(I had planned to post this last night when we returned from our overnighter backpack trip. But the break-in and theft from our vehicle changed the evening's plans, as I'm sure you can imagine.)

Two years ago this summer I went through a personal transformation of sorts with regards to our weekly hiking routine. I have always loved being outdoors with my family but that summer, as our practice of one day a week became more serious, what had once been fun and enjoyable became a chore for me.

I wrote personal reflections during that time both here and at FIMBY, but never before has the whole story been put together, until now. This week at Unplugged Sunday I shared how I turned the corner after the hiking "honeymoon" was over.

I've pulled together a few posts from that summer that chronicle the journey of figuring out how to make family outdoors happen in our life and how I came to terms with that mentally, emotionally and physically.

• Defining Priorities to Make a Family Schedule - "...guiding principles I use when planning our family's weekly schedule." (a schedule that includes hiking every week)
• Camp Character Building - "But right now I'm just afraid of losing me and in return getting what?? Smelly wet clothes and sore feet?"
• Disconnect - Damien asks, "Are we hard-core? Perhaps, but I think that there are actually good reasons one might want to do this."
• Saturday's Flowers - "While my family was off hiking in the mountains yesterday I spent most of my day gardening."
• Marriage in Progress - "...this path of becoming one, from two, is difficult some days."
• The Rest of the Weekend Backpacking Story - "Why do important lessons and life changes involve some sort of pain?"
• Sunday Night Thoughts About Hiking and Marriage - "I am beginning to love this part of who we are and who I am becoming."

I think it's important to share this story, and others, along this path of family outdoors together. It's not all easy, it's not all hunky-dory (though my husband is kind of hunky), and it's not always fun. But, like marriage and raising kids, it's something we're committed to.

Take heart friends if you are struggling with doing this thing you love (or are learning to love) with your family. We know what that is like. We also know, from living in Nova Scotia this summer, what it is like reframe your focus for a time and make compromises on your ideal to simply get out the door, together (Ie: our hiking experiences in Nova Scotia have been less than stellar).

We look forward to continuing on our own adventures and encouraging you in yours.

Speaking of which, haven't the giveaways we've hosted been kind of cool? We were so happy to bring back these goodies for you from OR. The winner of the Little Life Backpack is Joe B. who blogs at Pilgrim and a Stranger. I think your little girl is going to LOVE this pack. Great blog name by the way. We totally get that as we feel much the same ourselves.

Congrats Joe.