Day 3,584

Growth:

Today was a very useful sermon sharing the importance of focusing on what truly matters rather than worldly distractions. Coming hot off the heels of my recent backpacking trip this was a wonderful reminder to be in the right place at the right time focused on the right things. I don’t remember hearing the story of Jesus talking with Mary and Martha, but I’m grateful for having heard that story now. A wonderful lesson to hold onto!

Appreciation:

Walking in the woods with Becky while we talk and enjoy each others company. Motion mixed with stillness, simplicity coupled with presence. Our shared time together was exactly what I was hoping for after being gone for a week!

Presence:

Dinner as a family, hearing about the Coldplay concert experience the boys had – fantastic!!!

Thanks!!!

Day 3,583 (& Days 3,576 through 3,582)

Growth:

One of the parts of travel I appreciate the most is the opportunity to come back home which is the same as it was, but with the knowledge that you are different than you were beforehand. So much of what was “ordinary” takes on a very different and positive hue with the impact of the newfound perspective.

Appreciation:

Over the last few years we’ve kind of accidentally started a tradition of sharing photos as a family when someone(s) get back from vacation. This morning Gavin and I fired up pics from our backpacking trip for Becky, Dominic, & Caitlyn and shared some stories of our adventure. Whether it’s from a vacation each of us were in or not it always leads to fun time together as a family as we get to experience the excitement together and start coming up with some crazy future adventures!

Presence:

Catching back up with Becky today was wonderful, always great to get back into our normal rhythm! Specifically today it was sitting on the deck eating supper together, relaxing, unwinding, and re-connecting after being away for the week.

Thanks!!!

Day 3,576

Growth:

Reminders that we are all so much more than one specific slice of our being. Gavin threw a comment out about a person in the audiobook we were listening to that caused me to pause from the simple and hard hitting honesty. 

“You know, outside of _______ (a huge flaw that was so bad in my opinion that I was really not liking the person), she sounds like a pretty awesome person.”

In an instant I realized how laser focused I was on one specific portion of her being and it was clouding my judgement beyond what it should have been.  Great reminder from Gavin to step back and take in the entire person.

Appreciation:

We’ve only been gone two days and haven’t even started our backpacking trip and I’m seeing how much of an impact this trip will likely have on me.  From beliefs to dreams to considering what’s most important I’m already seeing I needed this more than I thought.  Having all this one on one time with Gavin has made it all the better in so many ways!  Can’t wait to see where this goes!

Presence:

Those moments where music collides with reality are truly magic.  Driving across Alberta  today I saw a sign that caused me to jam on the brakes, make a quick detour, and shoot a picture of a sign.  One of my favorite bands is The Rural Alberta Advantage, one of my favorites of theirs is Vulcan, AB.  While driving in the middle of seemingly nowhere we saw a sign for Vulcan – so wild, I had no idea it was a real place!

Thanks!!!

Day 3,577

Growth:

Very grateful for so many opportunities to allow Gavin to grow and mature on this trip!  From driving the campervan to biking back to packing his own gear and so many other ways, it’s been great seeing him grow into an awesome adult!

Appreciation:

So much one on one time with Gavin as we explored a spectacular area!  The landscape is outstanding, the company even better.  Many memories created together!

Presence:

While waiting for Gavin to drive back after dropping off the campervan I sat and chilled at a picnic table.  I scanned the mountain side from my seat, busting out the binoculars for a better view.  A cow elk and her two calves proceeded to entertain me for the next half hour or so!  The cow kept eating and standing guard while the two calves bounced and played.  Such an awesome time!

Thanks!!!

Day 3,578

Growth:

How I love time without cellphone coverage!  One less potential distraction or set of distractions to cloud one’s mindset!

Appreciation:

How simple our lives could truly be if we so chose.  We really don’t need much, we seem to have so much more than we need.  Time backpacking really reminds me of this, our biggest concerns are the weather and drinking water.  Joy can be derived from the most simple of things, like walking to the creek to get water.  Time is spent actually present with each other, and time alone is spent in thought rather than in anticipation of distraction.  It is so peaceful in its simplicity.

Presence:

As Gavin and I sat on a small single log bench playing a card game huddled under a tree because it was raining we watched a big squirrel creeping closer towards us while eating leaves.  We sat mesmerized as we watched it inhale the leaves so quickly.  Talk about a combination of things outside of the norm to create an awesome moment of presence.

Thanks!!!

Day 3,579

Growth:

As Doug Tompkins used to say, “it’s not an adventure until something goes wrong.”  Nothing crazy wrong for Gavin and I, only almost nonstop rain for well over 24 hours.  Throw in a temperature of upper 30’s this morning and it was a bit chilly!  No worries, no complaints, we just packed up soaking wet, and headed out.  We joked as we walked, had a great time, and realized we were creating new memories.  

Life is easy when everything goes smoothly, the fun is in when things make life interesting. 

Appreciation:

This bonus time with Gavin has been profoundly rewarding.  Time to talk without the distraction of screens and other activities.  Playing hours and hours of cards while sitting on wooden benches laughing together.  Some semi-serious talk, but largely just enjoying each other’s company, sharing a sense of awe as we view the majesty around us.  Time the two of us will remember forever.  Priceless!

Presence:

Sitting on a mountain pass with Gavin, taking in the breathtaking view, watching clouds slowly drift and lift across the giant face of rock.  Not a care in the world, only stillness in my soul.  No clock, no phones, and no distraction, only presence.

Thanks!!!

Day 3,580

Growth:

“We’re not confined to the prisons of the civilized world…” -Gavin when I mentioned that I had to really think about what day of the week it was on the trail.

Appreciation:

What a trip this has been, and it’s not even over yet!  What stuck out to me most today wasn’t the mind blowing scenery (which there was in spades), rather it was the time spent with Gavin one on one as we talked on the trail.  Some big stuff, some little stuff, some funny stuff, some serious stuff.  That one on one time will be woven into the fabric of my being the rest of my days.

Presence:

The father son moment when we hit the top of the pass, took in all the majesty around us, and Gavin gave me a hug and thanked me for our trip.  

Thanks!!!

Day 3,581

Growth:

You win some, you lose some.  While we’d always like to have perfect vacation weather we’re still going to have some rain days.  Today we had that, but rather than being disappointed we see it as paying ahead for future better weather travel days.  Perspective is everything!

Appreciation:

Today was another wonderful day with Gavin.  Much conversation to kick off the day, then a marathon driving session while taking in an audiobook together.  A perfectly chill way to start our travel home, our transition back to reality.

Presence:

Watching the same thunderhead for literally hundreds of miles on the open plains.  Viewing the northern parts of Montana with its combinations of buttes, rock walls, and mountains.  The joy of a roadtrip through previously inexperienced areas.

Thanks!!!

Day 3,582

Just got back home from our epic backpacking trip to the Canadian Rockies with Gavin!  Cannot begin to share how thankful I am for this shared experience.  As he and I have talked about the trip it is amazing to think of how much we saw and did over the past eight days.  More pics And stories to follow for sure, but it’s time for bed.  My heart is beyond full for having the opportunity to spend so much one on one time with Gavin as he’s about to kick off his senior year of high school.

Thanks!!!

Day 3,575

Growth:

17 hours seems like a long day of driving, and it is. No way to sugar coat it. That said, it is 100% doable with the right people along with!

Appreciation:

The adventure begins! An interesting coincidence that I just finished a book about adventurous road trips, started another book about adventurous travel, and am now on the road doing the same. Here’s to breaking out of the mold of everyday life!

To quote Thoreau:

It is remarkable how easily and insensibly we fall into a particular route, and make a beaten track for ourselves. I had not lived there a week before my feet wore a path from my door to the pond-side; and though it is five or six years since I trod it, it is still quite distinct. It is true, I fear, that others may have fallen into it, and so helped to keep it open. The surface of the earth is soft and impressible by the feet of men; and so with the paths which the mind travels. How worn and dusty, then, must be the highways of the world, how deep the ruts of tradition and conformity!

Presence:

The conversations about life, the exploration of new places, the quiet calm of highway hypnosis. Each moment a gift.

Thanks!!!

Day 3,574

Nothing like an upcoming vacation with no cell coverage to focus the mind on making sure absolutely everything is caught up and completed!

My brain was in overdrive as I left home a little after 5:30am and got home a little after 5:30pm. Still have a few hours to get done tomorrow but then it’s go time! The extra productivity today felt great!

Thanks!!!

Day 3,573

Growth:

Today held great reminders that tools help do the work, they don’t do the work on their own. Tools also don’t always work as intended, one must stay vigilant in using them. Very helpful, but not perfect.

Appreciation:

Hmm… many different potential directions today! I think I’ve got to go with the two in one that made my soul sing today. So rewarding to hear our sons dreaming up big ideas. For Gavin it was a “next summer job” idea. For Dominic it was a future adventure idea. I’m both cases I can’t help but be so pleased and proud that they dream big and focus on their passions.

Presence:

Working with a team of upbeat, positive, happy people – couple of especially awesome moments today!

Thanks!!!

Day 3,572

Growth:

Remember the impact we make. Positive or negative, we will never truly know who and how we impact the lives of others.

This point was really brought home to me today as I heard the story of Rick Ridgeway being inspired by Jim Whittaker’s National Geographic cover in 1963, Conrad Anker being inspired by Rick Ridgeway’s National Geographic cover in 1979, and Alex Honnold being inspired by Conrad Anker’s National Geographic cover in 1998… who was then on the National Geographic cover in 2011.

Appreciation:

A quiet night sitting on the couch relaxing with Becky. Nice to enjoy some chill with no agenda and no adulting! So grateful for an opportunity to kick back and relax!

Presence:

As I continue to read Life Lived Wild by Rick Ridgeway my thoughts have often drifted back to my trip to Patagonia. I was only there a short period of time, but it left a magnificent impression upon my soul. Today in particular my mind kept going back to this photo…

What a moment it was!

Thanks!!!

Day 3,571

Growth:

When in doubt, go to yoga, read a book about someone who’s done something you love, spend time with a loved one, get exercise, focus on your breath, take care of the hard thing that needs to get done, relax, take a nap, and enjoy a glass of water. Any single one of those activities deployed at the right time can bring so much more joy than one would expect.

Appreciation:

Dominic headed back up to The Cities last night, Gavin took off up north for his adventure at “Camp Grandpa” this morning. Becky and I got our normal run and morning routine in before work, and then after work was a little test run of what life will likely be like in about 13 months. We were able to eat supper early and right after work. We had time to chill before yoga. We had our usual Monday yoga date night. We came home, relaxed for a little bit and now I’ll be heading off to bed nice and early. If this is empty nest life I think it’ll be okay 😉

Presence:

A bright red sunrise this morning as we wrapped up our run was exquisite! Coppery red, it lit up the sky and sent sunbeams between the clouds and lit up the haze.

Thanks!!!

Day 3,570

Growth:

Three sets of hands are better than one! Work when so much more easily with Gavin AND Dominic helping out.

Appreciation:

Working on the deck has been an excellent opportunity to work with Gavin, today we had some bonus help from Dominic! We had fun, made memories, and were productive. There were some mistakes and challenges, but in the end there were solutions and smiles. So grateful for the opportunity to work with them both!

Presence:

Another day of being outside hiking and then being outside working, great day all around!

That said, this moment on my morning hike with Becky was pretty epic. A spectacular view from atop the Great River Bluffs State Park.

Thanks!!!

Day 3,569

Growth:

There were so many moments in which the roles were reversed for me today! Gavin and I spent a great chunk of time building the stairs for the deck, hours enjoyed in the garage and outside as we tackled a project that was relatively new to both of us. I was reminded of all the time spent working with Dad while simultaneously creating new memories with Gavin – a wonderful combination!

Appreciation:

Nothing like pulling this relic off the shelf when I needed a reminder on how to measure and cut the stair stringers for my deck! This book was seemingly always within arms reach of Dad when he would work on projects. So many years later it was great busting it back out and sharing it and the stories I have with it with Gavin. So many memories!

Presence:

So many jokes and laughs as we built today, I honestly don’t know where to start!

Thanks!!!

Day 3,568

Growth:

The best time to start a healthy habit was yesterday. The second best time is today. Choose the one we have control over.

Appreciation:

Going to bed exhausted from a week day started with hiking with Becky, followed by watching Gavin pole vault, then a lunch with Dominic and Caitlyn, chased by a small dash of downtime, then finished by hanging out with friends – I’m exhausted and ready to crash in a very awesome way!

Presence:

Spending time with friends, talking about nothing important, laughing, and just enjoying each others company – priceless!

Thanks!!!