TeXaS TriP (Final Chapter)

Howdy All! This is my final chapter for our Texas trip. We had such an amazing time and so many things going on...it has taken me several posts to document all that we did.

If you missed any of the previous posts, here they are-

Part One- http://potterluv.blogspot.com/2012/07/texas-part-one.html

Part Two- http://potterluv.blogspot.com/2012/07/texas-part-two.html

Part Three- http://potterluv.blogspot.com/2012/07/texas-trip-part-three.html

It's a lot of reading and lots of pictures!

Ok, picking up where we left off from Part three-

We had John and Kelsey's couples baby shower on Sunday, July 1st. July 1st is also Nonna's birthday! 

Velvet, Keith and I had found the perfect gift for her at one of the booths in town over that weekend. We waited until early evening to give it to her. Velvet blind folded her and walked her around to the front yard where we had it set up...

 Happy, Happy Birthday Nonna! You are loved by so many...you are blessing to each one of us.

Thank you for all you are and for all that you do.

You are truly an angel.

 

Yep...she loved it! 

It is such a neat windmill. 

Sunday was really our last day to fit in other things we wanted to do because we had to head back home on Monday. I started loads of laundry, cleaning up the house and packing everyone up. I still found some time to ride a little...which was awesome! I really miss having a horse sometimes.

 I enjoyed teaching Lilly how to "take the reins".

She also got a few lessons from Jamie. Lilly loved every minute of it!

Uncle John helped the boys chase down lizards-

this one was big.

John, Kelsey and Maddox decided to head home Sunday evening. We hugged them tight and wished them well. We sure enjoyed spending time with them and making some great memories! 

After they left, it was evening time and we started winding down. Winding down in west Texas is one of my favorite things...there's nothing better then sitting on the front porch, cold drink in your hand, loved one's sitting next to you, telling "tales" and watching the sun go down over the mountains. It's amazing...

we enjoyed every second of it-

I have no idea what time we finally fell into bed that night...it didn't matter. We knew it was our last night there and we had made the best of it. I felt peace as I climbed into Dad's bed and breathed in a faint scent of him. I know that may sound strange to some of you...but it was comforting to me. The pain of losing him still runs wide and deep, but I am coping...just like the rest of us. Lilly slept in his bed with me for a couple of nights and she said "Momma, I love Grandpa's bed. Can we take it home with us?" I guess that's a good sign that it comforted her in a way also. We all have OUR own ways of coping. Some wade in slowly, some jump right in...there is no right way, no wrong way, only your way. I almost didn't make this trip because I felt that I wasn't "emotionally" ready to be around our big crowd of family and friends to honor Dad, celebrate him, toast him..."rise him up". I stumbled a few times, but had everyone there to help me get up and work my way thru it. They knew when to step up and help me and when to back down and give me space. I could have never ask for anything more...I think we all helped each other in our own ways. That is truly what life is all about...faith, hope, love, family and friends. It runs deep and is stronger than anything else in this world.

It is always tough to say Goodbye for now, until next time we see you again...but we know all things must come to an end at some point. I was sad to leave, but anxious to get home to my wonderful Hubby and my Lil' Griff! 

Before we headed to El Paso for our flight, we had lunch with everyone that could make it at Mac's favorite restaurant. We enjoyed the delicious authentic Mexican food, laughed at our good times from the previous days and delayed our goodbye's until the very end...

THANKS TO ALL OF YOU FOR YOUR HOSPITALITY, SUPPORT AND LOVE.

WE DID DAD PROUD!