The Races of Life

Our month with my mom is over. We are home once again, for a couple of weeks. While we were in Colorado Audrey and 4 of the grandkids visited us. We had such fun together. While they were there our neighbors, Bev and Ernie Trutner also came for a visit. We had a great bond. We went from quiet, peaceful days with Mom to busy and wild times. I liked both.

While all of this company was with us, we drove to Lisbon Valley, Mom's girlhood home. It is a haunting, beautiful place. Mom's cabin homes are still there. Also there are the graves of her father and brother. Several years ago she bought a gravestone for her brother, Larry. She has been anxious ever since to place it on his grave. We finally arranged it and went there with that errand in mind. Two of my nephews met us there. We spent the afternoon placing the stone and wandering the property. It was, as usual, quite wonderful. I especially wanted the grandchildren to see the place. I believe they enjoyed it. It was a sweet moment to observe my mom watching her family place the stone on Larry's grave, according to her instructions. Her anxiety over this errand was at last put to rest. I was happy to be a part of that.

Layne and I came home last Monday. It took all day as flights into and out of Denver were packed all day. But we were lucky and made it home in one day. Good thing. Tuesday the heavens opened in a big way. Wind and rain filled the day. I've never seen a storm like that one here; it rained ALL DAY! Trees blew down and water was everywhere. Our three cisterns, used to collect rainwater, all filled to overflowing. I love this kind of weather. Layne donned his bright yellow raincoat and waded out into the storm to rescue some of the trees that were blowing out of their ties. It was all pretty exciting. It is Sunday now and you'd just about never know there was a storm as our days are now warm and friendly.

It feels like we are racing through life! I wish I could hold time back a little. There is much to be done before we head back to Colorado to bring Mom home with us for the winter. We'll fly back on the 28th and drive home with her, arriving on Halloween. Then she will be our girl until Spring. These are interesting times with Mom. I miss the vibrant, talkative woman she was, but still enjoy her. I feel a great need to care properly for her as I feel that she is a noble woman and deserves to live in a generous environment. So I pray for generosity!

The pictures above are out of order. The top one is of Mom looking at the placement of her brother's gravestone, shown in the picture under hers. Next is Layne in his yellow rain gear out in our Tuesday storm. At the bottom is Audrey and me with grandchildren Scott, Allegra, James and Isaiah in shirts we got for participating in a walkathon at Apple Fest, a harvest celebration held each October in Cedaredge. We had such fun!