8th Anniversary: Wallowa Lake

Each year, Traci and I cancel any plans for our anniversary date and make sure to get out of town. This year was no different except now we have two kids who understand the meaning of having a good time. Since Joey had never visited Joseph, OR we decided it would be nice for him to visit a town that shares his name. We packed the Jeep and stayed in a small cabin at the south end of Wallowa Lake. We were only able to stay overnight, since Traci had taken 3 months off from work for her maternity leave. Nevertheless, we made sure to pack as much fun as we could during our stay.

After a restful night in our warm cabin, we woke up to squirrels running across the roof. We had a huge breakfast at the Old Town Cafe and I once again forgot that any dish comes with huge servings. Yet persistence pays off and I eventually swallowed my breakfast burrito and was left feeling a bit lethargic. While I felt slow, Ben had energy he wanted to burn so we decided our next stop would be to the miniature golf course. It is impressive how much hand-eye coordination it takes to play this sport but fortunately Ben was patient with me and showed me a few of his tricks. Afterwards, we headed to the boat ramp to skip rocks then splashed our feet on the cold, cold water for some unknown reason. Oh wait, I know why. Because it's fun. It's also fun to look at the fish as they head upstream to spawn so we made sure to show Ben the fish. Honestly, that was probably the highlight of the day for him. It truly is amazing to see how fish instinctively follow this cycle of life. A nice perk to visit Wallowa Lake this time of the year.

The reality is that this anniversary was uniquely different from the previous years. We only spent less than 24 hours out of town and now have two boys who persistently make sure we don't slow down. They too, have their own interest and each new experience is a new adventure to them. Keeping up with them and the constant alertness of making sure they don't get harmed or injured is exhausting especially when traveling. In all honesty, Traci and I were only able to have an uninterrupted conversation when we drove to and from Wallowa Lake because the kids were sleeping in the car. Truly it was more of making sure the kids were having a great time and not so much for us spending time with each other. Yet regardless, there are several mornings when I see my too boys and it feels that they've changed over night. Then there are the moments when they are able to steal our hearts away with their smile, laughter or thoughtful kindness and remind us that these moments are all short lived. It's difficult to take a step back and observe how fortunate I am during this stage of my life. The list goes on and on when I begin to count my blessings.

On our way towards Wallowa Lake we decided it was fine to allow Ben to sit up front since the Jeep has no airbags. He was excited about the opportunity to see more out the window and sit up front with his dad. As we drove under the bright moonlight along the country side, we heard a song by Lennon and Maisy called "A Life that's Good." Ben didn't know the words yet he mumbled and hummed along the tune, perhaps a reaction to the excitement of being able to sit up front. I glanced at the rear view mirror and saw Traci sitting in the back seat. We both were smiling and quietly took in the moment.

"Four wheels to get there, enough love to share

And a sweet, sweet, sweet song.

At the end of the day, Lord, I pray

I have a life that's good."

Thanks for the help.

This past summer I had enough of my front lawn and decided that it should not look like my house is abandoned. Since I have years of Bermuda grass growing freely, the top layer of dirt had to go and hence the fun began. I was able to pick up most of the dirt with a tractor but a good portion needed to be scooped up by shovel and wheel barrow. I aligned the trailer ramps with the tires of the wheelbarrow therefore leaving a small gap between the ramps. At first I remembered not to step in the middle of the ramps as I unloaded the dirt on the trailer yet after a short while, I forgot and the sensation began. My foot briefly made contact with the edge of the trailer before slipping and my shin was the next to hit that edge. Oh boy, what a fun experience. Notice how there is no exclamation mark at the end of the previous sentence. Especially while trying to prevent a wheel barrow full of dirt from falling on me. When Ben noticed that I was pain, he quickly looked around the yard to see how he could help me.

"Here Daddy!" He exclaimed. "This leaf will make you feel better!"

It did make me feel better. Surprisingly, his thoughtfulness did make a difference. So thanks Ben. You probably don't remember the moment, but here is a picture of the leaf you gave me. That was very nice of you.