Back to the present - exactly, a Present

When a gift is lovingly placed on your lap, you say "Thank you"...then know that you are going to spend a slice of your life at the barn...then eventually 'her life'.
Breana & Serenade
with her Trainer, Patti


I have no words to explain how thrilled this little girl is nor how beautiful she is riding on a horse. And we are speechless when it comes to this beautiful gift...

Thank

you

Drew

<3

Drew in Mongolia - 2008

Summer in Lassen - Part 2 of 3

I'm hoping Dan can make time to post about his hiking trip up to Prospect Peak. What I can tell you is he left early in the morning and came back in the afternoon.
I had the morning to myself - the campground was quiet, the girls were sleeping and the air was chilly so I bundled up and spent some time reading, "The Book Thief." When the campers around us started to stir I woke up the girls and we slowly moved our way about until Dan returned.

Key, we slowly moved our way about...

Summer in Lassen Part 1 of 3

We made time for Lassen - we made time for us four. This trip was literally sandwiched between a rock and a hard place and we fudged & erased time to make it happen. It, this time together, had to happen.
I know our time together as a family is slipping away - morphing into another version of 'togetherness' - it's inevitable, the girls are getting older.
Fortunately we understand that stolen moments are necessary.

Our first campsite in Lassen National Park, Kaitlin & I decided to retreat from the sun and relax in the shade. We played cards, we read books and we napped. I believe we spent a huge chunk of our day in that manner.

We weren't in solitude - we had to share this beautiful spot with other campers - but if you squint your eyes just so, they disappear.
Kaitlin was bothered by the heat, I was intrigued with this incredible camera!
Dan & Breana spent their day on the raft, in the water, part on the raft and part in the water. They explored & drifted around the Lake. It was a blissful existence.

We acquired this raft on our last trip to Lassen. It's a perfect vessel for us & poliwhirl - it can be deflated & folded neatly into a box and it can be blown up to fit 2-3 of us. Every night while at this campsite, Dan & Breana would go out for moonlight excursions. Every night after cards, of course, or round robin game night w/ scrabble, golo & solitaire a la iTouch.

We came to one of our favorite places so that we could stretch out our days and spend them with ease & with as much simplicity as we could.

After one day of unwinding, it was easy to adapt to...