We recently made the trek to Murfreesboro, Arkansas for a short camping trip with part of our family. We stayed in Crater of Diamonds State Park. It’s always good to get away from the daily rush of everyday life and connect with nature. Now, we are no primitive campers but we do enjoy the outdoors; hiking, cycling and just enjoying campfire conversations.
Murfreesboro is know for diamond digging and our crew was all in for it! Young and old alike donned rubber boots and proceeded to get muddy. That’s the thing I really like about this group of people I call family; they are all in for every adventure!
As we traipsed through the mud, I became the observer, watching from just far away to capture photos and videos of “real life”. I was amazed that the children were so focused on the task at hand. They would bring buckets of rock-filled mud, dumping it onto a screen and begin washing it as though it were a job. And was I ever impressed with the girls! They are not afraid of a little (or lot in this case) of mud. Covered from head to toe I enjoyed their banter about how HEAVY the buckets were they were carrying. But they continued on until reaching their destination.
So many times we get caught up in things that just don’t matter. Things at home and school and work and gossipy things that shouldn’t even concern us. Grownups and kids alike are stressed more than ever. Getting away from it all and enjoying nature is the perfect prescription. There’s just something about not having to be somewhere or do anything specific that brings about calm.
Having a big family definitely has its ups and downs but at the end of the day it’s pretty great. I didn’t have a large cousin group growing up, but my how I’m enjoying watching it through the eyes of these thirteen cousins I fondly call my “Baker’s Dozen”. From the very beginning, before there were ever quite so many of them, I told them that these will be your people. Friends will come and go but your cousins will be your forever best friends. And they are. Never have I seen such love poured out from a group. And that makes my heart so happy.
Were there any diamonds or gems found that day? Well, there were lots of stones collected. But the only gem that was truly found were more memories to cherish and look back on for years to come.
Tumbleweeds & CattleGaps 