did i really do that?

I'm sitting here this Monday in my living room wondering if I really did that trip to South Carolina last week. I knew it when I returned that it would seem like a dream, but I didn't realize it would happen so quickly. As I type my sweet Samuel is resting in my arms, and sigh, that part of being home feels so great.

Starfish. For most of my week in Hilton Head I was like that creature -- embedded in the sand at the edge of the ocean. I just sat there and rested and thought about life and let my heart heal. There aren't adequate words that describe the feelings of and thoughts and joy of that week, but over the next week or so I'm going to try to capture just a bit of it in my writing. I want to remember.

no pics for the first set -- just my words as I describe my late night adventure home.

Flying next to a storm. That's what we did. As soon as our plane left Atlanta my dear friend Julie told me to look out the window. When I did I noticed an amazing thunderstorm. I vacillated between wanting to watch that glory at 30000 feet and not letting the fear of flying and flying by that storm take over. It was an unbelievable experience.

Turbulence and Chicago. That was the next step. I heard the pilot, as the plane was bumping around and the lightening flashed outside, announce that we'd be maneuvering through a couple of storm cells directly ahead. Now those clouds weren't looking so beautiful. About five minutes later, I heard our pilot announce that we'd be landing in Chicago and that the flight crew needed to prepare for landing.

We landed fast. (that needed it's own point -- and for those of you who fly you know what that was like.)

Tarmac. We sat there for a little over an hour -- we didn't know if we'd be sleeping in the airport (as all the hotels were full) or leaving. As the ground crew added more fuel (because we'd have to fly way around the storms) I watched an impressive lightening display outside of my window. I never knew what airport in Chicago we landed at -- but I did manage to sing a couple of lines from the song Chicago -- much to my friends dismay -- hee hee hee, how could I not sing that as I'm sitting in Chicago?  Finally, the pilot was cleared to take off for Minneapolis. As he lifted off I prayed and closed my eyes. That flight? The smoothest of all of them. The turbulence simply felt like the plane was rocking back and forth.  And then I was home. At 1:15 in the morning. I did it. I really did.

That last morning. I went for a walk and was greeted with the most amazing sunrise. As my feet wandered around the beach -- as I was looking for shells for my kiddos -- my heart was content and at rest. Throughout my week in Hilton Head I was being taught important lessons. Most ones that I couldn't have prepped for, and yet experienced. I'm looking forward to sharing how the Lord worked on my heart in South Carolina.

Unbelievable Low Country food. (just look at the picture -- again no words needed --man, the food was awesome in South Carolina.)

And an even more unbelievable meet-up. In Charleston. At the beautiful Poogan's Porch on Queen Street. With a now even sweeter and dearer and truly life-long friend. I can't wait to share more with you moreabout it -- and how the meet-up was truly a gift from the Lord -- and how it simply could not be a coincidence.  It's a touching and unbelievable story, my friends. Beautiful. Makes me tear up even remembering it.

The pig. And of course I need to end with an obligatory picture of the store (or a semi truck from the store) where we shopped in the South. No CUB Foods or Super Targets or Marketplace Foods. Nope. It was the Piggly Wiggly.  Love it. And now I have a 99cent Piggly Wiggly bag that I'll be using when we go to the library. Memories. And wondering how it ever got the name Piggly Wiggly. :)

I'm hoping to get back into my regular blogging schedule. Adjusting into normal life is a bit more challenging than I thought it would be -- I'm so grateful to be home -- and yet, I don't know what to do first -- and surprisingly I'm so tired (must have been that super long flying experience) -- and I'm still processing the trip. Thanks for sticking with me last week and my infrequent posts, and prayer requests, and chatting about the beach. You guys are the best.

Rachel

rest. sweet, glorious rest.

After a day of getting up at 2:40 am and flying and plane transfers in Atlanta and driving from Charleston down to Hilton Head Island and then finally checking in --

I've arrived.

I've swam in the ocean, and then just sat at the edge of the ocean and just let the water rush over again and again while basking in the sun and chatting with my dear friends.

I can't remember sitting still and being quiet like this in a long time.

It is sweet rest.

Even though I miss my family so so so so much.

And it's shows me just how important they are to me.

So now, this very tired momma of seven is going to rest.  And catch up on some sleep....

and she's going on a plane.....

.....at 6:30am Sunday.

Who?

That would be me. Tomorrow morning. Heading on a plane with some sweet friends.

Going to Hilton Head, South Carolina.

It's a blessing.

My ticket? Paid for via frequent flyer miles earned eleven years ago when I went to Alaska and from my trips to San Diego when we moved there. My place to stay? Free. Thanks to my dear friend Amy's inlaws. It's kind of a once-in-a-lifetime trip.

But, I'm nervous. About flying {yes, I'm the gal with the white knuckles gripping her seat}, and leaving the kids {haven't left them in eleven years -- when I went to Alaska -- which, by the way, is breathtakingly beautiful}, and well, just leaving. But, I also know that this is a beautiful opportunity to rest. The last six months have been quite hard -- from dealing with Samuel's Celiac Disease diagnosis to my hubby's business to the ongoing vehicle sagas to financial strain to just daily life -- and I've been feeling very mentally and physically exhausted.

I am grateful for this trip.

Even though I'm nervous.

{a google map if we drove}

So tomorrow morning -- think of me -- as this momma of seven goes through the security gates {please don't go off} and takes a plane from Minneapolis to Atlanta and Atlanta to Charleston, and says a teary good-bye to her wonderful kids -- and I'll be grateful.

Next update? From the beach.

{vehicle update -- thankfully it was just the battery that needed replacing in our little Saturn. One vehicle fixed, one big one to go. In time. Thanks for the kind words and encouragement for me as I stared at two non-working vehicles in our driveway. I'm grateful.}

Cousin Island in Seychelles

Cousin Island is a granitic island covering 27 hectares and lies approximately 2km from Praslin island. It became the world’s first internationally owned-reserve when it was purchased in 1968 by the International Council for the Protection of Birds (ICBP), now Birdlife International. The objective was to save the last remaining population of the Seychelles warblers.
First made into a Nature

chairs

Well, I'm home. And with being home it brings a flood of emotions -- happy and sad and grateful and nostalgic and exhausted {is that an emotion?} and melancholy and more.

Yet, here I sit tonight, with dinner being prepared, and the laundry churning, and remnants of vacation, of Woodland, slowly being put away. The marshmallows from the smores are sitting on the table and the decks of cards scattered on the island and piles of sand rest by the front door. Waiting to be swept up. So that "real" life can resume.

Vacations make me think about life. I begin to ponder how I spend my time -- how I tend to live in that frenzied sort of existence -- and then how just as quickly I can live in a small one bedroom cabin, with dirt roads, and heavy screen windows, and a lake 30 feet away, and a fraction of my earthly possessions and I can feel more content than I do with all my stuff.

Peaceful.

All the stuff that I think I need to do and have and go and be doesn't really bring happiness. The stuff? It becomes more that I need to manage, put-away, take care of, sort, sell, donate, clean, launder, read, and deal with. And that takes away time from my family.

And that brings me to chairs. Those brightly colored chairs from the 50's were the chairs where my family gathered and sat less than 24hours ago. All of us -- even though there was packing to do -- we took our last moments up at the lake to sit together, around a fire, and live. It's a celebration of family. And of the real important.

I want to live knowing that I've spent time sitting in those chairs -- wherever they may be -- with my family.

It's a slowing down.

I don't want to lose the lesson of Woodland.

I just want to sit for a moment longer.

a vacation wordless wednesday

We've been so busy.

Fishing.
Swimming.
Playing cards.
Eating {too much}.
Laughing.
Reading.
Walking.

Living.

Here are just a few things we've been doing.

{sitting at the beach}

{and riding the boat at dusk}

{or playing cards at noon}

{and having grandpa teach you how to fish}

{or bravely wearing the glowstick hat for fireworks}

{and finally, sitting and enjoying my beautiful view right now. love.}

It's been a really great vacation.

If only I could bottle time.

Which of these pics is your fave?

{all the pics today are taken with my camera phone}
{I've linked up with and then she {snapped} }

Here. Finally.

I am at the lake.

And I am finding joy.

when the plans shift

I am not good at readjusting well. I like my routine -- I like my memories. And when things shift it's easy to sit in them and let that dampen the entire day or week.

The Suburban died -- you know, the big truck where almost my entire family fits and where we can cram loads of beach goodies and fishing poles and towels and stuff in it with a canoe slapped on top and a trailer behind.  And we leave in a couple days for vacation.

{last summer}

Initially, I wanted to just get mad and lament and sing the "why me and woe is me" song. And I did. A little bit. Then after I stepped back {and reread my purple petunias post} I was reminded that even with  the dead truck -- although incredibly inconvenient -- we are still going on a vacation. Maybe we're needing to borrow a vehicle -- and yet, that too, is a blessing -- that we have a friend willing to let our family of nine pile in it for a week trek up to the lake.Very brave, I might add.

{mustache man last summer on the boat}

Then this week, Elijah -- mustache man --, has been sick. With really vague symptoms. Sleeping a great deal, fevers, and strange pains. My mothering radar has been on overload for the last six months since Samuel has been diagnosed with Celiac Disease. Todd had to remind me that kids just get sick and most of the time it's just sick. But, as days pass and it's only him under the weather and the vacation departure date creeps closer I feel that nervous anxiety.

Truth? We can still do vacation even if he's under-the-weather. There are doctors up in the beautiful north country of Minnesota. I can still mother and accomplish all I have to do. And all those to-do's -- the packing and laundry and sorting and organizing and cleaning -- are actually blessings. I just need to keep my mind aware of it as I race from thing to thing to thing to thing.

Remember the blessings, Rachel, remember the blessings.

So that leaves me sitting here this morning with a choice. I could easily complain about everything we have not fitting or being frustrated about the truck or worrying about Elijah or I could rejoice in the gifts that abound. In Samuel running around. That we are blessed with a vacation. That I have family -- extended family -- that vacations with us that I love to be around.

Sometimes having the plans shift helps regain gratitude.

And this morning, I am resting in grateful.

{the beautiful Kabekona Bay in Northern Minnesota at sunset}

Wordless Wednesday -- scratch that -- Word Wednesday

Yep.  That's what the loaded truck looks like when we go to the lake.  Remember -- a week and a half ago when I described it via Miscellany Monday?  This picture was taken about an hour before we left.  Crazy.  (that's my cute Grace just waiting to leave)

Thanks to my daughter, Hannah (who was riding with my sister in the protocol behind the truck space), she took a picture of the truck and trailer as we were moving.  Or supposed to be moving.  Note the stopped vehicles.  Road construction.  In Minnesota.  Over the holiday weekend.  True?  You betcha. (that's a Minnesota classic phrase -- imagine if you could hear me in real like.  Ya, know....Minnesooooota)

And, yes, that's the loaded trailer sitting by my parents cabin.  Waiting.  Waiting for me to spend 20 minutes trying to untie the yellow twine I used to secure all those bikes, and noodles (fail), and stroller, and kayak, and  lawn chairs, and fishing poles, and fans.  Wow.  We bring a ton for one week.  So -- here's the deal -- if you are ever in Minnesota and see a vehicle racing down the highway and a crazy mom driving  -- might as well wave.  Chances are it will be me. Especially if I have a latte from Caribou in my hand. :)

_______________________________

I'm linking up today with my blogging pal Alicia's Wordless Wednesday.  And, yes, I know I added words.  This was the best I could do.  Really.

_______________________________

Today is the LAST day to enter my giveaway.

If you haven't --- you must.  My goal of hitting 100 entries is only 12 away.

CLICK HERE 

to be redirected to the Teething Bling post.

the random miscellany monday

Yippee!  It's Miscellany  Monday once again -- and as you all know -- I am totally random and love this day.  I think I must be too random because I have way too much to write about.  It's hard to narrow it down!

So here goes.  Enjoy!

1) Classical Ballet is a huge part of our family's life.  Hannah, Chloe, and Grace all take classes.  Hannah will be dancing 10 hours per week this fall, Chloe seven, and Gracie three.  I always joke that the truck know exactly how to get to North Ballet Academy -- I don't even need to drive.  Wonder how many hours a year I'm driving to ballet?

2) Hannah has gone through 3 pairs of pointe shoes in the last ten months.  Her feet have also shrunk by one whole size -- unbelievable to me.  You can tell she's an artist in her dance.  Emotion in every step.

3) Chloe just got her first pair of pointe shoes yesterday.  As you can tell -- she was thrilled.  This is a huge point (get  it point? pointe? hee hee hee) in her dancing career.  I don't know what she was more thrilled about -- the pointe shoes or the Caribou Hazelnut Chocolate Frapuccino.  You judge.

shoes
vs.
frapuccino

4) Gracie, oh my Gracie girl, my sweet girl.  She is such a beauty while dancing.  She was built to be a ballerina, and the beauty of the Lord can be seen in her exquisite smile.

wondering about the black lines?  they help make their eyes POP on stage

5) Enough of that amazing beauty -- how about this beauty?  See that view?  That's the view that I see when we drive to and from the lake.  I try to think that our load is beautiful -- but alas, we are those vacationers whose vehicles are loaded down.  A canoe on top, the suburban packed, and a trailer bursting with stuff.  That's us. Just smile and wave if you pass us by. :)

my view on the ride home

6) This year, as we were driving a swimming noodle began to escape from the back trailer.  Thankfully, the protocol is to always have another family member following our vehicle.  My dear brother, who is an amazing brother, jumped out of his car at a stop light and grabbed the $1.99 blue noodle before it flew into the wild Minnesota prairie.  I'm still laughing as I remember him loping up to the trailer and grabbing the noodle. The look on the other drivers was priceless.

7) As I write this, I'm watching Extreme Home Makeover.  That show always makes me cry.  And it makes me realize just how short and precious life is.  And those thoughts make me appreciate moments like my brother grabbing the noodle, or my daughters dancing -- those are the real moments of life.

8) Life is short.  It's so easy to lose focus.  Perspective.  I hope to be a fighter, to live life to the fullest.  Blogging reminds me of that will to fight.

9) Last night we had an intense storm come through.  The straight line winds uprooted trees, my neighbor's mailbox and produced tornadoes.  Afterwards, there was an amazing double rainbow.  Ever think when you see a rainbow about the truth behind it?  It's a promise.  God's promise.  Visible in our sky.  Amazing.

taken from my front porch

10) Back to ballet.  The older two girls are doing an Intensive Camp this week -- gone all day.  I'll take some prayers -- my lovely helpers will be gone.  I'm so glad and thankful for this opportunity for them.  And, truthfully, when they are away it reminds me once again just how much I value both of them.

Have a blessed Monday.

And remember to link up to the Miscellany Monday on my dear friend Carissa's blog. I've also linked up with the meme -- mingle monday.  All these Monday Memes with Mmmmms -- makes it memorable!

A vacation miscellany monday

Two weeks ago I told you that I would do a Miscellany Monday while on vacation.

One week ago, while on vacation, I did not do my miscellany Monday.  I was playing games, eating too much food, and laughing with my family.

that's my daughter Grace laughing -- that's how I felt.

Now, today, I will do a Miscellany Monday post inspired by my recent vacation to the lake.  Because, lets face it -- what vacation doesn't provide numerous random moments?  In fact -- all of July could be full of my random and quirky moments from the lake.

1) I am joyfully listening to the hum of my dishwasher.  Did I repeat?  Joyfully.  Our rustic cabins do not have a dishwasher.  Well, they do -- myself.  My kids. My husband.  And again, myself.

2) When sleeping in a cabin where the curtains are made from sheer cotton is it critical to bring a heavy blanket to drape over the windows.  Tacky?  Perhaps.  But, if it allows the children to sleep past 5 am -- due to the early rising sun -- then let my windows be adorned with Thomas the Tank Engine blankets, and Cars, and whatever it takes to give the illusion of darkness.

that's our cabin

3) Samuel is even more spoiled.  Our cabin is tiny.  Very tiny.  With paper thin walls.  I did whatever it took to keep Samuel asleep so that he would not wake up his siblings.  So now, my almost 10 month old baby is very much like a heavy, wiggly newborn.  Wants to be held.  Nurse on demand.  And sleep right next to me.  I am very tired.

Spoiled, yet oh so cute, Samuel

4) Apparently, there was some memo to the horseflies that I tasted good.  See pic below.  I don't need to add any more words.  However, you may add words of empathy in the comment section.

my poor leg

5) Speaking of horseflies -- any advice on how to stop the intense itching? And pain?  Both of which wake me up?  Right after Samuel falls asleep? Note -- everything below I've tried.  Numerous times.

non-itching stopping products

6) The phrase -- can you hear me now --  is uttered many times while we're at the lake.  The coverage?  Spotty. Every time I uttered that phrase I felt like a walking commercial for Verizon while using my Sprint phone. Ha ha ha.

7) Texting, hoewever, worked.  Our texts? Bring me a NUK when you come to the beach or other profound ones such as dinner is ready or Samuel is awake or where's the sunscreen raced between our phones.  I have no idea what we did before we had our phones.  Can you imagine?  I'd have to walk back to the cabin to tell them dinner was ready.  Or get a nuk. Gotta love technology.

8) Speaking of walking, I probably walked at least 100 times between our two cabins.  I wish that would have negated all the Nut Goodie Bars that I ate.  Oh well.  It was vacation. And please, no one tell me the caloric intake in one of those bars.  It needs to remain a secret.

my well-used recipe

9) Brennan went tubing behind the boat for the first time.  And he went fast.  And I prayed.  And now, all he wants to do is go tubing again.  The awesome teen in the picture with Brennan?  My cousin Noah.  Brennan thinks he's the best.

10) I missed blogging.  While I was gone I received numerous emails, sweet comments and awards.  Thank you.  I appreciate each one -- and I plan on responding this week.  Once I get that laundry done. (14 loads -- empathy comments for that as well)

So there you go.  Round one of the vacation miscellany.  Next week I could talk about fishing, or that I put a leech on a hook (really), or the food, or driving with a trailer full of bikes and a canoe on top of the truck, or, or, or -- we'll have to see what the week brings!

Remember to link up to Carissa's blog.  Gotta to love her.  Mom of two -- newborn in there -- and the author of an amazing blog and founder of the Miscellany Monday craze! :)

milestone days

New Years.  Birthdays.  Christmas.

Milestone days.  But, for me, the date that has the most milestone moments is our annual trip to the lake.  Last week.  Our week at the lake is the break in my year, the week where I analyze the year before and I look forward to the year to come.  It's a time where I reflect on what I wish I had done and plan to do better.  It's where I rejoice -- over the birth of Samuel, over my children, over life.  It's where I remember.

Milestones.

The stones above I've wandered over every year.  They mark the path between my cabin and my parents.  I probably walk them a hundred times the week that I'm at the lake.  I love looking at those rocks beneath my feet.  I know that next year, when we return, those same stones will be there mixed with new stones from farther down the path.  Perhaps not in the same order, but still there.  In the same way, when we return, there will be new stories and chapters in my life. New milestones.

Life is a like a collection of stones.  Some memories beautiful, some jagged and raw, some buried deep, and some events drifting to the side.  Woven together they form an exquisite and unique path -- a life.

Memories.

could i just bottle time?

This week at the lake has been racing by.

Too fast.

I wish I could just bottle a bit of the time.  Just some moments.  Moments of quietness.  Of seeing a night sky bursting with brilliant stars.  Of eating just one more Nut Goodie Bar and not caring.  Of laughing at 10pm as my kids play games with me.  Of forgetting the day to day life and embracing life. Embracing family. Just living.

Without stress. 

My week at the lake gives me the teeniest, tiniest, and probably terribly inadequate glimpse of what heaven might be like.  Weeks like these are blessings.  Reminders of how this world is temporary -- that there is more beyond the daily grind.  They are moments of pause, of beauty, of connectedness.

I'm going to savor these days.

Tuesday evening's sunset

Gracie's fish

my view out the back of the boat

me, holding Samuel, walking to see fireworks on July 4th

(I just saw my live feed listing -- "a visitor from Walker, MN" -- that's me, up here at the lake.  I need a picture of that.)