SUMMER'S END!

Summer is on it's way out so before it goes, I wanted to capture a few 'Rich' moments.  However, I am such a bad picture taker (never have the camera when I need it) so I have only a few photo memories to actually share for now!  The rest I'll just have to recall in writing!  

I am very grateful that most of our five children and their family's are close by.  I have truly enjoyed their company this summer and sharing Bear Lake with them has kept my sanity in tact!  I think I have mentioned that the little projects at the cabin have also helped me keep my mind occupied.  I love the screened porch that Jim ok'd to attached to the south side of our deck.  It adds another dimension to the cabin and gives us some breathing room when all the grand kids are there.  As I write, a storage shed is being built under the deck; room that has been badly needed since we turned the ground floor of the cabin into bedrooms.  I think Jim would be really pleased with the way things have turned out!

The boys (Coby, Ben and Lance) have been playing with their new wave runners on on the lake all summer and Pat has had fun with the little lazer boat he brought back to life! We've hardly used the big boat we have shared with the Sonnenberg family, as the grand kids that can easily ski and wake board behind the wave runners.  As for me, it took getting out the boat over Labor Day to pull my posterior out of the water but I did my token summer ski (if only for a few minutes)

Ski at 63....yeah!

We had a memorable Bear Lake cabin 50 year reunion in July!  I have to philosophize here a minute.  THANK GOODNESS for the CABIN!  I know that my children have loved the associations with their extended family over the years.  I think they kept themselves occupied and out what might have been troublesome teen years.  I watch their children being inventive and creative without the use of their electronic devices - and associating with their little cousins and know they love Bear Lake summers just as much as I did growing up.  It's been a place of  peace, play and posterity for fifty years and I send a big THANK YOU to my parents for making it so important in our lives and for Jim coming to love it as I have.  Hoping the happy times continue for years to come! 

I'm not sure I mentioned before that the Dennis Group sponsored a bike ride in July in honor of Jim (which I DO have pictures of)!  Coby and Pat were able to participate and after the ride, we were all treated to a fabulous picnic at the Terraces up Millcreek Canyon.  This is a great group of people.  No wonder Jim wanted to finish up some projects with them before he had to quit last year.  I feel I will always have friends there and am so grateful that Jim is well remembered!  
THANK YOU ALL!

We also had our two oldest grandchildren baptized this summer.  (Of course, no pictures!)  This was the goal Jim was trying to live long enough for - but I know he participated (probably in better form than he would have if he was around)!

We are so proud of Corbin Rich and Samantha Rich.  Hard to believe they are eight; they are all growing up way too fast.  

Of course, I mentioned that my Mom also passed away in July.  Quite a year - this 20...13!  Life is truly Yin and Yang (sp?)

An added bonus to the summer days was my invite to attend the 45 year East High Reunion.  Since East is 100 years old this year, the class of '68 opted for the mid-decade reunion and invited me.  I felt very welcomed and was happy to have heard so many nice things said about Jim from his classmates.  Ron Larkin was in charge of the 'party' along with a committee of most of our East High study group members and they all did a fabulous job.  Before I had to leave, they did a little tribute to Jim and told me I would always be welcome as an honorary member of the class of '68.  It was such a nice evening and I was so glad that I went, despite desperately missing Jim.  I know he would have been happy I was there!
 To end the summer, I'm headed to Sacramento the end of September with Marianne, Lance and their little ones to visit the California Rich clan.  We will celebrate Sara, Marianne and little Charlie's birthdays, travel to Monterrey for a couple of days and just enjoy good company.  Bob is in his final year of his Prosthetic /Orthotic residency and hoping to soon decide where they will settle for the next few years. 

So, where am I?  Well, I seem to be busy!  I'm the new ward choir director, I'm surrounded by family and friends, I'm eating out way too often and planning a lot of get-away's.   I can't sit still to read a book...or stay in one place too long.  I'm cleaning out Jim's den (36 years of never throwing a SINGLE THING away)!  His records are spotless but there are MILES TO GO, papers to shred and new responsibilities along with old memories endlessly flooding my wee  little brain!  Nights are still hard, I cry through my prayers (and often) and I lay awake wondering why someone like me who has always needed people SO MUCH, is suddenly ALL ALONE in this big house!  How did this all happen....there must be a reason!  What is our life's plan?  Did we both know this would happen in our pre-mortal existence and were still happy to come?  
I have also been blessed with some undeniable experiences of spiritual comfort since Jim's passing!  Interestingly, I have recently felt close to my Dad, who has been gone for nearly 3 decades.  Maybe it's because Mom and Jim are with him, urging him to 'tell me how it is'!  It was always hard not to believe every word my Dad said, as he was usually so conscientiously correct and always spoke with conviction!  In 'my minds eye' my Dad is young and vital as are Jim, Mom and our little grandson Jack who left us as an infant. Non of them appear to be old or...as they were when I last saw them!
Happily, I feel Jim's presence often and even sense his 'impish' grin as I'm getting ready for my days.  Sometimes I can hear his hearty laugh at some of the things I do; sometimes he'll urgently repeat my name, reminding me to do something I would never have thought of.  I am grateful beyond measure for this comfort.  Life after this life has to go on and so what choice do I have but to do likewise, even though the MISSING is SO HARD.  I pray that Heavenly Father will allow Jim to stay close, always.  I pray he is happy, at peace and busily engaged in those things the Lord knows he can do so well.  I pray he is with all our loved ones and also understands our mourning him; that he knows how very much he is loved and missed.  I know I can move forward if he is there!  I think he's grateful I have my little 'sidekick', Rosie.  Have I mentioned how much I love my little dog?  She has been a blessed addition to the empty holes in my life.  We both were 'rescued' when I found her!
Well, that's it for now.  Tired - going to bed!  Hoping for happy dreams!