Colorado

We took the world's fastest--and slowest--trip to Colorado for Buck's stepmom's memorial service. I say fastest, because it took place in fewer than five days. I say slowest, because we encountered "sit in your car and overheat traffic" on each of the four of those days we found ourselves in the car, accumulating more than 30 hours of over-the-road tripping. Oofta.

Since we're on the lowlights . . . Buck was sick most of the trip. He had a cough that was extra. I honestly think it was partially his psychosomatic system responding to stress. There was plenty of unknown about this trip--how would the family we haven't seen in a few years receive us? Communication has been limited, would we be welcomed, would this be awkward? Would his dad be upset that we were there?

It turns out, it was awkward, but we were welcomed with excitement by the extended family--we knew more names and had more connections than we expected to. Many of them had never met Buck, almost 50 years later. His dad did not recognize him, he was deep in his grieving. But he did light up when Buck told him who he was. We also told him he was going to be a great-grandpa soon. He asked if the baby was a boy or girl, and when he heard girl he got a huge grin and cheered a little cheer declaring, "Oh, I love little girls!!" Later he asked Buck to tell him about the young men our girls married. We assured him they are good guys and they take great care of Caelan and Gabby.

After that much conversation, he got real antsy and needed to go home. Too many people, too much going on, all well-wishers, but it was overwhelming to him. He had a quiet cowboy friend who appeared to be a volunteer caretaker. He drove him home from the family house where we enjoyed a meal together afterwards. I am still not clear whose house it was. I think Buck's sister said "Aunt Bubbles' house," but I'm not sure I heard her correctly.

Back at the memorial service, we were awestruck to hear Buck's stepbrother give his testimony. He talked about how he spent years angry at his parents, at himself, at his wife, and at the life he'd been given with all its hurts and heartaches. But God intervened five years ago, and he's been attending church, reading his Bible, and even Buck's dad noticed the dramatic before and after. "What changed?" he asked, and N got to tell him. What an answer to decades of prayer!! Buck and I both cried happy tears, mixed with all the sadness of saying goodbye to his stepmom and sister who were buried on that hardscrabble hill in the midst of mountains. A little historic cemetery marking their final resting place. N read the verses from Ecclesiastes about there being a season for everything, something his mom had liked hearing at another memorial. God's Word speaks to even the hardest, hurtingest hearts.

All in all, Buck and I were surprised by the amount of God's goodness that greeted us along the way. The "hotel" we stayed in housed a ministry outreach to launch young people into the world a bit more prepared for Christian adulthood, recognizing that not everyone is ready to go straight to college after high school. The pretty coffee shop and growing resort up the road also filled with God's greatness--from the views, to the worship music, to the verses printed on their business cards--it was good to have God show up in unexpected places.

Mountains above--at least it was a nice view when we got stuck for hours in yet another traffic jam. Okay and now I should back up . . . this post is as jumbled as my thoughts today.

Below is a picture of some flowers my coworkers sent me. They lasted for nearly two weeks before we took the trip to Colorado and back. It was a thoughtful gift.

On the way to and from the funeral, we stayed with Buck's aunt and uncle. We enjoyed their meals and went for a cruise on their boat. 

We talked with his cousins and we looked through crafting books from the 80s. I may update my profile picture to the one below ;)

We admired his aunt's sweet peas. I didn't know they grew this big and bushy each year--and when his uncle cuts them to the ground in the fall, they climb right back up again in the spring! These have been doing so almost as long as I've been alive (and much longer than the lady's outfit above was in fashion). Wow!

Before the funeral, Buck forgot his boots, so we went to Bomgaars to buy some. While there, I found some cute chicken shoes that don't feel like slippery skis when I'm walking down the hill from chicken chores. He also forgot his meds, so we went to the pharmacy in Costco. All that to say, somehow we missed the fact that in this same vicinity, there is now an In-n-Out Burger! Although it may have disappointed his aunt a little, we stopped for a pre-pizza night treat at our favorite fast food place--after our arduous, fasting drive back up to their town. Who knew our CA burgers and fries were creeping ever farther east? Mmmm, chocolate shakes :)

We drove home through a storm, and didn't stop to pick up Olive or visit the puppies--which turned out to be a good thing, because alllll of them were struggling with stomach upset. Even the newest batch of seven and their mama. It turns out this one goofball was plenty of canine greeting for us upon return. She really is sweet when she's flying solo :)

In conclusion, we decided it has been far too long since we've made a visit to the lake side of the family and we need to arrange a family reunion a.s.a.p. I put Buck's mom in charge of asking his aunt, though--I think we're still in trouble for stopping for shakes, lol ;)