Here is my post on how I prepared and here is my post on the first half of our adventure...now it's about time I get to that second half!!
After leaving Daniel's grandparents (on mom's side) in Wisconsin, we headed to the Land of 10,000 Lakes. One of Daniel's uncles lives there, so he let us crash at his place for one night, and gave us a quick tour of Duluth the next morning, before we headed onto Fargo, ND.
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| Here's Selah with Uncle Peanut, as he is lovingly called, with the Enger Observation Tower behind them. |
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| This was our view from the the top of the tower. |
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| The sun sparkling off the water was just beautiful, I could stare at it all day! |
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| Walking around Enger Park and soaking in all the beauty. |
After a walk around the park we headed downtown for a quick walk on the beach and lunch. I wanted to walk that boardwalk by the beach forever, but there were bellies to feed.
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| A quick ride on the four-wheeler before hitting the road! |
Our next stop was a place I know very, very well, it's a place my mom would drive my brother and I to every single summer, without fail, it's a place I know I will be greeted with huge smiles and even bigger hugs, it's a place where the upstairs is filled with warmth as sunlight streams through open windows, and laughter as family and friends catch up over savory home cooked meals and delectable desserts, it's a place where the basement is filled with a comfortable coolness that invites cuddles on the couch with blankets after a successful day of fun and play and the quiet chatter as we rehash the day's events as the TV drones in the background, it's the place where many games of hide-and-seek and school were played when cousins spent the night, it's the place I learned what a computer and KidPix was, it's the place common rules were left in Texas and I was told I could pick any pop I wanted in the fridge in the laundry room or any treat from the glass candy dish on the coffee table, it's the place that contained a tiny storage space under the stairs that I was certain was built solely for me and my imagination, it's the place I would pound on the piano, rock on the wooden rocking chair, run on the treadmill (for fun!), look down the super cool laundry shoot as we watched random objects fall to floor below, and peek out the triangular hole in the stairway to catch a glance of what was taking place below, it's the place I would be caught up on family news through recent pictures and stories, it's the place we would prepare for shopping outings or discuss the latest flick we should go see or plan our trip to the lake, it's a place that reminds me of all things wonderful.
This trip, I knew, was going to be a little different than I had remembered though, the key players were many miles away back in Texas where my grandma was fighting the fight of her life (she's still winning that fight by the way, still going strong!) Their absence would leave a gaping hole, and although other family members stood in that gap and made our time there extra special, I think we could all sense the missing essential gears in the reunion machine. I walked through their empty home with a heavy heart that first night, just Daniel and I and the kids staying there for the first time in history, and it was all just so wrong, so very, very wrong to have them so far away for such an awful reason, I mean, if they were on a cruise in the Caribbean or taking a tour of Italy, that's one thing, but a hospital in Houston, that's another thing entirely...they were very missed. And although I was so very sad, I was given a little gift while pacing through those familiar halls and rooms, I was given the chance to be extra observant, extra keen on all the personal touches of that home, and I took it all in, not knowing the next time I'd be back. I took time to study every picture, every trinket, every piece of furniture, every handmade painting, every nook and cranny, and even every cane in my grandpa's collection, and I allowed the memories to flood back so I could hopefully hold onto the smells, sights, sounds of that special place forever.
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| This is in my grandparents room, and these are my grandparents... I've seen these pictures many times before, but this time I really saw them, and my, aren't they stunning those two?! |
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| If there was ever any doubt as to my grandparents' priorities, I think this picture sums it up nicely, they literally cover the entire fridge with pictures of family and friends. You catch a glimpse of family any time you need a cup of water...or a cheese stick, always familiar, smiling faces looking back at you on nourishment missions. I love it!! |
Owen's birthday happened to fall on one of the days we were there, so, of course, we threw a party, of sorts.
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| Every party needs balloons |
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| The only other child guest, my cousin's little guy Gavin, he made the party complete! |
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| And, of course, there was pizza and cake! Selah thought the candle was edible, and took a big bite, so that was quite entertaining, it is rather deceiving with the bright colors and all! We even got to Skype with my grandparents! A wonderful celebration!! |
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| Here are the cousins, it is tradition to take a picture in this very spot, every single trip, so we couldn't let my grandma down, by golly! |
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| Had to grab a quick shot of the whole fam before heading out, I sure love this group God brought together! |
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| Playing games at the restaurant. |
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| 3,2,1 BLAST OFF! |
After our lunch with the aliens we packed everyone back into the vehicle and drove about 8 hours northwest to Plentywood, MT.
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| Sometimes, when driving long distances, you just need to stick your head in a bag |
This is also a place I hold very dear, although many of my memories with this set of grandparents take place on their farm; running on haystacks, digging through wheat piled high in silos, spinning on a straw buncher (thank God I'm still in one piece!), climbing the chicken coop, learning to drive a truck at the age of 12, riding bikes on gravel roads, finding and nurturing baby kitties, directing talent shows, gopher hunting, Canasta playing, and oh so many more activities that would satisfy any child's sense of adventure. We weren't staying on the farm this time around though, we were staying at my grandparents' home in town, which brought about its own adventures and cherished memories.
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| Seeking out all the fun toys stored away. |
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| Future farmer? |
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| This picture just makes my heart burst with love and gratitude! |
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| I just can't even tell you how thankful I am that we had the opportunity to be there, with them, with our kids... so special!! |
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| Playing some music for Selah, and sounding as beautiful as ever! |
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| Perfect little hideaway for these two munchkins, they just kept pulling out all kinds of fun stuff! |
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| First taste of my grandmother's home cookin', good stuff! |
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| Owen helping push the cart on our trip to the local grocer. |
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| Cute little gazebo we stopped and ate ice cream sandwiches |
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| Look! Right there at that handsome guy in the middle! My brother made the local newspaper!! You're famous, Casey, famous! |
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| Part of our view on the road, one of God's many masterpieces! |
For two weeks Selah and Owen were basically hanging out with people twenty times their age, and, although they loved the extra attention and getting spoiled rotten (it must be some secret code people in their golden years follow when interacting with young children to induce sugar comas and forget the word "no"), they were itching for some playmates their own age, and the perfect little girls were there to fill that need! Not to mention, there were some pretty awesome company for Daniel and I as well!!
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| Peaches n' cream with two sweet girls... don't be alarmed by the band-aid, it's what happens when you play doctor |
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| GIRL TIME!!! paper dolls, dress up, coloring, puzzles, games OH, the JOY!! |
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| Getting some good old fresh air |
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| You can never learn yoga too young, especially when the teacher is Miss Hannah Joy!! |
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| Some trampoline jumping... seriously, if this isn't a kid's paradise I don't know what is!! |
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| Grandma's turn to join in the fun!! |
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| Making a mess (flour and shaving cream I believe), |
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| and loving it! |
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| Daniel pulling the girls in the wagon through the sprinklers, their own personal water park ride! |
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| Selah's turn to pull! |
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| Owen did NOT know what to think of these sprinklers, he just stood there, in this very position, while water sprinkled this little body |
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| Figuring it out |
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| In the end, I think he enjoyed himself, he's just struggling to express that joy fully... |
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| This view! It's just unbelievably gorgeous!! |
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| These two! They're beautiful! And they make me smile! |
Selah made us breakfast one morning, with a little help ;)
And, of course, we couldn't leave without celebrating Owen's belated birthday and Selah's upcoming birthday...when there are birthdays, there are parties!!
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| Presents |
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| and cake! |
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| It just doesn't get any better! |
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| We spent a fun evening with my Aunt Janet and Uncle Mike! Owen was diggin' the toys! |
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| When on vacation, shirts are optional. |
There was so much more going on during this week than I could capture in pictures, like good conversations and spending time with family, playing games, watching movies, eating at my favorite pizza place, watching Selah join in a gymnastics class in the same gym I practiced while I lived there, witnessing the craziness of a man walking across the Grand Canyon on a rope (crazy!!), getting a glimpse of my brother's bachelor pad and his scruffy friend Oliver (Oliver is a dog, just to be clear), painting rocks, going on a penny walk, and much, much more! The week was jam packed with FUN!
Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end, and the time eventually came to say our teary goodbyes and head on our way home.
Whew! It was so hard to say goodbye, and step into that car, not knowing the next time I'd see any of these wonderful people, we all just live too darn far away! But, as I looked at our cramped car, with Selah looking through a book and Owen playing with something noisy, and Daniel's strong, steady, reassuring presence driving our family back to our home, I was filled to the brim with joy and gratitude. I would never want to live this life with any other set of people. I have such an incredibly blessed life, and I knew I was going home to the wonderful life I enjoy in Texas, that was a comforting and pleasant thought.
My heart will always be scattered across the country, but my goodness, how lucky am I to experience that feeling, the feeling of knowing there are so many amazing people I'm fortunate enough to call family all over the place, thinking about me, caring about me, praying for me, loving on me, no matter how far apart we are or how long it's been since we've last seen each other! I'm one lucky gal and I'd never trade any of it for anything!!
This was literally my dream vacation, my words just don't do it justice, my feelings can't possibly be sufficiently described on here in the way they deserve. If I had to pick between a week long cruise or an all-inclusive stay at some tropical paradise resort or some other magical vacation destination or this one I just described, I'd choose this trip every single time, hands down. Trust me, those other trips are tempting, and I do want to experience them at some point, but nothing beats the love and warmth you experience after visiting family, nothing can compare! So glad to have these memories to cherish for a lifetime!!
A year later I'm still pinching myself in disbelief that we actually did this trip, and it's been good for my soul to relive it through writing, it was all just so perfect! Thanks to all those who made this vacation possible and showed us one heck of a time, all while making us feel so loved!
