Going To Find Himself

  My husband was going to go to Jamaica this year for a couple weeks or nine days at least. In the end it just didn't pan out. It was disappointing for him but not necessarily for me to be honest. However he decided he still needed a little get away. There is some transition happening in his life and he wanted some time to be alone and clear his head and pray and just refresh. This morning he headed out. He is going on a hike alone sleeping in the wilderness and climbing to the top of a mountain. He has a gun, a knife, a whistle, a phone and multiple other safety precautions but I still felt sick all day two days before he left thinking of the what ifs. My husband is strong and for heavens sakes he spent four days in the wilds of Namibia in Africa alone with a knife and not much else. He encountered a whole 'tribe' of baboons and a wild boar and lived to tell the tale so I am pretty sure he will be fine but still.... this morning we all got up and drove him to the head of the trail but I made sure to take some picture of him and the children this morning just in case...

                                                                    Here they are :)

Just in case you are wondering there are some children who are really into posing certain ways for pictures...

   Many thanks to Emily our friend and neighbor who made this trip possible with her gear and to Jarrett who bought him this back pack years and years ago for Africa. Thanks to Rene who gave him the belt for the bullets and for all the advice and care from everyone who offered it.
  We walked him up the trail a ways as the baby was determined to 'hike' and since he is just learning to talk he pretty much gives orders and we all do what we are told. Then we left him standing with all his gear ~ a magnificent mountain behind covered in mist. We ran back to the car and just before I got in I yelled 'goodbye' at the top of my lungs and I heard faintly far away....'bye love' and I got misty eyed. Home we drove. 
It has been a good day so far. I have done a lot of driving people around. My oldest went to learn how to make blueberry jam and can it. My sister went cleaning and then my two daughters went to a pool party. During a break from the driving we got on bikes and went to the school down the road and played cops and robbers on our bikes. The baby rode behind me on a little seat attached to my bike. When we got back I had to take some pictures and I'll share some with you because I think they are so cute!

While the two middles were having the time of their lives getting soaked the baby was in a world of his own filled with dirt, 'sheens' (machines) and a swing. He is wearing the bike helmet my oldest wore ten years ago and it makes his heart very happy. Everyone was so happy!!

                                                 A dusty dirty garden bean? Why not...

                                      Reality starts setting in...this actually IS NOT that delicious.

                                                            And that was the end of that.

Be safe out there honey we'll keep the home lanterns burning. Come back safe okay. Come back safe. xo