Our 2nd trip to Colorado this summer

I had said in this previous post that we took a last minute trip to Colorado ...

It really was a last minute trip.

We found out on Thursday morning that Jay's Grandmother had passed away. She was 96 years old.
We decided on Friday morning at 8 during breakfast that we would drive to Colorado to be with Jay's family and attend the funeral.

At that time Jay said he would like to leave by 9:30. I knew that it would be a stretch for us to be leaving close to that time. We left the house around 10:20 and stopped by the library. Then had to make a trip back home.

That is when Jay said it would only take the equivalent of 700 or so more trips to the library and we would be in Colorado. Then we had to stop by Target, then Sams. Finally at 1:15 we actually started the drive.
I thought we were doing pretty good, considering it was a last minute trip, and all the things we were able to squeeze into the morning!



We were able to stay in the same home as the last trip to Colorado.
Again, so much service was given to Jay's family during this time.
And so many people were coming in from out of town.

I wrote this in my paper journal:
"It was a wonderful trip from Friday to Tuesday. There were so many re-connections with people we have met/known and so many new faces.

We saw so much service to all of the Spear family. People just stopping by and doing things.
Rolls, deli meat & cheese and chips from one family ... rolls and cookies from a friend ... broccoli salad and pita bread sandwiches from another friend.

More cookies.
Countless visits from friends.
It was wonderful to watch all the acts of service."

Seeing all the service gave me insight of what I can do for others in similar situations. Every last bit of food was eaten. When you have a funeral there are so many details to attend to, and in this case a lot of out of town guests. Food preparation gets kind of lost in the shuffle. Having the food ready and available to eat was such a blessing.

It was amazing to me to watch everyone interact. There were many people I had never met, and some only one time before. At first there was a little stiffness as everyone got reacquainted. But by Sunday it was fun to watch everyone together ... like no time had passed or, that everyone had known each other much longer. Of course, our kids took to the others right away.

Luke started right up with a nice "campfire" and got a few 2nd cousins in on the game of "indians dancing around the campfire."

Tucker played with whoever he could. He warmed up to everyone.

Tucker with 2nd cousin Adon (sp)

The kitchen was a busy place.

Savanna and 2nd cousin Rachel

They had a great time (as did all the kids) playing in the backyard up in the trees.

Tucker chumming it up with another 2nd cousin.

You want some?

We were able to spend Saturday and Sunday being with family and just hanging out at Jay's parents.

The funeral was on Monday.

It was a beautiful day. I am so grateful for the experiences we had.
The funeral service was nice.
Beautiful music, beautiful words spoken.

I was out in the hall with Tucker for a bit of it - walking and eating goldfish crackers.

After the funeral at the church there was a nice gathering outside while friends visited and talked with Jay's family. There was such a peacefulness about the day. She had lived a long life. This was not an untimely death. She was reunited with her husband after 36 years. Along with many other family members.

There was no funeral procession to the cemetery which was nice because we were all able to just go over at our own pace. Our family was the first one to get there, and we let the kids run to find Jay's sister's marker. It was kind of like a game. This cemetery is just beautiful. Rolling hills, many trees.

The kids found it pretty quick, and picked out the song on the back.

Luke made quick work of using his imagination that he was on a horse.

The rest of the family started arriving so we walked over to where Jay's grandparents marker is.
Jay had joked that it was a stones throw away- well it was a little more than that, but pretty close.

I loved the shot of everyone holding hands.

After the prayer we walked back over to Suzannes spot and visited with the family some more.

Tucker always having ready access to his belly button.

Tender moments of Jay's dad saying goodbye- for now.

We headed back to the church for a wonderful lunch. Jay's Aunt brought beautiful haiku that his Grandparents had written. She gave everyone copies that she had found with both of his Grandparents signatures. Then it was back to Jay's parents for more visiting and saying goodbyes.

Luke had this cute cousin playing Lois, (any guess to who he was?) and she was so fun to play along.








When we left Colorado in July we had no idea we would all be together so very soon. We were so grateful to be able to go and that our car ran well.

Jay shared video with everyone of a visit that he and his brothers and dad had taken to visit Videtta during our trip out in July just a few weeks before her death. They all felt so fortunate to have been able to make the visit and for the stories that were shared ... for the smiles and laughter.

This is the poem that was on the back of the program, that she and Wendall had written.

Eyes and ears dimming
Life's turbulance hushed,
Gentled almost night-
Then light!