Holiday Merriment

My tree. It's on the kitchen counter - but it is awfully cute!

My favorite sailboat ornament - it's ceramic and has a hole in the bottom for the light.

Me and sister, Becky, with the Jolly Man!

Mrs. Claus' cool socks! You know how much I love these :o)

Sheriff running in the snow.

Beautiful ornaments at the Grand Heron.

The Christmas Letter that isn't

Dear Friends,

Happy Holidays! I really, truly thought about writing a letter this year. It was always something I liked to do and enjoyed reminiscing about the year and finding fun photos to include. This year it isn't going to happen - again. There was absolutely no way to do it last year and now I just don't even know where to start. I think I'll capture the highlights after the first of the year on my blog (you'll have to read to be informed). I will send cards and this darling picture to those of you on my paper mailing list.


I wish you each a season of peace and joy and hope that 2009 brings you happiness and love.
Lori

Things I can't talk about

Sometimes when I lay in bed in the morning or stand in the shower the memories of that day come back to me so clearly I feel like it's happening all over again. I don't know why. Some say I suffer from PTSD. I don't know. This is probably just my minds way of processing a tragic/traumatic event. In time, I'm told, new memories and events will replace the old and we have a way of remembering only the good things (I guess that's how people have more than one baby - they forget the pain of delivery and only remember that beautiful newborn). Regardless, for now I continue to travel between the good and the bad, the happy and the sad, the joy and the anger, the acceptance and the guilt, the laughter and the tears.

The Ship

This writing came to me recently from a new friend and recent widower. Thank you, Rick, for sharing these beautiful words and your story.

I am standing upon the seashore. A ship at my side spreads her white sails to the morning breeze and starts for the blue ocean.

She is an object of beauty and strength, and I stand watching her until she is only a speck of white cloud just where the sea and sky meet and mingle with each other. Then someone at my side exclaims, "There, she's gone."

Gone where? Gone from my sight, that is all. She is just as large in hull and mast and spar as she was when she left my side, and just as able to bear her load of living freight to the place of her destination. Her diminished size is in me, not in her.

And, just at the moment when someone at my side says, "She's gone," there are other eyes watching for her coming and other voices ready to take up the glad shout, "Here she comes!"

(F. A. Fredrickson)

The memories of our loved ones live on forever in our hearts and minds. I'm so thankful to have had an abundance of wonderful adventures with Troy. May he enjoy the peace of his new voyage.

Love,

Lori

It's a small world

Posted by my blog friend.
Thank you T for your compassion and support!

Tuesday, December 2, 2008

To my friend Lori.
You are an amazing woman. You have offered nothing but kindness and inspiring words. I think of you especially today. Troy is proud of you. I am proud of you. I wish you nothing but happiness and peace in the days ahead. Watching (reading) you gives me hope. Troy and B are up there smiling that we have met. I wish I were closer, so we could actually meet and drink to our fabulous husbands who had to leave us all too soon.
Love,
Me.

This Thanksgiving

We were able to be at the Plateau to visit Troy and Handsome. There are always many emotions as we approach the Plateau, and this is the first in 41 years without my son in my life. Gary and I are so thankful for the support of our family and friends and so grateful that Lori will always be our daughter. Joining us for the day were my sister Karen and her husband Bob, our dear friends Jerry and Susie, Rod and Nicky. Together we climbed the Plateau, and even though Lori could not be with us, she was there in our hearts and thoughts. It was a crisp clear day and we enjoyed the beautiful view of Mt. Rushmore from afar, and the vast rolling plains.

We joined hands around the cross and shared the things that we admired, appreciated and loved about Troy, when he was young he made many trips up to the plateau either on a four wheeler, horse back, truck or hiking (what fun he had) he chose a unique and incredible resting place. We will be back to visit soon.

We miss and love you so much!! Gary and MAMA