Vacations

Almost every summer since I can remember, we have taken a vacation. Daddy was a hard working farmer, but he loved to travel and spend time with his family so we would try to go somewhere each summer. Sometimes it was to visit family in other states or travel to interesting sights within our own state.  The first vacation I can remember was to the Black Hills in South Dakota when I was 4. We stayed in a little camper and I loved it. The summer I turned 18 I was working in the concessions at Mount Rushmore in the Black Hills. I had just graduated from high school and was living in a dorm with other girls working there and that was the summer I met my future husband, Bill.
 When Bill and I got married we were too poor to travel much. Our first family vacation was when Amy was about 3 and we took a long weekend and went to Niagara Falls. I'll never forget the raincoats that Tessa and Amy had to wear to go 'under' the waterfalls. Amy's almost touched the ground and the sleeves were rolled up so many times her arms stuck out!  Then when Emily was 2 we went to Chincoteague Island in Virginia and we started taking vacations every year after that. Even though we had to save those dollars and sometimes do without the rest of the year we always 'got away' for awhile and Amy was always included. She was very small and easy to carry and we were young and full of energy ourselves. As the years passed it got harder. We took most of our vacations in September as we homeschooled and the crowds weren't as heavy then. Too soon Tessa went to college and we had one less on our family vacations. Then Emily left and then James. Our last 'vacation' as a complete family was to James' wedding in Montana. Although we all made our way there separately we stayed in a rental house for a few days together. 
On that trip Bill, Amy, and I started a new chapter in our lives as we journeyed out there together.  We took a few more vacations together, just the three of us. We visited Emily in South Carolina when she was in college, a wedding in South Dakota, my sister and her family in Maine, and then Amy died........
Last week Bill and I rented a yurt at a local state park for 3 nights. Bill, Emily and I stayed overnight and the rest of the family joined as much as work allowed them to. We were close enough for them to go home to sleep, making it easier for the little ones. We had extended family come one day and  dear "like family" friends visit two other days. Our last night there it was just us, Bill and I and our children and their children. But I felt like something was missing. Someone. We were a complete family, but one of my children was not there. It just didn't feel right. James brought his guitar and we sat around the campfire and sang. The little ones started bouncing and dancing to the music and my heart broke......
I was overcome with grief of missing my dear sweet precious Amy. She would have loved to be there with us. My oldest tried to comfort me and tell me she was there. But I couldn't see her or hold her. I miss her so much.....
Whether James planned to sing the song, "I am Free" or if it was just the next one in his book, I don't know. But I do know that God had it planned. This was one of the songs that was sung at Amy's funeral. The Associate Pastor, Laura and I sang it.

"I Am Free"
Through You the blind will see
Through You the mute will sing
Through You the dead will rise
Through You all hearts will praise
Through You the darkness flees
Through You my heart screams
I am free
Yes, I am free
I AM FREE TO RUN
(I AM FREE TO RUN)
I AM FREE TO DANCE
(I AM FREE TO DANCE)
I AM FREE TO LIVE FOR YOU
(I AM FREE TO LIVE FOR YOU)
I AM FREE
(I AM FREE)
YES I AM FREE
(I AM FREE)
Through You the kingdom comes
Through You the battle's won
Through You I'm not afraid
Through You the price is paid
Through You there's victory
Because of You my heart sings
I am free
Yes, I am free
I AM FREE TO RUN
(I AM FREE TO RUN)
I AM FREE TO DANCE
(I AM FREE TO DANCE)
I AM FREE TO LIVE FOR YOU
(I AM FREE TO LIVE FOR YOU)
I AM FREE
(I AM FREE)
YES I AM FREE
(I AM FREE)

Amy is free because of the You in this song, she can run and dance and sing. The You is Jesus. He has taken away her limitations of this earth and has truly set her free. I looked around at my husband, my three children, a daughter-in-law, a son-in-law and my three sweet grandchildren. How could I not feel blessed? And because of Jesus, our family will be complete again.

Beautiful views of the lake and mountains.

Looking up through the ceiling in the yurt.

No running water, but microwave, stove top, and full size fridge.

Room enough for six at the table, but we always ate outside.

A double bunk on the bottom and single on the top

Single bunk beds

We had a huge area for the kids to play.

Our Yurt.

In a little over a week, Bill and I will be taking our own vacation. To the first place I can remember that was 'vacation' to me, where 40 years ago this summer Bill and I met and fell in love. The Black Hills of South Dakota.