R & R

As posted previously, Tre and I took off on the 6th for a 4 day/3 night anniversary trip up to Port Townsend (PT), Sequim and Discovery Bay on the Washington Penninsula.

We left late afternoon on the 6th and made a leisurely drive up the peninsula, stopping at several state parks and soaking up as much of the scenery as possible. We arrived in Sequim in the late afternoon for our first ever stay at a Bed & Breakfast. I've always been a little leery of B&B's because I really have no desire to share space with strangers and make idle chit chat over breakfast. BUT...the B&B was lovely, breakfast conversation interesting and enjoyable not to mention that the breakfast itself was AMAZING! So, with full bellies, we set out to explore the area via geocaches. (Now, I do promise to dedicate an entire post to geocaching but for space sake and reading ease, I will leave that for later).

We spent most of our first day down by the water collecting seashells, cool rocks and pieces of sea glass. At one of our stops, we even had our very own black lab to play fetch with...and play fetch we did! I'm convinced this dog could play fetch for hours without every tiring. We threw the stick for an hour straight and the dog was still wanting to play! Crazy! In the early afternoon we decided to check into our cottage in Discovery Bay for the next 2 nights.

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The cool thing about Jenny's cottage is that it's where we spent the first 2 nights of our honeymoon before ferrying over to the San Juans...six years ago! Although ownership of the cottage has changed, it's still the same quaint place we remembered...no t.v., no phones and no Internet. Just the beach, the wildlife and the quiet! I walked for hours on the beach while Tre kayaked for the first time. We built fires on the beach in the evening as the sun set and sipped wine while we watched the colors in the sky change and the moon rise until the moonlight lit up the Bay. We saw seals, sea otters and birds in the water and watched every sunset with amazement and wonder. It's such a spectacular place and so completely relaxing...it's so nice to feel everything else melt away and be able to focus on the nature around and spend time with each other without all the distractions of the everyday.

Our last day we went into Port Townsend with the goal of completing the few remaining geocaches Tre had looked up for us to do. We took a hike up-up-up into the forest outside of Fort Worden State Park, we walked through the lush Chetzemoka Park while looking out at the ships and fisherman in the Sound and got some ice cream in the shopping district downtown. It was with great reluctance we left PT to return home.

We feel so blessed to have had such a rest full, relaxing and peaceful time away. If only all of life could be as blissful as those 4 days were....

The Groveland Cottage B & B

The view of the gardens and creek from the private balcony off our room

Early morning coffee and tea is served at 7 AM. I took my cup of tea and sat outside on the deck, admiring the Olympics and the bliss of sunrise.

The Blue Hole quick stop market which sold an eclectic mix of beverages (including nice wines), local jewelry and snacks and also provided several seating areas to relax in while enjoying the company of a local furry resident.

On the beach in Port Townsend (PT) where we watched huge ships travel through the sound, looked out across the water to local islands and searched for shells and cool rocks on the shore.

The view of Discovery Bay from the porch on Jenny's Cottage. One of my all time favorite places in the world!

The wicker furniture on the porch at Jenny's Cottage...a great place to read, watch the water and sip on wine!

Tre kayaking at dusk in Discovery Bay at the beach by Jenny's Cottage...amazing, huh?

A sunset Discovery Bay style!

The fireman hard at work...starting a fire?!?

Happiness & Heaviness

Hello blog world! It's been a LONG while since I've posted something! I can't say that nothing has been going on, because so much has been, it's just that I'm just a lazy blogger...and remember I warned you about that when I first started this blog. So, I'm back in the saddle again...


HAPPINESS

While it hasn't been the summer of my dreams in terms of lazy days, camping, hiking, bike riding and all the other fun stuff I LOVE to do, I've gotten in a few weekends of relaxation here and there. Honestly, one of my favorite memories of the summer was a weekday I was cancelled at work and Tre and I went to throw the Frisbee at Vancouver Lake park. We were both barefoot, with lush cold green grass under our feet and when we got tired of chasing the Frisbee we laid down in the grass on our backs and watched the cottonwood fuzzies floating in the sky above and chatted about inconsequential things and told jokes. While I wish all days were as savory as that one, it was definitely a highlight in what has been an exhausting summer with starting a new job and the emotional load that comes with it...but more on that later.

Just last weekend I had the pleasure of meeting Claire Fortner. She's the new snugly family member who has turned my friends Jeff and Michelle into parents. She's almost 6 weeks old now and has begun her "fussy" stage. She's cute as a button and I really enjoyed meeting this new little soul! I took a few pics when I was there...to me, they are hilarious and pretty self explanatory! Ah, diapers! ;)


















HEAVINESS
I knew that my job was, at some point, going to become emotionally difficult. After all, I'm dealing with people who are battling cancer and unfortunately, cancer is still a formidable disease to get. For every one success story, there are multiple losses. While there have been many deaths in my short time at this job, in the last few weeks several of these deaths have become difficult for me to manage emotionally, due to my bond with the patient. I see many of the same patients week after week, I become a part of their life while they are receiving treatment. I hear about their lives, jobs, hobbies, hopes, struggles and I meet their families..mothers, brothers, sisters, children, grandchildren. In turn I answer their questions and share myself and my life with them. That makes it all the more difficult when I hear about a hospice referral or a demise of one of these patients whom I know, have cared for and have invested in. It hits my heart hard. I realize all they are dealing with...the goodbyes, the uncertainty and the fear of what lies ahead, knowing they will be leaving dear ones behind. It's overwhelming! And while I cannot change the course their disease has taken, answer the question of "Why me?" or take away the sadness and anger they feel, I can hold them in my thoughts and learn from the courageous way in which they fought for their life while keeping a smile on their face. I expected to grieve for my patients when I took this job and I know that while the emotional aspect will not change, my coping and processing of it will. As hard as this is for me right now, I know that I am doing what I should be doing...that I am meant to be the nurse for these patients.


MORE HAPPINESS
It's always good to use the "sandwhich approach"...happy, heavy, happy! That way you end on the upbeat! This weekend Tre and I are taking off to enjoy 4 days to celebrate our 6th wedding anniversary! I can't believe it's been six years already! And while our marriage journey has certainly NOT been easy, it's been enriching and gratifying. We're headed up to Port Townsend, WA...to the same little cabin we spent the first few days of our honeymoon in. We've planned some great geocaches in the area, a hike up Hurricaine Ridge in Olympic National Park and definitely some much earned R & R! My parent's were kind enough to watch our furry kids, so we're solo this weekend which adds to the bliss of it all! I hope to get a post-anniversary blog with pictures up soon after our return!