Counting Gifts/ FAMILY/ Kids/Family

The Gift Of A Vacation–One Thousand Gifts #22

holy experience

I know it is not Monday, but after such an amazing vacation with my family, I had to post about the gifts.  We spent a week in Breckenridge and had a super good time.  I am so grateful.


#536-#589

~LIFE.  I am alive.  He has brought me– carried me to this place of mountains I dreamed of when I was sick.

~standing on snow in shorts

~my youngest girl and her cousin, discussing Grandpa and Grandma’s generosity to provide this family trip

~amazing food everyday.  Nourishing.

~a smile on my face that is hard to erase.  How can I keep from singing and shouting His name?

~ a morning, 2- block walk alone to the Amazing Grace Natural Cafe

~granola w/ cranberries, bananas.  Soy milk in a small metal pitcher. A ‘just-out-of-the-oven’ scone.

~listening to the locals banter.  They are regulars here at this Amazing Grace cafe. I would be too, we would be friends, if I lived here.

~getting caught on my walk in the sprinklers

~an early morning stroll alone.  I find a church.  I stop to gaze at the cross top and thank Him for this day.

~candles burning in old church windows

~grandma bouncing grand baby

~brooks, streams and rivers

~grandpa chuckling to himself while reading from his Kindle

~energy to have FUN.

~His  BIGNESS!  He made these mountains!!

~on these mountains, my eyes seem to see the furthest east to west.  This is how far He has removed my transgressions!

~cousins playing board games

~a life that is so very blessed.

~journals and books

~a fancy dinner with my mother-in-law and sister-in-laws.  One of my favorite memories made. My heart bursts with love for them.

~the quaint shops of Breckenridge.

~my girls searching for the perfect souvenir to buy with the money Grandpa pulled from his pocket.

~listening and hearing my husband.  Putting my defenses down, caring more for his feelings than my own.  God’s grace to do so.
~my awe in a spice store.  Amazed by all the scents from nature, I again praise the Creator.

~white water rafting.  The warmth of my wetsuit (we won’t talk about how they smelled).  Safety.

~ my girls squeals of joy when rafting on white water

~Alpine slides and chair lifts

~cordless earphones in the car for our girls. A DVD player.

~ awesome time to bond with husband as kids watch movies in the car

~a private suite within a large family cabin.  Our own kitchen and bathroom.  Amazing.

~daughter overcoming her fear on chairlift

~alpine treetops.  Viewing them from above.

~bumping into friends I have not seen in over 24 years!!  So good to see you, Melissa & Jon!

~’fake’ Keens that worked just as well as ‘real’ Keens

~watching nephews rock climb.  Their will and determination.

~bro-in-laws. Their unique personalities.  Their love for their families.  Their wisdom.

~cousins rock collections, their discovery of textures and colors

~the swiveling, wall-mounted t.v. in our suite

~orange poppies.  Their heads dancing, pointing toward majestic mountains

~family strolls, family time

~veggie pizza, served on white and red checkered tablecloths

~a leisure afternoon of shopping, when what the clock says just does not matter

~cupcakes with my cuppy-cuppy cupcakes!  Sweets with my sweetie-pies!

~a- latte -a- day—-my vacation splurge

~a family train of twenty biking down the mountain.  Our splitting up then meeting again creates the rhythm of the day.

~feeling so alive as I coast down the mountain.  The words in my head–“The firmament shows His handiwork!!”

~forcing myself to not smile while biking, don’t want bugs in my teeth!

~baby bike buggy

~daddy taking his girls horseback riding so I can shop alone

~flowering cactus, another something to delight my girls

~kind, patient zip line instructors

~safety on all 6 zips!

~little girls with big courage

~flying across the canyon, celebrating that I can!

~safety.  Our trip ends with an ambulance and paramedics.  They give our youngest 2 thumbs up after falling onto cement from 5 feet up.  She wanted to help pack the top of the car, and proceeded to do so after being told no!! Ugh.

~a sore wrist, but not broken.  A raw knee that can still walk.  A red knot on her head but no serious head injury.  Safe.

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  • Charity Singleton
    June 11, 2012 at 11:07 pm

    Yes, this is the kind of vacation you should take after beating cancer – take it all in, every scone and sunset and baby buggy and cupcake kiss. I’m so happy for you and for this time. Thanks also for linking up with the High Calling writing project. (Sorry it took me a few days to get over here to comment.) Your view of life is so hopeful and so encouraging to us all.

  • Anonymous
    July 10, 2011 at 11:43 am

    Beautiful. You make me want to be more thankful. It’s hard to look past struggles and pain and trust issues re-visited. I need to be thankful. Thanks.

  • Anonymous
    July 8, 2011 at 8:32 pm

    Amy,
    I am so glad you and your family had such a wonderful vacation!!!
    Breckenridge is breathtaking. What a wonderful place to have a family vacation…so much to do and great weather in the Summer.
    Still praying for you here in Nashville,
    Carrie Sharn

  • Amy Bowman
    July 8, 2011 at 2:21 am

    Thank you everyone! Your smiles and feelings toward me are amazing. Thank you all for being so caring!!

  • karen gerstenberger
    July 7, 2011 at 3:49 am

    I’m so thankful that you and your family got to take this wonderful trip together. God bless you and them!

  • Jen Brewer
    July 6, 2011 at 4:18 pm

    Amy you look so healthy and beautiful in the mountain picture…that pic is a gift to your family

  • Elizabeth
    July 6, 2011 at 1:22 pm

    Amy, I have been following your blog for a long time.

    I am so glad that you had this trip with your family and enjoyed it. I smiled the entire time reading your post.

    What a gift you have shared with me this morning. Thank you.

  • MarytheKay
    July 6, 2011 at 3:50 am

    Oh, this was just so beautiful. I just soaked in your beautiful words of gratitude. I am smiling right now, thinking about your wonderful family vacation. Thank you for sharing about it all! This is a wonderful reminder to me to revel in the small things that God provides…which, really, are not small at all.

  • beautyundone
    July 6, 2011 at 1:50 am

    Amy,
    I have tears just reading of all your wonderful blessings!! So glad that you had such a wonderful time, and are doing so well!

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