Random Wanderings

We had more competition this year at the WAVA gingerbread contest. We took 2nd place with our Kandy Kastle.

Other winners:

1st place, 3rd place, Honorable mention

More views of the Kandy Kastle:

I finally have high sped internet connection and so I dare upload a few photos.

With the recent visit of my parents we got a couple of four generation photos.

Emily with her Great Grandpa

And here are some photos of the kitties:

We had satellite radio in the rental car while we were traveling. My husband and I like to listen to talk radio. One of the hosts did a commentary on how much more often children are being diagnosed as bipolar.

I value a full range of emotions, it seems to me that way too often genuine emotion is treated as something wrong that needs to be fixed, mostly for the comfort, emotional peace, hidden fear, of those around the emotional person. The natural exuberance of a child has to be calmed down, the tears have to be hushed as quick as possible. The teen dealing with all sorts of new emotions is ignored or squelched (everyone is too busy) rather than taught how to appropriately express those emotions in healthy ways. When those emotions get too strong to handle they rebel or express them in destructive ways both to self and others. Then, there must be something medically wrong so we have to get them on some kind of medication so they can be handled again.
Even as adults it seems to be much more socially acceptable to be walking around as a zombie void of feelings or drugged out on antidepressants or whatever you can use to get by, than to express genuine emotion.

I went through a time in my life where I had so suppressed my emotions that I didn’t feel anything. I was in a serious depression. I walked around as a zombie, the life of the living dead. It was no life. Yet no one seemed to notice or care at that time. Yet in finally coming out of that and being able to look back on that experience is why I value the life that comes with genuine emotion of all kinds.

Several years later I went through an extremely difficult time in my life, rather than go back to suppressing my feelings to make it through, I sought a listening ear so I could process through some of that genuine grief and extreme anger. Rather than a listening ear I found those who were quick to try to fix me, not by hearing, but, by telling me to go take antidepressants. I finally had to pay a therapist while I processed through the emotions. The therapist did not give advice, did not recommend medication, just listened.

The value of a listening ear, the value of acceptance of what ever mood each individual is in at any given moment, the value of emotion, of laughter, of tears, of anger,of contrariness.

I love the ocean, it is so moody, so changeable from one moment to the next, the tide is never the same, the whether changes so quickly. There is so much power but yet a peacefulness. I could watch it forever.

I make it a practice to appreciate & accept the changeableness of people as much as the changeableness in so much of nature around us. Because of that I have no problem with getting along with many who others avoid. I love them and value the richness they bring to my life.

Over the weekend we took a bike ride on the Hiawatha trail. It is an old railroad trail converted to a biking trail.

From the website:

Winding through 10 tunnels and 7 high trestles, this 15-mile route crosses the rugged Bitterroot Mountains between Idaho and Montana. The Route of the Hiawatha is best known for the long, dark St. Paul Pass, or “Taft” Tunnel, which burrows for 1.66 miles under the Idaho/Montana state line.

Greg and Lydia emerge from the first mile long tunnel. Lights are required and jackets are needed. It is very cold and dark but one of my favorite parts just for the novelty of riding a bike in such a long tunnel.

This waterfall is right at the end of that first long tunnel.

There are many spectacular views along the way.

Lydia looks down from one of the many trestles (bridges) along the way.

Taking a break before going into another tunnel.

Time to secure the bikes and head for home.

Goodbye Hiawatha! Until next year!

Today is our 25th wedding anniversary. Our marriage has definitely been full of challenges but is better now than it has ever been. I am grateful for the things I have learned in working through those challenges.

To celebrate my husband and I took a trip to Leavenworth. As with our marriage, this trip had its challenges but was well worth it.

We dropped our 2 youngest girls off at the bus to take them to camp and then headed out of town. We usually rent a car when we travel but decided to spend the money on the hotel room instead for this trip (costly mistake). Just as we were pulling out, the air conditioning went out on the van. About an hour after we got into Leavenworth, while we were checking out the area, we stopped at the ski hill parking lot. When we tried to start the van, it would not start. We ended up without transportation for the whole time we were there.

Leavenworth is a whole village and activities based on a Bavarian theme. It is beautiful. We stayed at the Enzian Inn in a romantic suite, got to listen to the Alpenhorn being played while we enjoyed our complimentary full breakfast buffet. We played a couple of rounds at the Enzian Falls Championship Putting Course.

We attended the production of the Sound of Music at the Ski Hill amphitheater built specifically with that play in mind. Then we walked back to our hotel at 10:30PM.

We went on a white water rafting trip (about 4 hours). I never would have thought as a grandma I would be white water rafting.

I came home sunburned and with sore muscles but no regrets.