**I started a blog series where I talk about the person behind the Freelance Writer and last week I gave a quick summery of my growing up years**

This week I want to focus on my favorite family activities and what we enjoyed doing. I will point out the top three activities we participated in while growing up that defines a small portion of who I am today:

1) Camping: My family LOVED going camping! We would go camping to Florida, along the coast of Georgia, and once in South Carolina. We would pack up everything in our pop-up camper, packed a tent or two, and headed on down to the beach! My sister and I loved the beach and always grew excited. My family would sometimes go with our grandparents who we adored. These trips were always too much fun as my Grandmama would say it. We would lay on the beach, sipping coke and eating potato chips, which were the only times we ate potato chips and drank coke. My sister Leah and I would build sand castles and read our books until we turned beet red. We would hike, shop, go sightseeing, and fish. At night, we would all sit around the fire and talk and laugh. I have very fond memories of my family camping. Then my parents decided they were no longer fit for camping and we started to stay in condos and hotels. Regardless, we still loved it. Today, I still love going camping, but unfortunately, my husband and I have two very different views on camping and we are working on a good compromise for it.

2) Church: My family was always involved in church, no matter which one we went to. They were involved in Children’s Church, youth group, Bible studies, sound and slides, and volunteered for church events. We jumped around for a while, going to a different churches every 2-4 years. But finally, when I was 17, we found the church that they still attend today. It’s a wonderful church who loves my autistic brother, Brandon, and involve him with everything! I even helped with youth group while I was there. I really loved that and maybe one day I’ll get back into helping with youth. I knew that because my parents raised me in church and I always sought out mentors during my lifetime, I would keep this up. And I have. 

3) Family Gatherings: I know I mentioned this in my last post, but we got together with family A LOT! My Grandmama loved her family and tried to get every chance to get together with them. We used to go over to my Grandmama and Papa’s house to watch football or just to hang out. We had family gatherings on all the major holidays where us kids would run around and play hide-n-go-seek! I don’t know how my parents ever worried about us because we all loved playing at night. Go figure, right? My sister and I were very close to our cousins Wesley and Stephanie, who by the way, we still get together with when I come to town to visit. It’s just like old times! We used to sit around and giggle and laugh about who knows what. We were close in age and loved hanging around one another. On July 4^th, we would invite both sides of the family over to my parents house and had a buffet full of food, watermelon, and good ole sweet tea! Family was important and always came first. That is what I learned while growing up and it’s very true to this day. 

I know, very short over view, but if I had it my way, it will be a novel instead of a blog. Next week, I’ll focus on my two siblings, Leah and Brandon.