Time For Reflecting On Our Trip

Returning home always feels so satisfying even when I am on a most wonderful vacation. This was the first time ever for taking the train across country, and I totally recommend it. The families on the train were having fun together playing cards and snapping photos as beautiful scenery flowed past the windows. Everyone seemed friendly and willing to share their life stories or just let you read if you preferred. I am positive this will not be my last train trip. Heck, letting someone else drive was amazing!

This much needed trip was exactly what the 3 of us needed. The prayers you all sent just made our trip a perfect peaceful retreat. Now I feel confident to get on with life on the other side of the 1st anniversary of losing our Ryan. We enjoyed going through the videos and pictures on  the trip as well as spreading some of his ashes in the Pacific. What a wonderful way to spend our birthdays.

In Him,
Joyful
4-9-11

Ron wrote a sweet tribute that I would like to share:

IN THIS BOX

IN THIS BOX are the tangible remains of one we love and now miss so much. On the evening after Ryan's memorial service we had a ceremony and committed his ashes into the bon fire. Over the next week, family and friends from all around cleaned out every last bit of ashes, and began their journeys of remembering and dispersing his ashes to their special places. His ashes have been taken back to Alaska, the east coast, the northwest Cascades, any number of favorite fishing spots in Colorado and New Mexico, Oak Creek Canyon, favorite beaches n surfing areas, the snow corniced ridges of the Sange De Christo mountains, the fabled San Juan River, and who knows where else. I've carried his ashes with me in this little box for the last year as I have traipsed around the west chasing shadows at ancient calendar sites. The hand on the box symbolizes a common glyph we find, where a thousand years ago someone else left a tangible sign of their presence here on earth. This week we journey by train to the coast to rest, remember, and return his ashes to the beloved beaches. As the last rays of sun are setting I sprinkle his ashes into the water. Its only fitting that in the background a school of fish are breaking the surface, we know what Ryan would be doing right now if he were here.
Luv ya miss ya
All of us







SS