Rock Lake 2010

I believe this was the 4th year for this tradition. Lenny, Sarah and their four sweet boys meet Jack, moi, and our two kiddos, and Mom and Dad up in Northern Ontario, where Lenny and I were born and raised.

I've probably said this before, but it begs repeating. Northern Ontario still is, and will always remain 'home' to me. There simply is no place like it on the face of this earth. I've lived in the beauty of tropical paradise, Indonesia. I've traveled the world (not extensively but on enough different continents to see a LOT of God's beautiful creation) and I have to say, there just is no place sweeter. On a lot of levels.

Jack tears up when he arrives at Gull Lake. Ditto for me when I cross into the Soo. We go to this campground in the middle of nowhere, and by middle-of-nowhere, I mean middle-of-nowhere. No cell signal if that tells you anything. We loved this little sign in a neighboring little town, one where you blink and you miss it.

Funny, eh?

So each year we go, and each year we cross the bridge into Canada and I just get giddy. I suppose if you've never really been away from home you might not understand the significance of coming 'home' ... but seriously, it's all I can do to contain my joy. I feel peace sweep over me. I feel instantly slowed down because the pace up North is just, well, um, slower. Rock everywhere.

Birch trees galore.

Blue, blue skies. Fresh, fresher air.

Couple those great things with being with my family and it's simply a touch of heaven here on this earth. And there's family on a couple of different levels. There's my immediate family. I love being with them. They're silly and fun and they're family. I love that we have this tradition. Truly a highlight each year.

And then there's the family that isn't related, but is still just as much family. The Brideau clan - Nicole being a sister to me. Ron and Cindy being my aunt and uncle. Growing up we spent significant time as families together. Like a full weekend together every month. Camping in the summer. They were at both my undergrad and my graduate degree graduations and Lenny's, too, I believe.

And it's been fun because a few of the times we've been there, the Scott/Smith clan has had their family reunion. And they, too, are family to me. When recently asked to name someone who has made a significant impact on my life and the course my life took, I told them, without thinking for a second, "Oh, Sheila Scott. Absolutely." {And so that story will have to wait for another post because it deserves one all of its own.}

Mom and I were talking, trying to put a finger on the significance of Northern Ontario in our lives and I think it boiled down to this. I feel known there. I'm Lee Lee. I'm Lisa. I'm Jack and Mae Emma's daughter. I have a history with these people. A 40-year-history with some of them. We know the same stories. We grew up in the same surroundings. We know the same people and places. We just know and are known. They ARE part of my story. And that feels really, really good.

I find myself quickly slipping back into my native tongue withing hours of arriving home! Eh and Mum begin to roll off quicker than I can say butter tart. And speaking of butter tarts, oh mercy, Arlene D. makes THE-BEST-EVA-BUTTER-TARTS. And if you've never been to Canada, you have NO idea what you're missing. Quick, go. Try one. They won't disappoint. Promise.

And so, I'll probably do a few pictorial posts of our week at Rock Lake. Just to give you a flavour of my home. Who I am. How I was raised. If you want to know me and what I love, and how I really could spend the rest of my days on this earth, just take a look at some of the beauty in nature ... and then the precious people in the pictures. I love them deeply.

Stay tuned for more.