Yesterday the boys and I took a little road trip to visit my mother in law. She lives about two hours away and it has been over a year since we had last visited her. I will admit the road trip part had been haunting me, my past road trips to visit her were spent talking with my grandma. Being the creature of habit that I am I would stop in Conifer get myself a Starbucks drink, put a movie on for the boys and then spend the hour and a half of road between Conifer and Buena Vista chatting with my grandma. Granted the reception was never great and there would be pockets that I would lose her but for those that know my grandma know that, that woman could talk. I would often get disconnected and then call her back when I had reception and her phone line would be busy… she was still “talking to me”. So, needless to say that since my grandma passed almost a year ago I have dreaded the thought of driving out to visit my mother in law knowing that the two-hour trip would be spent with my thoughts of conversations past with my grandma. Well, I put on my big girl panties and I decided that I would make the trip out to visit my mother in law. I stopped in Conifer for my Starbucks, got a movie going for my boys and then made a call to my mom. Granted my mom was busy and had things to do but she chatted with me for a few minutes before the road conditions got a little sketchy and both hands were needed on the wheel. With snow and wind I spent my time driving. Those two hours were emotional, I spent some time being grateful for the phone conversations I had with her during my past road trips and then I grieved my current and future road trips that will be made without her. Needless to say the driving part was almost more than I could handle. Although when I was about to drop into Buena Vista the view of the collegiate peaks took my sadness away, and I was just grateful! I truly live in a beautiful state and there is something about seeing snow covered mountains reaching 14,000 feet into the sky that reminds me just how small I am but how much I am truly loved by my Creator.
Our visit with my mother in law was so nice. The last few visits she has made the decision to become sober and it has really been a huge blessing. Visits with her before her sobriety were a little strained and I was never sure if it was her or the bottle, I can truly say that it is neat to finally see who she really is, without the bottle involved. The boys get to be country for the day and they love it. The weather was a little chilly and very windy so we would take “thaw out” visits into the house. When we arrived the boys headed for the hay barn to climb on the hay bales, then we went and fed the horses and goats, the boys road in the wheel barrel, they climbed a rock/dirt hill and played in the dirt. The boys had a blast being boys. After we had exhausted them at her house we headed into town and went to two parks and then to dinner.
After seven hours of entertaining the boys I had the two-hour drive back home. The drive home was a little rough. The wind had kicked up and being in the middle of nowhere it was pitch black and then the snow began to fall. Needless to say by the time I got home all three boys were asleep and I needed a good massage!
Today hubby took the day off and big brother played hookie and we just hung out around the house as a family. We took a walk around the neighborhood and enjoyed a simple day as a family. Feeling blessed!
Just a warning I went a little picture happy on the trip… I think I took over 300 in just one day. So I have way too many to share below and then also some on Facebook too!
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