The Gathering Place

Saturday, July 28, 2012

Camera Shy…

I’ve never loved having my picture taken.

When I was very young, I would actually run away from the camera.

That made for either blurry pictures, side views, or pictures of everyone but me.

Then I entered the I’ll-cooperate-but-from-the-back-row stage.

(After seeing some of my past hair-do’s, maybe it was a good thing to hide!)

Now I’m in the “I’ll take the picture” phase.

Imagine my surprise when I unearthed this photo today.

I’m even waving at the camera!

The flowers along the fence are so pretty.

I also like this picture of some of my cousins and myself.

I’m on the second row, far right.

So much fun when we were together!

I’ve been helping my Aunt Mardene get her life history written and I’ve looked through a lot of pictures the last few days.

She is feeling so guilty that I am taking time to help, but it has been fun for me rediscovering the past (and helping preserve it).

I feel a renewed connection to my family, especially those members who have passed away, an appreciation for their sacrifices and life achievements, and a strong belief in the importance of family.

The photo below shows Mardene and my dad, standing in front of their house. The were “good buddies”.

And this one shows their creativity in having fun without a lot of money.

As much as I hate having my picture taken, I realize how nice it is to go back in time for a trip down memory lane.

I’ll try to not hide anymore,

but

I’ll probably still be on the back row!

JoAnn

Monday, July 23, 2012

Happiness…

I’ve been quite the travel-log orientated blog lately.

Great if you enjoy seeing all the places we went on our vacation, but maybe not so interesting to someone who travels around a lot (or takes better photographs).

This morning I found this quote on Pinterest and it seemed to “fit” my blog right now.

I actually used this very quote here.

And I posted about a camper similar to the one above here.

(Too bad I didn’t think of creating this poster myself!)

Anyway,

the quote spoke to me.

THIS ADVICE IS PRETTY TRUE!

If we focus on where we are going, more than on what is happening along the way, we can miss out on some great experiences.

Arriving at a destination, walking around snapping photos, tucking memories away in a little corner of your brain- none of them is as fulfilling as the real life moments we create as we live every day, especially those experiences that weren’t planned for (or wanted).

How many opportunities have been lost because we were “on a schedule” and couldn’t stop?

Children create those little detours all the time and those stolen moments like rocking a baby when dishes are waiting in the sink, or playing in the sand instead of folding the laundry, will take a more satisfying spot in your memories than exploring magnificent buildings, ancient ruins, or scenic places.

The real, true moments that make one happy can happen any where, any time.

I hope today brings some unexpected happiness to all of us and that we stop and take the time to enjoy those moments!

Have a great day!

JoAnn

Saturday, July 21, 2012

A little beauty and solace after a long drive…

My husband and I took an early leave from our family reunion and started the official “road trip” part of our vacation.

We enjoyed our drive through the beautiful scenery of Montana as we headed to northern Idaho (which is stunning and completely different from other parts of Idaho). The mountains and all the tall pine trees were a welcome sight after traveling through a barren part of Montana country (pretty, but not very green).

Dropping down the mountain (miles of 6% grade) to the town of

Coeur d’Alene, Idaho

was quite spectacular.

The little town is nestled right against the pretty lake.

Little shops and sidewalk cafes lined the streets and a lot of people were hanging out there.

Don’t you agree that it is charming?

You know that you are “seniors” when you pass up the little cafes and eat at a restaurant, but my husband wanted a “real dinner”.

Still, it was a fun day!

JoAnn

Friday, July 20, 2012

Recipe for a Fun Family Camp

Start with 17 adults.

Add in 12 kids for good measure.

(10 of them four years old or younger.)

Throw in one cabin, one tent, and one camper.

Be sure to include a beautiful lake with a national park close-by.

(Bill’s Island- Island Park- just outside Yellowstone National Park)

Plan on taking a few little excursions to see the beautiful surroundings, including time boating down the river, hiking, and exploring the wonders of nature inside the park.

Include some great pre-planned meals

(with hot chocolate chip cookies to snack on).

Watch out for wild animals!

(There was a bear sighted in our area, but we missed it.)

Add some laughter, games, late night talking, and a little patience (Remember the 12 kids….).

This recipe makes for stronger family bonding, great memories,

and a lot of fun!

P.S. We missed those of you who couldn’t make it.

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

A little road trip….

We just returned from a road trip to the Northwestern part of the United States, driving about

2,300 miles…

in our car.

We drove through rolling hills, rugged mountains, towering forests, lonely deserts, wheat fields, and canyons. We traveled along the side of mighty rivers (the real ones-not Utah streams), soothing blue lakes, and along the coast of busy ocean inlets.

We had some great adventures (which I will probably share later) and saw some pretty remarkable scenery. Spending that much time in an auto gave me plenty of time to think and so here is my well thought out list of the top ten reasons why road trips are good for the soul.

To Road Trip or Not:

1. Road trips are restful.

While you are zipping along in a car (fastened in tight with a seat belt) you can NOT flit around the house leaving half finished projects behind as you think of new ones to start which soon join in the clutter of things you want to finish, but don’t.

2. Road trips are informative and educational.

Did I really pay attention in school when we studied things like the Oregon Trail or the Continental Divide? How was I supposed to know that some day I might want to know what the main economy of Eastern Washington was? Historical markers and tour guides (my smart husband) offer interesting facts and ideas which now have more purpose and meaning.

3. Road trips provide good lessons on patience.

Yes, there are laws about not letting more than five cars stack up behind you when driving through mountain passes, but really, who is there to arrest those really slow drivers that don’t seem to notice they are hazardous to the mental health and safety of impatient tourists “on a mission”.

4. Road trips also provide plenty of opportunities to develop the virtue of

“long suffering”.

How many more miles until the next gas stop? Are we there yet?

5. Road trips give a married couple plenty of time to converse and have meaningful, uninterrupted conversations.

With hours and hours of driving time (and no remote controls or computers to distract) we had a lot of time to discuss things.

And re-discuss things. And make up new things to discuss.

6. Road trips are a good incentive to start a new diet upon returning home.

My husband did all the driving on this trip. All 2,300 plus miles. My job was to navigate and keep him alert. Did I mention that munching helps keep me awake? I consumed bags and bags of overly priced treats purchased at gas stops. Plus, it was pretty hard editing all the photos to only show my shoulders and face!

7. Road trips give you new destinations to discover on future road trips.

We drove past so many places that I wanted to stop and explore, but couldn’t spare the time for. Some day I would like to have a picnic lunch in the little town of Ennis, Montana. The whole town was only a few blocks long, but EVERY inch we saw was green, manicured, and charming. Often we would see a perfect place to eat, after we had already eaten.

8. Road trips broaden your horizons.

Just like seeing new scenery and learning more about history, culture, or nature, you see things you wish you could take home or try in your own space. Do you think I could grow ferns or azaleas in Utah? I wish my lawn could look as green and velvety as those near Seattle. Wouldn’t it be nice if Utah could have hanging flower baskets on all the street lights?We also ate some foods that I have never been exposed to (Salvador Molly’s in Portland).

9. Road trips help sharpen your mental concentration.

Where was that grocery store in Pendleton, Oregon that Linda and I found a few years ago? Which bridge is now charging a toll? What happened to all those cute barns we saw last time we drove through the Blue Mountains of Oregon? I try to memorize things for future trips.

10. Road trips provide good memories for future bleak times, or are good conversation starters.

Have you ever seen the fish tossing sales clerks at Pike Place Market? Our daughter Liz was once hit by a big wet fish that slipped out of the hands of the man who was supposed to catch it. They softened the mishap by giving her a free t-shirt, but think of all the times she can retell that story.

Well, there you have it. I’m sure there are even more good reasons to take a road trip, but I will spare you from making my list any longer. It was a nice break in a busy summer, but we had a great time.

But…

Next vacation, I think we’ll fly.

JoAnn

Monday, July 9, 2012

July’s expectations…

I saw this subway art on Pinterest and it seemed like a perfect reminder of what we look forward to during the month of July.

We started off the month with our traditional

Fourth of July

breakfast at our church house.

Everyone was dressed in the correct colors (well, except for one of us with a limited wardrobe who needs to go shopping today for some vacation clothes for that very reason!)