It's the Little Things...

Choosing where to travel first involves things like budget & timing. I love love love to travel. Somewhere in me is an explorer that gets to get a breath of fresh air from time to time. There are so many places I want to go, but each summer I end up in the same place. Why? Family. How does one choose between the love of family & the desire to explore? I face that choice each year as I plan the summer for my son & me (my husband does not like to travel).

This year the decision was a no brainer. My mom is turning 80 in September. We never give her a party because it's not in the summer when the family can get together. My twin had the bright idea this year to give mom an "Almost 80" party. We celebrated last month, when the family could all get together.

The trick each year as I repeat the same travel destination (thank God I love the place!) is to find ways to work in the explorer's desires with the same family trip. This year I chose to take my son whale watching (see previous post).

Some time after I lost my oldest daughter, our family gathered, everyone's children in tow, etc... & one of my brothers joyfully announced "WOW! What a rare thing to have everyone together at one time!" My heart sank. No, it plummeted to the depths of hell. I quickly said "Not everyone is here." then I had to leave the room for a moment. I did not want to ruin his joy, but the fact was that NOT everyone was there. My daughter was gone & would never be in another family photo, or our arms again. We would NEVER have the whole family together again, & I seemed to be the only one who realized that. In a family of 7, each with their own, one tiny person can be forgotten easily enough. It's the little things.

Time spent with many of my family members, cousins included, is ALWAYS fun & exciting, even in the down times. It's in the little things that we find our joys. This post is to remind us all how to find those little things & celebrate them, because nothing is perfect, nothing is pure, except the love God has for us. That love is shown in the little things & if you look you can see them everywhere.

Here is just some of what I found on this trip....

My new blouse from Cory, he only paid a $1!!!!

My mom's decor, & Wren, my nephew, feeling comfortable enough to grab my camera & shoot pictures. I love his eye. Did I mention he's an FX film & video creator in LA?

He got this shot too: my brother David (D1) with my son David (D2).

New additions to the family. Meet Jenna, Wren's fiancé!

Do I need to explain?

That moment when texture hits lighting over a great model, my twin, Marie.

Wren with my camera again. ...and hammocks with quilts on them. Gotta love it!

Getting to see my nieces & nephews all grown up. For a twice bereaved parent like me, that is really something to celebrate!

Pictures in pictures.

My oldest brother, Steve, bonding with my son.

Color, Contrast, & Perspective!

Cory, former student of mine & now best friend, becoming part of my family. OK, as a teacher this is more than a little thing, but it's the little things that got us where we are.

Flowers. Cheap flowers.

Again with the color, contrast, & perspective. You never know as you walk along a street, thinking you are done with the errand, what little thing will catch your eye!

'nuf said.

Humor, truth, & beauty where you least expect it. Two previous shots of this guy w/out my twin, and she jumped in & he lit up like the sun!

Too many little things to mention. I love this shot! What little things do you see in it that bring you joy?

Fresh salmon, not that stinky stuff shipped to Texas that we say is fresh.

Story time.

More story time.

Lone Star beer, not sold in Washington, but yet there it is ;)

The fact that the only person smiling for me has pink hair. Love it!

Dinner in the orchard. ...and more story time.

Pretty little things.

Comparing notes on their twin spouses?

In the words of Marie, this shot is proof that my husband, Nick, actually made this trip! Little things can represent big things.

Fun labels

Spontaneous moments that grow.

The little things.

Life is never what we imagine...

This year's annual tip with my son to the pacific northwest included a trip to see whales in the wild, their natural habitat. This ain't no Sea World!

I decided to support what David was learning in school & encourage his new passion for whales & sharks. He, like most of us, prefers Orcas, & was so stoked to see them...

We saw two Minke whales. From a long way away. I used my 500 mm lens, scoped out to the fullest, to get these shots. He never saw them. We never saw any more that day.

We froze. We got soaked in the rain.

But he had fun. He had fun with his aunts & one (kinda) uncle. He had fun with the boat ride. He had fun exploring.

I was bummed. I had to settle for details of a boat ride. Light houses, sea lions & puffins.

You gotta admit, puffins are cute, & apparently have dwindled to only 12 couples left in this HUGE area. So we actually saw something even more rare than whales in the wild!

...and oh yeah, this bald eagle.

So I took my son out for another look a few days later. How is it that we could go to a place where it rains about 10 days a year (rain shadow they call it) & we managed to book our boat rides on a rainy day both times??? So, this is how my son passed most of the 4 hr tour on our second attempt. 

Then, three hours in, we saw humpbacks! Not Orcas, but cool all the same. At least I thought so. David was less thrilled & continued to sleep... I tried waking him, three times, but no luck. He slept... missed almost all the whales...almost. When he woke, he came up top just in time to catch this, right by the boat, no long lens needed. He didn't need every moment, just the best moment.

At that point it was time to return to shore. Dad picked us up & we three went camping. David had more fun than words or pictures could ever tell. ...and Dad had even more. 

Me? I got a wonderful two days away from my world of pain, depression, and continual efforts to stay joyful on a daily basis. I found beauty in the simplest things. 

The routines of daily life make us forget what matters. Having another chance to be a mom again, with all the work that comes with it, is a daily blessing, but it is the joy I relish in on these trips.

The occasional visitor, with all the demands of a trained soldier, was quite fun too!

 so, while THIS is what I had imagined (not my photo obviously)

THIS is what I got... 

...a good trade in my book!