Six Years Later...

 

Yesterday marked six years since Ryan’s mom passed away. I remember that night so vividly. I wrote about it here – if you’re new here and haven’t heard the story. It seems so strange, each time we mark this day, knowing we are one year farther away from the chance to make new memories and have fresh conversations. Oh, how thankful I am for pictures and journal entries and the things that preserve what we did get to enjoy in the years we shared with her.

                Nita appreciated pictures and words as much as I do, and even throughout the weeks of her illness, she wanted to be part of photos, and I’m so glad I took them. I’m so glad I preserved her full story – clear to the end.

                Capturing stories through words and pictures still matters deeply to me, and I do it for our lives too. Even yesterday, on a day of remembrance, we had a new adventure together.

                I needed to travel to Cleveland to be present for a family during a surgery, and Ryan didn’t want me to travel alone. He took the day off, and at 2:30 in the morning, we buckled up, coffee in hand, and headed toward Cleveland!

                State signs are hard to photograph in the middle of the night but pretend this says Ohio.

                Ryan drove us there and we talked nonstop the whole way. We ate protein balls when we started feeling sleepy, and we were so thankful for a safe trip. The wind was otherworldly, and Ryan had to fight to keep the car coloring within the lines. (And he managed to keep from hitting a road construction sign that had blown into our lane, but was unlit, making it impossible to see until we were upon it.)

                Perhaps I’ve driven by Cleveland before on a random vacation, but this was my first time into the city. I thought the skyline was very pretty at night!

                Ryan dropped me off at the front door and I hustled inside almost a full hour ahead of the scheduled surgery time…and I hadn’t even been there five minutes before they called us back to pray. I was so thankful we left extra early and didn’t have any delays.

                Ryan found us in the waiting room, and while the family talked together, he and I excused ourselves to find some coffee – and some breakfast.

                We waited with the family, enjoying great conversations for several hours until the end of the surgery. Everyone took turns taking little walking breaks.

                Ryan and I were completely impressed with the hospital layout, excellent signage, and abundance of people present at every turn to answer questions. I think it was one of the best hospital navigation experiences I’ve ever had.

                We stopped for a very late lunch on our way home and right around the time I got behind the wheel to take a turn, the rain poured, the wind howled, and I had to hang on for dear life to keep us in our lane! So much for a warm, sunny, spring day, right? Ryan caught a well-deserved nap while I drove, and then he took over again for the last part of the trip.

                We arrived home in time for a late dinner and many, many Lexi hugs! (She got to spend the day with a friend and was reportedly “good as gold” for her.)

                March 5^th is a hard day for us each year, because it marks endings and loss. But this year it also marked a chance to offer support and friendship…a chance to spend time together…and a chance to honor the Lord and the life Ryan’s mom taught him how to live.

                I’m grateful.