"Soul Patch..."

It isn't often that a gift lands in your lap that is so nearly perfect you didn't know that piece of you was missing until just at the moment it squares up in your lap.  You see, along with those Twins tickets we received a few weeks back?  Was a set of keys... to a cabin... on a lake.  But not just any lake, it happens to be the very lake, (out of 10,000 lakes in Minnesota) that I spent a good portion of my childhood at.

In fact, Rick and his family camped at the same campground that we did, even though we didn't know each other then.  Laying eyes on this lake?  Felt like coming home, like all the way, completely home.  For over 20 years, I spent summers at the lake with my family in and around the Detroit Lakes area.

When I was really young, we started out in a pop up camper and rented a weekend spot at Lost Valley Resort, for the summer.  For vacation, my dad would take a week off from work and we would spend all week at the lake.  I was in heaven.  It didn't matter to me that we used an "outhouse,"  I could pinch my nose closed and hoist my nightgown all in one swift move... Laura Ingalls had nothing on me.

Oh the things that stay with us.  Like trips to the resort store for maple nut ice cream, and jolly ranchers for a penny.  The distinct smell of hotdogs and s'mores made over the fire.  The way a sunburn stings and how my mom would let us cool it off in the lake late at night sometimes under the glow of the moon.  I can still hear the laughter of my cousins who camped nearby, and the roll of the Yahtzee dice as they clacked against the picnic tables.

Its abundantly clear, I have and will always be a water-loving, lake-swimming, sand-digging, rock-skipping, sun-worshipping, boat-riding, summer girl at heart- who has longed for a week at the beach.  We've been spoiled with Rick's parents lake up by Park Rapids, but we never have much time to spend.  By the time we start to unwind and relax, its time to go home.

So I decided to ask for help in making something happen for us this summer.   Maybe in our network of friends someone would know of a place we could rent ?  Less than 24 hours later we had an offer that took our breath away.

So we've become a lake family, in a whole new way.  We have packed a few things and jumped in the car and in 40 minutes or so we feel like we are lightyears away from home.  The cabin is cozy and has every amenity-you wouldn't need to leave it, but then the loons call from the lake and you can't help but go out and explore.

I don't know how to begin to say thank you to our friends.  To first of all have the generous and giving spirit to turn over their lake home to us, but also to trust us with something so special to them, is very humbling for us.

AnnVoskamp mentions her "soul holes," in her book "One Thousand Gifts."  Cancer may be my soul hole, but I feel so "alive" and am busy filling my gratitude journal with oodles of new gifts through my lake-filled eyes.  It indeed has been the patch to any hole in my soul.

Its about time... Madi and Alex

Hard to imagine:

-It was too hot to take many pics this weekend.  Nolan's football team played in their jamboree and I was too, too busy wiping sweat away and trying to hydrate everyone to take photos.

-We went to the Westra family reunion yesterday and I never took my camera out of the car.  There were tons of photo opps, but I didn't jump in like I normally do.  Grandpa Jim, if you share some jpegs with me I'll post away, but I have nothing to use otherwise.





Soooo, what I am going to share is lonnnggg overdue.  Surrounding the passing of my father over the 4th of July weekend, was a visit from my brother, his wife, and his two girls.  As much as we  treasure our time with them, our attention and focus was obviously diverted away from them this time.

Plus, some of these are photos we printed and placed in the casket with my Dad.  I suppose I've stayed away from them for awhile to distance some of the emotion around them.

Today however, I see them for what they are, 4 lucky cousins who always enjoy spending time with each other.

July 7th, 2010

What do you get when you take 4 giggling cousins.  Fill them full of ice cream.  And traipse all over trying to take their photos?

Besides a headache?  If you're talented like my hubby, you get shots like these of my beautiful nieces.

Alex is 8, going into 3rd grade and the boys will tell you she smacks the ball in baseball like nobodies business. 

Madison is 10, going into 5th grade, and just discovered the Babysitter's Club series of books.  She is a sweet young girl after her auntie Vicky's heart in her love of reading.

My favorite photo.  Rick knew Nolan would probably dump Colton off his back to be funny, so he did opposite cousins.  See that glint in Nolan's eye?  He is still thinking of dumping Alex, but he didn't quite dare, whew.  

Just so you know where the "headache" part for Rick comes in... clearly the boys were their usual antic-prone selves, even around their cousins.  Alex summed up the experience for everyone well.  Its a wonder those girls seem to want to come back every year to see us... *wink*

Meeting the newest Westra, part I

We've waited so long to meet this new little man of the Westra clan.  Cousin Ethan is already 9 months old and crawling and pulling up, so we were so thrilled to meet him finally.





Ethan with his mom Julie











Mackenzie, Ethan's older sister, watching a movie with Colton.








We spent a casual night hanging out and got up and left for Grandpa's and Grandma's at the lake.








I just knew when I first saw this field just a few miles from the lake, we'd be stopping.














Rick's brother Matt, and his daughter Mackenzie.  Out of 30 pictures I attempted to take of her, I maybe got her 3 times to look at me... but I am posting these anyways.  She has to hold her own being the only granddaughter in a group of boys and that spunk in her is just the ticket.


Uncle Matt tubing on the lake.  Despite Rick's attempt to dump him, he proved a worthy opponent and hung on the whole way.


Rick's sister's boy, Gunnar.  Bravely getting back on a second time after a massive wipeout.   Where is that zoom lens when you need it?


The crew preparing for a bonfire.  Even though there were tornado warnings sounding in the distance and unbelievably humid conditions, we wouldn't be denied our s'mores.


The next morning, with more hot and sticky weather due for the day, we started off with a trip to the logging camp for breakfast.



The logging camp is a summer tradition, nestled into a rustic setting that takes you back to the days that timber ruled the area.  The food is served family style and we actually polished off two of these huge platters.


Almost a smile from Ethan... he was firmly attached to mommy's hip, even though we all attempted to snatch some snuggles with him.   If he wasn't so darn cute...


Knowing we had maybe a minute before Ethan would realize he wasn't with mom or dad, we grabbed a quick photo of all 5 Westra grandchildren.


Left to Right: Colton, Mackenzie, Nolan with Ethan, and Gunnar.

part II coming soon...