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When the wind does pick up,
we know what to do then too.
Actually, Sterling does. He tends
to worry on the lake (there really
are things that can go wrong),
and he takes his responsibilities
as father and grandfather
seriously. He’s learned all the ins
and outs of water safety, he has
studied what to do in a storm,
and while he looks forward to
our Powell Trips just like the rest
of us, he carries the burden of
keeping us all safe.
It’s been interesting through the
years to watch the boys begin to
share this burden with him. As
each one has joined our family—
and joined us on our Powell
trips—he has invited them
to help him set up camp and
secure the anchors. When the
wind blows in, they join him in
tightening the lines and making
sure everything is as it should
be. Now we don’t even go to the
lake unless we have at least a
couple of sons-in-law with us,
and I love seeing him relax a
little more, knowing he’s not the
only one who knows what to do
when things get a little tense.
Wide Open Water, Wide
Open Schedule
Although in the past few years,
cell-phone availability has
become a consideration (although
not necessarily a priority), for
the most part, our time on the
lake remains appointment and
deadline free! While I always
bring along work, usually it is
nothing too time sensitive. I
know I’ll do what I can and I don’t
stress about the rest.
We wake up without alarm
clocks; we go to sleep when we
get tired. (Although sometimes
the conversation and company
is too good, so I put off bedtime
later than I should.) No soccer
or baseball games, no concerts
or recitals, no homework,
housework, or yard work! We
tend to have meals at a semischeduled
time (there’s nothing
really scheduled on the lake), just
so no one misses out, but other
than that, our schedules are as
wide open as the water we play in!
Fun, Fun, Fun in the Sun
One of the things we talk a lot
about at Stampin’ Up! is fun. In
our hectic, busy world, there is
real value in finding the fun things
in life and enjoying those things
as often as possible! At the very
heart of our commitment to our
Powell trips is the pure joy that we
experience, in our own little corner
of the world.
Few things are more enjoyable
than basking in the warm sun,
listening to the rhythmic sound
of water lapping at the shore, and
appreciating the breathtaking
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