We had an awful weekend, full of stomach flu, sore muscles, and lots of fever! But, we are on the mend! I have never been so relieved to feel better in all my life.  

We finally made the trip to Mount Rushmore, last weekend, though!  I should probably apologize for inundating everyone with pictures on facebook, but I just couldn’t help myself! 

We left Colorado Friday evening, thinking we would make the 6.5 hour drive to Keystone, South Dakota. But, about half way in, we were just exhausted from the day. We stopped for the night in Douglas, Wyoming, and woke bright and early Saturday morning to make it to Mount Rushmore. Autumn was the perfect time to visit. Most of the local shops have already closed for the winter season, and that made traffic a breeze. The crowd was minimal, and the weather was sunshiny and a  breezy 63°. I always envisioned having to walk such a long distance to actually be close to the monument, but it was a short trail and parking was close. Scott and I couldn’t wait to get there, but we were most excited for Maggie. We still don’t know why, but when Mag was just a tiny 3 year old, she insisted that she needed to see “the Presidents’ heads.” She never stopped asking, and she was every bit as pleased as we’d hoped she would be. She wanted to stay forever.

While we were standing in front of the phenomenally carved heads of some of our nation’s greatest presidents, a young, twenty-something girl asked if we’d like her to take our family picture. We agreed, and she immediately tried to get Samuel to look her way. I didn’t particulary feel like explaining Sam’s autism or chromosome disorder, so when she asked how she could get him to smile, I laughed and jokingly said, “Well, he loves Jingle Bells!”

This precious girl replied in song with, “Dashing through the snow, in a one horse open sleigh…”

Then, her friend joined, “Oh’er the hills we go, laughing all the way..”

And, THEN, about 15 more strangers joined in, “Ohhh, Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way..”

And, as Scott, Maggie, and I looked into this crowd of unknowns, the multitude grew. Before the song was finished, over 50 Mount Rushmore visitors, of all ages, races, and backgrounds were singing the most beautiful sound I have ever heard. They were singing out of the goodness of their hearts. They were singing for our family’s picture. They were making our autistic son smile, by bringing a little Christmas to October!

Right there, below the Presidents’ heads, in South Dakota, among people we will likely never meet again, God’s goodness came down, and His glory filled all of our souls. 

Scott, and I had tears streaming down our faces, as we were in amazement and disbelief at the pure humanity of our fellow Americans. 

And, when the song was finished, the crowd clapped and cheered, and I told them how thankful we were for this blessing- this display of mankind’s gentleness to our special needs child. 

It was a perfect day. 

My senses are on social media and internet overload. I have had my nose in my ipad and iphone for the entire day and much of last week, while the kids have been sick. I started feeling weighted down this evening by the ever-checking of posts, and the amazon deals of the day. Kidding- well kind of! I am the type of person who becomes very sensitive, after reading one too many awful news articles. I begin to carry other people’s burdens as if they were my own. That can’t be healthy, and I feel the toll it takes on my heart and body. 

I took a 1 month break from my devices, at the end of last school year. I realized how much more engaged with the “here and now” I became. It helped with my depression and my spiritual walk with Christ. So, I am signing off for at least a few days. Everything in moderation, right? 

I will be playing hands of Uno, reading Duck and Goose books, taking trail walks, writing a few thank you cards, buying snow boots, having lunch with my husband, and focusing on my Savior and his plans for my walk with Him- just a few things to get me started. 

After a week of sickness, it seems that Maggie is on the mend. Samuel is still pretty snotty, but I am praying this illness runs its course in the next day or 2. 

We have been locked away in the apartment for the last few days, so we decided to take a drive into the mountains. We have never been along this particular route, and it was just beautiful. We stopped at Clear Creek and let the kids play in the water. Samuel loves grabbing handfuls of rocks and chunking them. The weather at that elevation was about 70° and perfect. We rode with the windows down. It was a much-needed outing. 

We also went to Golden Gate Canyon Park. There is an amazing lookout called Panorama Point. The signs show where to look out across the mountains and each mountain  is labeled. We could see Estes Park from way up there, too.  There are shaded hiking trails, and the leaves are golden on the Aspen trees. Scott and I always try to find places where we think my daddy will want to fly fish when he comes in November. 

Before we left our little city for the peaks, we picked up Samuel’s glasses. When we first put them on him, we were face-timing with my mama. He cried so much. He had his eyes squeezed tightly shut while he wailed. So, we got a book to distract him. Once he opened his eyes, the change was incredible. We could see with our own eyes the recognition of being able to see better with his. He looked at the pictures in the book with such intensity. Then, he held his hands in front of his face and marveled at them. He got off of my lap and watched his feet as he walked. It really was amazing. From that moment, he did not try to take them off again, and the tears never returned. Thank you, Lord!

   
 
 CLEAR CREEK

GOLDEN GATE CANYON PARK  
 
 Estes Park, in the distance.   
    
  PANORAMIC OUTLOOK 

The weather in Superior today was oh so chilly! It was a bundle up kind of day for the Blands. But, it was an open your windows kind of day for the locals. 

We shopped for a few winter clothes, and when we got home, it began to drizzle. It was humid for the first time since we’ve been here, and I closed my eyes and imagined I was listening to the rain back home at my folks’ house. I almost convinced myself! Almost. 

Maggie got a mountain bike a week or so ago, but she is afraid to use the handles to break. So, being the most uncoordinated and wonderful mother that I am, I put my big girl britches on and showed my girl how to ride. She laughed and laughed!  So did I. And, I didn’t convince her! Ha! 

We sat on the steps outside, and I taught her how to play jacks- real, metal jacks. We made it to threesies before the rain really came down. 

When we left Katy, we did not bring much with us. We packed some kitchen essentials, towels, clothes, shoes, and a few toys for the kids. We had furniture delivered when we arrived, but we are living,  essentially, a minimalistic life right now.  I don’t know if today would have ever happened if we’d been in Katy, in our large house, where floors are separated by stairs, and bedrooms are overflowing with stuff. What I do know: a childhood of simplicity is beautiful, jacks are still amazing, riding bikes can’t be beat, and not having a lot is better than having more. Today was a good day.