“Wholesome Recreational Activities” . . . .

“When the family gets together . . . .”

               As most of you know the Arizona, sorry . . . Zion dwelling, Bazzell family went on a vacation last week.  We had planned on planning one for some time and had been saving our pennies to do so.  Because we are not the kind to just “do it” when it comes to vacations, for a long time it was just talk.  We were finally pushed, encouraged, forced . . . cannot think of the right word . . . into scheduling a cruise which took us to Catalina and Ensenada, Mexico and Knott's Berry Farm. 

            The purpose of the trip was to “build family togetherness, bonding, and memories” since we will be sending Sondra and Joshua on missions this year.  As Ashley has already found out, everything changes once you let them go and we wanted to ensure we had taken the time for the necessary “recreational activities”.  Though we had good and bad on the trip I believe we accomplished our main purpose.

“Meet the . . . . “

               With all that we did and experienced;  puke, feeling dizzy and not being able to stand, the smell of shampooed vomit, never-ending food, swimming with sharks, bargaining for prices, Hot Russian Volleyball player etc., they were not the highlight of the trip.   While we were traveling home we asked the kids what was the best part of the trip for them.  Unanimously and without hesitation they said it was meeting Shannon, Jon and the boys on the beach.  An unscheduled side trip, cheaper than the rest of the week, was the one part that they liked the most and will remember the longest. 

Our “Broken Vessel”

            While speaking to a friend of ours on Sunday about the trip she expressed surprise that we went.  Her response was, “Aaron flips out and panics when going to visit family or camping, I don’t know how he survived the cruise!!”  Like most of the Bazzell family that deals with anxiety at times, this trip really brought out a full range of “freak out”.  The rides at Knott’s Berry Farm and the sheer size of the ship almost did me in.  It was hard to relax and enjoy.  With that, and for me such issues are small in comparison to what others might deal with, I remember what Elder Holland said at the last General Conference.  He said, “Trust in God. Hold on in His love. Know that one day the dawn will break brightly and all shadows of mortality will flee. Though we may feel we are “like a broken vessel,” as the Psalmist says, we must remember, that vessel is in the hands of the divine potter. Broken minds can be healed just the way broken bones and broken hearts are healed. While God is at work making those repairs, the rest of us can help by being merciful, nonjudgmental, and kind.”

SO for me I will cherish the family times together, at every chance we get . . . and hold on.