Breanna 2010, San Juan Islands

Once someone told me that some gifts are so generous that you can never repay enough, all you can do is say, "Thank you" and be grateful. I hope that in addition to being grateful and saying thanks, that someday I will can be generous in a way that lets someone else feel this grateful. But as of now, finding new and exciting ways to be generous with abundant resources is not going to be God's special challenge for my life.


Monday July 19, Breanna Day 1

What a start to our year of learning (dare I say our future lives of learning? I am already wanting to extend this year.... but I digress).
We woke up for the last time to my alarm “Don’t forget to get clothes out of Amber’s dryer”, and dragged out of bed. When my Sister In Law and I are together we stay up into the wee hours watching trash TV and talking. While I packed the last items into my suitcase and woke up the sleepy kids, Amber made super yummy fresh blueberry muffins. I realized when taking bag after overstuffed bag to the car that I was going to have to pile the larger suitcases on top of my SUV, "Dora the Explorer". Not a big deal, we've done this many times, have a rack, have a bungee net...oops don't have a Todd to heave it up.... I tried throwing and didn't get past my waist. I tried standing on the running board and using my knee to balance it to as I pressed up over my head.... nope. Couldn't get past my shoulder without falling backward. No ladder was available, so, I grabbed a kitchen chair. Although it was a bit tippy half on the grass and half on black top, it totally worked and the suitcases were tied into place. Sweating under my Uggs regardless of the chill in the air, we piled the kids into their seats and took off. We stopped a couple times to set up 3 year old Wylie's car seat, which kept tipping over on his protesting brother.

Arriving at the bus stop the bus driver looked at me in confusion saying there was only a reservation for 2 of us. After I asked what I could do, he said, "I'll take care of it". Later I found out that he added Braeley as a lap infant and thus doing, saved the day.

As we sat at the ferry terminal awaiting our ferry, we saw a nest of swallows with 5 babies and parents flying constantly back and forth feeding the brood. Hmmm I often feel like that, running back and forth... But not today. Today we sit and wait for the ferry. The kids read and I knit. I wanted to finish a hat that I was making for Braeley so he and Cash could match. As I'm sitting on the floor looking vaguely homeless, I heard a voice behind me calling my name. It was Jana and Karalina who were joining us on the Breanna.

So, the Nelson's don't travel light. (Actually everyone except me would not mind wearing the same swimsuit and shorts everyday of our 3 week trip, if I'm being honest.) But I packed, so everyone has "sherpa" duty. As we exit the ferry, the Braenna is smiling just off our starboard side, a short walk, one pier over. The kids had been amazing schlepping all our luggage, but Braeley finally lost it in port. His suitcase wouldn't roll on the gravel driveway and the backpack on top of it kept falling off. Not to mention we were steaming hot in our layers that we'd donned when the sky was still gray in the morning. We were thrilled to meet Ross, the latest addition to the Breanna crew as deck hand coming to our rescue.

With Ross pulling Brae's bag, he perks up almost immediately and starts noticing all the jellies and funky sea anemones just off the dock. The anemones look like giant 12-18 inch white mushrooms. Super cool. Bella met up with the dock's resident harbor seal who begs for food and splashes those who tease her.

After dumping our luggage and changing into cooler clothes, we met the rest of the group at Downriggers for lunch overlooking the harbor. Jocie and John ordered a yummy blackberry drink with salt pepper and sugar on the rim. We start slipping into relaxation mode. While eating I hear my name again called from the other side of the restaurant. It is a friend of a friend who recognizes Bella from when she was a toddler. Randy, Lois and their son Connor on vacation from the Midwest. Crazy small world.

That afternoon we spent our day exploring the small harbor town. We were thrilled to find a yarn shop next door to a bookstore - Nelson heaven. The guidebooks weren't kidding when they said that life slows down on the island and that the people are quirky. I asked at the transportation bureau the best way to get to a certain alpaca farm and yarn shop on the island. They were incredulous saying it didn't exist, until I showed them the website and address. "Wow, impressive website!" Then I suggested it was probably easiest just to get on the bus. As I left he said, "Well, I guess we've both learned something today". I didn't agree. While ordering take out from a "Mexican" restaurant, our waitress was equally interesting. 40 minutes later, we left with our "buritos".

As I was tucking Braeley in for the night he was acting sad and dejected. (I know it was a testament to my neglect at getting him to bed on time all week, he was tuckered out.) While saying his prayers he looked at me and said, "I miss Dad. I just feel like everyone's neglecting me." Total emotional meltdown. Some days are like that, even on vacation. I laid with him until he fell asleep. Two minutes later I was upstairs watching a movie with the adults. While they fell asleep to "Stepbrothers". I miss Todd now too.