We escaped for a bit to the mountains and enjoyed some quiet days boating, resting, reading, hiking and discovering waterfalls. Full of some hard moments and some adventures that laughing cured (think slipping at the waterfall, sciatica, poison ivy, a skunk in the house and teething toddler) we were glad for a renewed perspective on the gifts God has given us in each other, in Himself and in the world around us. Water seems so unencumbered by the stress and toil of daily life. It joyfully leaps with abandon over cliffs and settles quietly in stillness that matches nothing else. Special gifts this trip include a kingfisher, a really large happy toad that made us laugh, an alpine columbine plant (purple), our first sighting of fireflies and storms over the lake. It has been quite rainy so the waterfalls were impressive. Levi amazed us by enjoyed hiking immensely and wanted to do it himself every step of the way. We learned a lot of new birds in our forest romps (hermit thrush, black throated blue warbler, veery, pine warbler, chestnut sided warbler, canadian warbler, oven bird, great crested flycatcher and red eyed vireo). The girls saw a bear too.
It appears that you all had a great time at the lake in the woods. Levi is growing like a weed, hope he's a good weed, not poison ivy. Seeing you having fun lifts my spirits too. Oma and I love each of you and you as a family. Keep having fun. We love you all, Oma and Opa
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