We have really become 'empty-nesters' this week. Russ moved out into his own apartment in Orem and will be going to UVSC (now UVU) and working. It is a great thing, but marks the end of one era and the beginning of another. He bought his own car, Rachel and Chris' former vehicle, an old Honda Civic and is paying for his own living expenses. He will be seeing what independence and responsibility really means. Sunday family dinners take on new significance as we look forward to his return with the rest of our children/grandchildren.
As noted in my last post, as well as on Beth's and Rachel's blogs, it is also the end of another era with Beth and Reid's move to Austin, TX for grad school. These past few years we had the joy of a little window in time with all our children close by and have enjoyed the richness of regular family gatherings and associations. We have had the opportunity of being around to see the courtship and marriage of Beth and Rae, to be there for the birth of Ben, Emily, and Lareine, to help with moves and illnesses, to have the support in tough times, and to have the joy of seeing our children and grandchildren on a weekly basis. The memories and bonds provide a richness to our lives that is hard to describe. As such, this time has been sweet and has allowed us the opportunities to forge strengthened bonds of love and support that will make the new adventures both easier and harder. Easier because that love and support continues despite the distance and allows for different forms of expression. But harder because it's hard to give hugs over the internet (obviously that is the next needed development needed in cyberspace).
I do miss Beth and Reid and especially little Lareine Lilly, though obviously she has acquired other adoring fans, from early reports from Austin. I am grateful for emails, blogs and cell phones. I am especially grateful for airplanes, airline miles, a flexible work schedule, and a supportive husband, which means that I get to go to Austin next month to visit and help Beth with some projects to make their place, 'no place like home'.
Ev and I kicked off this time of being just the 2 of us again with a grand 30th wedding anniversary adventure to Glacier Natl Park on the Montana/Canadian border. It was a wonderful trip. We enjoyed each day:
We left Friday night after Chris' graduation gala (under tent). We got as far as Pocatello, Idaho and stayed at the Cottontree Inn - really the best accommodations of the trip, where we later found out Beth and Reid had gone for their honeymoon.
Saturday we continued our drive to Glacier enjoying the vistas, the company, and the time to relax and just be together. Glacier was a little disappointing at first as it was very smoky that first night and next day due to some fires in the surrounding area. We started our stay at Glacier Park Lodge in East Glacier , which is actually outside the park. It was built by the railroad to encourage rail travel and was rustic to say the least. We could hear the conversations of people in the next room like there were no walls and the bed left us a little sore in the morning. But it was an adventure, which was why we chose Glacier.
Sunday we found that the closest church was over an hour away so we continued our adventure and had our own meeting. We drove around the southern tip of the park to West Glacier and Lake McDonald Lodge and hiked to a lake and on the Trail to the Cedars. We were amazed to see that part of Glacier as more similar to the Pacific Northwest, very green with dense growth and more humid climate, compared to East Glacier which is much more arid (on opposite sides of the Rocky Mtns). It also has tremendous variety in the geology with older layers being pushed up in proximity to much younger layers. The rocks were beautiful, striking greens and reds and pinks and oranges with the riverbeds a sparkling aray of color. Then the most amazing and frightening part of the trip was a drive called the Going to the Sun Road. It was an old road parts of which were in disrepair and in the process of being fixed. It is the one road through the park that connects East and West Glacier over the Rocky Mountain divide. A large section is sheer cliffs up on one side and sheer clffs down on the other with a low rock wall that in some sections had fallen off. Knowing Ev, you can imagine the high anxiety as well as the amazement at the vistas. As we crossed over the top of the divide we got our first view of mountain goats and big horn sheep. We topped of the day with dinner at a great little hole in the wall place in St Mary's, Jim would have loved it, and stayed one more night at Glacier Park Lodge.
Travelogue will continue with next post.
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