When the mountains speak love

If my life is measured by summers, it is most definitely measured in these long, hot days running wild in the mountains on our annual summer trip to Miette.
Every time we roll up that windy mountain road, it feels a little bit more like coming home. The days are long, the mountains tall, the coffee strong, the time spent together as a family valuable and by the time I collapse into bed at the end of the day I am thoroughly exhausted.
There's always time for one more quick swim, one more hike, one more conversation.
Perhaps that's what I love most about these trips. It feels like there is always more.
Out there, nothing is lacking. There is never not enough. Even as we drive, I can feel the layers of heaviness surrounding my heart just melt away until we pull up to our little mountain kingdom and I am eye to eye, toe to toe with my real, honest self.
There's something about the truth that doesn't hide from me here.
This year we packed up the van and drove to our little mountain town. And even just sitting in the passenger seat of the boyfriend's truck with my bags packed and anticipation swirling around in the air, my heart almost burst at the thought of being surrounded by all the people I love so dearly for a whole weekend.
Sometimes, I think, this qualifies as magic.
There were mornings where all of us crammed into a tiny cabin to eat breakfast, still pajama clad and sleepy eyed. There were afternoons spent wading in the river, wandering through Jasper, swatting mosquitoes and hiking up to the old pool (which I still think is one of my favourite places on earth, and feels to me so much like poetry). There was kissing, and staying up late, jumping into the cold pool until all limbs were numb only to retreat back to the warm pool and sigh over the tingling feeling in hands and feet, stories were told and many rounds of catch played and over and over again I fell in love the way you fall asleep, slowly and then all at once.
I cried, because sometimes you can't hide from the truth. I collapsed from exhaustion. I let the mountain air and the sunshine heal my soul once again, and let it all remind me who I am.
I am so incredibly grateful for my family, and the memories we make in this place. I'm grateful that this year family stretched to include more of the people I love so much. I'm grateful for the life lessons learned around the breakfast table and over coffee and while sitting around with my people.
When I got my tattoo (a mountain) it symbolized a lot of things.
It was in memory of my cousin, an avid snowmobiler. His favourite place was in the mountains, and it was on this little mountain near Jasper that I have some of the best memories of our family.
It's because I feel most at home in the mountains, and to me they represent freedom and strength.
And it's because of that verse in Matthew that talks about having faith to move mountains.
As I spent this weekend loving, and telling the truth and healing my soul, my faith was also restored in some small way. My faith, not only in God, but in goodness and love and family and people, in the world and in myself.
If I could bottle up some of that magic I feel during our family trips to that mountain, I would. I would put it on a necklace and carry it with me every day.
We arrived home today, and I have new dreams tangled in my hair, fresh ideas stirring in my head and a wild, radical love taking root in my heart once again. I am so grateful for all of this.

"God is in the mountains. Impassible, immovable, jagged giants, separating the celestial from the terrestrial with eternal, diagonal certainty. As if silently monitoring the beating heart of the Creator from the universe's perfect birth. Stood in the thin air and the awe, one inhales God, involuntarily acknowledging that we are but fragments of a whole, a higher thing. The mountains remind me of my place, as a servant to truth and wonder. Yes, God is in the mountains. Perhaps the pulpit too and even in the piety of an atheist's sigh.  I don't know, but I feel him in the mountains."

The Sparkle of Vegas ~ Part 2

We arrived in Vegas close to midnight. I had been on the plane pretty much all day, I was tired, I was grumpy, all I wanted was to get to our hotel and climb into bed and sleep.
And then we hit the Strip...
and the dazzling lights were enchanting, even in the late hours that stood before tomorrow's arrival like guards shepherding in a princess, and there were still people walking about in every direction.

This is the city that never sleeps, nestled in the desert, filled with nightclubs and lights. This town is where anything is possible, where the tall, luxurious  buildings and the bold entertainers dare you to dream big. It is where the hot sun beats down on your back long enough and you begin believing you can do the impossible.
Even at midnight this town is far from losing her sparkle. Even at midnight her lights beckon you to come a little closer, to fall into their trance, maybe stay a while.

Vegas part 1

I just got back from Vegas...
It's going to take me a couple of days to process my thoughts, and to get everything down. I've been on the computer for almost 2 hours already this morning, just catching up on emails and blog postings. I feel like so much has happened while I was away, but I also feel like I've taken a much needed break from the 'real world.'

I hope to, over the next few days, post about my trip. I had the most amazing time at the GSD convention, and in Vegas, and I can't wait to tell you all about it.

* I listened to this song almost a dozen times on the plane ride home yesterday. I feel like it's my theme song this summer. I'll explain more as I post more of the pieces.

Today is Friday...

Today means I have successfully completed 5 straight day's of blogging. I know that might not be a big accomplishment, but that's every weekday this week that there has been a blog post. For some reason, that's enough to make me smile.

Today means We're leaving for Miette Hot Springs in a few hours. I remember the last time I wrote those words in a blog post. It doesn't seem like that long ago, but it was. I doubt there will be any daring new adventures this time around. If I take any pictures worth showing, I'll post some here when I get home.
Today means possibility

Today means a long drive, listening to music, staring out of the window and thinking.

I need to be happy for today because today is my life.

The end of the begining

So, it's not about my trip but I thought I'd fill you guys in on what's been happening. Two days ago, I went to see Eat, Pray,Love, the new Julia Roberts movie. It was a pretty good movie, I liked it. I liked the way it showed the lessons that Julia's character, Liz, learned throughout the movie. Yesterday, we all went to collect bales. I drove the truck and only hit one person. Ok, It was my first time driving by myself (Gas peddle and all) and, in my defense, my dad said to go. how was i supposed to know that my brother was behind the trailer when I hit the gas? Well, he wasn't hurt too badly, he was still walking. :) This morning, I went to the orthodontist. I have to get two teeth pulled next Wednesday, and maybe, braces. I think, if my teeth aren't bothering me, then why fix them, but I didn't major in dental school now did I? I got my hair cut today. It's short again, but not too short. It's sort of to the middle of my ears, and all choppy like. It's really confusing to explain. We're going camping tomorrow. We picked up the camper today. And I finished the book I'm writing last night. It was the last one in the series. So exciting! It's the end of the begining. Can't wait to see what I'll come up with next :)

I'm home

I'm back at home sweet home. It was an interesting trip, but totally fun, and I'm so exhausted. I had a great time, but now I'm ready for bed. I'll write more about my trip later :)

It's FRIDAY

Well, it's Friday again. Time for more fun facts. But, there will be no facts next week because...we're going to B.C. We're going on a houseboat with 2 other families (and us, making 3) on a boat that sleeps 22 people. get ready for crazy! We're leaving on Sunday, getting on the boat on Tuesday, getting off on Saturday, and I think we're getting back on Sunday night. A whole week. Then, when we get back, school starts. well, for everybody else it does. I still have to wait to get all my stuff in. Jaxon starts preschool this year. It's about 10 minuets from our place and he's excited. Jacob and Catricia are homeschooled this year, too. More crazy. But, let's get this weeks fun facts under way. (if you haven't noticed, i love doing these, i find them too cool)
1. a pregnant goldfish is called a twit.
2. certain types of frogs can be fully frozen, thawed and still survive.
3. Bullet proof vests, fire escapes, windshield wipers and laser printers were all invented by women
4. Sherlock Holmes never said "Elementary, my dear Watson,"

Well, I'll see you all when I return from the ship (hehehe, I love calling it a ship)

A long time coming...

Well, here are the pictures I promised. I FINALLY got them uploaded. So these are Calgary and Jasper, I know it took a while for me to get them up here.


Jaxon and the Mascot

All the cowboys, and girls

One of the bullriders

And Me and Cai.

And there's her baby brother, Ephraim.

This is Jasper. and Yes, we're going up there.

This is at the old swimming pool

Note the look of pure joy on Jaxon's face

And the fear on mine

We were going white water rafting!

I was so freaked out at first but it ended up being a really good time.

I'm Home!!!!!

I'm back from Calgary! And what an interesting trip it was. So first, on the drive up, we almost ran out of gas, literally running off of gas fumes, and barely made it to this little town of no where. THEN we blew a tire. We stopped at this little shop to get it fixed but they didn't have the right size of tire so we just got the spare put on. That leads to my first first, my first time eating lasagna on a shop bench. We finally made it to Calgary and the next day we went to the stampede. It was so totally cool, besides getting rained out. The cowboys and cowgirls made it an awesome show, as well as a really good show put on by the animals.One horse broke it's back and had to be put down but it was still really good, other then sitting there and biting my nails and willing the cowboys to just stay on for eight seconds and feeling really bad when they didn't. My second first was watching the Calgary Stampede. The third first was eating supper in a bar that night. I had this really yummy southern fried chicken. The next day I went to Cairo's. I earned a new nickname, Dish (by her little brother Gage) and got barfed on 3 times by her baby brother, Ephraim. (Did I spell that right, Cai? I think I did.) On our way home this morning we got a little lost and spent an hour touring Calgary. But we made it home alright and it was a good trip.

Calgary

I'm going to Calgary tomorrow! We planned the trip this morning and we're leaving tomorrow morning. We'll see some of the stompede, and I'll get to see Cairo and meet her new baby brother! I'm so excited. But no worries, I'll being my computer with me and do the book review for Motercycles, Sushi and One Strange Book while I'm down there. And if I can figure out how to upload the pictures from my camera to my computer, I might put up some pictures too.

(Sorry about the Jasper pictures. I do have them, they are just not on my computer. hopefully I'll get them up soon.)

YEEHAW!

Miette

We're headed to Miette tomorrow! The down side is that I got sick this morning. I have a headache and a sore throat and a ear ache. hopefully that won't make this trip TOO bad. But as you can tell, it's always a good time when we go up the mountain. So here are some pictures from LAST YEAR and I'll post some new one's when I get back. I just want you all writhing with jealousy as I go 'round the mountain and soak in the hot springs, lol.

P.S I got a secret for you. I got PURPLE streaks in my hair. I'll add pictures of that when I get back, too.