Chaudiere Pool trip- a source of inspiration!

So as I mentioned before, I haven't really been inspired to write much lately. Some crappy things happened in my life that made me feel FAR from inspired. Both of my pups (Mulligan and Monty) have moved onto new, and hopefully better, homes- the former physically, and the latter spiritually. Either way, I miss them both very much and its hard not to have a dog with me here and at home. Dogs will always have a place in my heart, and I can't wait until I finally get the chance to have another one (and will not have to give it up to anybody). Though I suppose you can never keep your dog forever, as much as you wish you could!

Anyway, today is the first day I have felt inspired to write more entries and add pictures. Today I saw some of the real beauty that this country has to offer, and its a miracle what nature can do for your soul. It is truly uplifting, because you see its many gifts; none of which are material. And this country is not about material things; it is about the joy of living in a natural environment.

A while back, I really decided to embrace the phrase "Carpe diem"- "Seize the day". Today, I did. I realized that if I didn't do some scary things, I was not really living. I didn't want to look back on today and say "I really wish I did that". I wanted to say "I did it. And I won't regret it." So what exactly did I do?

I did this:



...And slid down this:




Was I scared??? YES!! There are a couple times that I second guessed it. But I said to myself, no... I hiked ALL the way here (which is a feat, let me tell you..) and I am not going all the way home just to say "that would have been fun, but I was too scared to do it..I wonder what it would have been like?"

So, having said all of this, looking back I suppose the crappy things in my life recently may have been a source of inspiration after-all. They made me realize that life is short and we have to enjoy it while we have it. And we have to seize the day, and seize all of the things we have each day because they will not be there forever.

In summary, we crazy spouses endured a puke-inducing drive through the Dominican mountains, hiked through difficult terrain in the rainforest, convinced ourselves to jump off a scary cliff into the river (MORE THAN ONCE), rode a waterfall (SOME of us more than once), and took a "shortcut" up a very steep mountain (where I was sure we would lose someone and/or their child). Why?? "It was all for the blog." (inside joke...)

In all seriousness, many of us conquered our fears and truly LIVED! (really, all of us made it through unscathed...except for the rock that got a little too comfy with my elbow....)

CARPE DIEM.



Peace, love, happiness (and life),

Stef xoxox


Some more pics of our adventure!