#24 Things that Lift Me Up

Vacation

On June 6, 2009 my sister, Tammy, was married to her looonnnngg time boyfriend, Dan! Some of the family thought they would never see that day come (Tammy included sometimes), but we were all very excited to share in the joy of their marriage to each other and to welcome Dan into the family!

Their nuptials were a perfect excuse for us to make a vacation out of a trip to Michigan. We were fortunate enough to take a week and a half off from work and spend some quality time with my side of the family. We carpooled to Michigan with my mom and Gerry-dad - making a few "side trips" on the way. It was fun to travel with them.

Tammy and Dan's wedding was a wonderful celebration of love and friendship. Their wedding was outdoors at a park in Canton, MI; a very simple, intimate ceremony with family and close friends. They could not have asked for a more gorgeous day. Tammy was a radiant bride - we all commented on how much she looked like a Greek goddess.

After the newleyweds left for a romantic Carribean island to honeymoon, the rest of us headed west to Keri and Doug's house. Micah and Noah were in hog heaven, spending time with their cousins (Nate, Carsen and Daniel). They played hard from the time they woke up until their head hit the pillow that night. Outside, inside, transformers, trains, sandbox, video games, tag...you name it...they did it. One morning we found Noah and Daniel standing on the porch playing in the sandbox. It was drizzling rain. Each of them had one hand on a small umbrella that offered them shelter from the elements and the other two hands played in the sand. Talk about a kodak moment...wish I could have found my camera!

We were able to spend some time with Grandpa Brown (the kid's great-grandpa) and his sister, Aunt Helen (who lives in California). We went to Rays to have the best burger EVER. We made a visit to Grandma Brown's grave and remembered what an amazing lady she was. We went to Nate's baseball practice, played at the pool, sat on the front porch and enjoyed the beautiful weather, ate delicious food, went on a triple date with Doug, Keri, mom and dad, shared wonderful conversation and laughs by the light of a bonfire, and savored long hugs during our tearful goodbye.

After leaving Michigan, we headed to my dad and Susan-mom's house in Ohio. On Friday afternoon, we went canoeing. Little did I know (here's where communication in a marriage comes into play) that Richard had never been canoeing! My dad and mom took Micah in their canoe and Richard and I took Noah in ours. Richard didn't tell me about his inexperience until we were already in the water and he was in the back of the canoe. Noah was having his afternoon meltdown due to lack of sleep (there was a little bit of water in the bottom of the boat and Noah was having a fit - it just wasn't right that there was water in the boat), Richard was trying to catch his balance in the boat and I was trying to explain how to steer. It was quite the humorous event now that I look back on it! Maybe our next venture in a canoe will be a little more relaxing.

We enjoyed seeing Aunt Sally, Uncle Bill and our cousin Stacy (who is attending school at Ohio Wesleyan University) for dinner one night. Nights spent out on the front porch, catching fireflies, and conversation in the midwest summer breeze are what made the trip for me. The boys had so much fun spending time with grandma and grandpa - reading books and playing at the park.

After such a stressful month at work in May, our trip up north was exactly what the doctor ordered. A chance to get away from the reality of our life and spend quality time with family. My sister Emily came to Tammy's wedding and I was able to spend some time with her and hug her after not seeing each other for about two years. That meant so much to me. It was also so inspiring to see all of the cousins playing together - including Jeff and Jil's children. I think it was Jeff who said he saw all of them playing outside at his mom's house and realized - that was us only so many years ago - how awesome to know that the connection continues with the next generation.

Many people would not categorize the trip we just took as a "vacation". Well...I can't lie. I dream of the day we can vacation on the beach or travel the world. But even if those types of vacations never happen, I treasure the time I spend with my family and I am so thankful for the time spent together.

You can see my pictures of the trip on facebook at this link:

http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/profile.php?id=507493417&v=photos