This past weekend the kids and I traveled north to visit with Robert and partake in a little outdoor adventure. Coming together and creating memories is nothing new to our group. Camping, boating, scuba, surfing, hiking, biking, sightseeing, events like Nascar and Bike week, as well as the kids experiencing flying this past year are all things dear to our heart. Life is all about experiences and thankfully, Florida is our home so we can enjoy many of these things year round. But sometimes you have to get out of your backyard, go where you've never gone and do what you have never done before. So, Robert comes up with the idea to come up his way and play in the mountains. Let the kids experience snow and cold weather, snow ski a little, go wander in the Smokey Mountains. Immediately it sounded like a great idea but we are like the norm, what about money, time, experience, just how are we going to pull it off? All I can say is if you wait for the money or the time you will never gain the experience. I am not a rich man in a monetary sense but my values and my wealth come from those that surround me. Experiencing life and the nature surrounding you is not always about money. We will never look back and think about how much it cost but we will absolutely remember throwing the first snow ball, making a snow angel or waiting and watching the sun go down over the Smokey Mountains. That being said all things have a cost. That cost should not stop you from achieving those experiences. I damn sure don't have the funds for a huge ski trip but I do have friends and resources to help assist. In fact, I'm pretty sure that the biggest endeavors I have been given an opportunity to do have been by just saying "What do you think about doing this?", and then figuring out how to do it. The way I figure, once you say something you are pretty much obligated to do it. Thankfully, I have friends and family along the way. Friends and family to push me, support me and help "make it happen". Without them nothing is possible. So with borrowed jackets, friends covering for me, my love to take care of the dogs and the support of Robert we headed north to Maggie Valley. The memories we built are priceless. I'm sure everyone took away something different so I can only speak for myself but there were so many firsts for us. The first time snow skiing which leads to the first time taking a ski lift up the mountain. I can't explain the excitement, after several trips up, the first time we all glided off the lift and not one of us fell getting off. Definitely a high five moment! Sydney's excitement to make it all the way down without falling once is a big one. Driving up a mountain and seeing no other tire tracks in the snow as you head up is very cool but 10 degrees with a -30 wind chill when you get up there is downright cold. As a child I played in the mountains of upstate New York but it definitely was a first to play in the mountains with my kids and Robert. Exploring frozen waterfalls, playing with huge icecicles, Connor's excitement in those bits of frozen water with camera in hand looking to capture the perfect pic, driving from lookout point to lookout point trying to find the perfect spot for sunset in the Smokey Mountains and randomly stopping only to see an elk passing by are memories of a lifetime. I cherish my time with my kids and to be able to spend time making memories inspires me to be the best version of me I can. I come back excited for the next adventure and even more thankful for what I have. On a side note, those memories are wonderful but don't forget to document them. Pictures, video, journals, whatever works, just make sure to capture it. Pictures have been huge for me and I never realized how much I video taped until I recently starting a project converting them. In the past, I created an annual year in review to share those experiences. That lead to the first incarnation of this blog. Now with this new version I am hoping to not only share our journey but maybe, just maybe inspire others and along the way document it all so that my kids have something to look back at as they recall the adventure we all call life. My wish is for more of my family and friends to experience all that life has to offer and may we all continue to figure out ways to "Make it happen!" Until next time.....
