Wild, Wonderful, West Virginia

This is Jason writing, and I will hope to explain the meanings of some of the photos to be found at:

http://picasaweb.google.com/bennerj8/WVATripOctober1619#

by way of briefly recounting our weekend. A preliminary bit of information to know is that there is a reason that Kali's visage looks a tad distorted (it seems only extremely familiar or visually perceptive persons are capable of noticing this). While preparing a load of old cruddy packing palettes and creosote (I think) timbers for the landfill on Wednesday morning, we inadvertently disturbed a yellow jacket burrow, resulting in Kali getting stung on the hairline of her forehead. Parents hate that kind of stuff. I'm pleased to see, however, that after the initial terror stage, she seems to take that kind of discomfort pretty well in stride.

No pun intended. What I mean is that Kali and her swollen forehead "strided" all the way up to the lookout deck of the Seneca Rocks recreation area. That involves 1.5 miles of hiking up (and another 1.5 miles down), with an accumulated vertical ascent of 1,000 feet. I'm not saying she didn't complain at all...she just didn't complain about her forehead. Really, though, she did very, very well for her age (only requesting to be carried once on our descent after tripping over a root).

For those of you who don't know, Seneca Rocks is just over the Allegheny Mountain from Harman, WV, where Janelle's mom was raised. Mom and Dad Myers keep a home there that has been a place of respite and hope for many. We were there this weekend with our good friends for a weekend of fun, food, swings, food, philosophizing, food, mutual support, food, mountain comforts, and food. We always eat well with their family.

The photos of us digging in the dirt document the placement of four tulip bulbs of a purple variety (Kali was a bit awe-struck at having happened upon the package in the Rockingham Co-op here in town a few weeks back) around the Service Berry tree that we planted in the yard of the Mountain House this summer in memory of Nora. Assuming the squirrels don't make short work of the bulbs, we look forward to their blooming in spring.

There were ample opportunities, most especially while hiking Seneca at the peak of the autumn leaf display, to realize just how different this treasured time would have been if Nora were still with us. It has also struck both Janelle and I how it feels like it has been two years since we have really been able to notice the full transformation of the outdoors in the fall (as Janelle was on bed rest in October and we spent November in the NICU).

As we prepare for Nora's first birthday coming up this October 30th, we can't help but feel some gratefulness for our freedom of movement, even while still missing her keenly. I don't know if "carefree" can ever describe our family again, simply because of the complicated emotions our journey of love and loss inevitably brings. In a way, that is a gift, since I feel the other side of that coin is that we don't take our health or freedom for granted nearly the way we used to. Always present in our minds, too, are those many families who are still searching out their own best paths as they live their days with unresolved questions about their beloved's genetic condition and potentials. While we don't have any magic to offer them, we feel compelled to apply what we've learned about community support in the face of living tragedy in making ourselves a practical resource for them.

A good weekend, and hopefully helpful in rejuvenating us for the Palliative Care retreat coming up soon, as well as Nora's birthday and a presentation we're making at our church Nov. 9, concerning our family's journey.