A week ago, we embarked on an adventure that made me feel apprehensive, excited, nervous and thrilled. We packed up our bags, dropped our girls off at Granny’s house and set off for the Diamond 7 Bar Ranch Staff Retreat/Getaway. There are many reasons I was anxious and nervous, the first being that Lydia (22 months old) had never spent the night away from us and then there is the baggage that I carry from so many other “staff retreats” that I have attended (I would love to just leave those bags in the past… but they still try to come with me from time to time).
As we were going along the trails, Vic and I both noticed the friendliness of all the other travelers, waving as we passed by. It was only after our first pit stop that our fellow staffers let us know that those friendly gestures were hand signals to let you know how many vehicles were in their party (we had 3 snowmobiles in our group and we were second in line with one couple behind us, so Vic’s job was to hold up one finger to those we passed). Smart, huh? Not only for their protection to know to stay on their side of the trail but also for our safety, just in case someone had an accident, they could be on the lookout for them.
One of the most memorable stops we made was in a grove of Aspen trees. It was breathtaking and I wish I would’ve taken a panoramic picture of all the trees! But instead I took a little picture and then as we were zipping off, I spent the next hour enjoying that memory. All those trees made me think of how many trees there were and then I noticed that there was never just one Aspen tree by itself. They grow in groves and they share a common root system. So even though there are hundreds of trees, they are all connected.
As I reflected about that, I realized that’s the way I want to live, connected at the roots with the people I love and those around me… A few months ago, I did a Sip n Paint class with my new friend Kendra (who also happened to be with us on this snowmobiling adventure) and we painted a fall landscape with Aspen trees in the foreground. I have it hanging in my bathroom and I look at it everyday. It now brings to mind the memory of standing in that grove of Aspens. May my life reflect the connectedness of those trees.

I love this life we are building in Wyoming!