits as their siblings when they were little. It makes my heart all warm and fuzzy.
It makes my heart the same way!!
Love the post. I am preparing for #5 (our finale and also my 4th boy with a girl smack dab in the middle) and am also trying to just BE and enjoy living life!! It hasn’t been easy as I’m 34 instead of 25 (when I had my first,) so the “old body” is having a bit harder time this time around. (I also had one miscarriage b/t number 3 and 4 at 10 weeks so I think that added to the hormone flips over the yrs.) Because I am sure this is my last (going to have my doctor make sure it is also,) I want to enjoy it! It’s easy to wish it would hurry up b/c I physically feel bad, but your posts help me see the payoff that is to come in December, so it helps!
I’m curious though, do you look back and wish you’d enjoyed your last pregnancy more since you also felt poorly and even had some pretty major problems at the end? Or are you just grateful for the place you are at now and thankful you made it through and can now look forward to the future? I’m only asking b/c I’m curious as to how I’M going to feel when this is over and if it would be comparable at all? I remember thinking I’d be so glad to be done after #4, we were finished, etc, etc and then I wound up deciding on a fifth! Hubby and I have mutually decided that’s not an option this time, but I wonder if my feelings may surprise me again! (I’m sure hoping NOT b/c I don’t want to be sad!!)
Thanks for sharing your heart and your life!
Oh, and re-reading my post, I didn’t mean to say you DIDN’T enjoy the pregnancy, I’m just saying I remember you sharing that you had some physically challenging times with nausea and such (that’s what I’m going through) and I was wondering if it made you struggle to enjoy the time?
(Hehe, I’m not sure this makes sense anymore at this point…maybe this comment would have been better under the “I’m gonna miss this post” as that’s kinda more the way I’m feeling tonight and what I was trying to ask about?!)
To answer your question, I DID try very hard to enjoy my pregnancy…and I did enjoy it a little, but for the most part it WAS hard. I didn’t savor each moment like I am now that L is here. But do I regret it? I guess if I were to think about it, I would. But that’s another part of what I’m learning these days: That there is NO point in regretting anything that is in the past. So, I can’t choose to focus on the fact that I didn’t enjoy the morning sickness and kidney trouble I had while pregnant. Instead, I can use the knowledge and insight I now have about how fast my children are growing to ENJOY L’s newborn-ness and my other children, too. Oh, man…hope that made sense!
It makes sense I guess… I’m still in the “present” throes of gagging/puking/feeling bad though, so I guess I was asking how to have the super-grateful-positive attitude you have NOW while you were living thru “back then” that wasn’t so peachy. (answer: it’s not possible as it was in your past and I totally get not dwelling on the past but looking to the future!)
Perhaps a better way to have asked that whole long and rambling question/comment (sorry, it was late and I was tired) was how do you also enjoy the “one life to live” when it isn’t a sweet spot in life? I’m trusting God and trying to make the best of it, but just am not feeling it right now! Your posts lately are very inspiring and uplifting about enjoying every moment in life, however, it’s hard to shift focus and savor the moments (like my last time pregnant that I know I’ll remember and miss) when they aren’t just sweet but bittersweet-and sometimes downright bitter. Being positive and shifting focus help me get through them with a smile (sometimes only a small one), but I’m not beaming and turning cartwheels inside.
I guess I wanted to ask you about this b/c others who may be saying to themselves “I’m really trying to be THIS happy with life but I’m in a difficult time” can realize that it’s ok! And that you’vew been there too! (I’m a long time reader so I know you have and have made it to the better times you are currently writing about!)
Now I’m hoping I’m making sense.
I can’t wait to be back in a time where the gratitude, enjoyment and just pure bliss come easier for me too!!
loved this post!! it makes me think about my one life to live
the photos of stellan eating a hot dog made me laugh…too cute!!
Beautiful Jennifer. Miss you tons.
Ditto, my friend.
Great post! Stellan’s pics with the brat on a stick made me laugh for some reason! Oh, and I think Flurry looks a little like Small Fry. : )
I do, too! Well, I think he’s a combo of Big Mac and Small Fry. Can’t wait (except, you know, I can) to see what he’ll look like as he grows!
I think he looks 75% Nuggey and 25% Small Fry! Interesting to see what everybody thinks.
Looks like a great time…I’m not one for camping, but you might have intrigued me enough to try it. Ssshhh…don’t tell my husband!
I’m totally telling him!!!
ok wow. so many thoughts right now. i just love your heart, and your reminder to live life to the fullest every day. i love that having 5 kids has made you more relaxed… but somehow i don’t think that would be the case with me!
my boys wore that same adorable striped play outfit… always a fav! love the pics, and love the whole post in general. and when you mentioned kenya, i thought of all the kids your family sponsors. i just got sad news this week that the girl i’ve sponsored for 8 yrs in honduras thru compassion had to move b/c of gang threats so i can no longer sponsor her. so sad. 
but i’m going to let my 3 yo son help pick another child.
ok, sorry this turned into a streams of consciousness comment. didn’t mean to ramble. maybe, just maybe, i’ll give camping a hand. but my idea of roughing it is like your old one- a cheap motel with slow wi-fi. hilarious!
southern love and prayers from alabama
Thanks for your sweet comment…you got off on a deep thought tangent with it just like I did with my post!!!