C is for Campfire
I grew up going to church camps every summer. I loved camp so much that I would attend the camp for my age group and be a counselor at the camps for the younger kids. My family also attended Reunion (or Family Camp) most summers as well. Camp was the most important part of my summer and there is nothing I would trade those experiences and memories for.
The one thing you can always count on at camp is campfire. Every night there is a campfire and I never missed a single one. We sit on the hard ground, gathered around a fire on a hot sticky night, all smelling like bug spray, and we sing, pray, and share our testimonies. I love campfires. For some people a campfire may be the pile of wood you burn to cook your food over when camping. For me a campfire is an event. An event that leaves me feeling renewed, recharged, and refreshed.
We sing crazy songs that have us doing hip bumps with the people on either side of us. Sometimes there are silly skits that the teenagers have prepared ahead of time. The campfire leader slows things down with some more serious songs, and often people will share personal stories that touch our hearts. I start to gaze into the fire and reflect on my own day, week, life.
I have not been to a campfire since college and it has been too long! Troy and I have been talking about attending Family Camp this summer and the thing I am most looking forward to is taking him to campfire. Troy has never been to a church camp, or a campfire and this is a part of my past I can not wait to share with him. I know he will love it. I got a book of campfire songs and I have been refreshing my memory and singing them around the house. Campfire songs are my favorite type of songs!
I don't know if it's the night air, or the hypnotizing effect of the flames. Perhaps it's the soothing music, or the closeness you feel sharing a blanket and memories with new friends. Campfires are magical and I miss them.
Here is part of one of my favorite campfire songs. It calms me instantly and leaves me feeling....amazing. Everytime I start to hum/sing this song I am reminded of so many great campfires at the many camps I attended. I am very excited to start creating more campfire memories with Troy.
It only takes a spark to get a fire going
And soon all those around
Will warm up to it's glowing
That's how it is with God's love
Once you experience it
You'll want to sing
It's fresh like Spring
You'll want to pass it on
I like your photo of the campfire. I love the smell of them and the sparks flying into the night sky.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy the A-Z challenge!
Sue@JumpingAground
It's not something we do that much in the UK - although I did go on camps a couple of times with my church youth group, but I don't ever remember having a camp fire!
ReplyDeleteYour post conjures up warm summer evenings and the smell of woodsmoke and that lovely relaxed feeling of the end of a wonderful day...! :-)
SueH I refuse to go quietly!
I love church camps and campfires also. Very nice post! Thank you.
ReplyDeleteGregg Metcalf
Colossians 1:28-29
Gospel-driven Disciples
Great post. I miss having campfires. Love the look of the fire, the feeling of the warmth that radiates from it and the glow that fire light has. And smores from the microwave just can't compete with smores from a campfire.
ReplyDeleteDawn's Writing Blog
Great Post! Thank you for introducing me the A to Z! It's not going to be easy... but I'm having fun.
ReplyDeleteYou are a great blogger!
Once a Girl Scout, always a Girl Scout. Campfires are always a good time...so long as you don't melt your shoes.
ReplyDeleteCampfires surely do ahve wonderful warm Summer memories for sure. I think you have truly captured the campfire of your childhood. So beautifully.
ReplyDeleteBlessings
Sometimes when we are camping and using a fire to cook I feel a little awkward because I feel like I should be singing not cooking. Sometimes cooking dinner can ruin a perfectly good camp fire.
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