Growing up...on a Tuesday

Growth

: to become larger : to increase in size, amount, etc.

: to become better or improved in some way : to become more developed, mature, etc.

: to become larger and change from being a child to being an adult as time passes

It's Memorial Day weekend (just kidding it's Tuesday. I started this last Thursday), and if you're from the Midwest, you know that this is the kick off to our growing season.  This weekend, we went to Grace's Grandpa Giant's house to help him start his garden, and then spent time on Memorial Day getting our own garden ready.  It's so exciting, to look at a barren plot of dirt at the end of May, and visualize what it will look like at the end of August.  So much potential.

When I was younger, the physical process of growing was so amazing and obvious.  There were some mornings I'd put my feet on the floor, stand up and realize I had literally grown overnight.  I think there were times when my parents were quietly freaking out about my growth..."5'8, 5'8.5, 5'9 will it ever end?! Did we birth an Amazonian?!" (It did end, after I eclipsed them both and made it my life's work to find pants with extra long inseams.)  Exciting and scary as it was, those inches don't come easy.  Growing pains.  You feel me right? Those achy pains in your legs that keep you up at night...and then one day, they stop.  You have hit your last growth spurt, and you are a person grown. 

I found myself in awe of Grace the other day, marveling over her growth as I always do.  You may have seen her swinging from the playground monkey bars...ikr?

I found myself in awe of my sister Anna the other day, marveling over her beauty, her growth, her maturity as she prepares to graduate high school next week. I could cry just thinking about it.

These girls--one just starting her journey, one on the precipice of adulthood--they are so lovely, so full of potential, they are growing up perfectly right in front of my eyes. I couldn't be prouder. As an older sister and mother, I am so excited for all of the lessons they get to learn as they continue to grow.

I'm also terrified, because just like my achy legs kept me up as a teen, the growing pains of our spirit...oh those can hurt. 

What is growth?  What does that word mean to you? 

I had to do a lot of growing recently.  I had a baby, and then I had wicked, wicked Postpartum Depression. Knocked me on my ass, streaming tears, put me in a loony bin kind of sh*t. It was like God stripped away the veneer of my life and showed me how high the stakes are underneath.  You think it's all about straight teeth and clean floors? Girrl, I'll show you... He also showed me it's not actually my job to manage all that stuff. I'm still dealing with residuals of it, though. And it's been tough. So this topic of growth, it's become an obsession to me. I have to know that the struggle I've faced is for some greater good. I tell you this not for sympathy, but to lend some legitimacy to the depth of my fascination with this topic of growth. What is the point of all this, anyway? I should have earned a doctorate in growth this past year and a half -- Erin E. S. Nycz, new mother and over-comer of Crazytown, PhD. And yet, I know I'm still at the very beginning.

Yesterday someone asked me if I was still in high school and I wanted to open mouth kiss her. Grow up, not old.  Seems I have more in common with Peter Pan than just my physique...

I'm lucky I have a husband/best friend who I can talk to and confide in, who knows my intricacies and can talk my noisy brain back to peace and rationality.  I'm lucky I can journal and write and pray when my spirit is so uneasy I can hardly function.  I'm lucky I have a Dr. who has been in a similar spot as me and shoots me a few Ambien when things get really messy. How do you deal with your growing pains? Do you stay up at night like me, held hostage by your mind?   Do you punch one of your friends two weeks before graduation because the anticipation of the future is manifesting itself in a big, physical way?  Do you sit quietly and process, no one ever to be the wiser?  Do you cry over an old white T shirt while cleaning out your closet? Or do you make a huge mess of your life, and have to pick up the pieces once the lesson is learned?  Those are the people who make me want to say oh, GROW UP already! Happens to all of us, though, I suppose.  I bet someone's even thought that about me.  Probably Eric. Probably when I tell him old auto show stories (and then we actually balanced the pint glass on my a*$...not amused?!) Anyway, I was around people recently who made me think, please for the loveofeverythingholy grow up!  And it gave me pause...to wonder what growing actually is when you're supposed to be a grown-up. And instead of getting judgey and annoyed, maybe I should be a little more understanding.  These lessons, this life...it's hard.

We plant seeds in soil and tend to them, making sure their environment is just right--Grandpa Giant starts his plants in his basement in February, and checks them daily to ensure they get just the right amount of water and light.  (We're waiting for the Feds to show up - to make sure his "green" is legal...) Then we take those seedlings and tenderly plant them in the earth, waiting for just the right temperature, we cover them if it's cold, we water, we weed...we set the stage to make sure they flourish.
 
Why don't we make more of an effort to do that for each other?  We're all going to fall, we're all going to fail.  Wouldn't it be better to do in an environment that provides a soft landing?

Teeny tiny stones are not that soft, but they are slightly softer than bark, which is much softer than concrete. I've learned this recently.

It's especially hard to navigate as an adult, when all the metrics we've become accustomed to measure our growth are long gone.  As children, there are report cards, progress reports, a yearly physical, all to make sure our growth is on track.  She socializes well but she's got a little work to do in math... In college, the progress reports become a little less about you and little more about the work you're doing in your field of study.  And then, in adulthood, good frickin' luck. I'm reminded of a recent scene from Mad Men when, after being told to fill out her own evaluation form, Peggy stands before Don's desk and demands an evaluation from him.  I hear ya, Pegs.  I want to know if I'm on the right track too.  Tell me if I'm doing it right!  I never hear exactly what I'm hoping for. But then I look at Grace's sweet face, or an old photograph of my college friends, or return a text message to my sisters that makes me laugh out loud, and I have my answer.

I was talking with Anna about her future plans and she said something that really stuck with me...that she has so many choices, all leading down different paths...how to choose?  Which one is right? 

Maybe the best way to grow is to take the pressure off ourselves to have it figured out.  You want to be a journalist?  Get it girl.  You want to run a marathon? Slay it my friend.  You want to enjoy your life with people that make you happy, growing into your role as a wife/husband/mother/father/daughter/sister/friend?  Me too.  Maybe that's all there is to it.  Maybe this is normal. 

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#Lifehack 20 Tanda Kamu Sukses Dalam Hidup - 20 Signs You're Succeeding in Life

Hai! 

Beberapa minggu terakhir ini, 

aku sangat tergila-gila dengan salah satu website

http://www.lifehack.org

Mungkin banyak yang sudah mengetahui website ini, 

tapi buat kamu yang belum tahu, 

aku sarankan kamu untuk segera klik link di atas 

dan segera baca artikel-artikel mereka yang sangat menginspirasi. 

Selain itu, hal lain yang menyenangkan dari lifehack.org 

adalah kamu bisa membuat account pribadi kamu <save post>

untuk menyimpan artikel-artikel yang menurut kamu penting 

atau ingin kamu baca berulang kali. 

Jadi saat kamu ingin membaca artikel tersebut, 

kamu tidak perlu repot-repot mencarinya. 

Tapi bisa mendapatkannya  langsung di account pribadi kamu. 

Sungguh sangat menyenangkan! 

well, setidaknya menurut aku. 

ehehehe� 

Kemarin malam, 

ketika aku sedang membaca-baca artikel lifehack.org 

ada salah satu artikel yang sangat menarik perhatianku. 

judulnya adalah : 

20 signs You're Succeeding in Life Even if you Don't feel you're

-20 Tanda apabila kamu sukses dalam hidup, bahkan bila kamu tidak menyadarinya- 

Jadi sesuai dengan judulnya, 

 Artikel ini memberikan 20 ciri atau tanda apabila kamu sukses dalam kehidupanmu, 

walaupun terkadang kamu masih sering merasa kurang, 

belum mempunyai mobil mahal, dan sebagainya. 

Singkatnyam artikel ini memberikan kamu ciri atau tanda kesuksesan dalam 

kehidupan pribadi kamu. 

Ciri atau tanda tersebut adalah: 

1. Hubungan kamu tidak sedrama sebelumnya. 

Hal itu menandakan apabila 

kamu sudah mulai dewasa daripada sebelumnya. 

karena kehidupan yang penuh drama, 

 menandakan kamu belum dewas. 

2. Tidak takut lagi untuk meminta bantuan atau dukungan. 

 Kamu sadar bila meminta bantuan atau dukungan 

bukanlah tanda kamu lemah, 

melainkan tanda kamu semakin bertumbuh. 

 Pada akhirnya kamu tahu  bila manusia tidak bisa hidup sendiri 

dan malah membutuhkan kerja sama yang baik untuk mencapai suatu tujuan. 

3. Standarmu meningkat.

Kamu sudah tidak dapat lagi menoleransi 

prilaku negatif dari sekitar.  

Kamu tahu apabila hal itu 

hanya akan membuang-buang energi dan waktumu. 

4.Melepaskan hal-hal yang membuatmu tidak merasa baik. 

Melepaskan hal-hal yang membuatmu tidak merasa baik

 artinya kamu lebih mencintai dirimu sendiri. 

Dan tindakan itu bukanlah narsis,  

melainkan tanda sukses. 

Karena kamu berani menolak hal-hal 

yang tidak membuatmu bahagia atau tidak sesuai dengan tujuan hidupmu. 

5. Menghargai orang yang kamu lihat di cermin. 

Sudah merupakan suatu keharusan 

untuk mencintai diri kamu sendiri. 

mengapa? karena kamu luar biasa. 

6. Belajar bila kemunduran dan kegagalan 

adalah bagian dari pengembangan diri.

Kamu sudah menyadari

apabila dalam hidup ada saat dimana kita berada diatas 

dan juga masa dimana kita berada dibawah. 

Jadi kamu juga menyadari apabila kemunduran dan kegagalan 

adalah bagian dari perjalanan hidup. 

7. punya pendukung, termasuk orang-orang 

yang akan melakukan apapun untuk kamu 

Kamu memiliki orang-orang yang akan selalu berada dibelakangmu

dan sedia memberikan bantuan kapanpun kamu butuh. 

Bahkan kamu juga mampu mengetahui siapa 

yang bertingkah seolah-olah selalu siap untuk membantumu.

orang-orang yang suatu hari 

akan mengkhianatimu, 

jadi sebaiknya kamu menghindari mereka. 

8. tidak banyak mengeluh 

Kamu  telah sadar bila sesungguhnya 

tidak ada hal yang dikeluhkan dalam kehidupan sehari-hari. 

kecuali apabila kamu mengalami hal yang sangat buruk. 

Sebaliknya, daripada kamu mengeluh, 

sekarang kamu justru menyelipkan

 rasa syukur dalam setiap harinya.  

9.Bisa merayakan kesuksesan orang lain 

Kamu tidak lagi berpikir bila keberhasilan orang adalah kegagalanmu. 

Sebaliknya kamu bisa merasakan gembiraan atas keberhasilan orang lain. 

Dan apakah kamu tahu? 

Semakin kamu merasa gembira atas keberhasilan orang, 

semakin besar energi yang akan kembali pada dirimu. 

10. memiliki passion- hal yang kamu sukai untuk kamu raih 

Kamu memiliki passion-hal yang kamu sukai untuk diraih 

dan nantikan akan memberikan kontribusi kepada dunia.

11. mempunyai hal yang kamu nanti-nantikan 

orang sukses umumnya memiliki gol yang mereka gemari 

dan sangat bersemangat untuk mencapainya. 

Hal inilah yang membuat mereka semangat pada setiap harinya. 

12. Mempunyai gol- tujuan yang telah tercapai 

Di dalam hidupmu ada kegagalan, 

namun kamu  juga ada impian yang telah tercapai. 

kamu sudah pernah merasakan kemenangan 

dan hal tersebut menjadi tenaga 

untuk meraih mimpi-mimpi selanjutnya. 

13. Memiliki empati untuk sesama

Tanpa ada perasaan empati, 

kamu hanyalah seonggok daging. 

Memiliki empati berarti kamu menyebarkan 

cinta dan juga energi positif kepada dunia. 

14. Mencintai dan membuka diri untuk dicintai 

Cinta itu adalah hal yang riskan. 

Cinta hal yang kita cari 

namun juga dekat dengan hal yang kita takuti yaitu penolakan. 

sehingga apabila kamu berani memberikan hatimu untuk mencintai 

dan terbuka untuk dicintai, kamu sukses. 

15. Menolak untuk menjadi 'korban' 

Ketika keberuntungan tidak berpihak pada dirimu, 

kamu menolak untuk terus terpuruk pada keadaan tersebut

 dan merasa menjadi korban. 

melainkan memilih untuk bangkit dan menahlukan keadaan tersebut. 

16. Tidak peduli apa yang orang lain pikirkan 

Kamu sadar apabila kamu tidak dapat membahagiakan semua orang. 

oleh karena itu, kamu memilih untuk menjadi dirimu sendiri, 

tanpa terlalu memikirikan apa pendapat orang tentang diri kamu.

17. Selalu melihat dari sisi positif 

Tak jarang terjadi hal-hal yang mengecewakan dalam hidup. 

tapi kamu memilih untuk melihatnya dari sisi positif, 

salah satunya dengan belajar dari pengalaman buruk tersebut. 

18. Menerima ada hal yang tidak dapat kamu ubah

Kamu mulai sadar bahwa ada hal-hal yang tidak dapat kamu ubah. 

terhadap hal tersebut, 

kamu mulai menyadari bahwa yang bisa kamu 

lakukan adalah mengubah cara pandangmu dari negatif mejadi positif. 

19. Merubah apa yang bisa kamu ubah 

Kamu merubah apa hal-hal yang

 berada disekitarmu menjadi lebih baik. 

karena orang sukses tidak mungkin berdiam diri saja. 

20. Kamu bahagia 

Bahagia adalah kesuksesan yang utama. 

tidak peduli seberapa banyak uang yang kamu miliki, 

semegah apa rumahmu, 

apabila kamu merasa bahagia. itu tandanya kamu sudah sukses. 

Semakin banyak point yang sudah kamu lakukan, 

berarti semakin sukses kamu dalam kehidupan pribadimu. 

Aku sendiri merasa sudah melakukan beberapa hal, yaitu : 

Belum untuk no 1, karena aku single

Ya untuk 2-15 

Belum untuk nomor 16 

- karena aku masih sangat peduli pada pendapat orang tentang diriku  

17-19 ya� 

20 - terkadang, 

karena ada kala dimana aku merasa kurang bahagia. 

Bagaimana dengan kamu? 

berapa banyak yang kamu 'Ya' dan kamu 'Belum'

Dan jangan ragu untuk 

sekedar tegur sapa dengan aku 

email : karizza.rakmavika@gmail.com 

twitter : @rakmavika_girl 

Instagram : zsa_rakmavika  

***

SNEAK PEEK : 

Hi! 

i just want to share that 

lately i really enjoy reading articles from 

http://www.lifehack.org

All of them really inspiring <3 

maybe many all of you already know this website,

but for all of you who still don't know this website, 

i suggest you to check them out, 

because  all of them really inspiring <3  

one of my favorite is 

20 signs youre succeeding life even you dont feel you are

this article tell you signs succeeding on personal life. 

so read it 

and count how many 'yes' and 'yet' you got. 

for me : 

yet for no.1 - cos i still single 

yes for 2 -15 

yet for no. 16 - cos i still care about what others think about me 

yes for no. 17-19 

some times for 20- cos there is moment when i don't happy. 

how about you? 

and feel free to contact  me  by 

email : karizza.rakmavika@gmail.com 

Twitter : @rakmavika_girl 

Instagram : zsa_rakmavika 

  

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Apa Sih Arti Sukses ? - What Is Success ?

Post-an kali ini 

aku buat untuk menasehati diri aku sendiri. 

Beberapa hari atau bahkan minggu belakangan ini, 

aku selalu merasa kalau diri aku -sedikit ?- tidak berguna. 

Aku mulai membanding-bandingkan diri aku dengan orang lain disekitar. 

Ada teman aku yang kelahiran '92 

sudah memiliki perusahaan yang dibangun dengan jerit payahnya sendiri, 

tanpa bantuan dari orang tua. 

Selain itu, teman aku lainnya, kelahiran '93 

berhasil menjadi mahasiswa berprestasi di Indonesia, 

memenangkan penghargaan dari lomba internasional, 

dan saat ini sedang menjalani pertukaran pelajar di Negri Sakura. 

Melihat semua prestasi mereka, 

aku merasa semakin terpuruk. 

Dibanding mereka, aku sudah lebih tua. 

Tapi aku merasa tidak ada apa-apa. 

Belakangan ini hanya disibukkan dengan mengerjakan tesis 

untuk menyelesaikan program Magister yang sedang aku jalani. 

aku benar- benar merasa terpuruk. 

Rasanya orang-orang disekitarku jauh lebih baik daripada aku. 

Aku tidak ada apa-apanya dibanding mereka.

kalau dibuat pepatah, aku merasa bila 

rumput tetangga lebih hijau. 

Ya�, 

aku merasa mereka jauh lebih sukses dari pada aku, 

aku tidak ada apa-apanya dibandingkan mereka. 

apa kamu pernah merasa seperti itu?

merasa seperti yang aku sedang alami? 

atau ...

bahkan kamu sedang mengalaminya saat ini? 

Saat itu,  

aku merasa begitu kecil. 

Aku pernah membaca #88LoveLife 

88 Thoughts on Love and Life 

yang di tulis oleh Diana Rikasari

we often hurt the joy of life by saying, 

"The grass is greener on the other side". 

but green comes in many shades, 

to accommodate each of our likings 

and suitability.

so be comfortable with our choice of shades, 

as dark green is not always better than lime green.  

Yang artinya kurang lebih adalah 

Kita sering menyakiti suka cita kehidupan 

dengan menyatakan "Rumput tetangga lebih hijau". 

Tapi warna hijau memiliki banyak tingkah warna, 

untuk mengakomodasi setiap kegemaran dan kesesuaian dari diri kita. 

Jadi merasa nyamanlah dengan tingkah warna yang kita miliki, 

karena hijau gelap belum tentu lebih baik daripada hijau jeruk limau. 

Ketika membaca untaian kalimat itu, 

yang terlintas dalam pikiranku adalah 

'Ah! Kalimat yang bijaksana!' 

tapi aku tidak pernah benar-benar 

memahami apa makna yang sebenarnya. 

alhasilnya walaupun sudah membaca kalimat yang bijaksana itu, 

aku masih merasa bahwa diri aku tidaklah sesukses teman-temanku. 

tapi setelah membaca lagi beberapa buku, 

aku jadi mengerti arti dari pemikiran- Thought 

yang ditulis oleh Diana Rikasari. 

Karena pada dasarnya sukses itu, 

Bukanlah menjadi yang terbaik diantara semua orang yang ada disekitar kita- atau bahkan dunia ini, 

melainkan menjadi versi terbaik dari diri kita sendiri. 

Mengapa begitu? 

Mungkin banyak dari teman-teman yang bertanya seperti itu. 

karena 

Karena setiap dari diri kita diciptakan oleh-Nya 

dengan keunikan masing-masing. 

kita semua memiliki penampilan, 

pikiran, perasaan, tindakan, kepribadian,

 bakat, talenta, dan kemampuan yang 

berbeda-benda. 

Tidak ada yang seorangpun yang sama persis dengan diri kita. 

Setiap dari diri kita memiliki tujuan hidup yang berbeda-beda. 

Jadi jangan bandingkan 

kesuksesanmu dengan kesuksesan disekelilingmu, 

melainkan teruslah berusaha menjadi versi yang terbaik dari diri kamu sendiri. 

jadi mungkin seperti itulah yang dimaksud dengan Diana Rikasari. 

kita semua memiliki tingkat kehijauan 

yang sesuai dengan diri kita masing-masing. 

sekali lagi aku ucapkan untuk teman-teman. 

DAN DIRIKU SENDIRI. 

"JANGAN BANDINGKAN KESUKSESANMU DENGAN KESUKSESAN DI SEKELILINGMU, 

MELAINKAN TERUSLAH BERUSAHA MENJADI VERSI TERBAIK DARI DIRI KAMU SENDIRI " 

YEAY! 

semoga tulisan aku hari ini 

bisa memberikan pemikiran baru buat teman-teman 

dan jadi lebih menikmati hidup. 

Sampai jumpa dipemikiran aku yang selanjutnya ya.

kalau mau berkomunikasi lebih lanjut bisa hubungi aku : 

email : karizza.rakmavika@gmail.com

Twitter :@rakmavika_girl 

instagram : zsa_rakmavika 

***

SNEEK PEAK

 - English Version-

There is a famous proverb said that 

'The Grass is greener on the other side.'

it's means that others people more successful than us. 

and it's often makes us feel upset about ourselves.  

but one thing you should realize, 

success is not about becoming the best! 

success is about becoming your self-best. 

Why? Because 

we are unique, we are costume-made by God. 

There is no one in this world who looks, thinks, 

feels, and acts the way you do, 

have personality, gifts, talents, and abilities like you. 

so every one have their own life purpose. 

that why 

don't compare ur success with others success, 

but be the best of your self. 

That is my personal thought. 

 

Feel free if you want to chit chat with me 

you can contact me by

email : karizza.rakmavika@gmail.com 

twitter : @rakmavika_girl 

instagram : zsa_rakmavika 

***

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Rekomendasi Buku : Glancing Through Life oleh Christie Kanter #Part Hardship - Kesulitan

Di antara beberapa bagian dari buku  Glancing Through Life, 
bagian Hardship - kesulitan ini adalah salah satu bagian favorite aku. 
Kenapa ya? Mungkin karena waktu membaca bagian ini, aku benar-benar sedang menghadapi kesulitan di dalam hidup. ehehe� 

Berikut kutipan-kutipan favorite aku dari bagian #hardship - kesulitan : 

- FACING HARDSHIP -

I believe that we are born with the capacity to endure hardship 

just like we are born with the capacity to give and receive love. - 

Time of challenge will be ever present 

in our loves because it is meant 

to teach us about something. - 

I personally think that hardship is life's 

main 'weapon' in providing us with the greatest lessons in living. - 

when hardship is hard to endure, 

it is often not because of the circumstances around it, 

but because of humans inability to wait for the reason and solution. -

A certain amount of hardship is given to you 

in order for you to learn a certain amount of patience 

and develop your character. - 

People still think that hardship is the opposite of happiness. 

however, to me it is actually a prelude to happiness. 

hardship is like a transitory state for us 

before reaching happiness through blessings. -

Just like the tree that is firmly rooted and has sailed through winds and storms, 

the strongest and greatest character in us is grown through hardship. - 

Certain hardships need to happen at the right time in our lives 

because the lesson they carry will bring us exactly to the state 

and point in life as has been destined for us. - 

 Try to stay posit if in the midst of hardship 

with all of your power, might, and best effort. 

Being and staying positive do not mean 

that we are in denial of existence of hardship, 

it simply means that we believe there is something greater than our hardship.- 

we will not be given a portion of hardship alone without 

another portion of power and competence to overcome it. - 

When you think that your current hardship is like a high mountain 

that is hard to climb, 

stop focusing on the mountain and start to find the right 'gear' to help you 

eventually reach the top of the mountain. -

Hardship enhances our life journey, 

without it we will not able to arrive at the proper destination. - 

Make an effort to not let your hardship be stronger than you. 

it will not be easy, 

but for sure it will be rewarded. - 

Read more

It's Turks time!  Finally! At the end of March, my parents rented a beautiful home on Chalk Sound on the island of Providenciales in Turks and Caicos, and invited my band-of-wildlings sisters, our husbands, our Gracie, and a Schuette cousin to join them in paradise. I'm so excited to share these glorious photos and wonderful memories with you, my loyal readership. Before we get there, you should know that this post will function as a giant thank you to my parents for their generosity and accommodation.  We have all contributed some thoughts and a few favorite memories that wouldn't have been possible without the benevolence of Tami and Hanser, aka Mimi and Papa.  



Without further adieu, we're opening with the big guns, the photographer extraordinaire, my hunky hunk....ERIC:

It would be impossible to distill this trip down to one moment, but I'll try.  There are no direct flights to Turks.  And with a 1 year old, we chose to fly out of the nearest, local airport.  That meant 3 flights to get there.  With a 1 year old.  She was great.  But...

 




















You arrive in Turks on the tarmac.  It's basically a short highway and a control tower.  That's the airport.  And it's hot.  Oh so wonderfully hot.  But with jet fuel exhaust. There are 24,000 people on Provo.  And they all operate on "island time."  And there is a shortage of rental cars.  I swear, everyone at the rental counters were wearing this T-shirt.

So, Erin, Grace and I roll off the tarmac with suitcases, baby seats, strollers, cameras... We aren't getting a rental car and a taxi to our pad will cost $12,421.00 (all numbers approximate).  Then up drives HANS! in a clown car, er, red Chevy Sonic.  After squeezing us all in (an exquisite performance), we took the 15 minute drive to paradise.  Perfect day.  Perfect calm on the water.   We got out the toys (SUPs, Kayaks, floaties for Grace).  A few hours later, as the sun was setting, I was floating (salt content was high) in the Sound with my sisters and wife - Grace was up on the hot tub deck with Grandma and Grandpa.  I'll never forget that feeling of utter contentment.  Utter calm.  Perfect tranquility.  We were literally talking about it - how ridiculous that moment was - which is pretty odd in my experience, to recognize something that special in the moment it is happening.  And, as perfect as it was, it was even more perfect because we went through 3 flights, a blistering tarmac, and a tiny rental car to get there.  Most of the time in life it's the journey.  But sometimes, it's the journey AND the destination.

^ That's real.  We really saw that and stayed there.  Thanks for the memories Eric! Next up, ginger number 2, ALEXIS:

She's got the best teeth in the family. Aren't they great?  She's such a beauty.

My favorite memory from Turks would have to be the first day we arrived. We started out going to the local grocery store with Dad right after he picked us up from the airport. We bought a $20 6 pack of Coors light, Ragu and noodles for dinner, and 6 bags of chips that lasted until the next day. (I just need to interject here...we normally don't eat things like noodles with Ragu sauce, but pickin's were slim at the discount grocery store.  Very slim.)  We got to the house that was absolutely beautiful and were reunited with our family we hadn't seen since Christmas. The view was breathtaking, the house was magnificent, and knowing we were all going to be together for the next week without interruption felt so good. The weather and the Sound were absolutely perfect and the rest of the day was picture perfect. I'm so thankful for all my memories from vacation, but my favorite part is having my family experience them together.

Thanks Al, well done!  And thanks for letting Grace tie the arms of sweaters around your neck and drag you around like Georgia. That was a great game.  Up next, allow me to introduce you to my new baby brother -- Stuart J. R. Olson, everybody! We're glad to have you on board, sir!  STU'S favorite memories include:

I'm new here.

The late night out on the hot tub deck with just the kids...because I don't
get to spend very much time with you all, golfing with Hans and our initial trip to the grocery store where apparently you have a super loud dj playing music when there's a sale, (and apparently
$65 is a sale on Bacardi!)



The orchestra night when Karen was directing everyone and telling them when to sing, (but then taking all of the awesome parts herself!)...

Who me?

that same night, Eric swinging from the balcony for no apparent reason other than
he wanted to rage...

Who me?

and the fact that the kayak was filled up with water two times...by Eden both times I think?

Who me?

And Taylor Bay!
 

Well done, sir.

Well done.

Might I add the above photo was taken as Stu was jumping in the Sound to rescue a kayak that Eden and Alexis had sunk and then abandoned. Middle children.

Ed's turn.  Anna, you're on deck.  Anna? ANI? ANNA?
smh.
Sonja, you're on deck...

Ladies and gentlemen, the blonde bombshell, EDEN:

My favorite part of Turks was the way I felt each morning in my first few moments of waking up. My neck stung slightly from sunburn, my muscles ached slightly from cartwheels,
and my heart was full of happiness knowing I had a full day ahead of me on a glorious island with my favorite people in the world. Then I would roll over to see Anna in the next bed over, and hear the clinking of plates as the dishwasher was being unloaded and coffee being made in the kitchen - the best sounding alarm clock. In those first few moments I could reflect on all the fun that we'd had, and prepare myself for all the sun, rum, Cheeto puffs, Dora episodes, and endless laughter and love that was yet to come.

Next up, SONJA, the Schuette cousin who has lived with my parents this past year to establish residency in our great state. 

 

 

I realize it�s hard to say just one memory, therefore, I will share my top 3 in no specific order.  Lets start with dinner times.  The reason I like dinner so much was because we were all together eating delicious food, drinking our tasty beverages, and recalling our favorite moments of that day. 

 

Up next, I would say the dance party. I don�t know what there was not to like about that night. The memory of Karen directing us on who�s turn it was to sing and dance, and Nycz dancing to �Put a Ring on it� and �Shakira� will be memories I will never forget.  

And lastly, I would say the beaches.  I have never seen water so blue and sand so white and soft before.  In addition, I enjoyed walking along the beach, seeing Grace experience sand, Cheetos, Eden doing round-offs, watching the many games of Pro Kadima, cocktails, making sand creatures, and everyone just goofing off and enjoying their vacation.  This was a trip of a lifetime, and even though I was sick for pretty much all of it, I had a wonderful time and created memories I will take with me the rest of my life.

Baby Ging, you can't hide. Your turn, ANNA:

I don't know what to write because my words will fall short of all the fun we had in Turks. Thanks for the memories. I ?? Turks. Let's go back.... Tomorrow.  

(Thanks for the brevity, Anna, now I can share more photos :)

 

 And let's not forget our littlest sweetie, GRACE: 

"Gracie, do you remember going to the beach with Mimi and Papa?"

"Yeah."  

"What was your favorite part?" 

"Mimi."

 

"Did you like anything else, honey?"

"Dora."

She's signing "more."  While watching Dora.

I hope, at the end of my days, the thing people will remember about me is how much I love my family.  I hope it is apparent to you, my family, how much I LOVE you.  I thank God, I thank the wonder of the vast universe, I thank my lucky stars that we were paired together as a tribe. I love spending any time I can with you, and I understand how lucky we are that we have the means to take any vacation together, much less a vacation to paradise.

The things I'll always remember about Turks?  The boys.  We didn't grow up with boys.  It's still an adjustment.  But I like it  :)

Hans, if you've made it this far in the blog post, I hope you know how thankful I am, for everything about this trip.  I'm also struck by the fact that you got a griller and a golfer -- both cigar smokers and wine connoisseurs.  You're welcome.



Oh, and thank you for still amusing me by doing things like this:

I'll never forget the first time Grace reluctantly put her toes in the sand, and with great caution, approached the ocean...only to throw that caution to the wind only seconds later and literally jump right in.  I'll never forget her desire to be outside, to get back to the sand, the water...because that's like me.  I'll never forget because this is the first time I realized we have something specific in common.

Me and Grace?  We love the beach.

I'll never forget the subtle "click, click, click" of the camera shutter and being so excited and so confident that Eric was catching all the right moments from his unique point of view.  Eric's camera has become another member of our family.  (A member that took I awhile to adjust to...remember the days when that camera was RIGHT UP IN OUR FACES?)  Now, it's like a reliable friend, a steady companion, a constant force who remembers the moments we might otherwise forget.  I can't tell you, Eric, how happy it makes me that you love to document our life through your beautiful photography. You nail it. Every. Single. Time.

Except this time when Eden nailed it.

I'll never forget the moment it dawned on me that I'm getting to know and love my siblings as adults. 

These two.  I love them.  They're the sporty ones--playing pro kadima, throwing a Frisbee, getting in the ocean, never stopping for a photo because they're always in motion. They're movers and shakers.  Stuart--I'll never ever forget playing cards with you, bundled up in that ridiculous windbreaker and sunglasses, chewing a piece of gum...priceless.  Welcome to the club.

Awkward family photos called.  They want their picture back.  Lol we staged this, don't worry.

And this one.  The baby.  Who is so, so strong. Literally and figuratively. 
Get it girl. Keep marching to that drummer.  She's fierce.

guys, she's so strong. we call her hard hands.

This one.  Who was my constant last year, when my life felt like it was in pieces, who makes me LAUGH. Not just like, haha.  LIKE BAHAHAHAHAAA!  Ed, the lemoncello called.  It wants you to drink it.

just not the champage. K thanks.

Big hair, big smiles, big glass of lemoncello.

Life goals: to always have my sisters beside me.

And to always look this good in bikinis, let's be real.

And, this girl.  Who is a friend, a great cousin, a super babysitter...and now, a part of our family forever :)

These two.  Mom and Dad.

Dad, I'll never forget the time, in downtown Providenciales, when you convinced the shop owner to throw in a free bottle of rum if you bought a box of Cubans.  On a Sunday.  In a dry county.

Mom.

Seriously.  You make everything magical.  Growing up was like living in magic land.  Thanks for recreating it for Gracie.  Thanks for always bringing it to Turks.  Thanks for working on Dad for spring break 2016.

She calls it magic land? I call it happy hour! (jk mom)

Mom and Dad,  you've done a lot of things right.  I'm humbled and awed by your love for us, your love and respect for each other, and your desire to spread light and love in this world. Thank you for a truly memorable family vacation!

The originals.

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