In our family...

In our family....we do second chances...we do grace...we do real...we do mistakes...we do I'm sorry (and I forgive you)...we do loud really well...we do hugs...we do family...we do love.















Tuesday, August 11, 2009

We arrived in Couer d’ Alene, Idaho on Monday morning, after driving non stop for 21 hours. We were exhausted but excited to be there so I think we were functioning on adrenaline that whole day. It was cool and raining so we decided to go Second Hand shopping, which is one of my favorite things to do. Plus you get the bonus of great people watching, which is another of my favorite things to do…I must say I was quite entertained by a few people that I observed through out the day…and I also must say that my children and granddaughter were part of that entertainment.

Plain and simple, my children and grandchildren amuse me with their antics and humor. I am easily entertained just by listening to them or watching them. Part of that entertainment was my daughters goofing around with the camera’s…they came up with posing in what we came to call “the look”. Posing with “the look” became the family mantra through out our time there. No matter what we were doing, whether it be going for a walk or hiking, cliff jumping, or watching the sun set, someone was posing with “the look”.

I think my granddaughter has perfected "the look" quite well.

...and they even got me to do it a time or two...

They were quite amused with themselves...


One of the things I love most about my family is our ability to have fun where ever we are at and our ability to take whatever circumstances are at hand and work with it…to laugh, have fun and be silly…my family likes to make weird faces and make goofy poses whenever there is a camera out…much like these…





We laughed a lot…we talked a lot…we may even have drank a lot a time or two or more…we went out dancing for a night on the town…we played a lot…we even learned a new game called “cups”…

To play, you have teams of 2 and take turns throwing a frisbee and try to get it between the 2 poles without touching them or to knock one or both cups off the poles while holding a drink in one hand. Fun!


We went out to eat a couple of times but mostly we cooked at home. I did get to try sushi for the first time and loved it.


Just about every night, we sat in some beautiful area and watched the sun set.



The pictures don’t do the breath taking beauty of this place, justice. I remember sitting in the peace and quiet of the evening, with beauty surrounding me on all sides and being speechless…as I not only took in this great beauty but also as I took it in with these beautiful people called my children and grand daughter.

Every day she makes me thankful that I am her grandma.

Every day they make me thankful I am their mom.

When I say beautiful, I am not talking about physical beauty. I am talking about the people that they each are…each of them are amazing people. Yes, to everyone on the outside looking in, they are just ordinary young adults but because I know them…because I know of the great things that they do when no one is watching…because I know of the journeys they have made to get to the present…because I know their individual greatness, to me they are extraordinary. They are remarkable people doing remarkable things in the every day world…and they were mine for a time.

Even though I have to share them with the world most of the time…and even though they are no longer just mine but their own selves, with their own lives to lead, every once in awhile an opportunity arises and I get these extraordinary moments...these moments of greatness of doing every day things,like watching a sun set.

I embraced these extraordinary moments with my children and granddaughter…these were moments of awe…these were moments that I just breathed in the beauty that was mine.

These people make my heart smile and my soul soar to great heights.

These are just 3 of the people that make me grateful to be their mother. The 2 that are missing were greatly missed but thankfully I had special time with them too, that I will share about in the near future.

My heart really is overflowing with gratitude for all that was mine this past month. I cannot help but share it since being a mother and grandma is so much of who I am!

16 comments:

Natalie said...

I am so hearing you, Lori. Your kids are beautiful and so were the pics! Wonderful post, made me have a little sniff.xx♥

SciFi Dad said...

Jeez... your blog reads like "Mom's Ideal Summer" right now. I'm happy you're enjoying yourself.

Jan said...

Oh, my - that all seems like more fun than the law should allow! LOL

Now I want to try the Frisbee game.

You have such a beautiful, beautiful family! And I love "The Look". LOL

I Am Woody said...

Wow, life at its best!!

♥ Braja said...

These photos are gorgeous. And you are extra gorgeous. And yeah, I've missed you too :)
xoxox

Anonymous said...

Love it! Love it!

Pseudo said...

You have a beautiful family Lori and so happy that you got to spend this time with them at such a great place. Loved the photos. thank-you for sharing with us ; -)

LPC said...

Honestly? I'm jealous...

Stepping said...

My, my but you and the girls all look about the same age! The joy and love you share is written over all your faces. Even the ones with the "look". Thanks for sharing with us.

Smart Mouth Broad said...

What a beautiful family you have. I'm so happy for you that you got to do this trip. Priceless!

Hilary said...

You have a beautiful family, too!!!
Isn't it wonderful!
Thanks for stopping by Crazy as a Loom.

Kathryn Magendie said...

Everyone looks so happy! just made me smile --- :-)

Bogey said...

Welcome home Lorie and yes, I missed you too. But, I knew you were having the time of your life. With these posts, you have spread a well needed message of living, loving and being in the moment. The fact that you were sharing those moments with some of the special people that you truly love and adore only made it that much more gratifying. The descriptions of all that you did and shared will surely last you a lifetime. Knowing a little about your past life puts an extra emphasis on the special bond you all share. It was definitely not missed by me. Thank you so much for sharing. Welcome home!

Nancy said...

Yay! You put me feelings into words so beautifully! I, too, am so very blessed.

Joanna Jenkins said...

"...I am talking about the people that they each are…each of them are amazing people...." That's perfection, isn't it?

You all look so happy and content.

xo

Unknown said...

What beautiful pictures! It looks like so much fun, and the "look" was GREAT! My daughter takes pic's of herself doing "the look", too.

Your whole family is beautiful and just so fun-loving. I'm glad you got to get away and have some fun, relax, and unwind. You so deserved it.