The Art of Finding Joy

I love road trips! And I especially love camping trips. I just got home from one earlier today. What made this one special, is that it was totally last minute, NOTHING planned, not even a location. (thanks to the government shutdown). It was also an over nighter without my husband. I've done that before but I've taken my older son who has some experience camping. This was just the girls, on the road, to nowhere.

We ended up at Dead Horse Ranch near Cottonwood, AZ.  There are little streams everywhere and a riparian preserve. We saw a blue crane and a bunch of furry caterpillars. It was BEAUTIFUL, and only two hours from Mesa. PERFECT for what we were looking for.

Here's what I loved about our overnight get away
1. Sense of adventure
2. Change of scenery- I love our saguaro cactus, I really do, but pine trees are a welcome change of pace
3. The open road
4. Fresh air- this is what I crave the most, the feel of the sunshine on my skin, and the smell of campfire and pine trees
5. Quiet- accept for a text to my husband to let him know where were, we had not contact to  the outside world
6. Sense of renewal- nature always reminds me of who I am, and where I want to go

I put together this list so that you too can get inspired to go somewhere new. It really can be anywhere. It's amazing what a little change in our day to day lives can accomplish.  If you can't get away at the moment, start planning now.  Ask yourself, what do I want to see? Where do I want to go? What do I want to do? Putting together future ideas, boosts our spirits. After all, everything starts with a thought. 

There little flowers were everywhere

My two girls with our cute family friend