Vacation « Journeyman Journal

Weekend on the Water

Sunday, July 27th, 2008

We just got back from three days at Jackson Lake (just 1.5 hours NE of Denver). We went with three other families…one of which has a boat! I absolutely L.O.V.E. getting away with family and friends! It feeds my soul and is always a great time. We went last year too, but we were alone then…fun, but it’s also good share the fun.

This particular weekend was spent with Greg & Susie (and their 3 girls), Michael & Amanda (and their son Noah), and Lindale & Briana (sp?) (and their son and daughter…this was the first time we’d met them…great family). All told we had 8 adults and 9 kids. Does it get an better?

Of course it was a hot weekend, but we spent most of it at the beach or on the boat. The first night sucked royally…wind blew hard all night…nobody got any more than a couple hours of sleep (and most didn’t get any sleep at all). But the next day paid the rewards as we water-skied and tubed for most of the day (thanks to Greg & Susie for pulling us around the lake).

I tried to be manly and get up on the wake board, but it was nothing doing. I did get up on the skis twice (but if you blinked you might have missed it). Nothing like trying something manly to keep you humble! Lindsay was able to get up on the training skis once (she was up on the skis but couldn’t quite stand up). Always fun to watch your kids try something new and exciting and love every second of it…they especially loved being pulled by the tube!

We didn’t get a single picture…but our friends did so as soon as they post them we will share. Now we take it easy for the rest of the evening and get back to the “real world” of school (math is over for me, but I’m right back to it this week), work (ugh!), and the mundane parts of life that make it real. I always have a hard time getting to my devotions over a long weekend, but still feel connected with God anyway…He’s so good!

Oh yeah…almost forgot, Logan (our 8 year old) also learned to ride his bike this weekend! Now, of course, we can hardly get him off of it. It was a long time coming, but he picked it up fast once he put his mind to it (sounds like someone else I know…that would be me in case I was being to obtuse ). I’m so proud of him!

27.07.2008 Family, Friends, Vacation 4 Comments

Spiritual Retreat WP-Style

Tuesday, July 15th, 2008

This past weekend Anita and I headed off to Winter Park for a spiritual retreat…and it was absolutely amazing! A friend from work, Emilie Erb, was gracious once again (we went last year too) to lend us her mountain retreat. As Anita put it, the point of the entire weekend was: NOTHING! We had no itinerary and no agenda outside of spending time together and time with God (and we accomplished both).

We slept in. We read. We prayed. We shopped (of course). We walked. We ate. We watched two movies.We got connected once again to one another and to God. Again, it was an amazing weekend!

Our focus for the weekend was praying for each of our kids. We talked about what was going on in each of their lives and how we could and should be praying for them. We talked about ourselves as parents and how we can do better. We talked about our own spiritual journeys. And we prayed…we asked God for guidance, for help, and for each one of our kid’s needs and futures.

We also spent some time praying and reading Scripture for ourselves. For me, God dealt with some old agreements as a father that He wanted to heal and restore. I also made three new commitments that will help me be a better dad to my kids. And God also shared His heart with me and asked me to slow down and just be with Him (abide in Him) and stop looking so far into the future…to be more present with Him now and enjoy the journey a little more.

I can’t adequately express what this weekend meant. It was fun, it was restful, it was needed. I highly recommend it to anyone and everyone. I am thankful that God provided the opportunity (thanks again Emilie!) and that we were able to make the time to get away and spend it with each other and with God. We came back home rested…rested physically, rested emotionally, and rested spiritually.

We didn’t take many pictures (didn’t fit with the NOTHING theme), but here are a couple we did take)…

D&A in WP
Don’t we look rested?

The Mountain Getaway
Thanks again Emilie!

15.07.2008 Recreation, Spiritual Development, Vacation 1 Comment

Happy 4th

Friday, July 4th, 2008

Prickly City

Today we venture off to Como, CO for a long weekend in the mountains with friends and family (the Memorial trip we couldn’t make thanks to the snow). I hope you have a great one as well…back next week with photos of the fun.

04.07.2008 Holiday, Recreation, Vacation 1 Comment

I Need a Vacation

Monday, June 2nd, 2008

Ever been that place? Where you just need a vacation…need to get away…need some actual rest? I’m not talking about the kind of vacation where you need a vacation once you get back. I’m talking about an honest to goodness respite…actual rest…actual relaxation. We all need it. God designed us that way.

Here’s the problem: I don’t think I’m getting one any time soon. The summer schedule is too busy and school starts up next week (thought it was this week, but apparently the school had an inaccurate calendar). Mostly I need a vacation from the “everyday” and the “mundane”. I like my work, but I need a break from it before I start hating it. I love my home life, but I need to get away a little so I can appreciate it a little more.

Anita needs the break too. Summer break is no break for her. It’s just different work, different hastles. We all need a break at times. Doesn’t have to be long, but we really need it. I am juts praying that Anita and I get one before too long. I’m praying for something I’m not even aware of now. A break in the clouds. It can’t come a minute too soon.

02.06.2008 Misc Ramblings 1 Comment

Change of Plans: Royal Gorge

Tuesday, May 27th, 2008

Our plans changed a bit this past weekend. Memorial Weekend is our annual camping trip to Como, CO. I think we’ve been going there for the past 5 years or so (Anita will correct me if I’m off one or two). We were all set for this year’s trip, we were in the middle of preparations on Friday night, when we got a call that informed us that the road to the campsite was covered with snow and wasn’t passable. A serious change of plans was in store for our weekend.

So what did we do? We improvised of course. Friday night was spent just trying to figure it out and get over the disappointment of a lost camping trip. Saturday we spent the afternoon with everyone who was going camping (as well as a few that weren’t) and barbecued at Paul & Leslie Foster’s house…followed by a couple poker games of course (and yes, Anita won one of them).

Sunday and Monday we headed down to my Granparent’s house in Cañon City. They spoiled us rotten and took us to the Royal Gorge on Monday afternoon. The weather was good and we had a great time. Not bad for a sudden change of plans. Here are a few pictures from the trip down south. Don’t miss the video at the end (Lindsay’s favorite part of the weekend I think).

My Grandparent’s Victorian House in Cañon City, CO

My Grandparents (Ross & Charlotte) posing with the kids.

The beginning of the Royal Gorge afternoon.

Lindsay, Logan & Kyle riding the carousel.

A great view of the world’s highest suspension bridge.

A little ”wildlife” (the Elk in the background too).

Who doesn’t love a petting zoo?

The Air Tram across the Gorge…did I mention I hate heights?

A little perspective for the video.
This is the Royal Gorge Skycoaster from across the Gorge.
It’s the same ride as at Elitches, but swings out over the Gorge!!

Here’s the video of Lindsay and me riding the Royal Gorge Skycoaster. We both kind of talked each other into it, but I was impressed that Lindsay went through with it (although she wanted to back out a few times). You’ll note in the video that she is the one that pulls the rip cord. The video doesn’t really do the ride justice…it swings you out over the canyon…an awesome experience…and one that I got to share with Lindsay!!

If you can’t see the video above, click here to see it on YouTube.

All in all a great weekend salvaged from what I thought was going to be a bummer!! You just can’t go wrong spending time with family and friends. A memorable Memorial Weekend…one for the memory banks.

27.05.2008 Family, Recreation, Vacation, Video 2 Comments