Dearest Friends and Family,

Once in awhile there comes a time in our lives when it feels like our world turns upside down. Things feel a little strange and wonky! In these times, it’s so easy for our confidence to sag, our hearts to give up, our breath to gasp, and sleep to slip away. Learning to settle into the changes and to recognize the amazing gift of adaptability is a gift I can appreciate more as time goes on.

This past season of life has been one of the most learning seasons for me. Here in this time, when my body wants to cramp and my brain gets so crazy, I was forced to stop and breathe. Only that helped.

Stop. And. Breathe

My counselor, Susan, says, “Slowing down is being inside yourself. Our peace and calm is below the noise of our emotions and desires.”

And now a beautiful bird sails over my head and I wonder . . . what’s his true life? Does he worry?

The answer came clearly. No, he doesn’t worry. He just flies moment to the next.

So onward . . .

My daughter Shawna has now moved into one of our downstairs rooms. Then, immediately, our first amazing excursion was four days of biking and hiking in Basalt, Colorado. It was put together by two fun guys in my local bike club. 

We first biked all the way up and down a mountain called Maroon Bells. At the top, some of us hiked further up and around a beautiful mountain lake there. Then, of course, there was the down, down, down . . . at high speed! I was so grateful for my eBike and good brakes! A dear friend loaned us an eBike for Shawna and we were still learning how to use it. We hadn’t charged it properly, and she almost ran out of power going up. But that’s part of the adventure, right? The next day we rode for 40 miles, out and back along a beautiful mountain river trail.

Meantime, Shawna, being the competent online person that she is, booked us for a deeply relaxing hot water soak at Iron Mountain Hot Springs at the end of the day.

Then, on our last day we went rafting with a group, down Roaring Forks River. Oh, we were pooped but happy as we drove home to Green Mtn. Falls.

Robert’s daughter, Jenny, had picked him up to stay with her for those four days. Then we all met, in Colorado Springs after our trip, and attended Circus Of The Night at the Millibo Art Theater.

That’s a lot! Hmmm, no wonder I’m feeling “wonky.

Once we were all completely home, working to catch up with commitments postponed from week before, it was time to move Shawna completely & carefully into our downstairs (and move me and stuff out).

No worries, we have an agreement that 1 day a week (Fridays), she takes her computer workstation upstairs, and I can do treatments downstairs all day. Such a deal, huh? It’s been so fun having her here, and she plans to make it her home base til Januaryish.

WHOOPEE! SO I’M STILL DOING TREATMENTS BECAUSE I LOVE TO AND I LOVE MY PEOPLE!

Again onward . . . People keep asking, “When are you moving?” and “How is Robert doing?”

We don’t know when we’re moving. We’re so comfortable in our home and Robert, though his body is feeling weaker, he’s so comfortable here and his mind is as sharp as ever. We haven’t heard from Mackensie Place, so we’ll reach out as our lives settle a bit more.

Well, that’s it for now. I’m so happy to stay in touch with all of you through this newsletter. It’s a big THANK YOU to my old friend Julia Wright who helps me get it out every couple months