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Or maybe a better metaphor is that a memory is like a piece of fine art. We acquire it -- sometimes at a cost -- and hang it in a beautiful place. We come back to admire it from time to time. And, as the years go by, it's value increases. Some memories are worth more than others.
Memories that involve my wife and children are the most valuable of all.
We've reached a new plateau in the life of our little family -- we are no longer burdened down with strollers and diapers, and we're more free to act spontaneously. This past weekend we picked up and headed to southern Utah, to make some memories.
We hiked and we sweated. We looked up at towering stone, and down from an island two-thousand feet in the sky.
We saw, distinctly, why the Green River is called Green.
We looked out over Martian landscapes.
We climbed all over the "Indiana Jones" arch (also known as Double Arch).
We watched the sun rise through Mesa Arch perched, quite literally, on the very edge of a 1,500 foot cliff.
(One of us walked across the arch, much to the consternation of his wife).
Sunday night, as we sat in the backyard, dusk coming on, the first day of school only hours away, and unwilling to let the weekend slip away, we started talking about our favorite memories of the previous two days.
It turns out it wasn't seeing this:
Or being here:
It was seeing this:
Together.
It was being here:
As a family.
It was Emma, inadvertently keeping me awake on the drive home, as she interpreted the lyrics to Bon Jovi's "It's my life."
("I ain't gonna be just a face in the crowd" became "I ain't gonna feed you the fish in the cloud.")
Forty hours yielded a lifetime of memories.
You know, that's not a bad investment at all.
29 comments:
THAT'S what life is all about.
Thanks for sharing.
Coooool. The whole post is just cool.
And now I have Memories running on a loop in my head. :)
Ahhhhh. Beautiful. :)
SO glad that you and your family enjoyed yourself.
Happy Photo Friday!
I love that Emma is coming over to the good side (The Utes). I saw her walking to school this morning with her half BYU, half Utah hat. I asked which team was hers and she said she like them both. I figure that is better than BYU. I need to get Raylee to spend more time with her. ;)
See. THIS is exactly what I'm talking about in my post. Making family memories.
I did get to see Delicate Arch when we were moving cross country. But I seriously almost died of heat stroke getting up that dang walk.
Stunning landscape. Beautiful family. I love the sunrise photo especially.
Did you have your whip with you, Indie??
your photos are amazing . . .
your storytelling is amazing . . .
your family is amazing . . . (but you already know that)
I guess you really have reached the plateau of life. oh I always love how you make analogs about your picture to the story
I always talk about that our kids won't remember how beautiful our house was and how weed free the flower beds were but they will always remember camping together.
So we do lots of it.
I need to drag my husband down there to do something besides golf. It's so beautiful and serene and you make it that much more tempting with your photos. And.... that song is one of my favorites! Great interpretation. LOL
That's the best kind of investment...the one that will actually matter. It really looks like y'all had the perfect family weekend.
That's just awesome!
I love your pictures as usual, and I always lean toward pictures with people in them.
Here's to making memories!!! :)
not a bad investment at all, what a great trip!
(My brother lived on Island in the sky for a year while he did his thesis on big horn sheep)
Stunning photos and an incredible story. You certainly made some great memories.
Lisa
You know, we'll often come back from a trip and ask everyone one by one what their "favorite part" was and soo many times it's NOT the main, big event we experienced, it was something small & simple or funny & spontaneous...and then I wonder, "WHY did we just go spend all that money on the BIG thing?" :)
P.S. I KNEW Jill would say something about Emma's UTES hat! As would my Ryan if he read your blog! :)
That's the best investment you can make. It will last for eternity!
I love going to Arches N.P. I have so many fond memories and you know they all rotate around who was with me. Thank you for the beautiful reminders of where my priorities should be!
My little picture that shows up with my name was actually taken in southern Utah. But it was at Goblin Valley. next time you want to take a great trip you should hit that one and Little Wild Horse Canyon (it's just up the road from the N.Park.
What a neat place to take your family! We don't have much in the way of spectacular views here in Indiana. But we like to make the most of family time, too.
Thanks for sharing the beauty with us!
again...not only are the photos fabulous, and I soooooooooo want to go there, but the sentiment is devine. :) you have the right idea, Chris. so glad you know what it is all about. :)
PS. I heart that first shot!
That was truly beautiful Chris. It looks like such a gorgeous place. I'm glad you and your family were able to visit it before school started for your children.
Big hugs!!
Those are the best weekends. Beautiful shots. I need to get out and visit my Dad and check that place out.
Wonderful, as usual, post, Chris. Beautiful pictures with meaningful words that do describe what is most precious.
Wow, wow, wow! What gorgeous shots. We've definitely gotta to head out there someday!!
Oh Chris, these are gorgeous. I am looking into flights from Orlando now... ;-)
You always manage to bring a tear to my eyes. I'm sure those memories are just as spectacular as those photos. Simply priceless.
Fantastic shots....oh and just think of all the caches you probably hiked right by. :)
That looks like so much fun! The prospect of a trip like that with my two little ones is just too daunting at present. But I am sure soon enough they will be old enough to take trips like this with us.
*drooling*....and more *drooling*
I need to go there.
I think you picked a fabulous place for wonderful, family filled memories. What a special weekend to have with your most favorite people.
Those pictures are beautiful - especially the GREEN river...never knew such a thing existed. Very cool.
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