“A kid-free weekend…”
Shared by Breanne Smedley
This August, Brett and I arranged to have our first weekend without Charlee.
We were visiting his parents in Spokane for the week and decided to take a couple of days to go to Coeur d’Alene, then stay at a family friend’s cabin in Kellogg, Idaho.
Brett had been telling me about this cabin for years.
It belonged to Rick and Carol’s good friends and was nestled in the mountainside of Idaho, on a beautiful golf course.
Quiet. Secluded. Peaceful.
We were graciously offered to stay for two nights, and we're looking forward to having a weekend free of 5:30am wakeups and poopy diapers.
We took off from Spokane in the morning, leaving Charlee in the loving hands of her grandparents.
We arrived in the early afternoon, and spent some time checking out the cabin.
It was better than described. A kitchen that looked like it was out of a magazine, big open living and dining spaces, and a view of the golf course against the backdrop of the mountains.
We unpacked our bags and groceries, and did what we hadn’t been able to do for a while…
Took naps!!
When we woke up, we decided to start making dinner.
We began getting everything out and uncorked a bottle of wine when we heard footsteps outside.
There looked to be a walking path below, so we figured people were using that and would pass.
Until the footsteps got closer, and the voices sounded like they were right outside the front door.
Then, the sound of rustling around the lock.
Brett and I looked at each other, nervously.
Is someone trying to break in? What should we do?
We looked out the window and saw a family of five standing outside the door.
We decided to open the door, and were face to face with a man who looked just as confused as we were.
Me: “Hi! Can I help you?”
Man: “We are staying at this cabin for the next four days…”
Me: “Oh! So are we! Come on in!”
The man, his wife, and three children awkwardly entered the house.
Thoughts were racing through my head. The home is big enough, I think. Maybe we could figure out a way for everyone to stay. But, what if they don’t want to? Is that weird?
Me: “So, looks like we were double booked! I bet we could all fit though!”
The wife looked at her husband and said, “I’m going to wait in the car.” Then left with the kids.
Oh, awkward. Guess that’s a no.
The husband went on to tell us that they drove from Seattle, and that this trip was a surprise for his wife and kids.
Me: “I’m guessing you didn’t tell her we were part of the surprise?”
Not funny. Be a problem solver, Breanne!
He ended up joining his wife in the car and went to find a grocery store.
Brett and I were left to figure out what to do.
We couldn’t make them drive back to Seattle, and it wasn’t going to work out for all of us to stay together.
So, we packed up our groceries and bags and decided it was best to leave and let them enjoy the cabin.
I was tempted to get down and to engage in self-pity. In fact, I could have justified these feelings.
“But it was OUR first weekend without a kid!”
“We booked it first!”
“This weekend is going to suck now!”
But, the truth is that we have the ability to own our thinking and results in life.
I get the opportunity to choose how to respond in every situation that happens to me.
Yes, it was unexpected, but the weekend was not lost.
We were able to stay at a hotel in town and enjoyed hiking, gondola rides, golfing (and almost tipping a cart), relaxing, and connecting with each other.
Just like we hoped.
We also had something to laugh over, as we kept replaying our unexpected interaction with the family.
In reality, the expected is boring. It’s in the unexpected where the adventure lives. Where stories happen, and bonds are strengthened.
And that’s exactly what happened.
Thank you Grant and Nancy Miller for the experience!
#FiercelyOptimistic
#IntegrallyRelational
Comments
Post a Comment