Friends think I'm a little crazy. Each summer, for the last 11 years, my family camps with Cheryl's parents for two weeks. All six of us fit in their camper truck that pulls a tent trailer my family sleeps in. We drive around 2,000 miles and stay in a new campground almost every night.

This summer's road trip is to Canada's Rocky Mountains. On Saturday I was very cold and I could not stay asleep. So I wrote Cheryl this note:

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Cheryl note Saturday, July 13, 2013 - 4:48 AM

Dear Cheryl,

Last night I was so uncomfortable. The tent trailer bed made me feel like I was rolling off the side constantly. I was frustrated. Sure enough, I woke up at 2-something (2nd night in a row) and was uncomfortable.

I listened to Radio Lab and Back To Work podcasts for the next 2 1/2 hours.

They made me think again that I don't have control of my bed, how much I sleep, or my emotions. But I do have control of what I do.

I'm sorry I woke you up. You need more sleep than I do. I realize my moving around woke you and kept you up. I was moving in frustration. But my coping didn't make me feel any better and it woke you up. That is a pattern: Reacting to my frustrations in a way that negatively impacts you. I want to break that pattern.

The Back To Work podcast talked about family again. Similar to what you taught me, Merlin said the time we have with our children is finite. When I think of Angela being 14: That means we have ~208 weekends (52 weeks a year * 4 years) left until she is 18. Then she moves on to the next phase of adulthood. Or we can think we have 52 weekends until she becomes a high school student and our relationship with her will change again. 52 weekends will fly by, as will 200.

But instead of mourning the rapid loss of this beautiful time/age - what if I am able to be more present and enjoy the time I have right now? You call that "giving your family your good energy" so I don't become this old man who regrets not spending enough time with my kids. Buddhist and positive psychologists call it mindfulness.

These crazy road trips with your parents, with all the uncomfortableness, your cut fingers on a glacier saving my water bottle, the six lunches made out of 3 pieces of bread and a heel because we refuse to eat out, the lack of electricity/internet/showers, the pit toilets, and uncomfortable cold and lack of sleep - is giving me time with you, dad, mom, Angela and Cami. There are the wonderful talks, being surrounded by God's mountains, glaciers, rivers, lakes and billions of trees. There is the laughter, the back rubs, the walks, the family meals, the campfires and roasted marshmallows, reading my Auntie's book to the kids, and the fellowship. It is all precious. It is all beautiful. I treasure it all in my heart.

Thank you for giving me this gift of camping with your family for two weeks every summer. Thank you for expanding my world and focusing my life on our family and spreading God's love. I love you for it and I love you.

Love, maka

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My in-laws are generous, patient and accepting of me. These road trips they give to my family is the gift of family time: Time with them, my daughters and Cheryl. I love them for it.

I'd be a little crazy not to.