Over Labor Day weekend Beth, Grits, and I went camping in southeastern Missouri. We stayed at Mound Ridge Presbyterian Camp on their gravel bar right on the beautiful Meramec River (which if you want to do some canoeing in Missouri I strongly suggest this river!). We did some hiking on the Ozark Trail (just as protect as the AT, not nearly as popular), kayaking on the river, and general river camping activities (read: hanging out by the campfire).

Beth and I had a lot of time to talk and ponder and wonder about the many things happening in our life. If you have ever traveled, hiked, and camped with just one other person you probably understand! Beth asked me some very thought provoking questions (as she does often) about our upcoming move:

What am I most excited about? There are a couple of things I am most excited about, one is of course living in North Carolina. That is a dream of mine to live and play in the smokey mountains. After a year.5 of living halfway across the country from family, friends, and the south in general (read: sweet tea and fried chicken); I am also very happy to be closer than a flight to all of these. I'm also excited about the thought of having my job being hiking and camping. I love doing all of these things but I rarely have had the opportunity to get out and do them even as a camp director.

What am I going to miss the most? The connections I have made. All of the staff from the past 2 summers are amazing people that I have gotten to experience only a piece of their life. The Heartland Center staff, these people welcomed me into their family and made me one of their own and I am sad to leave them. Also, the connections made with the folks from PCCCA, it's amazing how quickly a connection and friendship is made when you have camp in common with someone.