Last week, two of my sisters, Ruth and Terri, and my niece, Lillie, traveled to Boise, Idaho for a week long trip to visit relatives and friends. 

The trip was to celebrate Lillie’s high school graduation. We flew out the day after Lillie’s graduation party. 

We were able to visit one of Lillie’s cousins in Boise that she hasn’t seen in a long time, as well as a long time friend we haven’t seen in over a decade. 

A good share of our time in Idaho was spent with our cousin, Emma Rasmussen, and her husband, Clyde. 

Emma is my mom’s first cousin and we are related through her dad, Wendle Gilyard. Wendle was a brother to my grandfather, Thoulow Gilyard. 

My mom always talked about how beautiful her cousin Emma was, but the two didn’t get to meet until later in life. 

My mom met Emma in her seventies on a trip to Boise, Idaho with relatives, and they immediately formed a special bond.  

We thoroughly enjoyed our time last week with Clyde and Emma. The couple chauferred us to many wonderful and scenic destinations.

Emma and Clyde live along the Boise River. We enjoyed several walks on the Boise River Greenbelt walking trails.

Boise is known as the City of Trees and has a rich history. The area was started by fur trappers and  became a gold hotspot. Today the area is known for delicious foods, outdoor attractions, hot springs, art, cultural events and breathtaking scenery. 

The first day of our trip, Clyde and Emma took us to Idaho City and shared a great deal of trivia about the gold rush days. We enjoyed lunch and a cocktail at a saloon, did some shopping and took a stroll through a pioneer cemetery.

The next day, we attended the annual National Old Time Fiddle Festival in Weiser, Idaho. We also made a stop in McCall, which used to be a logging town.

We drove thru Cascade State Park. The mountains and beautiful creeks were magnificent. 

Towards the end of the week, we attended a wine and art festival at Terrace Park, located in the Boise National Forest. 

Besides the wonderful sight seeing, we were blessed to visit a great deal about family with Emma and Clyde. 

Emma got out many old photo albums and spread them out on her kitchen table. We were able to read hand written letters penned by our great Grandma Gilyard (Emma’s grandma). 

We were never able to meet our great Grandma Gilyard, as she died in 1956. Running our hands across letters she had written made us feel close to her. 

We savored the special moments looking through old photographs with our cousin Emma. It was a wonderful week we will not soon forget.  

When I look into the faces of my siblings, aunts and uncles and cousins (such as Emma), it is powerful to realize how our lives are all interwoven. 

I pray our visit blessed  Emma and her husband Clyde as much as it blessed my sisters, my niece and I.

Traveling, especially with family, is a gift. It  is so important emotionally, physically and spiritually to get away and recharge our batteries. 

I feel it is important for all of us to get away from our responsibilities.

Family trips are even more special after the last year with COVID, which  made traveling challenging. 

Family trips are also a time to make special memories with loved ones through  the adventures we experience along the way. 

It is always fun to get away, yet it is always wonderful to get back home. Home feels very good after you’ve been away. 

I’m grateful we were able to get away and spend special time with family.  

The gift of family is a blessing and I praise God for it.