It's been a great summer at Bear Lake for me and my family. We've enjoyed the new cabin changes which followed our winter pipe break and find that everyone still loves to escape the hot city for a weekend retreat.
To catch up, in June Bob and Sara moved to Boise with their little boys and bought their first home. Bobby has taken his first real job in the Prosthetic's and Orthodic's field and they are settling in, as they usually do, with ease! They seem to roll better with change and being on 'their own' than we did as a young married couple. Of course, Jim and I only lived away from SLC for three years and just had Coby at that time.
What's NEW? Got to spend a few days in Cedar City in August at the Shakespeare Festival with Allison Clayton. We had a great time and it was a good time to regroup, clear my brain of a few things and be entertained. That is amazing entertainment. I really do love SHAKESPEARE.
I've also taken on a new little job as an editor with Meridian Magazine. Our former neighbors and good friends, Scott and Maurine Proctor asked me to write for a section of their online magazine called 'Circle of Sisters' (under the heading of Family). I'm supposed to ask questions that elicit responses and then respond to those 'responses'! It's been a little tricky for me to curb my desire to be more 'creative' - but it's good experience in writing and you know how I LOVE WORDS!
In addition, I've recently been called and sustained as a counselor in the new stake YW presidency with Wendy Morgan as the president. I'm a little sad to give up directing the ward choir, since I was just beginning to feel somewhat confident. Since I had this YW calling in the Brighton stake and was choir director in my ward prior to that, I'm wondering if the Lord just doesn't want me conducting choirs? Anyway, I shall do my best, which reminds me of this poem:
"They might not need me, yet they might,
I'll let myself be just in sight,
A smile the likes of mine might be,
Precisely their necessity!"
As for other changes, no new grand babies to announce as of yet! I do expect to be 'expecting news' in the next few months from a few of our girls. Oh boy, we already have a pretty lively group; can't wait to see how the momentum picks up with more!!!!! Coby is still working for Property Solutions as director of marketing. Ben is finding his niche selling medicare and other insurance supplements with Browning Insurance, and with so many of our friends approaching that certain AGE, he should have a busy year. Pat is still working for IHC as their videgrapher, Bob is as mentioned above and Marianne's husband Lance is a claims adjuster for Progressive Insurance. I feel blessed to have all our children employed, their families healthy and happy and faithful in the Church. HUGE blessings! I'm off to visit Bob and Sara in Boise in a couple of weeks this month. In January (for my big Christmas/birthday, etc. gifts to the family this year), we're going on a Disney Cruise (with everyone ...I hope)!. Other than that, no plans to travel but I'm always thinking ahead of what would be fun. Got to keep movin' to ease the pain!
"As For Me And My House", I'm feeling like year two without Jim is even more difficult than year one. My heart aches for his arms around me, his voice, his laugh, his company! I think the first year I felt so sorry for what he went through, so sad he had to endure that horrid disease. Now I miss how he might have been if he'd stayed healthy; what we might have done together, how he could have loved and enjoyed seeing his children mature and grandchildren grow! It's plainly just painful and still such a hard reality. I still find myself wanting to call and tell him something or expect the door to open and him to saunter in after work! And......I DON"T LIKE LIVING ALONE! It never worries me - it's just feels so EMPTY!
Now, with all the 'ice bucket challenges' for ALS and the new awareness and money flooding into research, I am reminded even more of our GREAT loss - and of others who have endured and still are enduring! I truly pray that with the Lords help, a pathway will open up to a cure. I know that Jim would be thrilled to see it benefit others, even if he was not a recipient of that help! I know he is cheering on the effort! I know he is mindful of his family and busily preparing a place for us all to gather together one day. I know he is close to me because I tell him that HE HAS TO BE and I feel his protective care! I know that he is still Jim - just somewhere else! Oh, this ENDURING THING can be crappy!
However, though days can be rough, there are also many good days so I'll end this entry by sending love and thanks to Jim's former employer, The Dennis Group, who are holding the 2nd Annual Jim Rich Memorial Bike Ride this Thursday in honor of Jim. They have been so good to our family and this really is the crowning touch! After the ride the riders, their families and our entire family will be treated to a fabulous picnic up Millcreek canyon as well! I believe this speaks volumes for Jim and the influence he had on others. Many from the various Dennis Group offices in the country have also all participated in the ALS ice bucket challenge in honor of Jim - such an amazing tribute. And lest I forget, to many of our family, good friends and neighbors who have also participated in the 'challenge' in honor of Jim - our profound LOVE and GRATITUDE!
HAPPY SEPTEMBER!
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