Idaho Aug. 12, 2008

Check out http://www.mooseyoninn.com/ for a wonderful place to have a vacation. That is where I spent a few days last week. My brother Jeff and his wife Lois own it. It is just a "small" little cabin that is a dream come true for those who are lucky enough to stay there!! And this week mom and dad shared in that dream with us.

Varce and I picked our bedroom from the six that are offered. We opened our window and could hear all the night sounds. Coyote, the water, birds.... all night long. It was fabulous. And to make our sleeping hours more special was the knowledge that the bed we slept on was built by my brother. He has furished all of the rooms with his talent! You have to see it to believe it!

Lois and I got up early on Wednesday, about 5:45 a.m. and went out on the dock to watch the sunrise over the lake. I took over 200 photos in 30 minutes... and I can not possible share what it was like in person. Photos don't do it justice. You have to be there and listen to the sounds of the lapping water on the rocks at your feet. To hear the call of the birds in the tall pine trees as they are waking and taking flight and gathering food. To breathe the clean air, with the humidity, and see the fog roll across the top of the water. The sky changing colors every 1/2 second. Each moment more wonderful than the last. To feel the presence of Heavenly Father saying goodmorning to the world.

I could see a flock of geese taking flight over the water, but still low in the fog. I listened to them honking to one another as they flew by.

The view from the deck, just off the family room is breath taking. If you are lucky and very quiet a deer or elk will wander through the yard.

When Jeff and Lois were building their "cabin" we wanted to do something special for them. They are so willing to share all they have with us, and we wanted them to know how much we love and appreciate them. So Varce, with his talent, carved this sign for them. He drew the letters and the moose and started removing the wood that didn't belong there. Jeff finished the sign by putting the finish on it. Then he found the perfect wood to display the sign on. Jeff wandered through the forest and found this tree, and brought it home for the sign. It is in the front of their "cabin". Varce is very proud of this, and it is nice to know how much it is appreciated by someone who also loves to work with wood.

While we were there we road the 4 wheelers around Silver Hawk and saw many splendid cabins. The forest is healthy and alive with wildlife. We saw black fox with silver tips on their tails, and a deer. There are not adequate words to explain the beauty of this land. I am grateful to enjoy it with those I love.

On our drive home mom, dad, Varce and I stopped at Warm River and fed the fish.... something I did with my family and grandparents when I was a little girl. It was just as much fun throwing fish food and popcorn to the fish now as it was then.

I am just a girl in an old body after all!