Last weekend, our family, along with extended family and some good friends, spent some quality time on a mini-vacation together. It wasn’t an exotic locale or fancy resort- it was camping! Now I know camping isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but it is such a cheap vacation and if the weather is right, it’s an absolute breath of fresh air! (pun intended!)
You can tell Allie was thrilled to have her picture taken!
With the daily entrance fees and our tent site, the was cost around $15 per family for the night and we had four adults and eight kids just on that site alone! That’s a little over $2 per person- can’t beat that! My sister’s family stayed in a tent on her mother-in-law’s site (her MIL has an RV) and my parents and great aunt and uncle stayed in a shelter with AC. They generously kept Canaan in there as well. 🙂
My parents
The entertainment consisted of riding bikes, walking, fishing (it’s free to fish in a state park, and they even provided fishing poles!), and lots and lots of eating- as any good vacation should! We ate frito pie, s’mores, sandwiches, and my parents made pancakes, bacon, and eggs for breakfast.
With my sister
We also celebrated my nephew’s fourth birthday while we were there! Nothing says “party” like a bunch of kids covered in mud!
My nephew and my baby brother
My sister, brother-in-law, and nephew
We had thirteen kids under the age of 10 (yes, 13!), and eleven adults that stayed the night, plus another five kids and five adults that came out just for a day trip/birthday party. It was so much fun and just over all a relaxing trip. The fact that it was a super-cheap vacation made it even better!
What is your favorite way to vacation? Do you have ideas for a cheap vacation?
About Kelli Hays
Hi Kelli,
I apologize to hijack your camping post with book review info but I couldn’t find another way to get in touch with you!
I came across your blog while doing some research for some clients I’m working with, and saw that you’ve previously reviewed works by Beth Moore and Priscilla Shirer. Beth and Priscilla both have new books coming out in October called Whispers of Hope and God is able (respectively), and I wanted to see if you might be interested in reviewing one or both. In case you’d like to consider reviewing these I have included additional information about them below.
Please let me know if you’re interested in reviewing one or both of the books on your blog and I’ll be happy to mail you a copy. We also have copies available for giveaways if you’re interested in hosting one. We’re aiming for reviews to post in October and November.
Again, I’m sorry to intrude but thought you might be interested in these books and wanted to offer them to you. I look forward to hearing from you!
Caylen Kyle
God Is Able, Priscilla Shirer
Got an IMPOSSIBLE situation? IMPOSSIBLE. IMPENETRABLE. UNCHANGEABLE. Maybe so . . . until God gets involved. No matter the details of your circumstance, His raw power potential and immeasurable ability refuse to cower in the face of any challenge. Nothing is impossible with God. Nothing. Not even that thing. This is the uplifting, well-reasoned answer from New York Times best-selling author Priscilla Shirer—not a denial of life’s adversities and troubles, but a biblical reminder that God is always up to great things, even when His great things are greater then instant remedies and visible change. He is a God who cares . . . and a God who CAN. Believe it. Experience it. God Is Able.
Whispers of Hope, Beth Moore
Scripture tells us to pray without ceasing, but how in the world do we do that? In fact, how should we effectively pray to begin with?
Best-selling author Beth Moore addresses these practical and pervasive matters in Whispers of Hope by walking readers through an easy to remember and apply method of prayer, coupled with seventy daily devotionals and followed by prompts to put this prayer method into practice.
Indeed, Whispers of Hope teaches the manifestation process of powerful Word-saturated prayer in response to a daily Bible reading. In turn, you will better understand how devotional reading and prayer are central to a stronger relationship with God.