It was a Easter Vacation filled with so much giving, taking and being. With giving hands and feet my "fine figure of a man" and I volunteered at a ranch just a short distance from Bend. For four days we "showed up". There's no denying that this place plays a part of our healing through a long journey that seems to have no end. The giving of our time when we scooped horse poop for hours and helped in gardens with the spring cleaning and summer preparation, was a time of reflection, stillness and fellowship. Overlooking the "Sisters", in full view of the Cascades, the air, crisp with a full time breeze, seems central to our hearts. The chatter of the new group of kids coming up the driveway in all their excitement was greeted with smiles from these volunteers. Such peacefulness amongst the busyness of the day.
The time spent in Bend was two fold. Spending time with Tanner and Michelle was delightful, fun and comforting -- as always. Their hospitality comes from within and is genuinely given. Always amazing to be embraced within our family walls and loved without borders.
As quickly as the week began, the weekend was upon us. Back to "the valley" for more family time. We scooted into town just a mere 45 minutes before our Arizona boy and Rachel, the beautiful gal he brought for introducing. He had plans to introduce her to the valley he calls home. The valley, in all it's mountainous glory. The valley, and all the people who mean so much to him.
Let the fun begin.
Tanner and Michelle left work early so they could begin the weekend in the light of day. We all met at the Etna Brewery for a dinner out in the cool April air of our home town. There's many folk to visit when eating at a local restaurant. "How's your folks?" or "Whatcha been up to?" can be heard often in an effort to "catch up".
It was a weekend of many suitcases, air mattresses and wall to wall family. Even the large family next door wondered how we all fit here at Camp One Bathroom. A bit crowded? Probably. Did anyone seem to mind? Didn't seem like it. Will we ever do it again? I guess time will tell.
The Easter Egg hunt at Sawyer's Place was named "2nd Annual". The day ~ perfect with just a hint of coolness in the partly cloudy sunshiny day.
We took family pictures where familyness had been before. Different this time with a hint of grown. Grown by sheer possibility. Grown through laughter and sadness, trials and abundance. Grown because it is just supposed to happen that way.
The family makeup is changing. We miss but we like. We like because of the joy family brings.
Easter Sunday. Just those two words bring images to mind. Images of bright sunrises, dewy grounds, chocolate bunnies, sour gummy worms and the Hope that comes with His resurrection. As all these images dovetail into our day, we change course and headed due North. North to take Trevor and Rachel to the airport and bid sweet adu to our Bend couple. But before we all part ways, we share a Easter meal. Yep. Pizza. Just another memory to add to our "do you remember when" list.
Thanks for the visit kids~ We love you more than ever!
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