A Trip of Remembrance.

I’m so grateful for my boys. 

Jeff who is willing to stay with Sadie and Emmy Lou while we go off to put his grandfather to rest.

And Jason, who is willing to fly with me all the way to Idaho (A 4 airport journey) to join with extended friends and family in the celebration of my father-in-law’s life.

Sacrifice comes at a cost to all.

Thanksgiving arrangements have been un-arranged and re-arranged so that Jason could have this time off of work to travel with me.  He has switched shifts with co-workers to make it work.  And he is here with me now because he will forfeited his coveted Thanksgiving holiday at the cabin in Virginia to do so.

It’s bitter-sweet, but priceless and heartfelt and there will indeed be other Thanksgivings, but this one will never be forgotten.

There were many travel mercies along our way.

Not 1, not 2, but 3 first class upgrades!

Our flights were right on top of each other, the next one already boarding each time we landed – Greensboro to Atlanta to Minneapolis to Boise.  We got to each gate, but barely, but we made it.

The view just before Boise.

And yes, there was some hexie stitching as I gazed out the window.  Click to play:

A post shared by Bonnie K Hunter (@quiltville_bonnie) on Nov 16, 2017 at 1:22pm PST

We met with some of my side of the family in Boise after landing. So happy to catch up with my brother Scott and his wife Alicia, their daughter Chelsea and her two little kids, my mom and my step dad!

It was way too short, but glad to grab what time we could with them. I love how tiny my mom is in the arms of my son Jason. It just fills my heart.  They hadn't seen each other in 6 years. We caught Gary in the act with a cookie!

From there we headed straight over to Ontario Middle School in Ontario, Oregon to meet up with my niece Michelle, her parents, her hubby Duane and their 3 kids – her two teenaged girls were in the midst of back-to-back cut-throat basketball games with Wieser Jr. High, a near-by rival from the Idaho side of the border.

Click and catch this action:

A post shared by Bonnie K Hunter (@quiltville_bonnie) on Nov 16, 2017 at 5:12pm PST

More family arrived all through the day yesterday, many hugs and tears and sweet remembrances being brought to the surface as old photo album pages were turned.

“Do you remember when?”

“Oh, yes – look how much in love they were.”

“It’s been a good long life.”

“It’s sad that occasions like this bring us back together, but I am grateful for them.”

A Special Quilty Gift.

the Hubster Dave and his two brothers banded together over the past nearly a month – ALL of them caring for and being with their father at the end of his life, working as a team to comfort, administer and love him as he loved them.  It’s a pretty unheard of situation, these 3 brothers.

Dave’s brother Myron moved up from Texas just over a month ago as hospice care started.  He is retired and had the ability to do so and we are so grateful for him.  He will be taking home the Star Gazing quilt that Dave brought to Dad the day after I left for China.

Bruce received Christmas Lights from me last night at a family dinner.  I want both of these wonderful brothers to know how grateful I am – and how I admire the fortitude and support they gave not only to their dad, but to each other during this time.

An observation was made that “We don’t really have a reason to come this far to be together now that both parents are gone.”  I beg to differ.  Now we will make an effort to come together for GOOD times because we WANT TO.  Not because we have to, or because we feel duty bound. We will choose to.  Because life is short and precious and slipping by so quickly.

Today we honor Carl Hatch Hunter.

And we will remember Dorothy - Bruce, Myron and Dave’s mom – as Carl is laid to rest in the family plot beside her. 

And we will hold each other, lift each other up – and remember.

Quiltville Quote of the Day.

Hug your loved ones tight today.