Over the river and through the woods

Kate and I got our New Year's Day ride in, in spite of being foiled in our plan to ride at Willamette Mission State Park. Before leaving her house Kate made sure the Wheatland ferry was running, but didn't realize that the horse parking area and horse trails were still inaccessible because of high water. So after a trip over the river to the park entrance, then back over the river to my house, we saddled up and rode through "my" little stretch of woods. With the ground mostly frozen, we were able to go beyond the gravel, farther than I have been able to ride since November. It was a relatively short ride, but sweet.

 

Today we awoke to snow! I didn't think seriously about saddling up until this afternoon, when I got a sobering Facebook update about someone I knew through our first eight years of homeschool co-op, then for the last year as a co-worker. Kelley has been battling cancer, not with any hope of beating it, just to gain more time with her family. They had a family trip to Disneyland scheduled the week of January 10; it's not going to happen.

We are home, home sweet home. This is our 2nd day here, and it is great to be here. Kelley made the trip from OHSU to our living room, and at this point there is only one more trip that she'll have to make, and that will be on the Glory Train. We are home with hospice, and she has her mind on heaven. Kelley will bypass the happiest place on earth and head to the happiest place anywhere.

We are all sleeping in the living room, with Kelley in the middle of it, waiting for her to board the train. I'm so blessed to watch my three kids take care of their momma in these last few hours, they haven't left her side. Of course not, she never left theirs when they needed her. She trained them well. So the next time you'll hear from me is when Kelley has entered the presence of her King.

This will be the fifth death in our small homeschool co-op "family" in less than five years, people my age or younger, people with children still living at home. Overwhelmed by more sorrow, I bundled up and headed down to see my therapist.

Watching Brian and a neighbor boy slide down the hill.

My Christmas cavaletti now number four

"When peace, like a river, attendeth my way; when sorrow like sea billows roll; whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say, 'It is well, it is well with my soul.'"