Here they are! Photos from our weekend in the Dells! Ella’s current love of mermaids and water parks pretty much guaranteed we’d have an exciting time, but what really made it great was that we were there to meet up with lots of other families who are connected to the International Down Syndrome Coalition (IDSC).
Is there anything better than tucking away somewhere hidden with your love? How about if it’s in the middle of the week, out of cell range, without internet or TV, in the middle of a snow storm? Ahh, lovely. That’s exactly what Pete and I were able to do recently when a friend stayed with the kids and we headed up the shore.
We stayed for two nights at a small lodge along Lake Superior, not far from Grand Marais and the Canadian Boarder.
The lodge was old and cozy with a big fireplace in the family room where we sat for hours talking to visitors from all over the country.
There was also a pretty fantastic game room in the basement. It’s fun to play like kids when our own kids are with someone else.
Snack, anyone?
While we were cozy inside, it snowed and snowed and snowed. It was perfect.
The snow did eventually stop, of course. When it did, we walked next door to a little pub and restaurant. Their walleye was amazing. Pete and I ate under the watchful eye of this big guy.
After two days, we drove back to Duluth, caught an afternoon movie, and went home to cuddle our babes. Two days away with my love. I can’t wait to do it again.
**********
A few of you have asked about the progress of our sweet Beatrice – the vintage camper we’re working on. (If you missed our introduction post of our camping adventures, click here.) Beatrice is currently at a local camper shop getting a little work done. She needs some electrical parts replaced and a few spots patched in the roof. She’s also getting a new dinette installed since the old table didn’t actually belong with her and, therefore, wouldn’t turn into an additional bed. We pulled out all the mattresses and curtains before she left us, and we’ll soon be working with a local shop to have the them all remade (they were gross!). They’ll also be recovering the dinette cushions to match our vision for the inside, which means they’ll likely end up red. Once we get her back and the weather warms up a little (which is practically unimaginable in the bitter cold), we’ll paint her inside and out and start the fun decorating! I can’t wait for that! I’m thinking we may go primarily red and aqua inside with vintage postcards and maps of Lake Superior. Good thing we’ve got some great antique shops around here! I’ll be sure to post pictures of my antiquing and thrifting treasures as they are discovered. We can’t wait to go camping!
**********
What’s the weather like where you are? It’s frigid here! I may make a cup of chai and imagine I’m back in Kenya, where we were exactly one year ago. If you could go anywhere right now, where would you go?
Stay warm!
When I mention DTR now, I can’t help but laugh. Determining the relationship. You know what I mean. A guy and a girl are hanging out, having a good time, maybe going on a date or two, and then comes the moment when the girl starts freaking out because she’s just not sure exactly what’s going on and wonders if their time together actually means something or maybe it doesn’t or maybe the guy is just being nice and has no idea the girl is really into him and maybe she’s just making a way bigger deal of this in her head and there’s nothing actually happening or… Gah! Seriously, this could just go and on. I could lie and say I never had those thoughts, but like I said, that would be a lie. So then, after all the over-analyzing and questions and sweaty palms, the girl desperately prays for a DTR.
I prayed for that very thing eight years ago. Pete and I met at the church we were both pretty involved at, me in middle school ministry and Pete in children’s ministry. We didn’t just meet, though. We were set up. By our pastor. Yes, pastors can play excellent matchmakers. It makes sense since they know so many people. (That does not mean you should go ask your pastor to set you up or your sister or daughter or whomever is looking for a significant other.) We were both pretty good friends with our pastor long before this. Pete and I just hadn’t yet met each other. Then, in September of 2005, Pastor Ryan asked me to write a script for a drama, which I did, and then he offered to find someone to play the bulky Jesus I wanted. (Because why does Jesus always have to be played by tall, scrawny guys?) Enter the perfect opportunity for Pastor Ryan to make my path cross with Pete’s.
At that time, I was in my last year of college, and I wasn’t overly interested in dating. I had a plan to graduate and move back to Honduras where I had previously been teaching for a total of a year and a half. Nonetheless, I gathered the small cast of actors and, well, there he was. This guy who was seriously built, with light brown curly hair hanging down past his ears, and was wearing a very nice brown corduroy suit jacket. (Oh, I loved that jacket.) We talked a little over the next few weeks during sporadic rehearsals. All the while, I was developing a bit of a crush. I didn’t dare hint at my feelings, though. I mean, nice Christian guys are just that – nice Christian guys. From my own previous experience, I knew it was practically impossible to tell if they were just being nice or if they actually liked me. This guy in the brown jacket was so put together, was older than me, and was crazy handsome. Those factors convinced me he wouldn’t be interested in this little college girls who felt anything but put together.
our first Valentine’s Day (there’s the jacket!) – 2006
My feelings just wouldn’t go away, though! So I started praying, “Jesus, I just want you to know that I don’t think he likes me, but if he does, you make him do the work, because I’m not going to say something and completely embarass myself.” I figured if I put it on Jesus, I didn’t have to do the work. Some might say it’s a cop out, but I didn’t know what else to do. I really did think that this guy wasn’t interested. Besides, if you’ve ever met Pete, you know that he is incredibly sincere and kind to every single person he meets. Imagine how confusing that was for me!
our first photo together (my pinkie was up too) – Nov 2005
In early December, a few months after we met, Pete asked me to go to an event with him. I didn’t dare ask if it would just be the two of us. Instead, I convinced myself we’d be going with a group. Safe and completely nieve. Anyway, I didn’t actually find out it was a date until he picked me up. Let me just say, it was an EPIC first date. It definitely needs its own post, so that’s all I’ll say for now. Following the date, we started to hang out more, sometimes alone to watch movies at his apartment and sometimes with groups of friends. And yet, we never even sat on the same couch while watching movies, so I still didn’t know if he was simply continuing his nice-ness or what. By the time the new year came around, I started to get a bit antsy. What I desperately needed was a good DTR. I needed this relationship defined.
And then…it happened. Thank heavens Pastor Ryan thought to mention the whole DTR concept to Pete during a weight lifting session one afternoon, because Pete had no idea what it was. He may not have even thought it was necessary. But come on here, girls, we know such chats are vitally important. So, on the night of January 7, eight years ago today, while Pete was driving me over to my friend’s house for a girly sleepover, he did it. My Pete began the conversation in his black Jeep Cherokee, the very conversation that eventually really did make him My Pete. Once we reached my friend’s house, I ran inside, threw myself on her bed, and practically melted right there. I spent hours talking about him, even though the girls knew him pretty well already. I just couldn’t believe that he wanted me to be his girlfriend! All these years later, I still catch myself wondering how all this ever happened. He’s incredible. I just know that God had him planned for me all along.
January 2006 – before selfies were cool
Exactly one year later, on January 7, 2007, that handsome boyfriend of mine asked me to marry him. And precisely six months later, on July 7, 2007, we tied the knot. And guess who did the ceremony? That’s right. Pastor Ryan.
Pastor Ryan & Krista with little Aria on our wedding day – July 2007
Next week Pete and I will be celebrating our eight years up the shore. Just the two of us. How dreamy!
Today I write from a little hotel in Bayfield, Wisconsin. I was almost afraid to pull out my computer when we got here. The last time I was sitting in this very place, I was writing and writing and writing, but the content was far different than this. It was here, all the way back in April, that I spent four consecutive days working on my grad thesis. This visit is far different.
While I was here, surrounded by mounds of snow in April, I chatted with the manager about why I was visiting. She mentioned it to the owner of the property who had spoken with Pete when he was here in March to study for his family medicine boards. Just before checking out, an envelope was delivered to my door with a certificate for two nights at the hotel in September. So now we’re here, together, with the kids. It’s a beautiful way to celebrate what we’ve accomplished in the last year.
We arrived in town late yesterday afternoon, just in time to fire up the grill to make burgers and yams. After the kids were tucked into bed, Pete and I stayed up late watching Netflix together, catching up on shows we haven’t had a chance to see in a long time.
After a quiet morning, we headed into town to our favorite cafe here, Big Water Coffee Roasters. The shop is owned by friends of ours, Danielle & Jon Ewalt. It’s been fun to see the shop grow and change over the last few years. They have such a great eye for quality and have beautiful character in their space. If you’re ever in Bayfield, definitely stop in!
We have countless pictures with this little guy over the last seven or eight years.
We stopped in at the used book shop. I bought Ella the first chapter book we’re going to read together – Little House on the Prairie. We read the first chapter before nap time this afternoon. We’ll keep working on listening to a book without pictures. I like knowing it will help develop her imagination.
Little man is so cool in Daddy’s shades. He fell asleep right after this.
We love any time we can get in Bayfield. It’s especially nice right now since there aren’t any crowds for Apple Fest or summer visitors. Town was pretty quiet today. Such a treat.
**********
A few weeks ago, we went to the annual Johnson Family Pig Roast. I’ve lost track of how many years it’s been since it started. More than 15. My aunt and uncle put it on at their house every August and invite friends and family to eat & swim & sing crazy karaoke. Here are a few pictures from the afternoon.
My mom with Sammy, the little water baby
Ella with my cousin Alex
Mr Blue Eyes
Ella really loves my grandma. That makes me very happy.
**********
Today it’s in the 50s. Fall is here!
My sweet Ella began another year of preschool yesterday. I fully admit it was nothing like it was last year, dropping her off and seeing her run into the classroom with all of her friends, completely familiar with the classroom and her teachers. It was old hat for her. Me too. We were both ready for it. Ella missed her friends and I think she probably missed the structure and challenge of school. The last two months have been great fun, but we’ve taken them as complete vacation. We both do better with structure.
Monday night we swung into Target to pick out her indoor shoes – shoes she keeps at school all year, putting them on each morning when arriving at school and leaving them behind at the end of the day. Yes, it was Monday night, the night before school, because why would I do our shopping before that? Keeping us on our toes here, people. Of course, the selected shoes happened to be pink with plenty of sparkles. I thought ballet flats would be comfy for classroom use, so I let her go with them. She was thrilled to have her photo taken in her new kicks before heading off for her first day.
Last night I couldn’t resist going through photos from the first day of school a year ago. She was so little! My heart squeezes at the thought of all that she has experienced in the last year and the ways she has grown. An entire year of school, learning to be an incredible big sister, flying halfway around the world where I saw her bloom among new friends who may or may not have spoken her same language. She has become a compassionate, expressive four-year-old who goes out of her way to include others when playing and will do nearly anything to make a person smile. God is doing some amazing things in Ella. I am filled with joy and awe watching her grow into the little lady He has created her to be.
Another very special experience Ella had was one month ago today. It was a quiet Sunday afternoon. Pete was at work, Sam was napping. Ella came upstairs to find me picking up a few things in her room. She came in and said, “Mama, I want to have Jesus in my heart.” I was caught by surprise at her request, as I didn’t know what sparked it. I would have typically thought she had talked about it at church over the weekend, but I was her fill-in teacher and knew that we hadn’t specifically talked about it. The two of us sat down on the stairs together and talked about what it means to have Jesus in her heart. When I asked if she wanted to pray and ask Him to be in her life forever, she enthusiastically said yes and prayed all on her own. What a moment that was.
As a mama doing my best to follow after Jesus and show my family the example of Jesus’ love and compassion, I would love for my own littles to find that same path of joy and unconditional love. I had been wondering for the last few years what it would look like when and if Ella made the decision to ask Jesus in her own life. I knew I didn’t want it to be something that I initiated, since I believe the Holy Spirit does that work in a person’s heart. I wanted it to be completely on her own. And it was. She really does have a heart full of love and compassion, and I’m excited to see how it is further expressed in the years ahead.
**********
This year, Miss Ella also go to play tennis! Last year when we would drive or walk past the courts just a few blocks from our house, she would say that when she was four, she could take lessons. I’m not sure where the whole “when I’m four” thing came from, but it sounded reasonable, so we went with it. For two weeks in August, we walked to the courts for a daily half-hour lesson. She was in love. Pete & I were both captains or our high school tennis teams, so it’s pretty excited to see her so thrilled to play. I think we’ll be doing it again next summer!
Before our month of vacationing and family time comes to a close today, we were able to squeeze in one last adventure away. Late Friday afternoon, after a 34-hour shift in the ER, we packed up our camping gear and headed up the shore to Tettegouche State Park. Three years ago we made the same journey when Ella was just 15 months old. I realized that this time around, Sam is that exact age. It was a sweet few days away in a woodsy cabin, tucked in the forest along an inland lake, with meals over the fire and plenty of fresh, summer air.
We arrived at the park just after dark, but we weren’t at all concerned since we’d made the trek before. Tettegouche has a set of four cabins, but a good hike in is required to reach them. On our own, the hike would be simple, but journeying with kids and the equipment they require certainly ups the load. Once we strapped on headlamps and got Sam settled in the off-road stroller, we were set. Ella led the way for a good part of the hike, taking us up and down some pretty steep hills for the 1.7 miles in to the cabin. Once we arrived, we pulled out our sleeping bags and hit the hay.
Shortly after breakfast on Saturday morning, our dear friends, the Veseleys, joined us! Having them with us made the weekend even better. Ella & Liam are just a few months apart and get along like brother and sister (loving on each other one moment & arguing the next), while Julianna & Sam are also really close in age. I’ve known Mike since high school and met Jen when she was in med school with Pete. We love their family! Jen & I shared my camera over the weekend, so lots of the following pics are credited to her.
Ella, the fearless water bug. She’s not used to actually being able to swim in a lake since Lake Superior is so cold!
Hanging out with Sammy on the dock.
Miss Julianna turns one later this month & is walking all over already! How cute is she?!
Liam!
The dads taking the older kids canoeing.
When I first met Mike like 15 years ago, he was in a punk rock band. He’s passing on his ways to his son.
Rock star dads.
Cuddles with my little loves. (Sam was a little confused by the flash on my iPhone.)
Yesterday morning we packed up and hiked back out. The trip was short, but it was probably just right for the kids. Well, parents, too, since naps didn’t really exist out there. How long can we go without naps? I’d rather not find out.
Carrying a pack and two four-year-olds is no big deal, especially for a guy who just completed his first Olympic-distance triathlon. Nice work, Mike.
It was a pretty quiet drive back down the shore. The kids didn’t last long before they were sleeping in the cool, air-conditioning of the Jeep. We tried to make a stop for lunch at Betty’s Pies (a classic place to stop along the shore) but it was far too busy for our hungry kiddos. Dairy Queen in Two Harbors offered a quick meal..and some Sammy/Daddy cuddles.
Such a perfect trip to wrap up an amazing month.
**********
