Camp Sherman or bust!

September 25, 2015 marked ten years since my mom's death.  It is really unbelievable to me that I have lived ten years of my life without my mom, not to mention that she has not been present for weddings, births, major milestones and life decisions, and multiple birthdays.  I think people assumed this would be a sad day for me, but it really wasn't.  More just shocking.

I suppose I could say that I have lived ten years of my life without my mom, but I honestly feel like she is with me every day.  I think about her daily as I parent in the best way I can, navigate through my marriage, maintain relationships with my friends, and manage the day-to-day happenings of life.  I think about her in the kitchen, while I drive (she would plan her route by not having to take left turns which I did just the other day), and when I'm doing chores.  I think about her when I'm remembering to wish a friend a happy birthday, when I'm teaching Trey a life lesson after a small incident, and when I'm picking up his socks from the floor.  So, while it is truly heartbreaking that Trey only knows Grandma Elaine from stories and pictures and I do not have my mom to talk to and see every day, she is in my heart and mind on a constant basis, and that is a true gift.

To "celebrate" my mom this year, we decided to go to Camp Sherman for the weekend.  This is a place Randy and I often visited on Mother's Day before Trey was born.  I would read and walk along the river, listening to the tape of her voice from an audio letter she "wrote" me when I was in Paris, while Randy fished, and it is one of our favorite places to go.  We invited Curt and Ana to join us, and we had a really nice time getting out of town.  We stayed in a little cabin at Lake Creek Lodge, and the weather was great.  We couldn't have asked for a better weekend.

Trey and Ana in their jammies on their tablets

Bailey even got to join us on this trip!

I spent a lot of time sitting out on the deck reading my textbooks.

Better here than at home!

Trey, still in his photography obsession, took a billion pictures this weekend.  

This is one I liked of Ana, using the black and white filter, of course.

Black and white selfie

It was warm enough that the pool was even open!  

I was totally unprepared and did not bring a suit or towel for Trey, 

but we improvised.  Thanks, Curt, for taking one for the team! 

Curt, Ana, Trey, and I took some walks along the Metolius River while Randy did some fishing.  This is truly one of my favorite places to be.  So beautiful.

Trey took about 100 selfies (not exaggerating), and I put four of my faves into this little collage.

Sunday morning was gorgeous, and we went to the head of the Metolius before we hit the road.  It was a nice little hike, but we didn't get close to the water.  I wish we would have taken another walk along the river, but we will have to save that for next time.

Thanks, Curt and Ana, for joining us on this special weekend trip!  We are lucky to have you in our lives to celebrate our milestones and be good friends!