We scheduled the last week-end of their visit to go someplace local and camp with them. The trip was to include our family of 6, aunt Ruth and uncle Steve, brother in-law and his daughter, my cousin Larry and his 2 boys and my cousin Ines and her 3 kids. We drove about 2 hours east to Lake Hemet which lies in the San Jacinto Mountains in California. We planned our meals, packed our bags and left Friday morning for a fun-filled week-end away. We lead the group of cars and drove up to Idyllwild where we were going to meet my aunt. They are early starters with no kids and therefore can just pack it up and go when ready. We on the other hand had to figure how to get 2 tents, 7 sleeping bags, food, ice chests, blankets, pillows, firewood, cooking utensils, lights, chairs plus bags with our clothes, into a suburban and still have room for 5 people. Thank goodness my cousin brought her truck and we put some stuff in the back.
We got to Idyllwild a little later than I would have liked but early enough to grab a bite to eat and then head the 10 minutes to our campsite. Check-in wasn't until 2pm so we had plenty of time. We arrived at the site about 2:30pm and after all the confusion about who paid for which site, we finally pulled into the spots and started unpacking. Excited we surveyed the area and figured the best place for the tents. Now I've been camping before and was a little worried about the sites we had. With so many kids, I could forsee injuries. There were big boulders in the middle of the site, and the fire rings were positioned kind of wierd. Then about 5 ft away from one of the pits was a water fountain about 2 feet from the ground. Now correct me but who puts a water faucet in the middle of a campground where people will be sitting and walking around, at night, around the fire. Anyway, we set up our camp and the guys took off to fish.
My cousin and I got ready to cook some burgers for dinner and my brother-in-law started the bbq. We were all relaxing when my phone rang at about 4:45pm. Now let me mention that Amber, my oldest, didn't drive up with us. Her boyfriend was working until 6pm and she wanted to stay home and wait for him so she could drive up with him. There was a discussion about how I wasn't too happy about this arrangement since the roads are narrow, windy and dark when they'd be driving up. I was also worried about her being home by herself because of the seizures she's been having this past year. She knew how important this trip was for me to spend time with family and not have to worry about anything. She assured me she would be fine and a friend was gonna "hang out" with her until Michel picked her up at 6:30. So anyway, my phone rings at 4:45pm and Amber says, "Mom, I locked myself out of the house." Uh.....what! I am 2 hours away, no one has a key to our house and there is no way to get in. Of course I went around and locked every single window before we left because I didn't want her to forget to lock them. As every mother does, the first thing I say is "I can't believe this Amber, I told you to come with us!" I told her she was gonna have to figure it out and that I didn't want anything broken or she was gonna have to pay for it. (Such a caring mom) We hung up and I called my husband whose at the lake relaxing to tell him. He packs up his gear and heads back to camp to try to figure out something for her to do.
Did I mention it's my birthday week-end? Happy birthday to me!
An hour goes by and finally, after the neighbor and her son try to help, I told my daughter she was gonna have to call a locksmith. She agrees and calls. Now it's 5:45 and she's called a locksmith. Her friend is still there because her car keys are inside the house as well. Michel is not out of work yet and I'm 2 hours away trying to have a good time. At 6:30 they are still waiting for the locksmith. At 7:00pm they are still waiting for the locksmith. Now I'm getting worried because I don't want them driving the mountain late, not to mention the front gate closes at 10pm. Finally at 7:15 the locksmith arrives and I think great, they should be leaving soon. At 8:00 the locksmith is still there and finally at 8:15 he's done, they wait until he is gone so he doesn't see them packing the car and they leave. Now we have to worry about a locksmith who now has the key to our house that's empty all week-end.
The kids leave at 8:45pm and it's a 2 hour drive which means they won't be there till close to 11pm. I still don't want them driving that mountain when it's pitch black. I remember that Robert's cousins live in Hemet, which is at the bottom of the hill. We ask if they can spend the night and they graciously agree. We call my daughter buy she said she felt uncomfortable because she doesn't really know them and Michel, being a guy, says he's gonna drive straight up tonight. We anxiously wait for their arrival. When they finally call to say they've arrived, we wonder how they made it so quick. I don't even want to ask! They guys walk to the front gate and bring them back to the site. Michel had to leave his car out front. We are all tired and go to bed for a good nites sleep.....NOT!
Between the howling coyotes, the freezing cold that I didn't expect and the fact that I have to pee, I can't sleep. At 1:30am, my phone rings and it's Amber. "Mom, I have to pee!" Are you serious Amber. Now you might ask why does a 22 year old have to tell you when she has to pee? Well, it's pitch black, the bathrooms were a short distance but with coyotes howling and no lights in the bathrooms, I wouldn't walk by myself either. That's what dad's are for. I wake up Robert and he's none to happy but gets ready to take her. I tell him I have to pee too and when I open the sleeping bag, I decide that I'll suffer the 5 hours till morning rather than brave the cold. BIG MISTAKE!!!!! It made for a looooong nite.
Finally, daylight and I get up to go to the bathroom. The day is new and we are all excited to be together. We make breakfast, clean up, walk to the lake with the guys and watch them fish, we sit and talk, laugh and relax. The older kids decide to go for a jog. All 5 of them. After awhile, 4 of them come back and announce that Karina, my 14 year old niece decided to walk back. After a while we notice she's not back yet so they go look for her. Then we hear the words WE CAN'T FIND KARINA. Uh....What! They go one way to look for and the guys come back from the market in the Suburban and say, "What's Karina doing all by herself?" My cousin goes to check on her and apparantley, her foot hit a hole while running and she sprained her ankle. INJURY #1 She gets iced up and sits for a few hours. We play games and get ready for dinner. It sure gets dark fast up there. Note to self....more lanterns next time.
While we are waiting for dinner to cook, my daughter's boyfriend locks his keys in his car. Really? There's no way to get into that car. (I guess the last time it happened he should've given me a spare) We get AAA to come out and unlock the car. While we are waiting for them to come however, Amber starts to go check out what's happening and trips over one of the stupid fire pits that is in an awkward spot. Without lights, it's hard to see and she lets out a yell and I freak out because I don't know if she's had a seizure, hit her head, broken something or what. Everyone runs to her and picks her up and she's wailing. No parent wants to see their child in that much pain. Thank God, Robert and Michel know a thing or two about first aid and medical stuff. They check her leg and after about 20 mintues determine it's not broken. They carry her to a chair and ice it. It took a good while for everyone to settle down from the excitement. By morning she was able to put some slight pressure on it. INJURY #2!
The second night is a little warmer and I make sure to make all the bathroom trips before I hit the sleeping bag. No coyotes and a decent night sleep! Up early the next morning. Church, breakfast and pack up. Somehow it went way too fast! I wondered why there were so many trials and tribulations during such a short period of time. I wondered how this trip would have been different if none of it had occured. After much thought, I realized that we were all being tested to see how we handle adversity and we passed with flying colors. Yes, there was a period on Saturday nite when I wanted to have it out with God! I wondered how much junk he could possibly put on such a young girl. I wondered why things always happen to Amber and asked him why he just couldn't cut her a break in life. Then on the way home, as I reflected on the week-end, I realized that maybe he was putting these things in her path to make her stronger. Maybe he was testing her to see if she could pass his test so that he could present her with all his blessings. I realized that it's not what happens in our lives, it's how we handle what happens. The trip could have been ruined Friday nite when she locked the keys in the house. I could have been so upset that it ruined my whole week-end. Then on Saturday, Amber could have sulked all night and ruined all our trip but just as in Amber spirit, which I love, she just picked herself up and smiled. She lets the stuff just role off her and moves forward. We all had fun and made memories that we'll never forget. We spent 3 incredible days with 2 people we only get to see every 2 years and made the most of that time.
Amber.."Did you ever know that you're my hero"
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