Camping 2010

raccoon friends~campfire bassoons~"tea bags"~lovin' on a lantern~pontoon cruisin' and sandbar hangin'~watermelon~tent texting~educational debates~prohibited swimming~lost keys~found keys...MIRACULOUSLY found keys~Christmas lights~Beersbie~killer food including, but not limited to, peanut butter cup s'mores~Strawberry Shortcake's cell~livening up the campfire crowd~reminiscing~coffee crises~bacon bi*ches~shared toothbrushes~late-night loo visit~skeeters and locusts~Tom's Donuts~fishin'~year 11, baby.

Colorado

There are few places where I sense God's presence as keenly as Colorado. No doubt the breathtaking majesty of His creation there wakes something up in me that the Great Plains just doesn't inspire. My grandparents have lived in the Denver area my entire life (with the exception of a brief stint they took in Montana - also awesome), so I've been visiting there every couple of years since I was born. With them moving near my parents this fall, one last trip was in order, so that's exactly what we did last week. Along with my parents, brother, sister-in-law, and nephew, our party of 5 loaded up into an RV and hit the road west.

There was a bit of fear and trepidation about how our kiddos would travel, I won't lie. But they did AMAZINGLY well. My mom brilliantly brought along lots of new items to entertain the masses, and the boys' cousin, Liam, brought along lots of "new" things that helped keep Grayson entertained for the duration of the drive. We even made it through the entire first day without relying on the TV/DVD player (not from lack of trying, however. The outlets in the RV were funky, and we couldn't figure them out at first). The first day we drove to Omaha and crashed at a campground there, enjoying swimming, hot dogs, and s'mores. Our second day brought us to the foothills of the Rockies where my grandparents and aunt and uncle from New Mexico awaited us. We had a great evening reconnecting, and the boys of course immediately located great-grandma's toys.

The first day out we drove a few miles from my grandparents' house to Deer Creek Canyon because Jeran just couldn't stop talking about climbing a mountain. So we lunched at the picnic area there then did some exploring. It was HOT hot hot, so we kept it short, but the boys loved it.

Day 2 was our day to celebrate Grandma's 80th birthday. We started out in the morning with a family photo shoot, joined by my aunt and cousins who also live in the Denver area. My aunt and one of my cousins were in the midst of preparations to move to Ecuador where they will be living/working/schooling for the year, so we were really glad that our visit fell at a time before they left.

The Gunnink Fam

We lunched at a park near G and G's house which also happened to be the site of the Columbine memorial, so we took the opportunity to take a look at that and reflect. It was pretty powerful, and it's hard to believe that 11 years have passed since that nightmare unfolded.
After we had eaten and let the kids play themselves out we headed home, taking a detour to visit my uncle Paul's gravesite. Three years ago on the 30th of July he lost his battle with lung cancer; the last time we were in Colorado was actually for his memorial service. Going to the cemetary was a tough visit to make but also a good time to spend remembering him and the life of faith that he lived. It was the kids' first visit to a cemetary, so it also brought out an interesting line of questioning from Jeran.

In the evening on Tuesday we all trekked down to G and G's church for Grandma's birthday open house. It was a neat time of celebrating her, seeing other extended family members, and speaking with friends of my grandparents and hearing about the many lives they have touched during their years of ministry there (my grandpa is a retired minister). Following our celebrating we had some time at the house to just all hang out together and sadly had to also spend this time saying goodbye to my aunt and uncle who headed back to New Mexico the following morn.

Taken at Grandma's open house. Ben and my cousin Leesha really hit it off!

Our 3rd day of the trip was our day to head up into the mountains. This has always been one of my absolute favorite parts of our Colorado visits. Driving along the winding roads, taking in the awesome scenery, ending up at some small (or not-so-small) town or landmark in the mountains. We drove for about an hour to a state park in the mountains where we did a short hike (to feed Jeran's "climb a mountain" fix), followed by a drive to a panoramic lookout point, and ended up at a VERY cool but remotely located restaurant where we all had lunch (a restaurant which, incidentally, doubles has a hot night spot apparently and was located directly next to the drive-thru liquor joint. Sa-weet). My brother and sis-in-law took off in their rented car after we ate to do some camping in the mountains with just the 3 of them. We were really sad to see them go but were so glad for the time we got to spend with and grow closer to them on this trip. On the way back from the mountains we drove through some absolutely breathtaking areas and watched a rain storm track us almost all the way back to G and G's before catching up to us. One of only a very few times that we experienced rain on the trip.

Day 4 was our last day in town. One of the state parks has a "beach" (I have to use the quotes after experiencing Michigan's sandy shores), and our boys LOVE the water, so with another hot day granted us (and the beach being only 5 mins. from the Gp's) we spent some time playing lakeside. In the evening we said our good-byes to my aunt and cousins over dinner and then spent a few more hours hanging out as a fam.

Leaving CO, I fastened my eyes on the mountains until I could no longer discern if it was the peaks I was seeing or simply clouds. While it's melodramatic (me? Never!) to say that I'll NEVER see the mountains I love so much again, it probably won't be soon and certainly not as frequently as these first 30 years of my life. It was a wonderful time spent bonding with family, and I was particularly happy that my boys could get to know these people whom I love so much.

The trip home mirrored the trek out, with a stop overnight to camp. The boys once again did marvelously well and while it was with a slight air of sadness that we said farewell to our home on wheels, it was also reallllllly nice, as it usually is, to be home once again.

Thoughts on growing older. From other people's brains

Hit the big 3-3 last Friday. As panicky as I felt three years ago about entering into the 30's, I'm finding it quite nice here. More comfortable in my own skin; content with the life God has given me; excited for the future but enjoying the moment; blessed by an amazing family. The year ahead is just ripe with possibility.

A few thoughts on growing older that I enjoy:

"Everything I know I learned after 30." - Georges Clemenceau

"It takes a long time to become young." - Pablo Picasso

"Pleas'd to look forward,
Pleas'd to look behind,
And count each day
with a grateful mind."
- Alexander Pope

"And in the end, it's not the years in your life that count, it's the life in your years." - Abraham Lincoln

"Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom." - Psalm 90:12

You've Been Warned

It is high time we shed our inept web address. Therefore, one of these days you will find yourself denied access to the Party. No worries. You will be able to find us here:

www.louwersefam.blogspot.com

Just wanted to give you fair warning so those of you who enjoy stopping in from time to time will know where to find us.

Vacation Rules

This was pretty much my mantra for the last two weeks. After loading down Minnie the Van with what seemed to me like all of our worldly belongings (sans the proverbial kitchen sink) the boys and I took off for Michigan. We headed up before James as he was going to ditch us for a golfing excursion over the weekend first, so our first week of vaca was without him, and I’ll be honest that a vacation from my hubby is no vacation. But we filled up our time with fun excursions, hanging with family and catching up with friends we do not often get to see during our whirlwind stops in the Hometown. We playdated, ate donuts, fed carrots to horses, watched TV (more than 10 channels- worth!!), frolicked on the beach, drank fruity drinks (OJ for the boys, other fun stuff in the evening for Mom with friends), ate lots of great food, celebrated an earned degree of higher learning (way to go, Meliss!), etc. etc.
Upon James’s return to us we promptly ditched the children (with heavy hearts, of COURSE) and enjoyed three blissful days of adults-only time at a cottage near the lake (thanks to Mom L. for hooking us up with that one!). Here is why adult vacation R-U-L-E-S:
- I did not watch anything of any redeeming value (ok, that’s not totally true. There was a LOT of Food Network). My newly discovered favorite show is VH-1′s “You’re Cut Off”. Hilarious! And slightly troubling.
- I read an entire magazine (again, with little redeeming value) in one sitting.
- Every single meal was eaten at my pace, at an enjoyable and appropriate temperature, without interruption.
- I went to the beach twice and only got up to swim.
- I arose out of bed after 9 a.m.
- I had no schedule or agenda of any kind. I only checked the time out of sheer habit.
- I actually had the chance to miss my kids.
- I interacted with my husband beyond, “What time will you be home?” “Can you get (insert child’s name here) more (insert edible item here)?” “Your turn for baths.”
- There was mental energy to spare! I was able to reflect on more than just what the next meal, disciplinary action, or necessary chore would be.

I really don’t mean to give off the impression that I dislike being with my children. It’s just that they are so ALL-consuming, and I didn’t even fully realize how much so until all of that came to a complete stop. It was a much-needed and much-appreciated time with just my hubs.

The remainder of the week was spent having loads of fun with the kids, first at Auntie Rach’s house in GR where we visited the zoo, Millenium Park (a playground/beach/splash pad extravaganza on the outskirts of the city), and the children’s museum. The rest of the weekend was spent boating and beaching it with friends, hanging with the girls-only (as well as Anthony the flirtatious waiter, Edward, and Jacob), attending a fireworks display with a few of our VERY favorite people (followed by a really hard good-bye), and several fantastic hours spent with friends over a delicious dinner followed by a backyard fireworks show. The only downside to this vacation was the following list of things we missed: Robyn and Russ’, my BFF from the ‘hood and one of my favorite comfort-food joints.

It was harsh coming home, I gotta tell ya, but at the same time I think it’s these amazing times away that make you feel like your real life is pretty amazing too.

Healthy, Wealthy, and Wise....well, one outta three ain't bad

If you're a regular reader here at the ol' blog you may recall that a couple months ago some friends and I set some goals to a healthier us. You can refresh your memory on that here . Speaking for my personal goals, well, I coulda done better. The snacking after dinner habit is a thing of the past and was actually not all that difficult to give up, surprisingly. As for something as simple as drinking enough water in a day, I have been ridiculously lazy about that. I don't know WHY that should be so tough for me, but I still just don't get enough into my system. I think what would really be helpful is just investing in a Camelbak so that it's on my person all day long. The exercise portion of the goals has been nil. Unless you count chasing after 3 young children all day long. And I do. But I know it's not enough.
Tonight I got up my gumption and went for my first run (of what I hope is many). I finally began to understand my runner friends. It felt AMAZING to be outdoors doing something so good for myself. I was pathetically tired by the end, but it's a start! I'm using the Couch Potato to 5K program so what's even MORE pathetic is that I didn't even run for more than a minute at a time. For the first couple run/walk cycles I was all, "What? I could do this all DAY, punk!" and by the end I was all, *wheeze*- *cough*- *sweat*. (Ok that's a slight exaggeration but only slight.) However, I definitely had a small sense of that euphoria and adrenaline, and I'm excited to see how long I can keep it up! Speaking optimistically, hopefully it's the start of a healthier new me. Stay tuned.
So to recap: one out of three health goals accomplished. For now I'm going to stick to just two and try to whip into shape my drinking and exercising habits. So check back in 6 weeks to see how Julie is doing on:
A) Drinking approx. 64 oz of H2O per day &
B) Exercising 4 x/week

A Love Story

In honor of my 12th wedding anniversary (which today marks, incidentally) I thought I would present to you...our story.

Rewind all the way back to 1989. 6th grade. James's and my elementary schools merged into one junior high, and thus began our history. While James really didn't even know I existed (a fact about which I like to give him endless grief), the hottie across the orchestra room (sorry, honey, it's out now. Yes, my man did, indeed, play the cello) was not lost on me. I harbored a crush on the cello-playing, spectacle-sporting cutie who didn't know I existed through the ensuing years, and at our 8th grade skating party I finally worked up the nerve to ask him to, you guessed it, skate. But lo, it was not yet to be. Out on the glossy rink was my crush, hands linked with another 8th grade female (whom I immediately loathed). Fast forward to the spring of our sophomore year. Thanks to our typing class seating arrangement (yes typing! We were the last class not to have computers) a whole lotta flirting started going on (ie: jabs made at my excessive need for the correction fluid). And finally (no, really, FINALLY - the following FALL), thanks to some help from my BFF, Robyn, James asked me out. And ever thereafter we were an "item". High school sweethearts. Aside from a couple of kinda laughable breakups (is it really considered a breakup when it lasts for 2 days and you talk on the phone that entire time?).

We did the whole long distance thing for a year and a half in college, after which time I threw in the towel on THAT whole deal and transferred to Trinity.

On August 8, before our junior year, James took me on a dinner cruise aboard the "Spirit of Chicago". As I had been putting on the pressure pretty heavily to get married (and truly, what a testament to the love of my guy that he would put up with an 18-year-old girlfriend whining about getting MARRIED! It really is absurd when I see it in print like that), I felt confident that this was THE big night - the proposal! The romance was a bit squelched as we had to share our table with another couple, but, not to be deterred, I took every opportunity to pull James onto the upper deck so he would not have to miss his opportunity! However, as we docked back at Navy Pier I came to the disappointing, nay, devastating realization that no ring would be placed upon my finger that night. Dejected, I allowed my boyfriend to lead me back through the streets of Chicago to our waiting vehicle. So disheartened was I, that I was taken completely off-guard when he stopped in front of a horse and carriage and secured us a ride! My brain clouded by shock, I honestly didn't even see it coming (but you do, don't you?) - the proposal. Simple and perfect. Beneath the moon (and skyscraper) - lit skies. A ring on my finger. The words: "I love you. Will you marry me?" (I should point out here that James was pretty darn proud of himself at this moment. Due to the aforementioned incessant marriage talk he wasn't sure he could pull off any sort of surprise on my part.)

We wed in June of 1998, and what a celebration it was! Nearly 10 years in the making for me. :) Admittedly, I have the worst memory of almost anyone I know, but I clearly remember the joy I felt that day. Not just over marrying my love and best friend but also for having so many friends and family around us with which to celebrate. We were young, yes, and have had a lot to learn, OH yes. But when I look back and see how much we have grown and how God has matured us, and having shared that with one another, well, I can say without hesitation that I love James more today than I ever could have imagined loving him 12 years ago. I won't say there haven't been rough or painful moments, but in large part we have been spared from tragedy and heartbreak. Which, in this life, means that it's still coming - that's not pessimism, it's just real. But who better to face those moments with than the man who has already been a part of every great joy I've experienced in the past 17 years? Not to mention with the God who brought him to me. I am filled with both fear and excitement at what the future holds for our family. And when I look back over the history we have already, it's largely excitement. And gratitude for what's behind AND ahead.

(Side note: We realized that this year, including our years spent dating, we have known each other over half our lives. Yowza.)