Without the rain there would be no rainbow!

                 The sun is shiny and it's 80 degrees out, I wish!  It is rainy cats and dogs here and all I want to do is sleep.  Last week I was lucky enough to see my first full rainbow and it was exquisite.  I was at a mall parking lot and as soon as I got out of my car I noticed everyone standing around gazing at the sky.  I looked up and to my surprise I saw a vibrant and beautiful array of colors.  I'd never seen a rainbow so big, bright, and up close.  I felt like I could just reach out and grab it.  There's something about nature that is just so soothing to the soul.  I used to love lying in the grass looking up at the clouds and trying to make out as many shapes and figures as I could.  The sounds and sights of the outdoors really put me at ease.

                 I know there are a lot of people who say camping just isn't their thing but I think everyone should try it at least once in their lifetime.  Camping is a great way to reduce stress, relax, and take in the fresh air.  It's nice to get away and leave the electronic devices that consume our daily lives and actually spend real quality time with the ones we love.  Call me old fashioned but I enjoy the simplicity of life.

                 I remember one particular memory of a trail I used to take with my family when we would go camping and it became tradition that every year we would walk the trail.  It was about 1.5 miles and led to an old furnace.  We would always joke around and call it the "Witch Trail" because for some reason it just felt kind of spooky.  I think it had to do with a couple of the old brick houses that looked like they had been burned or torn down which we would pass along the way.  

                As we were walking through the pathway my mother noticed a fort built with leaves and sticks.  She walked closer and leaned in to look at it.  As soon as she turned around she had a fearful look in her eyes.  We all took off running, not knowing what or who she had seen.  By the time we reached the parking lot we were all out of breath.  At that point we hurried, hopped in the car and left.  She told us she had seen a crazy looking man lying in the fort just staring back at her.  It is safe to say we called the police and we bid a farewell to our tradition of walking the "Witch trail."

 

 

love laughter and happily ever after

 

-Amanda-