Vacation Redux

I didn't share much about our trip to to Colorado in August, so I thought I'd tell you all a bit more about that.

I had a hard time writing about it at first, because it wasn't exactly our ideal vacation.

The trip was planned as a family reunion for some very extended family, most of whom I only see every three years at these family reunions. My memories of these reunions as a kid and high schooler didn't match my experience that week, and I left with mixed feelings and unmet expectations.

We stayed at a camp (some camped, some stayed in cabins) in rural CO, southwest of Denver. There wasn't much to do on the site (a little hiking, a pool, and volleyball court) and E and I were the only young-ish married couple without kids.

The older we get and the larger the family gets, the more difficult it is to connect with distant family members. We found ourselves feeling a little out of place among a lot of people I barely knew, and E had never met.

We made the best of the time we had, though. Here's a little peak into the week.

We took a Cog Rail tour up to Pike's Peak.

Went hiking on Long Scraggy Mtn

Spent time with little cousins

and older ones

Whenever I look through these pictures, I'm reminded what a great family I have. There's obviously some dysfunction in every family--but mine is so huge, and close and loving.

We all also share a common faith, which, when there is nothing else in common among us, is a thread that will always keep us together.

Even if we do need to get away from them all for a little while

E and I also learned that long road trips aren't exactly compatible with our marriage, but that's another story for another day...

(Day 13 of 30 in National Blog Posting Month, and I nearly forgot about it!)