Weekend away with the kids.....

We spent the last couple of days with all the kids (and grandkids also) at one of our favorite places - Timber Ridge Lodge.  This fun time is for me one of the best times of the year.... we get so much fun crammed into just a couple of days.  This place is a business gold mine, since they have really thought out family get-aways.   The rooms are all 1 or 2 bedroom suite rooms that also have a pull out couch.  There is a large dining table and an (almost) full size kitchen.  We discovered that they don't have an oven - only a stove top.  So no frozen pizza  for the kids.  But they do have a microwave also.  The highlight is the indoor water park that is really perfect for kids preteen and younger.  The toddler area is perfect for really young ones and there is also a lazy river.  Ken especially liked the "adults only" hot tub!  There is also an indoor/outdoor hot tub that kids are allowed to use.

I snapped this picture of Lia, Ellie, Anna and I and you can tell by our squints that the sun was very bright!  You can also see the snow in the background!  It is interesting to be outside yet still warm in the water, even when it is snowing!  

We got to spend lots of time together, eating, playing games and laughing! I confess that I participated in a game with the kids that had something to do with sushi (?) but I sure didn't understand the rules or even how the game was played. I just kept saving any random cards and discarding whatever was left.  The kids had a great time and I think Tim won.  It was still a fun filled time - even if Grandma was very confused.  I love this photo of the five kids together, watching a quick video before heading off to bed.

After the kids were in bed, the adults spent time playing a rousing game of Trivial Pursuit.  The guys managed to eek out a win, even though the girls were close behind. I was happy to actually answer one question correctly.

Hours pass quickly during water park fun, with hardly a break to grab something to eat or drink.  Lia took Anna on the tube slide over and over again.  As fast as they came zooming down, they were headed back up the stairs for another run.  

  

What a wonderful time we all had!  We were especially thankful that Ken was feeling great and able to enjoy the time.  Just a few weeks ago, it seemed unlikely that this event would even happen.  It is really a miracle that we were blessed to have this chance to be together. 

By the end of the day, we all felt a bit like Grace, who fell asleep on Susie's lap.  She insisted she  wanted to go back into the water, but could hardly keep her eyes open.  In spite of all the noise and commotion going on around her, she managed to catch a short nap.

This trip to the water park has become a yearly event for our family.  It is one of those "traditions" that the kids just beg to continue.  Just for fun, here is a picture from our first ever trip to Timber Ridge in 2011.  Lia was 4 and Ellie was a month shy of 2.  You can't quite see Grace's swim suit in the very first picture of this blog (because of her floaty) - but she is wearing the same suit that Ellie has on in this photo!  Gotta love those hand me down clothes!  Not only the clothes get recycled, so do the events!

Bonus picture of Grace with her suit more visible! Almost exactly the same age as Ellie was above!

I am just so thankful today, sitting here looking back on this years trip, but also thinking of all of the years of fun we have had.  I am thankful for digital photos and ways to easily find pictures when you want to.  I am so thankful for the medicine and doctors to help us stay healthy and active, so that we can enjoy our grandchildren.  

We have had our share of worries and concerns in 2019.   This weekend has reminded me that spending time doing what you love is the most important thing.  Being with the people that matter to you, sharing love - yep that is the best.  Just writing this blog as brought me so much joy.  Joy and love can sure cancel out worry and concern.  This trip was just what Ken and I needed.  We are going into March feeling much less worried and far less concerned and much more joyful and so, so loved!  I'd say that was a really good couple of days!

Jesus, thank you so much for times of fun and laughter.  Holy Spirit, help us remember when we are worried and concerned that you are always with us.  Give us grace and courage to let our families know when we need more hugs and more time together.  Keep us watchful of others so that we can share your love and bring joy to others.  Amen 

Time together....the most important thing

Yes, I am a "Black Friday" shopper.  Gwen and I have been power shopping for good deals for the last 10 years or so.  This year there have been so many "PRE-Black Friday" sales and I have been checking them out.  Given where our family has been in the last weeks, I haven't been looking very hard.  But yesterday something caught my eye.  I have been considering a tablet - something small enough that I could bring it with me for note taking (I'm getting a bit tired of trying to type on my Iphone).  And there, in the ad, was a tablet that seemed almost to good to be true.  So early this morning, I bought a tablet.   And before noon, Ken went out and bought a second one for himself.  I am proud to say that I managed to get the entire tablet set up by myself.  Now this is quite a feat for me.  And I am very pleased with this detachable keyboard.  I can use the tablet alone or with the keyboard.  So my Black Friday shopping began a bit earlier than usual.

The loss of Lucas has really been sort of a wake up call for me as far as "What is really important?".  I have been looking at the upcoming holidays from a very different perspective.  We have always had Jesus' birth as the central part of our celebrations.  But it suddenly seems much more important to find gifts for our family that are "event" type activities.  Things that we can do together.  If I have felt one thing over the last week, it is the importance of just being there for one another.  Being together and doing fun things together seems like exactly what we need right now.  I have the feeling that my Black Friday shopping will be a bit lighter than usual!

I have been thinking about our holiday traditions.   I loved celebrating Advent with my kids.  We always had Advent calendars and often other activities for every day during Advent.  For many years, I facilitated Advent Events for the families of our church.  Some of my favorite memories of these events center around my mom and her enjoyment and pure pleasure being able to attend with us.  She always visited us for Thanksgiving so her stays overlapped with the beginning of Advent.  As I was thinking about this today I realized that it wasn't the event that she loved so much, it was being able to be WITH us - the experience - with our family.  She loved all of the preparations that I had to do.  The cutting and planning and tracing and sorting.  Again, because she was doing this all with me.  I don't know how I have missed seeing this, but suddenly it seems very clear.   The most important thing is being together.  It doesn't matter what you are doing..... it is just having those you love close by.

This is one of my favorite pictures of my mom with Gwen and Doug.  We all loved when my mom came to visit.  It was one of the highlights of our year.  Of course, mom and I also did our share of Black Friday shopping.  There was one year we nearly froze in a bitter wind, waiting outside of a Sears store for a big buy one get one free sale.  And there was also the year that we went to Zayre's at midnight for a special big sale (those sleeping bags my mom got for Doug and Gwen were used for many, many years).  So I guess that I can now appreciate my Black Friday shopping with Gwen since we are loving it together!

Let's face it.  Relationships are what really matters.   Really being with people matters more than anything else.   And the same is especially true about Jesus.  Having a bunch of head knowledge about Jesus, knowing facts from the Bible, understanding who Jesus is, are all important things.  But without really KNOWING Jesus, you are missing out.  Yesterday I talked about prayer and how important it is.  Actually, prayer should be like talking to a good friend on the phone.  Spending time talking and listening to Jesus is really important.   Just spending time together, that is the most important thing.   Being together and feeling the love. And the good news is that Jesus is always available to be with us and He will always surround you with his love.  There is nothing better.

I realize that the beginning of this blog doesn't seem to connect with the rest!  What I mean is that I started off talking about a THING that I bought - while shopping! And I know that this seems contrary to the ending of this blog.  But it is not about the shopping, it is about the AMOUNT of shopping and the REASON for shopping that matters.   I don't think this year will be about more stuff at great prices. I will be thinking about how thankful I am to be spending time with Gwen.  I will be giving more hugs to every family member.  I will be grateful for warmth and comfort in our home.  There will be joy in just being together.  And I will be thankful for new, advanced technology that allows me to journal and blog on my new tablet.   Most of all, I am thankful for a God that wants a personal relationship with each one of us.  There is simply no better gift.

Jesus, thank you for helping me to understand what is really important.  Thank you for memories of shared times with my mom.  Holy Spirit, help us all to cherish times with family and friends.  Keep our eyes focused on what is really important.  Holy Spirit thank you for reminding me that relationships are what counts.   Amen