Waking Up in Heaven
By Jeff Moffitt
@moffittjc (121582)
Gainesville, Florida
November 6, 2016 8:20am CST
One of the beautiful things about enjoying God's beautiful nature is waking up feeling like you are in heaven! I enjoy camping so much, and it gives me a chance to spend time with and bond with my son. This morning, we awoke to a beautiful sunrise, chilly temperatures, and a crystal clear blue sky! After getting the fire going, we made us some breakfast and just sat back and took in all the beautiful surroundings! This photo shows our view from our campsite! Almost makes me want to stay forever and not go back to the real world, but we will be packing up this morning and returning to civilization. My son and I went to the big art festival downtown yesterday, but my daughter wants to go today, so we're going to go pick her up and enjoy another fine day strolling the city streets! But first, a nice hot shower!
27 people like this
28 responses
@snowy22315 (180699)
• United States
6 Nov 16
I used to really like camping...but I don't have anyone to go with now, unless it would be my ex..and I would rather not. I also think I am past the age where I want to crawl out of tent..I would like to camp in a pop up maybe.
4 people like this
@moffittjc (121582)
• Gainesville, Florida
6 Nov 16
I just realized the photo never loaded, so I edited the post to re-size the picture. I'm not a big fan of tents myself, usually when I go camping I sleep in a hammock!
2 people like this
@moffittjc (121582)
• Gainesville, Florida
6 Nov 16
@Sasquatchy I admit, there have been times when I have not enjoyed myself on camping trips, but for the most part I really have a lot of fun! Especially when I get to enjoy the great outdoors with my kids!
2 people like this
@Sasquatchy (1131)
• Canada
6 Nov 16
The lsat time I went, three out of four of us said that hotel room would of been nicer.
Even my dog looked like he wanted to go home.
2 people like this
@AbbyGreenhill (45494)
• United States
6 Nov 16
One man's heaven is my hell....not a camper by any means. I live in the country so I see nature all around me - but to sleep outside in a tent or whatever isn't for me. Strolling thru the festival sound more my style.
4 people like this
@AbbyGreenhill (45494)
• United States
6 Nov 16
@moffittjc I live in the country so I do 'without' a lot to begin with LOL.
3 people like this
@moffittjc (121582)
• Gainesville, Florida
6 Nov 16
@AbbyGreenhill It's okay, I live in the city and do without a lot to begin with also!
@moffittjc (121582)
• Gainesville, Florida
6 Nov 16
I am one of those people who can feel right at home living off the land out in the wilderness somewhere, or navigating the streets of New York City! I guess I am adaptable to wherever it is I am! I'm generally a city slicker by nature I guess, but I love to get away and completely lose myself in the beauty of the woods sometimes.
1 person likes this
@infatuatedbby (94914)
• United States
6 Nov 16
Another lovely day bonding with your kids.
But that lake / river / swamp??? I can sense alligators there.
2 people like this
@infatuatedbby (94914)
• United States
6 Nov 16
@moffittjc how in the world did you count 229!! Really?
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121582)
• Gainesville, Florida
6 Nov 16
229 of them in there! On our hike back to the truck, we counted how many alligators we could see sunning themselves on the banks of the river!
2 people like this
@moffittjc (121582)
• Gainesville, Florida
6 Nov 16
@infatuatedbby We just kept count as we hiked back. It was easy, since they were all lying on the river bank trying to sun themselves! We also saw 19 wild horses, one hog, two snakes, two bald eagles, and my favorite....one whooping crane!
2 people like this
@arthurchappell (44998)
• Preston, England
6 Nov 16
I love camping in spring and summer
2 people like this
@arthurchappell (44998)
• Preston, England
6 Nov 16
@moffittjc had that experience in Scotland with mosquitos - horrible things
2 people like this
@moffittjc (121582)
• Gainesville, Florida
6 Nov 16
@arthurchappell We don't call mosquitos our state bird for nothing! Those suckers are big enough to carry you away!
2 people like this
@moffittjc (121582)
• Gainesville, Florida
6 Nov 16
Spring is nice, but it's too hot and muggy in Florida to camp in the summer. Plus, the mosquitos would eat you alive!
2 people like this
@LadyDuck (471500)
• Switzerland
6 Nov 16
@HAPPSINGH It snowed not far from home.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121582)
• Gainesville, Florida
6 Nov 16
We got lucky that we went camping Friday and Saturday night, because by the time we got back to town this afternoon, it had gotten cloudy, rainy and windy. But it was certainly beautiful when we woke up this morning though!
2 people like this
@moffittjc (121582)
• Gainesville, Florida
7 Nov 16
@LadyDuck Could you send some of your snow to Florida? I would love to see some snow right about now!
1 person likes this
@Sasquatchy (1131)
• Canada
6 Nov 16
Yes, the out doors are great! Except when a bear poops outside your tent. :)
3 people like this
@moffittjc (121582)
• Gainesville, Florida
6 Nov 16
I've had raccoons poop outside of my tent before, but never a bear!
2 people like this
@Sasquatchy (1131)
• Canada
6 Nov 16
@moffittjc I have a raccoon that scales my fence like twice a week. A big fatty. lol
2 people like this
@moffittjc (121582)
• Gainesville, Florida
6 Nov 16
@Sasquatchy My parents had a family of raccoons that would sneak into the back patio by the pool where they kept the bowls of cat food, and they would sit there and eat the cat food right alongside the cats! lol
2 people like this
@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
6 Nov 16
@HAPPSINGH At least we will be warm.
1 person likes this
@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
6 Nov 16
@moffittjc Nonsense, most alligators are angels.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121582)
• Gainesville, Florida
6 Nov 16
I'm pretty sure that hell is where all the alligators are, so I think you better get your butt to church soon!
1 person likes this
@Hatley (163776)
• Garden Grove, California
7 Nov 16
@moffittjc that sounds like fun to me
2 people like this
@moffittjc (121582)
• Gainesville, Florida
7 Nov 16
I don't like sleeping on the hard ground either, so it's very rare that I ever sleep in the tent. I always keep the tent with me in my backpack, but my preference is to sleep in the hammock. Nine times out of ten I will sleep in my hammock when I go camping.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121582)
• Gainesville, Florida
7 Nov 16
@Hatley yes, sounds like fun to me too! Haha
1 person likes this
@rebelann (112877)
• El Paso, Texas
6 Nov 16
Oh, I guess I didn't notice they were actually in the water @moffittjc I thought they were lights of some kind.
That must be kinda scary at times, don't lakes and rivers also have some kind of rise and fall or whatnot that could suck you under?
2 people like this
@moffittjc (121582)
• Gainesville, Florida
6 Nov 16
@rebelann As you can tell by the glassy stillness of the water, our rivers here in Florida don't really flow that quickly, since the state as a whole is pretty flat. The currents are never bad enough where you have to worry about undertones and such.
2 people like this
@moffittjc (121582)
• Gainesville, Florida
6 Nov 16
You mean in the water? There's some kind of warning rope that stretches across the river. Not too far beyond that (in the back of the picture), the river disappears underground and then reappears back above ground several miles away.
2 people like this
@moffittjc (121582)
• Gainesville, Florida
6 Nov 16
At least we know where this spot is now so that we can go back there again in the future. It was well off the beaten path, so I doubt many other people will find it to camp in.
2 people like this
@JamesHxstatic (29413)
• Eugene, Oregon
6 Nov 16
That all sounds like a great weekend!
2 people like this
@moffittjc (121582)
• Gainesville, Florida
6 Nov 16
It was a perfect weekend, just the kind of thing I enjoy!
2 people like this
@ElizabethWallace (12074)
• United States
6 Nov 16
This is gorgeous. How was the weather (always my first question)?
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121582)
• Gainesville, Florida
6 Nov 16
All day Friday, Saturday, and early this morning the weather was absolutely perfect! Crisp, cool, clear blue skies made it the perfect weekend to camp. Unfortunately, wind and rain moved into the area just after lunchtime, but fortunately we had already packed up camp and headed home. It did ruin our afternoon plans to visit the art festival again, but luckily we saw most of the art displays yesterday.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121582)
• Gainesville, Florida
7 Nov 16
@ElizabethWallace Which occurs about 11 months out of the year, on average! LOL
Up until this weekend, it was still pretty humid, but a cold front came through and brought some dry, cold air to the state. But I'm sure by next week we'll be back to our warm, humid temps again.
1 person likes this
@ElizabethWallace (12074)
• United States
7 Nov 16
@moffittjc Great. Every time I've been in Florida, it was humid.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121582)
• Gainesville, Florida
7 Nov 16
@JudyEv Knowing me, I'd get kicked in the face by one!
@moffittjc (121582)
• Gainesville, Florida
7 Nov 16
Yes. In this photo, we are looking south. In the photo where we saw the alligator (on my other post), we were looking north.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (339946)
• Rockingham, Australia
7 Nov 16
@moffittjc I'd rather face a 'roo any day. :)
1 person likes this
@Happy2BeMe (99380)
• Canada
6 Nov 16
What a beautiful view. Camping is great. I am already looking forward to the 2017 camping season. Here the season is so short. It is nice and you and your son got to spend some quality time together. Have a great day.
2 people like this
@moffittjc (121582)
• Gainesville, Florida
6 Nov 16
Thank you! Our camping season is short too, but opposite of yours! We only get a few months during the late fall/early winter where it is nice enough to camp.
2 people like this
@velvet53 (22534)
• Palisade, Colorado
30 Jan 17
@moffittjc I used too but haven't been able to lately. I do go outside a lot. Where I work I can see quite a few things, mainly the baby calves. I have so much fun watching them. I do plan to do more this summer.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121582)
• Gainesville, Florida
30 Jan 17
Thanks! I spend as much time out in nature as I can. It's very soothing and therapeutic!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121582)
• Gainesville, Florida
31 Jan 17
@velvet53 I try to get outside every day if I can. It tends to be very therapeutic after a hectic day at work.
1 person likes this
@SIMPLYD (90722)
• Philippines
8 Nov 16
@moffittjc Yes, it has to be in a safe environment . 
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121582)
• Gainesville, Florida
8 Nov 16
@SIMPLYD He enjoyed that camping trip behind his school so much that I knew I could take him camping out in the forest and he would enjoy it. He loves the outdoors almost as much as me!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121582)
• Gainesville, Florida
7 Nov 16
The first time I took my son camping, we camped on the grassy field behind his elementary school. It was a great way to introduce him to camping in a safe environment.
1 person likes this
@hereandthere (45645)
• Philippines
7 Nov 16
i love looking at the water. a small house in that area would be nice. no tree-climbing and falling this time?
1 person likes this
@hereandthere (45645)
• Philippines
8 Nov 16
@moffittjc lesson learned! hahaha! how long did it take for your ribs to completely heal?
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121582)
• Gainesville, Florida
8 Nov 16
@hereandthere I think it took between 6-7 weeks, but I didn't get cleared by my doctor until week 8.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121582)
• Gainesville, Florida
7 Nov 16
I did swing like Tarzan from a big thick vine I found growing in a majestic oak tree, but I made sure I was close to the ground in case it broke! Haha
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121582)
• Gainesville, Florida
6 Nov 16
@just4him Especially since we got ice cream afterward!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121582)
• Gainesville, Florida
6 Nov 16
The weather took a turn for the worst this afternoon, and rain and wind moved into the area, so we decided not to brave the elements and attend the art festival. I took the kids out to eat instead.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121582)
• Gainesville, Florida
6 Nov 16
@Elizaby We desperately need rain here too! Our lakes are all drying up!
@moffittjc (121582)
• Gainesville, Florida
6 Nov 16
It was a perfect weekend for arts festivals, or any kind of outdoor festivals, for that matter!
1 person likes this
@Elizaby (6902)
• Pensacola, Florida
6 Nov 16
@moffittjc Yes as we didn't get any rain in this end of the state which we really need
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121582)
• Gainesville, Florida
7 Nov 16
@jennyjoy Thanks! It's always a joy spending time with the kids on the weekends. They're both teenagers now, so it won't be long before they're grown and on their own
@moffittjc (121582)
• Gainesville, Florida
7 Nov 16
It was a great weekend with the kids!
1 person likes this
