Park City, Utah

In early June a dear friend loaned us their condo timeshare in Park City, Utah.  I left on Friday afternoon with Lydia and Seth and Russ came with Anna on Sunday night after church.  The weather was a little cool, but we enjoyed a relaxing week together.

Lots of swimming and ping-pong

Hiking--I had researched beautiful hikes in the area, but they were not open due to the large amounts of snow at the higher elevations.  The road at one point was even closed as a snowplow had gotten stuck in a snowbank.  Locals admitted this amount of snow was unusual for June 19!  Later we hiked at a lower elevation and enjoyed a beautiful view of the resort/condos.  We hiked up about 4.5 miles and then took the gondola down.

Mini-golf

Shopping at the outlet mall--Seth loved the Harry Potter Vans (they stayed in the store), but Russ did find himself a Brooks Brothers suit for $150!

Olympic Museum

Animal art used in the opening ceremonies

The one skier in the family enjoyed many of the exhibits! 

West Yellowstone

In early June Russ and I and had the pleasure of driving to West Yellowstone to officiate/attend the wedding of a lovely young couple in our church.

On the drive to the rehearsal dinner, we stopped at the Upper and Lower Mesa Falls.

This was our only bear sighting of the trip...just outside our cabin door 🙄

These were waiting for us in our room--cute idea.  The groom's last name is Poortinga.

The day of the wedding Russ and I rose early and made a quick trip into the park.  We were able to drive the lower loop--my favorite.  We saw the Upper and Lower Falls, the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone, and Yellowstone Lake. 

 Snow was still abundant at the higher elevations.  Russ was quite resourceful and used the snow to clean off a dirty windshield.😂

The wedding and reception were held at the historic (and beautiful!) Union Pacific Dining Lodge in West Yellowstone. 

On our way home we went back through Yellowstone and caught an Old Faithful eruption and walked through the West Thumb Geyser Basin.  We then continued to drive south into Grand Teton National Park for some beautiful scenery, and then headed west toward home!

I find these geyser/volcano-y type things on the shore of Yellowstone Lake kind of eerie.

Grief and Grace

By Caleb Herman

Grief and Grace

Grief starts in your stomach, a gut-wrenching weight that seems to pull you closer to the ground with every step, gradually spreading to every part of your body until all that’s left is an incredible, heavy numbness.

In an instant it changes dreams of the future into reflections on the past. All of the planning, the time spent dreaming are turned into could-have-beens, memories that will never be. Every smile, every touch, every laugh becomes a memory to cherish, to hold onto fiercely and never let go.

Then the guilt sets in. All the missed opportunities, the texts that were never sent, the words that could have been said, the moments that were never shared. It threatens to overpower and overwhelm, an onslaught of “what if’s” and “if only’s”.

But grace begins in the heart, a warmth of remembrance and freedom. It fills you with a longing for an eternal home, a place where hurt and brokenness are no more.

Every memory is now blessing, a moment shared with the ones we loved. The pain is a reminder that we loved deeply, the emptiness a sign of an authentic relationship.

Grace is having the privilege of knowing someone who cared so deeply, felt so fully, and loved so deeply. It is a genuine celebration of a life that was lived for others with abundant joy.

Grief is tears amidst the ache of loss. Grace is peace that flows from Heaven.

Grief is hurt. Grace is healing.

Grief is temporary. Grace is eternal.

Grief is great, but God’s grace is greater.