Adventure and Aspens

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).

We arrived at the Spearfish Canyon Lodge on Friday morning, dressed with brave faces and covered like eskimos. We were going on an adventure! After some paperwork, I climbed behind my husband and onto a snowmobile that was ours for the day. The helmet I had to wear felt confining at first but I was so glad to have it as we went zipping down the trails. Isn’t it funny that sometimes the things that feel the most restrictive might actually be the things that we are grateful for in the future?

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.

My favorite thing about this adventure was that I was riding along and didn’t have to pay too much attention to where we were heading (I did have to pay a little attention to when Vic took some sharp corners, I could lean to shift the momentum so we didn’t slide off the trail). This gave me time to take in all the beautiful scenery and enjoy moments with only my thoughts and the Lord. And, let me tell you, it was gorgeous!

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.

The rest of the weekend was really fun (minus the sad side trip to attend Vic’s uncle’s funeral). We ate amazing food and had some fun planning meetings as we looked forward to a new year on the ranch. There was no grading ourselves or setting unachievable goals that we would then be graded for the following year. We left the getaway with great memories and clear vision for the new season we are starting.

I love this life we are building in Wyoming!