LIFE Archives - Letterbox on the Lane

Farewell Cub Scouts: A Memorable Last Camping Trip at Desa Laguna

As we prepare to cross over into the next exciting chapter of scouting—joining the Boy Scouts—our final Cub Scout camping trip was one for the books. We spent an unforgettable weekend at Desa Laguna, a peaceful eco-resort nestled in Indonesia’s Thousand Islands. This trip was more than just an adventure—it was a celebration of everything we’ve learned and shared as Cub Scouts.

The Journey Begins

Our adventure started early Saturday morning as we departed from Ancol Marina at 7:30 AM. Riding a slightly aged but comfortable speed boat equipped with air conditioning and life jackets for everyone, we enjoyed a scenic 90-minute ride to the island. Upon arrival at Desa Laguna, we were warmly welcomed with cold drinks and sandwiches—exactly what we needed to kick off the day.

Island Life & Eco Living

Desa Laguna immediately impressed us with its commitment to sustainability. We learned that while fresh water is brought in for showers, saltwater is used for flushing toilets. The island has no air conditioning, but the ocean breeze and thoughtful layout made the heat bearable.

Accommodations varied: some scouts stayed in cozy bungalows, others in stylish ‘glamping’ tents, and a few brave souls in dome tents under the stars. Despite the range of setups, everyone settled in quickly—and the fun began.

Scouting Adventures

Older scouts got busy working toward their Citizenship, Paddlecraft, and Fire Safety badges, while the younger scouts focused on Whittling and Knife Safety. At night, they gazed in awe at the moon and constellations dotting the clear island sky.

Meanwhile, the Boy Scouts—already preparing for more independence—set up their own tents and cooked their own meals, learning essential outdoor skills.

We all joined forces to take part in a meaningful service project, planting coral and mangrove trees and cleaning up the beach. We also snorkeled in crystal-clear waters, tried our luck at fishing, and ended the night around a glowing campfire, roasting marshmallows for classic s’mores.

Meals, Moments, and Memories

All meals were served on the breezy outdoor deck, lovingly prepared with both local and Western flavors. Vegetarian options were available, and the food was fresh, flavorful, and filling. Coffee, tea, water, and juice were included, with cold soft drinks available for purchase.

Though there’s no A/C on the island, the “lounge” area—where Wi-Fi is available—became a communal space for cooling off, relaxing, and sharing stories. Bungalows had electrical outlets for fans and phone charging, adding a little modern comfort to our rustic adventure.

Planning Your Own Island Adventure

If you’re inspired to visit Desa Laguna yourself, the resort can host up to 55 guests. For around 2–2.5 juta IDR per person, you’ll get lodging, meals, drinks, and activities all included. We were lucky enough to reserve the entire island for our group, but if you’re visiting with a smaller crowd, you may share the dining area with other guests.

A Bittersweet Goodbye

As the sun set on our final day, we gathered one last time as Cub Scouts—full of sand, laughter, and a little nostalgia. Desa Laguna gave us more than a destination; it gave us memories we’ll carry into our next scouting journey.

Here’s to new adventures, new badges, and the next big step as we bridge over to the Boy Scouts.

LIFE

Designing Dreams: My Custom Furniture Journey in Indonesia

One of the unexpected joys of living in Indonesia has been discovering the art—and adventure—of custom furniture making. There’s something incredibly special about watching an idea evolve from a sketch in your mind into a beautiful, functional piece that perfectly fits your space and style.

I’ve found a local carpenter whose work is nothing short of amazing. He has a true talent for taking my Pinterest-level visions and turning them into handcrafted reality. The process is simple, collaborative, and honestly, kind of fun.

It all starts with a few reference photos and some rough dimensions. I send him images of what I’m envisioning—sometimes a mix of different styles or features from various pieces—and he takes it from there. He makes a visit to my home to see exactly where the piece will go, taking detailed measurements and assessing the space.

Then comes the creative part: What style of leg do I want? How much overhang on top? What style of drawer pull? He shows me samples of wood stains, we talk through finishes, and he sketches everything out. His drawings bring the concept to life, and once I give the thumbs up, he sends over a quote. A few weeks later, he’s at my door, delivering a one-of-a-kind piece made just for me.

My latest creation? A stunning custom chest—and I absolutely love it. It’s exactly what I hoped for, and more. The craftsmanship, the personalized details, the way it fits just right in my home—this piece isn’t just furniture; it’s a little slice of art that reflects my taste and lifestyle.

Having furniture made in Indonesia is more than just a design decision; it’s an experience. It’s personal, it’s practical, and it’s deeply satisfying. Whether you’re furnishing a new space or adding a signature piece to your collection, there’s nothing quite like seeing your vision built from the ground up.

If you ever find yourself in Indonesia, don’t miss the chance to create something unique with the help of local artisans. Trust me—it’s worth it.

LIFE

Christmas 2024: Cookies, Cross-Country Adventures, and a Whole Lot of Love

This Christmas was anything but ordinary—and somehow, that made it all the more memorable.

It started early this year. Really early. I kicked off the season back in January when I began a batch of homemade vanilla, destined to become part of my office holiday gifts. As Christmas approached, I baked dozens of cookies for my colleagues—my kitchen looked like a full-blown cookie factory by mid-December. The tree was up, stockings were hung, and our bags were (mostly) packed for the 30-hour trek back to the U.S. to see our family.

Since Jackson spends Christmas Day with his dad, we usually celebrate when we return home. But this year, we decided to celebrate before we left. Let’s just say… we won’t be doing that again. Jackson was so excited he could hardly contain himself—and absolutely couldn’t sleep. He spent most of the night trying to drag me out of bed to open gifts. I told him I wouldn’t budge until the sun came up, so he literally stood at the window, keeping watch for daylight. Cute? Yes. Exhausting? Also yes.

After a very long (but thankfully uneventful) journey, we landed in South Carolina. Jackson headed off to enjoy the holidays with his dad, and I shifted gears to family time. My dad was recovering in rehab after breaking his hip, and though he wasn’t up for visitors beyond a quick hello, he encouraged me to spend time with Aunt Darlene. That’s when the next adventure began.

Aunt Darlene and I made plans to see The Nutcracker at the Benedum Center in Pittsburgh—a magical treat that we hadn’t experienced together in years. I stopped in to wish Dad a Merry Christmas, then drove to North Carolina to pick up Aunt Darlene. From there, she took the wheel, and off to Pittsburgh we went!

We met up with my dear friend Missy, who had never seen The Nutcracker before. The performance was lovely—though after so much driving, a few of us may have caught a quick nap during the quieter moments! After a few hugs and goodbyes, Missy dashed off to her evening plans, and Aunt Darlene and I headed across the river for dinner at The Melting Pot. We shared a cozy fondue meal with my oldest son and daughter-in-law—too short, but so sweet.

Before wrapping up our whirlwind Christmas tour, we squeezed in visits with both of my brothers and their families. Then, it was time to head south again—though not without one more stop. Aunt Darlene had a Global Entry appointment in Norfolk, so we took care of that en route.

I made it back to South Carolina just in time to ring in the New Year with my dad. The perfect ending? Finally cutting through enough red tape to bring his beloved dog in for a visit. The moment they saw each other was pure joy—his face lit up in a way only a pup can inspire.

This Christmas wasn’t polished or perfect. It was a patchwork of plans, travel, family, and flexibility. But it was real, it was full of love, and it reminded me that sometimes, the best memories come from the unexpected.

Here’s to a new year of more adventures, spontaneous ballet trips, and plenty of cookies.

CELEBRATE, Cub Scouts, LIFE

Cub Scouts – End of Year Awards and Blue and Gold Breakfast 2024

The end of the Scout year has arrived.

As Webelos assistant den leader, I planned the activities and kept a record of attendance throughout the year. I ensured that all scouts received credit for the adventures that they had completed. I went back through WhatsApp messages to make sure I credited those scouts who sent photos of the work they completed at home, and I worked with parents to help scouts wrap up adventures that were still outstanding.

Then, as awards coordinator, I followed up with the other den leaders to ensure an accurate accounting of the adventures their scouts had earned. Honestly, that was the biggest challenge.

Once I made sure my tallies were correct, I organized the belt loops, pins, badges, and awards by den. I attached all the “bling” to card stock and paperclipped the cards to an envelope. The envelope listed all the adventures earned, so the Cubmaster could read off the envelope during the awards ceremony, and afterwards, the scouts had a safe place to store all of their “bling”!

Once the cards and envelopes were organized, I created a PowerPoint presentation – complete with a photo of each scout engaged in a scouting activity from this past year. Next to each photo, I listed the adventures that were earned. Having the presentation organized by den allowed the cubmaster and assistant to easily follow the program and hand out the awards in order. The scouts got to see their pictures up on the big screen along with their list of accomplishments, which helped keep them entertained while waiting for their turn to be called up for recognition.

Once all the kids received their recognition, we thanked the parent volunteers with certificates of appreciation and parent pins. We said farewell to our cubmaster of three years. Gifted him with an Indonesian Batik map, a Yeti coffee mug, and a multi-tool pocket knife. Then we welcomed our new Cubmaster.

After the official ceremony, we played live action game of CLUEDO (based on the board game Clue) – where the scouts were given cards with another scout’s name, the name of one of the six essentials, and the name of a location in the party room – in the doorway, sitting in a chair. They had to tag the scout named on their card, with the item listed, in the location listed. Once tagged, they were out. The scouts had a blast playing this game while the parents chatted over coffee, samosas, and donuts.

We are all ready for a good rest over the summer, but also excited about the adventures awaiting us in the fall.

LIFE

Cub Scouts – Raingutter Regatta

This was our first Raingutter Regatta!

The idea is to race boats in a raingutter, using air/wind to move the boats. We were to use recycled materials and had size limitations imposed.

Our pack is fancy, and we have an inflatable ‘raingutter’.

I had picked up a sailboat kit from the scout shop last summer, and this was our first opportunity to use it, so Jackson made two boats. One from the kit and the other with materials from around the house.

We researched how to make the best boat and learned about aerodynamics and hydrodynamics also about the importance of weight when creating a racing sailboat at MichaelSpitler.com. Jackson was very excited about his creations, and when he tested them they floated in the sink and the bathtub. Unfortunately, we did not test how well they moved through the water.

Jackson created the cone shaped sails as described, but they were too small. He could not get his air into the cones and his boats did not move as fast as the others with wide sails. Although disappointed that neither of his boats won for speed, he did win special honors for best design. It was a good albeit hard lesson in being a good sport.

The race was over early, and the kids still had some time to play before the meeting was over. They went out front and played Red Light, Green Light. Jackson kicked off his flip flops and was running in the grass in his bare feet. He ran into the Scoutmaster’s foot/shoe and hurt his toe. It was hurting for a few days and was really starting to bruise, so I took him to the local clinic. They took an x-ray and it turns out, he had a hairline fracture! Not much to be done, so they put a tiny little splint on him and taped it up nice and tight.

Cub Scouts, LIFE

Cub Scout Camping – May 2024 – Desa Laguna

Our outgoing Cubmaster wanted to have THREE camping trips this year instead of the typical two. Although Jackson and I agreed that we would not be going on another camping trip, there were lots of Cub Scout adventures to be earned on this trip – we couldn’t miss out! So, after Portibi Farms and Caldera – we set off again for the eco resort called Desa Laguna in the Thousand Islands chain about an hour and a half speed boat ride outside of Jakarta. (Click here to read about last year’s trip.)

The trip to Ancol marina was an adventure in itself! We left home at 6:00am. There was no traffic, so we made really good time. That was in our favor, as the taxi driver drove in circles before finally getting to our destination. We arrived at pier 16 and boarded our speed boat to the Thousand Islands at 7:00am.

The boat ride to Desa Laguna this year was a bit less choppy than last year, and we received a warm welcome upon arrival.

There was a bungalow available this year, right on the water, and it had our name on it! The views were amazing. Waking up to the sound of the ocean waves, and then rolling out of bed and walking a few steps to wade in the surf was heaven. I do have to mention the trash that was everywhere…floating on the water. It was such a shame. The island worked hard to pick up the trash that came ashore, but the trash was everywhere in the water. Flip flops, water bottles…

The kids had a blast taking over the island. Running wild and free. They barely noticed that they were learning and earning Cub Scout adventures! The Webelos planted corals and mangroves, worked on Earth Rocks, Building a Better World, and Into the Wild. We made s’mores around the campfire, went fishing, and the kids spent hours taking turns pushing around a wheelbarrow!

Jackson was exhausted at bedtime, but after his run-in with the hermit crabs in the shower, he was ready to go home. I talked him into putting his shower shoes on, and he managed to survive the outdoor shower.

It was a great overnight camping trip, but so hot and humid. I’m not sure who squealed loudest when we boarded the boat with air conditioning – the kids or the parents!!

Making more memories – we look forward to going again next year!

LIFE

School Musical – Aladdin

We are very fortunate to have a fabulous arts program at our school. Every year the kids put on a musical. Jackson was not so sure about joining the production, but many of his friends had signed up, so he took the plunge. It was a huge undertaking, and we both had to sign an agreement that Jackson would participate in all of the rehearsals…three times per week, including many Saturdays from January to the end of April. This year’s production was especially difficult as the school is undergoing construction, and the theater had been torn down!

After months of learning songs and dances, the kids were ready to perform. A stage was built in the gym. Tickets were sold. Snacks for the performers were organized: I mixed together some American snack foods: Goldfish Crackers, Teddy Grahams, pretzels, and M&Ms. Flowers and balloon bouquets were purchased.

The shows were amazing. (They had three performances in one weekend!) I’m so proud of everyone involved. From putting on a production in a gym instead of the usual theater. Designing costumes, teaching the kids the songs and dances, learning the songs and dances. And I’m so proud of Jackson for surviving the long rehearsals – he was even asked to be an understudy! He kept all of his singing and dancing a secret from me, so I only saw it at the performances. He was so brave getting up on that stage and stepping out of his comfort zone. It was truly amazing, and I am so very proud of him!

CELEBRATE, LIFE, PARTY

iFly Jakarta

Jackson was invited to a birthday party at the iFly in Trans Studio Mall, Jakarta.

I think this was the longest birthday party that I have ever been a part of!!

The mall was an hour away from home – we left around 11am. Our taxi made a few wrong turns, so it ended up taking us 1.5 hours to get there.

We had a surprise when we showed up and found that the birthday boy was not there! He was sick (contagious) and the venue would not agree to reschedule the party. Instead of cancelling, the family decided to host the children without the birthday boy. He joined for a few minutes by video chat. We sang Happy Birthday to him, and then we went off to celebrate his birthday without him.

We started at lunchtime. There was fancy catering set up, but of course Jackson was so excited that he only ate two bites. The iFly was divided into two sessions. While one group of kids did the iFly, the other group ran around and enjoyed the other rides in the mall. There were go carts, roller coasters, and a snow zone. It really was an amazing day, and so unfortunate that the birthday boy could not be there.

Jackson loved the iFly. He loved playing in the snow. He loved driving the go-carts. By the time I dragged him away, it was dinner time. He was getting hangry (remember, he had virtually no lunch) and wanted sushi. I was irritable and wanted to go home. A few other families were still around as well, and we agreed to grab dinner together once we coralled the kids. In the meantime, I tried to grab a snack for Jackson, but there was no food available as it was during Ramadan. There were few prepacked snack options, but they were on hold/reserved for those breaking fast. We went to the food court and found that everyone had put their names on waiting lists – to eat once fasting time was over. We were 10^th in line at Genki Sushi, so we continued to try and find a place to eat in the mall, but there were no openings. It was now around 7pm. We did stop at a frozen yogurt shop called Sour Sally. They were out of ‘regular’ froyo but had ‘black’ froyo. We gave it a go, and everyone loved it!! We will definitely be back.

We wound our way back to the sushi restaurant, and there were only a few names ahead of us. The kids were starving, the parents were starving. We finally got seated and ordered. This was a lot of fun – it was almost worth the wait! We used an app while seated at the table to order what we wanted and they brought our orders out to us. We could keep adding to our order – and they would keep bringing the food out, and when we were done, we closed out the order and paid. Everyone left full and happy. The parents got a good laugh looking at our American kids gobbling up sushi and dumplings!

You would think that we could head home now, but one of the mom’s reminded us that the kids needed black t-shirts for the musical rehearsal in the morning (for their head shot photos), so off we went to a shop called uniqlo for black t-shirts for the kids.

We got lost going home. We made it home at around 10pm…11 hours after we left the house.

CELEBRATE, LIFE, PARTY

Minecraft 10th Birthday party – 2024

Birthday Party setup — Let the fun begin!

Jackson turned 10 this year – double digits!! After much deliberation, he decided that he wanted a Minecraft party and so I got started with the planning.

Creating games and activities that stayed on theme, but also had elements of math, science, and art was quite a challenge – but in the end, I was quite happy – and so were the kids.

The party was scheduled after school on a Friday – so we had a pizza party. When the kids arrived, they were each given a personalized VIP all access pass and then selected the toppings that they wanted on their individual pizzas. The kids ran around for a bit as their pizzas cooked and then after our bellies were full, we started with the activities.

Kids decoding an encrypted clue — Deciphering the encrypted clue

Activity 1: Mining: Geocaching/Scavenger Hunt

This one was a challenge! I wanted a geocaching hunt, but I was unable to set the coordinates for each cache, with enough accuracy for the kids to find them. I tried lots of apps and re-set coordinates a few times before deciding to focus on the ‘hints’, and to scrap the coordinates part of the activity. I encrypted each hint using the classic substitution cipher to make it bit more challenging.

It was dark and pouring down rain. We were all running around outside in the rain, trying to find the clue to the next cache, which held the clue to the next one. In the midst of all this madness, we discovered that one of the clues was missing! I’m not sure whether the wind/rain blew it away or whether it was the ‘suspicious looking’ older kids that watched me hide them! I ended up telling the kids where to go next. Most of the kids were really engaged and enjoyed this activity. (especially finding a clue in the locked ice cream cooler and frantically asking the venue staff to unlock the cooler so that they could reach their next clue!) I had two that were totally not into it.

The last clue led us to a ‘diamond’. It was actually an egg-shaped ball of tissue paper filled with candy and treats. We played a quick game of ‘pass the parcel’ before sitting down for an art project.

Activity 2: Dyeing: Painting creeper and pigs pixelated/graphs

Earlier in the week, Jackson and I painted 12×12 square canvases with a background of green for creepers and pink for pigs, and created grid marks with chalk. I got the idea from Pinterest.

At the party, the kids used a pattern to color in the grids using different hues and shades. This was a bit messy, and the kids could really be creative. Everyone seemed to enjoy this activity, and they all took their canvases home.

We sang Happy Birthday and had cake and ice cream before moving on to the final activity.

Activity 3: Hunting: Nighttime swimming with a bouncy slide!

It was dark and the rain had stopped. I threw inflated cows and pigs into the pool, and the kids had to ‘hunt’ for them. They were supposed to pose for a picture with the Instax camera when they caught their ‘meat’, but it was too dark. And the kids were having too much fun! They got to swim for about an hour before the pool closed.

I’m glad that I decided to use an outside venue to host, so that I could enjoy more of the party. It worked out great. I was so happy to have a few extra hands to help. I did have to pack up all of my party decorations and supplies and drag them home, but otherwise, they did all of the cleanup.

The kids took home party bags with 3x3x1 Rubic’s cubes, pickaxe pencils, Minecraft vinyl stickers, ring pops, licorice TNT, their canvases, and their VIP name tags/lanyards. I had also planned for them to take a few instant photos of themselves enjoying the party, but they just did not turn out.

The party was a success! And a week or two later, a mom randomly approached me and said they were at the venue the night of the party. She said our party looked like so much fun, that now her son also wants a Minecraft party!!

Cub Scouts, LIFE, TRAVEL

Cub Scout Camping – Caldera – February 2024

Our second camping trip of the Scout year found us back at Caldera Adventure River Resort in Citarik: https://calderaindonesia.com, about a three-hour drive outside of Jakarta. We started our journey at 5:30am, and we broke up the trip with a pit stop at a Starbucks along the way.

According to my standards, we were not glamping this time. Actual tents on the ground, but they did have mattresses and electric cords supplied. And the tents were put up for us prior to our arrival…so some may call that glamping!! It was so damp. Everything felt wet…including the mattresses and bedding.

This camping trip really stretched our comfort zones, and Jackson and I agreed that we would not do any more camping after this.

The day started with a ‘baby’ hike that ‘anyone’ could do. I even asked in advance about the challenge level, and if there was an ‘out’, should I decide not to continue. I was assured that it was an easy hike and I could just turn back if it became too much. After hiking up the mountain in 90-degree temperatures, I could feel myself getting overheated. (It was my own fault – I was ill-prepared. We did not bring water bottles, had not had breakfast, etc.) I was ready to turn back. I was confident that Jackson could make it to the end, but I was not confident that he could make it with ease, so I had him return with me. At this point, we were in the middle of the rice terraces. The guide brought in two others on motorbikes, and Jackson and I were ferried back to camp on the backs of the motorbikes. This was both terrifying and exhilarating. We later learned that the hike finished with the scouts climbing a near vertical hill to get out of the rice terraces, clutching at roots to pull themselves up!! (It was after this that we agreed that camping was not for us!!)

Next up was the river rafting. Jackson joined the group, while I sat out and continued to calm my nerves. He had a blast! This is his favorite part of camping at Caldera. While they were out, the sunny skies turned black and then opened up on us. We were in for a wet weekend!

Altoids tin filled with Band-Aids and Neosporin — I had to pull out the first aid kit, and bandage up a Boy Scout.

We managed to learn some new things and worked on our adventures. The Webelos worked on Into the Woods and some of the activities for the World Conservation Award. It was pouring cats and dogs at dinner time. Working on the Castaway adventure, the goal was for the kids to make two recipes without using pots/pans. The plan was for them to build a fire and cook pizza breads in foil and hard-boiled eggs in paper cups over their fire. The rain put a damper on the kids starting a fire to cook their food, so we attempted to make the pizzas on a camp stove. Although the pizza breads were wrapped in heavy duty foil, the blast from the camp stove was too much. The foil melted and the pizza tasted like fuel. Luckily, there were enough hot dogs for everyone!

There was enough of a pause in the rain that we did have a bonfire after dinner – and as the Caldera Team was setting up the bonfire, the Webelos set out to build a fire without matches. It was amazing to watch as they each took turns using cotton balls and string, toilet paper rolls, a flint and striker, and magnesium to light their own fires! After safely extinguishing the Webelos fires, we joined the group and enjoyed s’mores, watched the Boy Scouts perform a few skits, and then performed our own.

Thankfully, Jackson was exhausted and was able to fall asleep. I lay in the sweltering damp tent, thinking about the large spider the size of my hand that I saw in the dining hut and the 12-inch centipede that was in the bathroom and sent Facebook messages to my dad, complaining about the day. He told me “sounds like you are making memories!”. Dad was right. I tried to look at it from that point of view and tried to get some rest.

The next day, it was still raining. Everyone was ready to go home. We were standing by in hopes of getting cleared to do the Flying Fox (zipline). It was not to be, so we packed up camp and headed home – hot, wet, muddy, exhausted – memories made.