Thirteen years ago, when Dan and Kate were 12 and 10.....
...we took them on a 3 week trip out west and visited all the national parks...
...It was a trip we had planned and saved for...
...and looked forward to...for a long time...
My husband had been out west with his family when he was a boy but it was my first time and of course the first time for Dan and Kate to see this part of our amazing country...
...the prairies, the Rockies, the Grand Canyon, Bryce, Zion...
...Mesa Verde, Durango, Yellowstone, Mt.Rushmore, Devil's Tower, etc., etc.
It was a wonderful and memorable trip...
... and at each place we stopped I bought a silver charm as my souvenir and to add to my "Out West" charm necklace...
...a tiny silver moose to represent the spectacular moose we came upon just at sunset while driving through the Little Big Horn Mountains...a coyote...we saw a pack at Yellowstone as well as the buffalo....
... While paddling down the river at Jackson Hole we saw an eagle...we took the train ride from Durango to Silverton Colorado...and so on...and so on...
I still wear my silver charm necklace and when I do I remember all the wonderful places we visited as a family and how vast and beautiful our country is.
At one point, I remember singing America the Beautiful at the top of my lungs...
O beautiful for spacious skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the fruited plain!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!
I was overwhelmed with emotion as we drove along in our rented car.... I couldn't believe I was here...in a part of the country I had only read about or seen on TV...
...I had never seen such beauty...
...I turned around to see how the kids were taking it all in...
...they were both stooped over their Gameboys...not even looking out the window...
You will have to ask them to finish that story....
...but I still love my silver charm necklace and we all share wonderful memories of that trip...
To see other participants in Silver Sunday visit Beth at Gypsy Fish!
Yes! I went to my Sweater Craft Session today with Charlotte Lyons...
Yes! I met lovely and oh so creative people!
Yes! I learned some new skills!
Yes! We ate delicious food!
Yes! We took home some wonderful little gifts from sponsors and fellow crafters!
Yes! I loved it all!
Tomorrow I will tell you all about it...every detail... and share my pictures!
Have a good night and Happy Silver Sunday!
Yes! :)
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44 comments:
I wonder if it's too late to duplicate your trip with my kids (21, 18)!!! Love the necklace, what a wonderful family memento. Still on the lookout for your magazine! Congratulations! XO Trish
Oh, what a wonderful charm necklace full of memories. I think charms are a perfect souvenir to bring back from trips. Thanks for sharing! ~ Sarah
Laura, I love your silver charms and the sweet story!!!!
I knew you would have a fabulous time!!! I kept thinking about you today and smiling, thinking, she is going to have lots to tell us!!!!
I am so happy for you!
Hugs,
Margaret B
Hi Laura:
My post is about charms this week, too. Mine is my charm bracelet I've cherished since my sixteenth birthday (40 years ago!), but I really like the idea of your necklace. It's beautiful. Thanks for sharing your trip story to go with your treasured charms.
xoxo
Donna
Every summer growing up, our family would take a 2 week vacation someplace wonderful. We took this same family trip -- but much, much longer ago (more than 30 years)! I bought the typical kiddie souveniors that are long since outgrown and gone. You were certainly smart to get such beautiful silver charms. Looking forward to all you learned from yesterday's sweater craft session. Have a splendid Sunday. :) Blessings, Tammy
Sounds like a wonderful trip out West. I love the idea of collecting a charm to represent all of the memories of your trip.
Jane
Laura, what nice memories you brought up for me! My best friend and I went to Wyoming, Montana, Oregon, Washington and the Canadian Rockies last spring, her first time out west. I started collecting these animal charms in Yellowstone. I love things that remind me of the good times.
Love, Sherry
Oh, that made me laugh!
I live in the Black Hills of South Dakota and some evenings in the summer I will be out walking on the beautiful Mickelson Trail beside the rushing creek, amongst the towering pines.
And along will come a tourist so busy yammering on the cell phone that they aren't even looking around them at all the glory!
Aren't aware of it in the least.....Wow!
But at least YOU enjoyed the scenery!!!
Hi Laura,
How you must treasure your silver charm bracelet! And what a lovely souvenir of your family trip out West - some great memories.
Marjorie
P.S. Looking forward to the felt reveal.
Those charms will always invoke memories of your trip, I have one from my senior year in high school, over the years I have added so many, when I take it out of the jewlry bag it reminds me of so many things. Enjoy. I will look forward to seeing all your photos from your creative weekend. Florence
Laura,
I think silver charm bracelets or necklace have to be one of the best ways to remember an event or special celebration. I have my silver charm bracelet that my parents started for me in Junior High. At the time I thought it rather silly, but now I am so proud to have such a road map of my younger years.
Happy Silver Sunday
Hi Laura, what a wonderful way to keep the memories. That necklace will never lose it's beauty and "charm". just beautiful. I've never been out west, and I'd so love to take that trip!
blessings,
Debra
Oh how sweet! I loved that post.
Rhonda
Your post made me think of how we have to cherish the moments that are important to us! I went to a Memorial for a friend today, and it just reflects what we live for: to cherish what we have, be thankful, and be amazed at what life brings us!
HI Laura
I love your cute silver charms and even more your story of their purchase.. Isn't it wonderful when you feel overwhelmed by the beauty of nature and adventure? Fabulous memories and keepsake.. Cant' wait to see you posts tomorrow!! xx Julie
Dear Laura,
I love silver charms - you're quite getting extraordinary things - they look so charming -
hugs - Ruth
Your blog is always the first in my reader (due to your blog title, I have them sorted on alphabet). You cracked me up! You woke me up with this funny and beautiful story. Read it out loud to my husband who loved it too, thanks. Btw we are going to the West in July (don't tell me it is too hot then!) and I like the idea of buying silver charms very much. Happy silver Sunday!
love your post of today..it's pure and says it all!!
Laura - my son is near your childrens age and we took a similiar trip around the same time and your post brought back all those memories. We too drove down an open highway singing at the top of our lungs with the windows open but the song was "American Pie". Looking back I wonder why we felt the need to belt that out....America the Beautiful would have been so much more appropriate! I have a mental picture of my son standing on top of a mountain playing with his gameboy oblivious to the beauty around him. Love the charm necklace and wished I would have done the same so I would have something that brought back the memories of that wonderful trip. Thanks for sharing your charm necklace with me so I could find those memories! deb
Oh Laura, I took that same trip as a child! I went with a friend of mine and her family. We drove from Georgia all that way to Yellowstone National park. I remember the beauty of our Country and loved the adventure. Love all of the charms:) Have a blessed day!
Wow, gorgeous charms and a beautiful, sweet family story....
Saskia
I wish I had collected charms consistently from all my travels as a kid. Instead I collected pins. I love your charm necklace! Oh and my parents now live in the southwest and it is one of my favorite places in all of this country.
Charms are the perfect thing to collect when travelling. Or to commemorate special occasions. I started a charm bracelet for my daughter when she was young with a charm for each of her interests over the years. I actually still have it and every now and then add a charm (she's 25 now!). ::Jill
I have a charm bracelt fulled of charms from a similar childhood trip to South Dakota. Charms were cheaper and easier to come by then, it seems. I treasure mine but don't wear it often- it's noisy :)
How great to have a charm bracelet to remind you of such a treasured family trip. I'm sure they both remember it fondly now. All kids do now is text...things haven't changed that much!
Can't wait to hear about your class!
xo,
Carole
You just described why I love the West! Born out here and am now retired here. Tried living in Virginia for 14 years, but returned to Arizona for the good weather and close accessibility to all the places you mentioned in this blog! I, too, have a charm bracelet full of wonderful memories of my travels! Good for you!!
What a great idea. I have collected charms from all our travels for year. I need to move them to a necklace like that. Wonderful idea. I even see a few of the same that I have.
Road trips are the best when shared with your loved ones. Our trip from CA to FL, was filled with lots of pit stops to take in the beautiful scenery, I just wish I would have bought charms like you did. Love your charm bracelets, I am a sucker for them. Happy Silver Sunday...
Sylvia
I have seen several fab charm bracelets today, yours is the first necklace. I love it and love the memories that it represents. Thanks for sharing.
Hello Laura
Love the charm necklace and love that part of the ocuntry. My parents are from the Dakotas so I know that area well. So rich with history in a very romantic era.
Thanks for sharing
Blessings
Wow--neat post! I have a charm bracelet and it is indeed a wonderful grouping of fun places I visited as a kid (never thought of a necklace, though!). I have started my daughters and nieces on them too!
Your necklace is a beauty Laura...and so many sweet memories! A long trip with the kids visiting stunning places...you surely remember each moment!
I was sure you enjoyed your creative session...I'm looking forward seeing your next post!
Golden dreams!
Vale
Hi Laura,
I love your charm necklace. What a great idea to do a charm necklace instead of a bracelet. I just received my plate from Anthropologie that I won from you and I absolutely love it. It was also sweet of you to send me pictures of the vintage valentines you have. Thank you so much and have a great week.
Sincerely,
Melinda
Your necklace is a wonderful keepsake that I am sure at the time you would not have thought would have the significance it does today!! The charms are lovely and well thought out!
Gameboys were made for parents when they need a break, unfortunately, not when we want them to bond with us!!
Cannot wait to see all about your adventures yesterday!! xOxo Nerina :)
What a great ideal. When I turned 13, my mom got me a charm braclet, she added a charm each birthday that went along with what I was doing that year, cheerleading, car, boys ect. I did the same for my daughters.. It always bring back the memories.
What a beautiful silver charm necklace, it will make a wonderful family heirloom. Thanks for sharing.
Hi Laura, it was soooo nice to meet you yesterday at Charlotte's class...I had a great time with everyone...and thank you soo much for sharing your bracelet I too have one that I treasure too...well I'm off to create more things that I learn yesterday...have a honey of a day ~ may sweet things come your way! Grace Peace Joy & many blessings 2 U, Marlene
What a beautiful tribute to your family time. I'm sure the vacation was fabulous and the memories are yours to keep forever!
I had a charm bracelet as a teen. When my girls became teens I split the charms and created two bracelets. They now can add charms that are dear to them and someday hopefully pass it on to their daughters.
Your charm necklace is wonderful. I too become overwhelmed with the beauty of our land...I love to see roads ahead....the unseen adventure...so I get it!
What a wonderful keepsake memory to wear around your wrist. So lovely.
And yes, I agree, our beautiful country has so much to offer. All we have to do is seek its beauty.
I can just hear you singing. I love it.
Sissie
Laura,
What a wonderful necklace! All of your charms are so unique...a great way to remember your special trip. I've only seen bracelets with charms, yours is really neat! Thanks so much for sharing!
Sharlotte
Simply charming! Thanks for coming....see you next Sunday!
{{gypsy hugs}}
Beth
Hi Laura, Such cute silver charms. I love them. Happy SS
Rebecca
I have a couple of charm bracelets that I really like, but I never thought of a charm necklace! I have to start one of those. Thanks for sharing.
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