We are very lucky to have five of the six kids home for chol hamoed, so yesterday they packed up two cars with tents, chairs and food and headed out to a camping adventure.

Early in the evening, they posted an innocuous picture of themselves camping. To me, it looked like any campsite and I was more focused on the smiles than the location.

Within minutes of posting the picture, my army son wrote their location on the family WhatsApp. Sitting on base, at least a hundred kilometers from his brothers, he recognized exactly where they were camping from the picture.

And I thought to myself – THIS is why we made Aliyah. THIS is my Israel and the life I have given to my sons.

My children see the Land as an extension of themselves; as part of their being. They have been raised, through family life, Bnei Akiva life, high school and beyond to hike and camp and explore the Land outside their homes. And they appear to know Every. Single. Inch of it.

This morning the boys sent a picture from a beautiful spring. And again, army son asked them if they entered from this way or that…and if they were enjoying this side or that side.

They are incredible.

This is why we are here. While they were out exploring today, my husband and I enjoyed our own hike and it felt like such a blessing to be back out hiking the Land, enjoying the sunny day, watching thousands of others picnic and bike, ride their ATVs and hike.

We are a people of the Land. A people who thirsts for the opportunity to explore, to love and to reunite with the Land from North to South.

The fight that was thrust upon us a year and a half ago, and through generations before is, literally, for this very right. The right to sit in our homes from North to South in peace; to leave our homes in peace to explore and hike, camp and bike; to drive on our roads in peace; and to build, love, work and be in peace.

And while from the outside we look like a country that is constantly under attack, surrounded by enemies, perpetually defending itself and always in fear; we are also a country where my 14 year old backpacked and camped for three days and two nights last week with friends, where my children set off on their own adventures and navigate to incredible locations no matter where they are, and where people from all walks of life take the time to get out and explore over the holiday.

Next week, three of these sons of mine will be back in the army – one in reserves, one as an officer and one just starting out. And I will return to this image of their camping trip to remind myself, and them, what we are fighting for. And I will pray that at some point – some point in the future – we will be able to live here and enjoy the beauty and the peace of this incredible country without fighting. And that we will do so with our returned hostages; with our injured soldiers fully healed; with deep gratitude to all of our fighters and with our memories of those who fell for us always in our minds.

Until that day, and as we fight for that day, I will cherish the deeply entrenched love my children have for our country.

May we all have, and exhibit, such love.

This article was first published on Times of Israel.