I’ll get to Bear Lake soon, but for now, let’s talk about forcing a good memory.
I’ve talked about it before with my kids.  Sometimes you just have to pack those grumblers in the car and go, or be a “durable object” for them at home when they don’t want to do something you know is really for the best.  I think sometimes it’s just easy to throw in the towel and forget it when you get pushed against.  But I LOVE that I’ve lived enough life to have little complainers come and hug me and thank me for pushing them.  There’s a balance, of course, but sometimes even the hard stuff turns out to be the best of the best.
Sometimes forcing those good memories needs to go for the parents too 🙂 This summer I was glad my sister forced a good memory for me.  
I love Bloomington Lake.  It is one of the most gorgeous places in the world to me.  And generally we go every time we’re at Bear Lake.  It’s about an hour from where we stay, up a windy little canyon with bumpy dirt roads.
But this year I was tired.  The reunion was over, I had a few things pressing on my plate and I was extra worried about one child in particular so I was just not in the mood to bump up that road to that lake when a group of excited kids decided they were ready. 
But my sister was persistent and we set off. 
Through the green sections of crops, sprinklers spurting, mountains hazy in the background.  Yes, it was beautiful, but I was still grumpy.
We started up the hill, passing giant cars, squeezing precariously through seemingly impossible passing grounds, trees scraping against the car, a swift drop-off on the other side.  I was still grumbling.  Grumbling I never wanted to come up to that place again.
But finally we made it.  That gorgeous vista stretched out before us, wildflowers beckoning.  
And gosh dang it, it took my breath away as usual:)

I loved watching the girls fill their hair with flowers, and loved that I had my side-kicks Claire and Bo, trotting along beside me.

Every turn you take up there quite honestly takes your breath away.


And then, of course, the swing takes your breath away too.

…although not so much this year since there was green where the glacier of snow is usually covering the opposite mountain.

There goes a blurry pic of Claire:

…and then there’s me, obviously softening from my gloomy state 🙂

It was a beautiful moment up there.

Loved watching the “bros” swim across that beauty from one side to the other as we swung.

Loved these glowing smiles:

…and even those so-muddy-they-were-black legs of my dog scampering along ahead of us soaking in all that beauty, tail wagging.

I love my dad and my sis.

…and those cute cousins running alongside.

At the end of the journey, we hustled down that hill to drop off those “bro” cousins to find their way and camp the night away.  They had stars in their eyes.

Remember that post about independence back HERE?  My sisters decided these guys were old enough to have a night of their own to figure things out.

And they loved every second of that independence, came back glowing the next morning.

As we drove down the rest of that bumpity canyon, my heart softened from so much beauty and exhilaration filling into my bones, I realized even adults need to be forced into a good memory now and again.

Thanks Sar, for forcing this one 😉

6 Comments

  1. Wow! Such BEAUTIFUL photos! Looks worth every bump in the road and complaint heard. I'm impressed your sisters allowed the 12 year olds to camp all by themselves. I have a 12 year old boy too; I think I would be too anxious to allow that. Did they make a fire and everything? It's a funny what we worry about and how we make these decisions for our kids; some of my friends think I'm "brave" to let him bike all around town by himself or with buddies but I know he's totally ready for it.

    1. Yes I think they even made a fire! In all the commotion I didn't get much of a chance to hear the recap from them, but they sure were glowing with excitement when they got home!

  2. Gorgeous family and scenery, and wise thoughts about pushing through to a good experience. (But yikes! Reminder that picking wildflowers is illegal, though sooo tempting. Picking the flowers not only prevents the plant from reseeding for the next year, but also damages or kills the roots, which need all their leaves to produce energy. It seems like no big deal, but could be a great opportunity to teach your kids about environmental stewardship.)

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