Okay...I Give In

Hello again. I hope I didn't lose all of your attention while I was taking a break. I've been on vacation (and still am). I have cut myself off from everything that is a part of normal life for me (except my family of course!) work, blogging and yes even people (friends).

For the first 2 weeks in July we packed our van and headed west. We rented a cottage in the Kootenays, Winlaw, BC. We were in the middle of nowhere (Slocan Valley) but close enough to Nelson and Trail. It was one of the most jaw-droppin', breathtaking, beautiful areas that I have ever seen (except Bermuda but I think they are close rivals). Several times driving along the mountains' edge, I was clenching the door, closing my eyes and holding my breath we were a long way up, I could see down and there were no guard rails...go figure!. Drop-off cliffs, rapids, lakes and streams, mountains and valleys I just cannot find the words to express the exquisite scenery. That alone was worth it to me and I felt closer to God than I have in a very long time.

We saw lots of wildlife driving around. Deer, Elk, Mountain Goats and even a Bear ( that was the most exciting). Given all of the bear incidents lately one of the first things we asked of the cottage owner was about bear activity in this area. She assured us there were no bears around these parts. I had no idea Julia was actually listening to that convo until we saw the bear a few days later. The first thing Julia anxiously said was, "I thought the lady said there were no bears!?" Thankfully we were in the van.

While we were sitting by the rivers edge one day, we noticed a small add for puppies in the area. The lady was basically giving them away. After some thought we did the unthinkable...we got a puppy. Yes that's right, a puppy (just because we didn't have enough stress already)!

That move completely changed our plans for the last two weeks of vaca and altered our lives in more ways than we ever could have imagined. Now, instead of camping we are home looking after, bonding with and training a puppy. Oh there will be more on that issue you can be sure! He is all consuming, exhausting but oh so cute! Naming him was a two-day family discussion/debate. I, in my anal sort of way, wanted the dog to be named after the area in which we found him but none of the towns' names were fitting for a dog so we agreed on 'Rocky' because we found him in the Rockies.

So, yes, we are still on vaca. I have been trying very hard to keep the 'break' going on. Even though I am home I am trying to stay away from the norm (no working, no blogging, no contact). I have had the opportunity for a lot of thought being away from the norm and all. so, instead of blogging, I picked up my journal and began to write and process these thoughts. I have been thinking a lot about my life, my childhood, where I've come from and where I'm going. I think over the next little while I'll let you in on some of my persoanl journey...my story.


So I'm back to blogging and then I'll welcome back the rest of normalacy on Tuesday.

P.S. missed you!