Collect Moments not Things — No Stone Left Unturned

Ever feel like you need a vacation from your vacation before you get back to the daily grind? We put 2,200 hundred miles on our truck this past week.

Vacations are hard for our family. Always have been, and it’s looking like they always will be.

Travis has difficulty with changes in his routine. In addition to that, he is also a night owl. He is forced to adapt his sleep schedule to ours, well because that is how most of the world functions. It’s one thing to play video games until late in the night. But vacation activities oftentimes do not lend themselves well to taking place late at night. You just cannot drive a powerboat or houseboat at night.

We figured out from past vacations that we need to do a better job of considering Travis’s sensory sensitivities. For example, Travis became over-stimulated at Disney World resulting in many meltdowns.

Spending a few days on a houseboat at Lake Powell is one of my favorite vacations. I feel most at peace when I spend time in nature. Nature has a way of soothing my soul. The scenery at Lake Powell is majestic. This past week was our fourth trip there. I enjoy unplugging, but not having access to wi-fi and limited cell coverage is hard for Travis.

Tracy and I had planned a trip to Iceland for last October. But well, you know, stupid Covid. When that trip got cancelled I booked the trip to Lake Powell. I wasn’t sure if the world would still be in a pandemic, but I thought it would be a safe trip to plan because we would be mostly outdoors and only with our immediate family.

At the same time, I thought this would be a trip where Travis might fare better.

It’s tough, because not only do we need to consider his autism symptoms, but also his mental health.

Travis’s mental illness tells him that he cannot be happy, no matter the circumstance. Travis’s mental illness tells him that he is not supposed to be part of our family. That he doesn’t fit in with us.

There is nothing that we can say or do to counter the power of his mental illness and what it tells him to believe.

His autism wants things to be done a certain way. In a certain order. His order. And it makes it impossible for him to see the perspective of others.

Travis always says what he is thinking. Good or bad. Many times, hurtful.

If the family doesn’t fall into line based on his wants he gets angry and says that he isn’t coming on the next vacation. He says a lot of things that he doesn’t mean, and some that he does, but not all family members can distinguish between the two, or even tolerate his constant anger. Especially the little ones.

Travis is family. So I will continue to invite him on family trips. He can decide if he wants to attend or not.

We explored an area called the Labyrinth in the powerboat. The lake weaved in and out of tall rocky areas. We kept going until it got too small for our boat to get through. We did some swimming off the boat in that area, it was pretty secluded.

We towed the boys on a water toy, around and around, until we were tired. I don’t think they would ever get tired being pulled behind the boat.

Travis and Tracy did some bow fishing for carp. Tracy hadn’t fished for carp that way in a very long time. Now that he is all set up with the right equipment again I think he will find a place to bow fish that is closer to home. All the boys spent some time fishing off the beach. They caught some catfish and striper. Tracy cooked some of the catfish.

The boat had a slide on the back. The boys swam and floated off the boat and the beach.

Corey and I did some reading. And catching up.

Travis may say that he didn’t have a good time. But we managed to get pictures that seem to indicate otherwise. And don’t be surprised if you are asked to watch a 17 minute video set to music of the family doing vacation stuff!

I love going on adventures with my family and making memories. We collected a bunch of beautiful rocks.

And we collected a bunch of beautiful moments.

My bucket needed this trip!!

“The best gifts in the world are not in the material objects one can buy from the store, but in the memories we make with the people we love. - Amanda Boyarshinov

“Restore balance. Most children have technology, school and extra curricular activities covered. It’s time to add a pinch of adventure, a sprinkle of sunshine and a big handful of outdoor play.” - Penny Whitehouse

Travis and Ryan kicking back during a powerboat ride.

Matt and Corey having a cocktail at the bar on the second level of the houseboat.

Papa (Tracy) and Landon showing off a fish that Landon caught.

Landon helping Matt captain the houseboat.

Now you know why Ryan was so tired in the other pictures!

We all went down the slide on the back of the boat a time or two. Only way for me to get in water that cold!

Found a beachy area on a small island to anchor. I told you the scenery is majestic!

Time to cuddle up inside, eat some ice cream we made earlier and watch a Disney movie.