A Successful Vacation

We don't take a lot of FAMILY vacations or trips.  It just doesn't really seem to jive for our family. I would love to say it was different, but we make individual and partial trips work in the best way we can for OUR family. With that said, it was sort of out of the ordinary recently to embark on a family trip last week and even more out of the ordinary to say, we actually all enjoyed it!

Except for the part that we experienced a NINE HOUR flight delay. There was a lot of laying around the airport. Literally.

(We received vouchers from the airline for our delay, and before we'd even taken off I was planning the next vacation. Mike recommended we get through this one first.)

Last week we visited beautiful Southern California for a Sowby Family Reunion. It's the branch of the family that two previous family reunions are recorded HERE and HERE.

These Sowby Reunions where the descendants of George Isaac and Annie Martine gather, have happened every two years for 35+ years.

                                              

For many years now, and especially the last couple reunions, fewer and fewer descendants are making the reunion a priority. It makes me sad, and honestly, a little bitter. Everyone is busy, everyone has schedules and everyone has conflicts.We do/did too. In fact, for some reason we had a lot of hiccups, setbacks and difficulties making this reunion happen for our family. The seven hour flight delay at the airport seemed to be the cherry on top, but then some complications (and a 1.5 hour wait) at the car rental place at LAX topped the cherry and caused me to look at Mike, and while trying so hard not to cry questioned, "Maybe we seriously are not meant to be here?"

But we were
.
We made it happen.
A few other families did too, and the result was a glorious time spent together laughing, crying, playing and enjoying family bonds.

Megan Sowby, Luke Sowby, Hannah Flaherty, Joshua Sowby, Connor Flaherty

Ryan Flaherty, Ellie Sowby, Sarah Flaherty, Drew Sowby

 Joshua, Sarah and Ryan Flaherty, Drew 

 front to back: Carol & Bernard Baker, George & Christene Sowby, Sandy Mittleman, Karena Hamilton

 Tiffany, Karena Hamilton, Bernard Baker, Jennifer Flaherty, Steve Mittleman, Damon Flaherty

Seth Hamilton, Mike, Carol Baker, Karen Mittleman, George Sowby, Christene Sowby, Amber Larson

Sowby Children, Hamilton Children, Flaherty Children, Larson Children

Obviously, I have never met Annie Martine Sowby. I'm related to her only through marriage, but over the past several years, I've had a handful of very personal experiences that have caused me to believe Annie Martine is one of my personal cheerleaders. A week or so before we left for the reunion, Mike and I were seriously debating whether or not to cancel our plans to go. One morning, I woke up early and knew I couldn't cancel. In a text exchange to Mike, I told him, "We're going to CA! I'm going for Annie Martine." (It's funny--I never refer to her as simply, Annie or Great-Grandma Annie, she is Annie Martine.)

How could seeing these scenes, not make Annie Martine (and of course George Isaac and their children whose posterity is represented here) rejoice and smile down from Heaven?

Cousins Carol Baker, Karen Mittleman and George Sowby

 According to Joshua (and this photo proof), Joshua did all the work maneuvering the kayak.

Luke and Sarah (Flaherty) were so proud of this creation they built on Mike's tomb. It was just moments away from completion when a HUGE wave wiped out everything you see in the above picture.

 Mike, Luke and Megan (photo courtesy of Cousin Sandy Mittleman)

 (photo courtesy of Cousin Sandy Mittleman)

 (photo courtesy of Cousin Sandy Mittleman)

(photo courtesy of Cousin Sandy Mittleman)

These relationships don't just happen at one reunion-- they happen over time. Mike and I have been blessed to have these people in our lives on a regular basis. With the exception of a few of the older cousins, my children knew these cousins. They mentioned everyone before we even got there. They knew who to expect, who they would enjoy playing with the most, and who they wanted to see first. We've not only made these reunions a priority, but we've opened our home to most of these people on many occasions over the years. It makes me smile that our relationships with most of them run much deeper than simply seeing each other every couple of years at a reunion.

Like this girl for example.
LOVE HER.

Cousin Jennifer is one of my favorite friends! Our husbands laugh about just how much we have in common, so it was no surprise that we also have the same make-up bags. Jennifer and I talk to each other a few times a month. Usually because one of us needs talking down from a ledge, or one of us needs reminding that we really do love our children. Love this cousin of Mike's! We likely should have been sisters, but then I couldn't have married Mike. So we'll suffice as cousins and friends.

I shouldn't have favorites, but I admit I do! Cousin Karena and Cousin Sandy (no photo of  us!!!!!) are two of my other favorites. I wish I had spent more time just sitting and visiting with them, but it didn't quite work out that way. But, that's nothing that a future trip to Utah won't be able to solve.

One afternoon, Karena, Jennifer and I left the children in the care of husbands and cousins at the pool and snuck up to my room for some left-over chocolate cake.

Not sure how well Mike was keeping an eye on the children...

This sand bucket cost $1.00 at the dollar store. Joshua couldn't bear the thought of us leaving it there on the beach for another child to play with. When he realized, "They really will let me take this on the plane? Then I'm taking it." It was a done deal. He carried that bucket around with him for the next several hours.

Joshua and Megan opted for a kayak ride with Mike. Drew, Luke and Ellie opted for a trampoline jump:

 The headaches of getting to California have almost been forgotten. Our memories made at yet another reunion, are deposits into relationship banks that we will withdraw from throughout the rest of our lives. Unfortunately for my little family, it seems we are all too familiar with family members who don't seem to make relationships a priority-we know who loves us and want to be around us, and we focus on those people. The others, I guess, are just missing out!

 Newport Beach LDS Temple

Attempting to capture a photo of these 5 clowns at the beach was a joke.

Balboa Pier, CA

After finally arriving in Los Angeles after our 9 hour flight delay and then experiencing further complications at the car rental place, I sent some serious vibes heavenward to Annie Martine to start intervening on our behalf. I like to think she did.

With the exception of the day Drew exhausted us all with his incessant requests for a wooden surf board souvenir for his stuffed animal, Monkey, and forgetting a few minor moments of quarreling and exhaustion, it was a successful family vacation.

 So now, where to use our travel vouchers to visit next?!

Jamaica

When I found out our cruise was going to be stopping in Jamaica, I was so excited! Mike joked that he never knew Jamaica was special to me, and it isn't that it ever was, but there seemed to be something appealing and thrilling about visiting Jamaica!

The group we were traveling with had a group excursion for us to embark on in Jamaica. I knew what it would entail, as it is similar to the excursions they have treated us to in the past. This year, I prepared mentally and committed to Mike that I was going to participate fully in this excursion.

Barring drinking the free alcohol they offer on the catamaran as part of the package, I was going to participate fully by this time getting in the ocean and snorkeling, instead of staying on the boat to read and occasionally take pictures of Mike. (Several people skip the snorkeling part, but after my break-through in St. Thomas last year, I wanted to participate.)

We took a long bus ride from the ship to Dunn River Falls, where we loaded onto a catamaran and traveled out into the depths of the sea.

My nerves began to get the best of me, and as the boat workers started passing out snorkeling fins, I declined to take them. Mike was completely supportive of my decision, and didn't force me, but when I asked him, "Do you think I'll regret it?" He firmly replied, "Absolutely!"

My biggest issue was not wanting to jump in, (I've never jumped into a body of water before, why start now?!) but then I saw a few others climb down the steps instead of jumping, and it started to change my mind. But then... I looked into the ocean, and there in the water with all her snorkeling garb on, was an 81 year old grandmother from our group.

That made my decision.
I didn't look back.
And I never regretted it.

I stayed fairly close to the guide that was helping the 81 year old and her 84 year old husband!! Which definitely had its perks; like holding a sea urchin he cracked open and having fish swim into my hand to feed from it. (I initially wanted to die when the guide took my hand and placed the sea urchin in it. I don't even pet our goats or horse!) He helped us see so many cool things, that I regretted (and I think Mike did too) sending Mike away to explore on his own so as not to hold him back.

Mike had misunderstood the guide's time rotations of being in the water, and he returned to the catamaran long before me. Which was sort of fun, because he grabbed the camera to prove I really did do it!

I returned to the boat, feeling satisfied and with a sense of pride of really doing something difficult. It's hard to describe how much water typically terrifies me, and what a personal accomplishment this event was.

I didn't know that the next activity planned would test my limits and leave me feeling proud too.

Our next stop was to hike Dunn River Falls. We had been warned to wear good shoes, and to not take cameras or anything as we would become completely wet. I wasn't quite sure what to expect. But certainly not this.

This photo only shows a portion of the approximate 1000 foot water fall that we looked up at and they told us we were hiking it!

I momentarily had a little freak out questioning of whether or not it was safe.

After the first 20-25 feet or so, I may or may not have had another freak out moment firmly suggesting to Mike that as parents of 5 children thousands of miles away, we had no business embarking in such a risky activity.

We have no photos of the place--only these Google image photos.

Apparently, it is all sorts of safe. They scrub the rocks each morning to prevent slippery mildew forming and it was surprisingly non-slippery.

So many fun (and not so fun) moments during this hike. I will likely never forget the thrill!

When we returned to the catamaran after this hike, I felt as though I could do just about anything! But I was glad, nothing else was on the agenda to get my heart racing again.

We rounded out the excursion with a lunch at a hotel (dang I wish I'd have taken a photo of the building) that was once an old plantation. I was so in love with the building, that instead of taking photos, I found myself searching out someone to ask about the history of the building. The building seemed to be bursting at the seams with stories it wanted to tell, and I regret we were sort of in a rush to leave to get on the bus for the journey back to the ship.

(Only photo I took was the view FROM the hotel, not the building itself.)

This is where my visit to Jamaica sort of caused a change of heart.

Up until this point, my experience in Jamaica, had been nothing short of wonderful. I felt exhilarated, alive and invigorated with enthusiasm for not only the beautiful world we live in, but the personal satisfaction in my activities while there.

I was anxious to get back to the port by our ship to do some shopping. I had left any souvenir shopping to this day in Jamaica (our first two stops we have been to previously and the last stop I knew shopping would be limited). Plus, I wanted souvenirs to mark such a memorable day.

The bus journey back was due to be an hour plus, and looking at the clock, we knew our time was going to be cutting it very close to get back to the ship on time. The time wasn't the main source of my anxiety however, it was the horrible driving of the bus driver on the 2 lane highway. From our seat on the front row, Mike and I watched as he passed slow vehicles when it seemed hazardous, and downright stupid. As much as I wanted time to souvenir shop, I also wanted to arrive back to the ship alive. It was a nerve-wracking, heart-racing drive, and as several fellow group members were also getting antsy looking at the time and considering the shopping they wanted to do too, we came upon traffic at a complete standstill for miles.

Our entourage included 3 buses, one of the busses in our group was detoured down a side street, yet our driver stopped and yelled in some foreign dialect to the police officers and they moved some cones for our bus driver to drive through.

(If on an excursion booked through the ship (ours was), the ship waits for the passengers to return if they are notified of a delay.I'm sure the bus driver's yelling included something about us needing to back to the ship.)

We passed a horrific accident scene. And though the emergency vehicles/injuries had left by this point, the remains of the scene were disturbing to see. Especially seeing a tour bus part of the wreckage. Having traveled on tour/excursion busses in several Caribbean cities now, we know that their safety standards are nowhere equal to those in the USA. It was sickening to think of tourists, on an adventure similar to what my day had been, end their day in an accident.

Our ship waited for our return, and our group boarded the ship disappointed about little to no souvenirs from our day in Jamaica.

I spent the next few days lamenting the fact Ellie didn't get a deck of cards from Jamaica to add to her collection. I felt bad I didn't get something for myself to remember the day by. And I just plain felt disappointed the way our Jamaica day finished up.

Then on Monday, after returning home, I saw from a fellow group member a link to the accident in Jamaica. (You can read it HERE.) Reading the article erased any frivolous regrets of not having souvenirs. I was (and still am) surprised how difficult it has been to know about a young mother and her daughter from Minnesota, returning to their ship after a fun day of swimming with dolphins in Jamaica involved in the horrific crash. The young mother lost her life on that dangerous Jamaican highway, a husband back home in the US lost his wife, and 4 young children no longer have a mother.

It put all sort of things in perspective. I may not have any souvenirs from Jamaica, but I have my memories, I have my life, and I am living with those I love.

Those are worth more than any memorabilia money could buy.

Smiles From Heaven

I love family reunions. I LOVE them. I'm quite sure I began to love and appreciate them after attending a few Sowby Reunions. (You can read about the last one in 2014 HERE or the one before that in 2012 HERE.) Back in January of this year, one of Mike's cousins on his mother's side suggested we all go camping together one weekend at Yuba Lake! I was thrilled that he was putting forth the effort to gather the family together. There have been some "grand-daughter" events over the years, but nothing for families to gather, and certainly nothing that gives Mike the chance to see the cousins he has so many great memories with.

As I said to one of the cousins on Saturday, I'd LOVE to see this reunion become a tradition. I don't want this side of the family to become a "funeral and wedding" family only. There are some top notch people in this group we spent time with-- I absolutely loved my children having the opportunity to rub shoulders with them in such positive ways.

I wish we had taken a group photo of those in attendance (around 40ish people). I spent the entire weekend knowing without a doubt, that these two people were smiling down from heaven to think that from this young couple came...

A group of descendants having a wonderful time together like this:

Drew, Joshua and Luke with Beau Williams

Beau Williams, Kenzie Prince and Ellie

Robbie Williams, Joshua, Luke, Beau Williams

Natalie Prince, Brittyn Williams, Megan

Luke and Joshua

(So many teenagers! Too many names to remember.)

Luke LOVED the 4-wheelers. I couldn't really spend too much time watching him--that boy is quite fearless and my heart couldn't really take it. ESPECIALLY after the "little incident" with Mike and Joshua; Mike let Joshua sit in front of him and instructed him which button to push. Joshua pushed it full force from a complete stop. Let's just say, they did quite the wheelie. In fact, I'm not sure if  it is still called a wheelie when it is in a completely vertical position! Suffice it to say, while recovering from my near heart-attack, I had to apologize to bystanders for my bad language.

 Beau and Brittyn Williams

Joshua and Megan 

(I incorrectly thought this was Drew for a full day until Drew pointed out to me it is Joshua! Oops-incorrect Instagram post.)

Loved all the time spent just relaxing and visiting with people I don't see often enough.

 Megan and Luke went out one evening just before sunset on a "teenager" ride to "learn how to wake-board." All on the boat came back RAVING about Megan and Luke, and how well they did for their very first attempts!

I don't have a photo of  Luke standing on the wake-board. But apparently he did. Or so I've been told.

It's this guy we owe the weekend to! Love his initiative to make this weekend happen.

Tim Prince

Somebody's child got a little too carried away with the 'spray painting t-shirts' activity.

Mike's grandparents had 4 children: Randy, Robbie, Laurie (Mike's mom) and Paula. Only Laurie and Paula are still alive. With Laurie in NYC on a mission, it left only Paula to represent the original Williams Family at the reunion. (And as much as I love my mother-in-law, I'm not so sure she would have attended even if she were in Utah. She's not what one would call "a camper.")

Aunt Paula and Uncle Randy were great to spend the weekend with! (Even if Uncle Randy thought the leggings I changed into on Saturday night looked like Siberian camouflage.)

Paula and Randy Prince

I'm feeling pretty smug having married this guy... after all, it's because of him my life is blessed with so many wonderful cousins. (I only have a handful on my side of the family and fortunately I get to see them frequently.)

And yes... Mike did get made fun of for wearing a collared, button-up shirt with his swim-suit. Who does that?!

I wish I had taken out my phone more and captured my own photos. Instead, nearly all of these are from dear cousins, Sherrie Wimmer and Jana Williams.

Great weekend!
I can't say enough good about it. It was heartwarming to see so many children and teenagers interacting with each other and so many getting to know each other for the first time. I never had the chance to meet Mike's Grandpa Bob, and I only knew his Grandma Gerry in her later years as her health declined. Friday, July 24th would have been Grandma Gerry's 89th birthday. What better birthday gift could we as her descendants give her?  I have no doubt heaven smiled down on the windy beaches of Yuba Lake this weekend.

PS-We'll skip the part about Joshua after being home 24+ hours say, "Wait. So those were Dad's cousins?" Not sure who he thought we were spending the weekend with?!?