“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.”
Romans 15:13 ESV
I was sitting with my friend, Terri, yesterday when I heard this loud roaring noise. At first, I thought the air conditioner had gone on the fritz. I looked out the window and saw sunshine so I knew it wasn’t rain. I looked around, puzzled. Suddenly, everyone jumped up and ran to the windows. Rain! It really was raining. And pretty darned hard, too. Since the sun was out, there was an impressive rainbow. But do you think I ran and got my camera to document the event? Oh, heck no! I might have missed the whole storm. And rain is NOT something you want to miss in this semi-arid climate.
Colorado is parched. The grass crackles under your feet. Miss one day watering your plants or lawn and you have nothing but pale straw colored spikes. You know it’s a dry summer when the headline on the news alert coming out of Denver is “IT’S RAINING!” The other night, my son-in-law’s dad got the call…there would be no more water in the ditch. They own shares in the irrigation ditch…along with a gazillion other people. The ditch hasn’t dried up in years. I hope what little bit of rain we received here yesterday will help ease the fire danger. These people don’t live with “IF” when it comes to fires. They live with “WHEN”. It’s scary.
“But the Lord said to Samuel, "Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart."”
1 Samuel 16:7 ESV
I came to the mountains yesterday to visit my brother and some friends one more time before I go back to West Virginia. The rest of my visit is booked with the Denver family, so this is my last trip here for a while.
The traffic coming out of Denver was terrible. It seems everyone and their brother had the same idea to head to the mountains for the weekend and a normally three hour trip took four-and-a-half. Seriously though, if you have to get stuck in traffic somewhere, I can think of far worse places than the middle of the Rockies. I had my praise music cranked up and sat staring at the beauty all around me and my heart was full.
“He has filled them with skill to do every sort of work done by an engraver or by a designer or by an embroiderer in blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen, or by a weaver—by any sort of workman or skilled designer.”
Exodus 35:35 ESV
Little is a maker, just like her Nana. Yesterday was Maker Day. We headed to Starbucks to get super charged, then Hobby Lobby to buy the assorted art supplies that any 11-year-old maker needs for projects. Next week she is going to Tech Camp and while she’s gone, her mom and auntie are creating a new “Maker Space” in her room. I made a sign for her today then relaxed with a painting to try my hand at waves. I really am not much of an artist but I do have fun playing.
Today I am heading to the mountains for a few days. I need to spend some more time with my sweet brother and clean up Mr. Virgo’s grave. I heard from a gal in Glenwood Springs and we’re going to gather any readers in the area that may be interested and meet for coffee while I’m in town. It is always such a delight to spend time with my readers.
“For by me your days will be multiplied, and years will be added to your life.”
Proverbs 9:11 ESV
I make it a point to spend one-on-one time with the grandchildren when I visit them in Colorado. Little is my “maker” so yesterday we baked her daddy’s birthday cake. She “painted” on the iPad for quite a while. Then she stayed the night with me over at her paternal grandparents’ house where I stay when I am here.
I love the frankness of this child. She tells long tall tales but she also speaks truth that cuts to the chase. She has a way of feeling great empathy and is forever the champion of the underdog. She made me promise to take her to church while I am here. We listened to praise music as we drove around yesterday.
“Now, faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1 KJV
Once upon a time, in a beautiful palace in Heaven, the was a crystal pillar resting on a stand. It was The Pillar of Truth. There were no flaws within this crystal and every angle reflected the perfect truth to its observers. This was a cherished object in Heaven. There were a band of angels whose job it was to polish this stunning pillar til it glistened in the sunlight that filtered into the palace.
On occasion, a novice pillar polisher would be needed and some young angel would get the opportunity to become an apprentice. This was a great honor, as all of the truth was held within this stone. The angels took their assignment quite seriously.
“We leave bits of ourselves, like pebbles, everywhere we go.”
“Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.”
Psalm 51:10 NIV
We leave pieces of ourselves everywhere. Bits of our heart and spirit get left behind where we’ve lived, loved, worked, played. Big chunks are tied to places we have experienced great love...as well as great pain. The more we leave behind, the less we have for ourselves. The less we have leftover to leave in spaces that serve us.
My good friend Marion is a Reiki Master, an amazing artist, and one of my most devoted “editors” who regularly finds my typos and helps me save face. The other day, she casually commented on one of my posts. I was feeling stretched thin and she suggested calling these bits of my spirit home.
“On the glorious splendor of your majesty, and on your wondrous works, I will meditate.”
Psalms 145:5 ESV
It was a quick over night trip but much was accomplished. After having a trying day on Sunday, yesterday was lovely. I stayed over with my brother friend and we talked till late. I felt much better with his perspective and listening ear. He fixed me Costa Rican coffee yesterday morning. We sat on the back deck with the beautiful views.
My rental car, a VW Tiguan, got excellent gas mileage…36.3mpg on the highway. Not bad for mountain travel.
“For the righteous will never be moved; he will be remembered forever. He is not afraid of bad news; his heart is firm, trusting in the Lord.”
Psalms 112:6-7 ESV
We often compartmentalize segments of our lives based on what happened in that particular time frame. One might identify the child raising years and the empty nest years. Or a marriage that ends in divorce with its resultant “before” and “after”. For me personally, I have two that are particularly significant...”The Prozac Years” and “Mr. Virgo’s Death”.
There is a line in the sand between the before and after of my husband’s death. Nowhere am I more aware of that line than where I am sitting as I write this. I went to the mountains yesterday to visit my brother. He’s getting older and more frail. His ankles are swollen and he’s forgetful. I showed him pictures on my iPad and he didn’t know who our grandparents were. It made me very sad and added to the knots I already had in my stomach before I got there.
“When he came down from the mountain, great crowds followed him. And behold, a leper came to him and knelt before him, saying, "Lord, if you will, you can make me clean." And Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, "I will; be clean." And immediately his leprosy was cleansed. And Jesus said to him, "See that you say nothing to anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a proof to them."”
Matthew 8:1-4 ESV
I’m finally acclimating to the altitude. It always takes me three days to start feeling like myself when I first get here. I go through everything from feeling lethargic to feel nauseated to sever headache. I take a supplement when I get there called “Altitude Adjustment”. I get it at a ski shop. I think it really helps, but who knows? Maybe it’s three days whether I take it or not. At any rate, I am always glad to get those three days behind me.
In the past, I’ve made the mistake of heading to the mountains as soon as I get here. I lived here for forty years and never considered the altitude to be a problem until I moved to West Virginia. But anymore, I can’t just jump in and start playing at 5,280 feet. It doesn’t hurt you to take your time anyway. I’ve really enjoyed leisurely morning coffee with my son-in-law’s parents, drawing and playing with Little, visiting with the kids, having lunch with my nephew, reading my friend Michelle’s new book and taking naps.
“May you see your children's children!...”
Psalms 128:6 ESV
Grandchildren. What an amazing gift they are. My heart breaks for people who long for them and don’t get to experience something so amazing. One of the best parts about being a Nana is getting the best parts of the children. Their behaviors are different around grandparents...especially when they don’t get to see them quite as often. I haven’t seen my Colorado family since last August. A lot of growing up occurred in that time.
Big is just a tich taller than I am! How did this happen? She is lovely and elegant with her long, wavy blond hair. She’s an athlete…a swimmer. Dedicated and focused with a dry wit. She’s quiet, observant, fiercely loyal, and bright. I’m looking forward to having some alone time with her. We like to go shopping. She’s a frugal shopper and is careful to get the most with what she has. My first grandchild. I’ll never forget the summer after Mr. Virgo died. I brought the camper down to my son-in-law’s parents’ house and Big climbed up on the bed and talked to me for two hours straight. Before that, I’d have been hard pressed to get two sentences out of her. She’s fourteen now, and camping is SO passé. She likes to camp at the Marriott.
“What is this wet stuff???”
“Your DIFFERENCE is your BEAUTY.”
“My take on waves.”
“Little & Me”
“We leave bits of ourselves, like pebbles, everywhere we go.”
“Officer’s Gulch”
“Mr. Virgo’s final resting place.”
“The Reel Sisters” by Michelle Cummings
“Little is quite the artist.”