Koocanusa Paradise

FYI none of the older kids wanted many pics taken, so that's why you see me and the little ones a lot ;-) Here's our campsite.....

embarking on a kayak adventure!

Every time we head out on a grand adventure, I find myself back at home with a mess of dishes, laundry and the like. Now to be fair, my kids DO do a lot of that work, however, there is still much to be done. Chronicling our adventures seems to be at the back of my mind. Then I want to see all the good pictures and I can't help but devote an overcast or otherwise rainy afternoon to telling our stories of high adventure........
Hence our fun began with talk of camping at Lake Koocanusa. That morning last Thursday, my husband said "you'd better make some ice". I wondered for the next hour what the plan was and busied myself with food preparation "just in case". By early afternoon we had formulated a plan for a 4 day trip!! I don't remember ever camping that long and I wasn't sure how to pack coolers for that many days. Soon I was hurriedly trying to come up with easy and fun camp meals. The Sock Fashion expert jumped right in and made a "campfire twiscuit" dough enough to share and also some of her FAMOUS home made Gram crackers. You haven't had real s'mores until you've tried some of them between some marshmallow, peanut butter and milk chocolate - oh baby!
It took the whole day to get ready, and when we left I felt near exhaustion and glad I'd be getting the full 4 days to rest! Thursday we hiked to and camped near a waterfall as our favorite spot was taken by a vicious gang of bikers!! Actually they were just maniac looking cyclists ;-) The creek was peaceful, though, and it was a fun start to our trip. The next day all the bikers hadn't yet left, so my husband scoped out another spot on the opposite side of the lake. It was off a dirt road leading to a remote bay that we had solely almost the entire rest of the time. We set up camp and the fun began!
Across our site and down was a beautiful little sandy cove full of drift wood. It was perfect for sunning and swimming. Beyond that was a vast open meadow along the lakeside that nobody could access except by water. Perfect! I loved laying in the sun and exploring our new place with the children. The kids said I made the "best camp food ever" even though it was allot of warmed up thrown together left overs ;-) That next morning we all headed out on an excruciating bike ride up a mountain in search of another, yet more remote, waterfall. After lunch, swimming and sun some of our friends showed up to join us! Just then the boys pulled the canoe in with whole big mess of fish big enough to feed the entire camp of us breakfast!
Saturday was tropical in weather and the girls and I started out in the sun by 11 or so. I ran in to get ice with Mist and encountered a grouchy store lady!! I will refrain myself from that story ;-) The day was incredibly heavenly! I could have stayed on that remote beach forever. After reading a few Voice of Victory articles to the girls, we had a delicious lunch of sauteed chicken and veggie tortillas. There we were all laid out in bikinis with the men off fishing and kids playing in the water. Matthew came back just as a helicopter flew over us. Then it flew over us again. Then it flew over AGAIN. We all started wondering what was up. Then it CIRCLED us!! "What do they want to look at us for?" Catman demanded to know. "They weren't looking at us, Buddy" Matthew told him." "Why would they want to look at girls in bikinis?" he asked skeptically. We all laughed....... Guess nothing is all that secluded ;-) We girls swam out to the edge of the bay several times and hit the cold and waves of the great lake beyond. It was like time stopped and we were caught in a supernatural plain of some kind of heavenly sphere. The warm winds, the sand and shore, the cold waters and the waves, the mammoth mountains and the great boulders reminded us that we were but tiny creations living in this Eden that God Himself created for his children to enjoy...... That evening a great storm came up from out of no place and all us women and kids huddled in our trailer telling silly stories as the rain and hails passed us by. In an hour or two it was calm again and the men emerged soaked and fishless for the most part.
After a lot of sun and laughing and good meals and fun, our friends headed out for home Sunday afternoon. I took the Kayak out once again. The first time I crossed the lake, I was fearful of the great winds and waves that met me. It was a calm day and I couldn't imagine what the great lakes full fury could do..... This time I crossed in another spot that I had found to be gentler, also travelling at a slant rather than straight across. That seemed to ride the waves in a better fashion. Something compelled me to keep going until I had gone several miles from our home site. Finally, as I rounded another big protrusion, I found our old favorite place. The beautiful bar and pools were flooded over but the secret cove remained. I walked through sands and dove in its warm depths. I walked up to the picnic area just to remember, as it was not a familiar favorite place. I wonder if I liked it so much because I liked the people so much that we'd enjoyed it with ;-) After fully experiencing that special spot once again, I returned in my Kayak to the lakes call once again. I emerged at our home site with a powerful appetite because not only had I been kayaking, but I had swam the perimeter of the bay before my trek..... The Archer returned back from fishing with wild tales of a naked couple in a speed boat destroying his wake zone laughing fiendishly as they played crazy music and intentionally scared away his fish hot rodding around him. Bizarre.
On the last morning, we sat around the campfire and enjoyed a morning of devotions. I went off to do dishes and bathe while the rest of the family packed up camp. It was bitter sweet. My husband sent The Archer Home with the children and our "Redneck Gypsy" bed - Matthew (Now renamed Kind Eyes due to a private joke) teased us about sleeping in the back of it - see pics below. My husband had other plans for us. We spent the day touring Eureka - dining, stores, looking at lands and lakes. My favorite, though, was the special evening spent on a blanket looking at Outlaw Lake before driving home......

Me and Miss Moona at the Waterfall...

the secluded lake meadow

Baby Blue Eyes (Mist and Fiery's Baby)

The kids were happy to see each other!

Grocery Sacks full of popcorn are GOLD STANDARD on every camping trip ;-) Sock Fashion Expert usually does a bag or two's worth of kettle corn. Mist and Elasta Woman some times sprinkle theirs with salt and brewers yeast. Its cheap and healthier than a lot of other stuff!

"Rabbit" hanging out ;-)

the only family pic!! waahh!! pout...groan ;-)

US

Hubby and I slept in the "Gypsy Redneck Bed"

But the kids napped in there on lazy afternoon ;-)

Art Dog

Super Cat Man!

The Romantic Date....

The Watery Grave

More pics from "The Week Long Weekend"

The Archer was out doing something he loves to do - snorkeling for lures. The young man has an incredible nack for finding them. He knows every downed tree in the local waters and where to go after the weekend fishermen have been out. He smiled to himself as he walked down the trail to one of his favorite lakes. The warm August air kissed his shoulders and the sunshine made him feel hot and ready to dive into the crystal waters. As he rounded the last bend, he knew a presence with him. It was that all familiar friend who took care of him on his journeys........
That day, in particular would be etched in Archers mind FOREVER. It would be a fight between life and death and a bare flash of Gods saving grace in the midst of a watery grave. At first he wasn't finding much. Half an hour had elapsed and the more he swam around, the more frustrated he became. Finally, he some how awkwardly stumbled upon a deep deep snag. It was a "fiesta" of lures! Oh the excitement! Down down he dove grabbing up as many lures as he could. He was ecstatic! Up for a breath, and down again. On the last deep breath, he dove extra far down. He saw a Mepps far on the bottom. Soon he was grabbing up lures here and there back and forth. Finally, when he had run out of breath, he had to head back up to the surface. As he quickly swam up, something stopped him..... It was an invisible line! Back and forth he'd swam over and over entangling himself in all kinds of fishing line! He was tangled beyond hope. Fear struck the very core of his being when he realized that he couldn't break free. He was OUT OF AIR! Scenes flashed in his mind of his dead corpse down there with no one to ever know where he was. Why hadn't he brought a pocket knife?! With one final desperate air deprived push, He once again tried to break free of the lines tying his arms and legs and claim the surface air he so desperately needed! He swam as hard as he could upward. On the last of many attempts.... seconds from a watery death..... he broke the lines that held him and emerged a very thankful but bloodied living man.
The story, retold last night, made me think about sin. That invisible fishing line is allot like the stronghold it can put on a person. Distracted, just like a fish, by the shiny treasures, my son swam all over entangling himself beyond hope. Little did he know how close he had brushed eternity. One little shiny lure, beyond grasp, another - soon you are entangled and out of air. Surely no one would purposely die for a mere lure... or would they? Thank God that He is faithful to deliver those bound by the forces of evil. If you find yourself looking up from your own watery grave, led blindly into death's clutches by some shiny lure, perhaps it is time to find the inner strength of the Life and Breath Giver..........

The Week Long Week End aka Fun with "The Bodds"

What an amazing week we had with the Bodds! Formerly "From MN", whom I am hoping to rename by the end of this post came with most of her clan. The two eldest kids had jobs back at home but we got the pleasure of she, her husband and the 5 youngers...... How about "The Jubilant Gardeness"? I think I like that.....

They arrived while I was off working nights at the hospital. I could hardly wait to get home and see them!! The Sock Fashion Expert had prepared a lovely dinner of elk steaks the night before and Cinnamon rolls with breakfast bake that morning. It was all delicious and I was glad not to have had to start cooking quite yet.....

"The Jubilant Gardeness" was ready to see and do everything!! We hiked down forest trails with lupine full in bloom. We watched the children play in the laughing waters of Heavenly Lake. We took in EVERYTHING we possibly could in a weeks time. Meanwhile the kids played hard, fished hard, hiked hard, swam long and did everything they could to make the MOST of the week! The Sock Fashion Expert, in ecstasy having her "BFF" with her floated around the place as if we were on a space ship near Mars....
That first night, after swimming, fishing and hiking, I had a brilliant light bulb of an idea. "Why not take her down to see Goat Girl's Garden?!" The Goat Girl has one of the most beautiful gardens in all the valley. She knows how to do what few can. She is such an amazing Gardener! The plan was an amazing success. My Jubilant Gardeness came alive chattering the foreign language of greenery while I watched giggling at my ignorance. The Goat Girl seemed to be enjoying the visit too as they exchanged gardening knowledge and growing prowess. Moonbeam ate spinach leaves and clung closely to me while the boys fed grass to her baby goats. I felt happy to make my friends happy :-)
The next day we drove to a far away lake so that her husband could make some good use and variety of his 2 day fishing license. For me, well it was an awe inspiring place. Crystal waters danced in front of rocky shores and sandy beaches. It had probably reached 80 degrees or more as we pulled into a secluded bay with a wooded picnic area. It was just perfect. We ate home made tortillas with chicken in the shade and then headed to the beautiful sand to play. The men headed out in boats. I could have stayed forever. My Jubilant Gardeness wasn't quite her ecstatic self. She's not a sun and water chic like I am, though she sat nearby covered in white towels smiling pleasantly. The children ran around wildly laughing and playing for hours. The "Fish Princess", who would later out fish the boys on several occasions, swam across the bay with me. The children feasted on water melons. "Sock Fashion Expert" an her "BFF" tanned near the peninsula. Idyllic.
That night my friends exhausted husband stayed home to sleep and study (as he was speaking the next morning at our local church) and the rest of the gang headed over to the local fire works display. They did them early here, so that people can go over to the next city on the 4th. What a nonstop marathon pace we were keeping!
The next morning, bright and early, we were cooking up a storm to get off to church in time. I knew we were going to have to get an afternoon of rest. Everybody needed it. The church was packed out and the message riveting. Goat Girls husband took it upon himself to decide we would be having a worship night at our place that night.... "What?!" We were all exhausted. "Worship night?!?" The house was a disaster. We'd been running and playing and the kids hadn't even been around to assign chores. Could we possibly pull off a music night with our company?!
I felt tired, but I knew that if people wanted to come over to worship who was I to stop them? Jubilant Gardeness is an incredible worship leader and her gift was being requested. I cleaned the house in a hurricane manner and my friend helped. The kids were off fishing and hiking and rightfully so. They deserved some fun time. The couch was brought into our monstrous dining room and table pushed back to facilitate a crowd. By the time Goat Girls husband showed up with his drum set I was layed across the couch in a rest deprived state of extreme exhaustion.... I couldn't hardly move I was so tired. Goat girl floated by to cut up a water melon. Friends started showing up. Yet I laid there, like a slimy slug stuck to a tomato leaf - lol.
Soon my dining room was packed out and I was beginning to question my own sanity. What was I thinking? My company is probably ready to keel over with exhaustion..... Then it happened. The worship began and with it came an outpouring of the Spirit. Jubilant Gardner played, her husband began sharing things that were on his heart about each person, and I found myself on the floor barely able to contain myself. It felt like rushing rivers pouring down on me that never stopped. People were singing, a child crying - overcome with Gods presence, miracles happening.......This gathering was God ordained. It just was. I don't think anybody was expecting it, and certainly nobody will forget it. A couple of small children especially - they inherited a language of love......................

After that, everything just seemed to flow together peacefully but fast. There was a lot of hiking on forest roads, some spades and unfortunately I was bitterly defeated losing my “Scrabble Queen status to The Jubilant Gardeness. Oh the agony. The kids had so much fun doing a day long river float. The boys hiked out to far away lakes to bring home aquatic gold aka fish.
One day the 3 older girls went on a hike up a mountain! BFF dropped down dramatically upon return and was carried into the living room where she was fanned, given water and had her toe nails painted. After that, dropping down dramatically became a favorite pass time of all though none received such royal treatment – lol!
The littlest Bodd boy liked bugging Miss Moonbeam and there was a good share of mischief between the two ;-) Super Catman also had his rival friend whom the kids blog named “Lightening Princess”. Oh she was such a cutie and what a good helper!
On the day they were supposed to leave, they postponed till the next…. Everybody was having such a good time! I took The Jubilant Gardner up to one of my huckleberry mountains and the evening was serene. They got a “great idea” of going to see the Cedar grove on the way out. As it ended up we spent half the day at the cedar park taking HUNDREDS of pictures! Its my friends favorite place. After that we headed over to the local pizza joint. It was sad to see them go, but I can honestly say that seldom have I ever seen any one ever lived up a week so richly ;-) It was most definitely a WEEK LONG WEEKEND.........

a GRRReat Weekend!

Elasta Woman and her girls played all day in the clay. Me? I'm just posing next to her lake pottery ;-)

Here she is baking it next to the fire.......

Looking for a good camping spot, Matthew guns it through a creek bed road.....

My husband did "pictograph" art with the little ones, using rocks to draw on rocks while the rest of us swam to and played on a nearby island......

As you can see, they LOVED it!

Moonbeam and her Daddy

Then the Daddies nap........

Us girls :-)

Can you see that pup is stalking Moonbeams string cheese?!

My kids - NONE of them wanted to leave!

What a wonderful weekend we had. I NEVER wanted it to end! Neither did the kids.....

After YEARS and YEARS of BEGGING to go to a Family Bible Camp near Glacier, it finally happened (well kind of). Our girls group had been praying for a while that God would move on our husbands in a special way fresh and new. Amazingly, some of our husbands agreed to make the trek over. Some of my kids weren't sure about it. As the day approached I kept earnestly praying it would be a good experience for everybody. So did Elasta Woman. Nobody made any plans till the last minute. I kept wondering if it would even happen.......

On that Saturday Morning we headed out. Goat Girl and her husband left the night before. Could we really be doing it?!? Yes we were! I was so excited. We got there at a decent time, but it took HOURS to find a camping place. The whole first side of the reservoir was completely blocked off except for camp grounds. None of us like to camp at camp grounds. It doesn't really seem like camping. To us, camping isn't sleeping 20 feet from a strangers tent. We just have to have more space. The family camp, itself, was out because there was no cooking on the premises and we didn't want to have to buy our meals. No swimming there either. After all kinds of detours searching, I was beginning to lose it. Only 2 hours to go before we'd have to leave again to make it to the evening meeting on time. I pulled out my Bible trying not to lament. Amazingly at just the right moment, my husband pulled into a boat landing on the back side of the lake and found an amazing private spot in the woods along the lake. It was beautiful and heavenly. There the lake was right in front of us along with nearby islands to swim to. It was private and nobody was close by. PERFECT.

We put up our tents in a hurry and warmed up some food. Elasta Woman told me we should plan a lot of fast and easy meals so we had spent hours preparing them the day before. After dunking in the cool waters, we felt like new people and the weariness of the day had past.

When we got to the meetings, we found our friends and The Sock Fashion Expert was thrilled to be with her BFF. The worship was great. I love taking the little ones up front to dance. I love good worship. The meeting was a bit different, so I hoped it would go over okay. One never knows how these kinds of meetings will go. Being in a rather free group has a lot of benefits - for one allowing God to move and freedom in the Spirit. I am and will always be a pentecostal girl. The draw back to them can be that the same freedom we have to worship God gives the freedom for people to do and say an assortment of allot of strange things that do not necessarily glorify God. I've spent most of my life loving The Liberty of the Spirit, but with the reservations to always sort out things that are said or done. I felt responsible for our friends and I wanted to make sure that they had a good experience. What would the outcome be?

That night our friends sent us home with a pile of food, so it was nice everybody could eat on the way back. Little tummies filled, fresh air played out, the little ones were all asleep in a hurry. We all slept like rocks. The Sock Fashion Expert was thrilled to stay with her BFF and planned to take in the day meetings......

The next morning was beautiful. I couldn't imagine any place I'd rather be waking up. I love camping like this. Elasta Woman wanted to play ALL DAY in the lake clay with extreme contentment. She formed all kinds of beautiful pieces and baked them on a rock near the fire. With much coaxing, she got me to make a piece. Rabbit, her daughter, even harvested me my very own clump. First I formed a very large piece of excrement, which I entitled "dung". Elasta Woman laughed. Next I crafted a smiling snake. When I brought it to cook on the rock, my husband mistook it for the first sampling which I had constructed. That was the extent of my potters hand...... Archer, Matthew and most of the other kids swam to the nearby island. Soon after my husband played with the little ones so us girls could too........

It was icy cold but we managed. The islanders immediately began chanting and yelling. At first I thought they were greeting us and cheering us on. Then I discovered they were trying to chase off their island - lol!! They had built a giant sand castle and were doing flips over it. Super Catman said "This is the best camping trip of my life!" Bravely, after minimal island explorations, Elasta Woman and I plunged back into the icy cold waters.........

Back at the meetings that night, I earnestly hoped that God would touch us all. We had come a long way and this would be our last one. The worship was wonderful...again. I loved the freedom of being up there with the little ones. The whole place seemed charged with Gods presence. Then the speaker, came up and started sharing. It was one of the best messages any of us had ever heard. He'd been brutally abused as a child and God was asking him to forgive. Scene by scene he took us through an amazing story of Gods love and restoring power. He held us speechless and there was not likely a dry eye in the building. Some how God had moved all of us in an amazing way. Driving back that night, I felt so so grateful. The little girls had been up front with hands lifted in the air worshipping God with me, and we weren't the only ones. All of us were deep in worship. The Sock Fashion Expert spent a lot of that worship time on her face. The men talked of depth all the way back while the rest of us either slept or were just speechless. Some how God had showed up there and touched us all in a unique way.....

The next morning nobody wanted to leave. The lake was so beautiful and serene. I wished somehow we could have made it to more of the meetings. Every reservation about coming was gone and replaced with a hunger for more. I'm so glad we got to share the weekend and the experience.......