LAKE POWELL

Im making it a goal of mine to PLAN.
AND COMMIT.
I can say it is a major weakness of mine.  Both:  Planning~And committing.
I overthink and overanalyze.
It drives others crazy.  I know it does.
But it drives me the MOST crazy.
So...Ive learned that planning eases a lot of stress, and committing eases a lot of anxiety.
<<< SO >>>
This may have been the first 'planned' vacation to California.
Bear Lake Family Reunion was planned...with the help of the whole family : )
And I committed to Lake Powell once I knew Shawn could go.

Well.
Plans changed...Shawn dropped a BOMB on me and said he couldn't go...
I immediately found myself in the stress and anxiety mode of not knowing what to do, when to leave, how to get there, why go, why NOT go, leave Wes, I can't leave Wes, I want to go so bad, but...

I went.

After a few days of mulling over every option:
Leave Thursday with B ~ But that only gives us 2 days?
Leave Wes with Shawn ~ But can I?
Stay and spend time with dad because its his last week of freedom ~ But its Lake Powell?!
Go to Lake Powell by myself ~ BUT ITS LAKE POWELL ~ Oh the stress of what could happen?!
I only have 2 eyes!
But so many people will help!
But that doesn't always really happen!

And so on. And so on. And so on.
~see what i mean - over think. over analyze~

* * * * * * * *

I prayed.

My biggest concern going without Shawn was the safety of my kids and whether I was up for the task of keeping watch on 3 little ones day AND night for a full week.  In the middle of a lake.  Where all you hear about is kids drowning!
And boating accidents.
And drunk drivers.
Because Heaven forbid anything good come on the news!!!

After I prayed ~ an overwhelming peace came over me that whatever I did decide to do, my family would be safe.

BOOM!

Decision made.

I left Wes with Shawn.  I packed up the other 3.  And knew we would be ok.  I committed and went with it.
And it felt so good.  And it was one of the best decisions Ive made.
My kids were in Heaven.
They will never forget our trip to Lake Powell.  The freedom of living when you are there is - hard to beat.
No concept of time. No rush. Very little cleaning.  Very little dressing : ) A lot of sun.  Water.  Boating.  Tubing.  Sand.  Cliff jumping.  Cave exploring.  Star gazing.  Laughing.  Eating.  Family. Not much sleeping : )  A little anxiety...not gonna lie.

But overall...my favorite place on Earth...and every one of my kids said it was the best thing they did all summer.
I can thank the Heavens only for this one.

These are memories that will last forever.

SO
On our last day there...this group of 4 realized that we hadn't been on the tube yet - and for good reason.
Chad.
He was behind the wheel.
And he smiles real big when he sees a white cap while dragging a tube.
Well, we all strapped on our diapers - in case any one of us pooped our suits out of sheer terror -
and gave it a shot.

Below is what happened next:

Pooped our diapers.
Every last one of us.
Bezus - full on back flip
Me - landed right on Bezus face first in the water with no time to shut my eyes
~i think water shot straight into my brain~
Rachel - concussion.  for real.  a bad one.  from Jakes knee
Jake - couldn't walk.  from his knee hitting Rachels head so hard.

Throwing in the tube towel.

Until next year!
REQUIRED:  a helmet.  a full face one.

These two bonded.
This was taken the day we left.
They hiked.
And almost stepped on a Rattle Snake!
My heart skipped a beat when I saw this.  I really love those two people.
The first time we attempted to use that pack was with Mayci.  She refused to get in.
Wes.
Not a peep...for 2 1/2 hours straight.

Shawn even went to Seven Peaks!?!
I was shocked.  And I laughed at the thought of him cruisin' solo...with his baby.
Its a really happy thought.

This is straight from his Instagram.  He was under strict policy NOT to get a sitter to go play - it was part of the deal and it was only so I felt better leaving Wes.
I shoulda known better.
He played.

AND PLAYED SOME MORE.

This was Bezus - shedding some much needed weight of stress and anxiety once he was done with the Bar.

Congrats to Rach and B!  Much deserved success there ~ for both of 'em!!