That's Life

Each year a group of us goes on a new adventure simply to spend time together and celebrate life.  We call it Family Camp. We are connected by choice, not necessarily blood, but we are a family none the less. Some years there are many, other years few but always there is the overwhelming sense of joy at being with those you love. 

As children grow, mature, move out, and establish their own lives, it becomes more and more difficult to connect. We are all busy, living, doing, being. But the yearning to spend some time, not focused on work, bills, problems, and everyday life is ever present. So our group takes the time to make time to enjoy one another. 

There is always the "one" who brings life to the event. For my group it is Shasta Rose. She spends hours plotting and planning fun activities that bring us together. Whether it is building the highest jelly bean structures with toothpicks, building circle structures out of Pringles, throwing cheese puffs at someones head that is covered in whipped cream, crafting new and exciting rock formations or solving murder mysteries Shasta brings it and everyone participates.  

There is rarely a Family Camp where we are not in the air or on the water seeing new sites. A 10 passenger plane so that we can all fly over beautiful Lake Powell together, a helicopter ride to see the glaciers in Alaska, flying over the water on a tube while she drives the boat or a walk through the Slot Canyons in Page, AZ, Shasta makes it happen and forever we are changed. 

Shasta also organizes the food, no one is allowed to go hungry when she is around, and ensures costs are low so that no one is left behind.  Life and energy flow through her, infusing us with a sense of belonging, loving, being and we are always amazed that each year it is new, fresh and fun.

There are always the few who talk a lot of trash, bragging and showing off. Cam and Larry never cease to amaze the group with their antics. This year Larry created a new dance, silly and full of nonsense but hilarious and so catchy even the teenagers picked it up. Cam, sporting his ridiculously large hat danced with his wife in the car to "I'm sexy and I know it". 

Life is always an adventure when the group gets together, always fun, and filled with so much laughter that some of us even pee our pants (spoil alert, getting older is not for sissies). None of us, from the oldest, down to the youngest, would trade the time together for the world.

Today, as my oldest son heads off to Bahrain for the next two years to serve his country, leaving behind his babies, his wife, his brothers, his friends and family, I am reminded that every day is a choice to live your best life, celebrate love and embrace the people you have around you. I am reminded that happiness is a choice, freedom doesn't come without a cost and sacrifices are made out of love.

Gavin Nations - The Gamble of Life shares his message to us all. It is always a choice: choose well.