Bloys Camp Meeting

Bloys Camp Meeting is an annual event held in West Texas in the Davis Mountains. It originated as ranchers gathering for worship, but has evolved into a family affair with families staying on the campgrounds in pretty primitive cabins. This was the 118th year of the gathering. My great-grandfather, Sid Cross, built our families' cabin some time ago. My father grew up going there...my sister and I grew up going there....and Clinton attended his first of many gatherings this year.

Okay--so going to the beach in May with a 3-month old proved to be difficult..."camping" with a 6-month old just further proved the difficulties of traveling with children. The worst part was Clinton contracted a stomach bug the first night. So I spent all night holding a 21 lb. child in a lawn chair as he cried, whimpered, and threw up. At 6 am he was finally able to lay down and sleep for a few hours...more specifically, three. So with less than enough sleep and an aching back from the uncomfortable chair, I got through the first day of recovery...this being difficult because he was now scared of food. So, how do you get an infant who can't understand your logic to start eating??? You give him something that tastes really yummy...pedialyte. Have you ever tasted this?? It's like Kool-Aid. Now what kid is going to want to go back to stinky old formula after getting to drink Kool-Aid? Somehow we managed to get him back to formula, but he still only eats in small doses....not quite the piglet we were trying to keep full last week.

On a better note, we got to see my grandma, Peggy....who was excited to see her great-grandson again. And I got to see my Aunt Polly and Uncle Terry who got to meet their great-nephew. My parents and Rodney also attended. This is a pretty small group, but some of our regulars weren't able to attend...and for good reason...my sister has already begun her new job in Dallas at a charter school, my cousin Colter was accepted and enrolled in the Airforce Academy, and my cousin Brooke went to meet her fiancee's family in Miami....and there were others MIA, but I'm not sure what their excuses were.

While Tennessee was seeing 100+ temps, we enjoyed the coolness of the west Texas mountians. See our pictures below.


Clinton cooling off in the afternoon sun in his duckie bathtub.


Surprise, surprise...we put Clinton through another photo shoot.




Rodney and Clinton getting ready for the evening service. We surprised Rodney by allowing Clinton to wear his Tennessee outfit in Texas.


Clinton all ready to go in his Bloys wagon. My Papa gave this wagon to me and Chelsea when we were little girls and mother pulled us around in it. Mother restored it and added some luxuries for Clinton....the cowboy bumper pad, a little matress pad, and an umbrella.


My Aunt Polly and Uncle Terry


Me and a sleeping Clinton heading off to worship.


Clinton and his Pop....notice the Longhorn shirt Clinton is wearing...now, that's more like it.


Another four generation picture...Mama Peggy, Pop (my dad, Clint), me and Clinton.