Angeles National Forest Getaway

We decided

 (Clay decided)

 we should camp out in the Angeles National Forest as a family. 

We arrived in the parking lot to hike in around 4pm. We had 2 hours to make it 4.5 miles into Spruce Grove before dark. The spot he likes to go to. He kept telling me how beautiful it was(and it was! noone there too). And then Henry informed me the hike was hard....oh man, I was not prepared for it with a pack and almost all up hill.

 I haven't really exercised since last April. So, I was in for it...

stopping on the trail

As I kept hiking up, bringing up the rear, I could see all my children leading the way. It was really emotional for me to see that. I thought to myself, they have followed me for so long and here I am, following them. Audrey was setting the pace which was incredible since all the hikes we did in Colorado...she "hated".

At one point, I didn't think I could make it. 

I cried and limped my way up hoping noone would see me. I kept thinking how disappointed everyone was in me but it was just me being humbled with my abilities right now...plus there was the pack on my back! 

But the experience was poignant.

I will never forget the image of my children leading me.

We taught them well enough for a pack in hike and camp, plus Clay makes it fun. 

We watched proudly 

( while I was panting loudly).

 We talked about how ready they were to do the Adirondack trip we have wanted to take with them since going a few times 10 years ago ourselves. We plan to go next fall :)

 I better whip myself into shape by then.

winding trails up

Clay told the most hilarious ghost story ever about hikers and a hairy fat man coming for Audrey's new sleeping bag!

With how big of a city Los Angeles is and the surrounding cities...

NOBODY CAMPS IN LA

one is never too old to have a sword fight

big giant crumpled maple leaves...they kind of just turn brown here but we found some autumn and that made me happy

nice views of the mountains

before we camped though we stopped at The Hat in Pasadena and fueled up! When I walked in I just knew my Dad had to have come here. It was confirmed by my sister in law Sarah.

 My Dad loves a good pastrami sandwich :)

I have a definite connection to Los Angeles. 

I see the San Gabriel mountains and I feel a familiarity, a childhood glimpse of my past. I walk into a pastrami shop and know my Dad had to have been there.

I walk in the temple and know my Grandmother and Grandfather loved it there and helped donate to have it built (even the colors were in her living room...peach and avocado) 

So, Los Angeles is more than the beach. Or anything superficial I might talk about. I have something inside of me that pulls me in. 

I cannot explain it. 

I don't know if I fit in but somehow it is in me already.

I am so grateful I get to live here for the next while and connect with something bigger than me:)