We're Goin' To Jackson

I just couldn’t take away from the importance of my last post and it needs to stand alone. 

I am making a second entry for today…is that legal in the blog world or is that one of the faux pas you are supposed to avoid? Thankfully, this is my blog and I’ll do with it, what I please!

Our first pick up has come and gone. It wasn’t too eventful with the exception of how close we came to our maximum allowed weight of 500 pounds. Guess what our weight came in at…………488 pounds! We dodged a hefty bill on that one. 

I have told James since we arrive in Utah that I wanted to go to Jackson Hole, Wyoming. My girlfriend Kayse and I were able to convince our hubbys to take us over a long weekend. Women can be so persuasive. It was kind of like a last hoorah for James and I to let loose before we take off and let me tell you, it was a blast! Our trips with the McGoverns typically include some type of “this sucks” moment and this time we hadn’t even gotten into Jackson before we got a speeding ticket.  We knew then that the trip had officially begun. 

Once we got into town we grabbed a bite and headed to the infamous Million Dollar Cowboy Bar. One of the most fun nights of our lives! We had a drink…or two and the dancing commenced. The boys left us on the dance floor and some rootin’ tootin’ cowboys picked us up and showed us their moves. Kayse was told she was a great dancer; I on the other hand did not. The next day we did some skiing at Jackson Hole Resort and had a great time. It was only my third time (ever) skiing so I told everyone to go check out some of the big boy runs and I would check out the bunny hill. It was kind of nice being on the lift alone, people watching and enjoying the sunshine. What wasn’t fun was being showed up by babies; literally babies were blowing by me. We went to a fancy shmancy restaurant for dinner and had the most amazing brussel sprouts of my life! It solidified something most of us already know, anything is better with bacon. We did some bar hopping, met some cool people but to no one’s surprise we ended up at the Cowboy Bar again. On our last day in town we headed to Grand Teton National Park for some snowshoeing to Taggart Lake. Bright blue skies, untouched and stark white snow with rich green trees, it was beautiful. 

All in all, it was a great and memorable trip. Kayse and Peter have opened our eyes to new ideas and shown us that it’s fun to try new things. It has been wonderful getting to know these two and we know that they will be the “lifer” kind of friends.

Favorite bar of all time!

Bridge on our way to Taggart Lake

Though there is snow, I got toasty.

Broken camera but a good picture at the top of the mountain.

Overlooking Taggart Lake and the Tetons.

Wyoming State Troopers have no mercy!

Ayvah Nicole

A lot has happened since the last time I wrote. Some things were wonderful and exciting and the most recent was tragic and emotional. 

Friday afternoon our dear friends delivered a beautiful baby girl named, Ayvah. She was only at 30 weeks gestation and was the size of a 25 week old. When she was delivered, she cried and was able to breathe almost entirely on her own, which was incredible news and gave everyone optimism for her prognosis. Sunday morning as I was getting ready to go visit my friend at the hospital, I got a call that all of baby Ayvah’s numbers were dropping (heart beat, blood pressure, etc.) and that the doctors concluded she would not make it. We, along with another close couple, rushed to the hospital to meet this tiny blessing. We walked in and saw our gracious friends loving on their new born baby. We hugged and kissed and cried and told, Ayvah that she was so loved. For such a tiny baby, there was such a huge amount of love in that room.

In my life I have not had to deal with very much pain and I have dealt with loss even less. It is the day after their loss and I am still unsure how to feel. I can’t imagine the feeling that the parents are going through and I can’t imagine having to leave a delivery room without your baby. For those that know me, know I am a very sensitive person so when I see others in pain, I hurt for them. I just want to hold them and hug them and tell them that someday it will all be alright and the pain won’t be so close to the surface. I want to comfort them in their time of grief but the only one who can truly do that is, Him. Luckily they know how loving and merciful God is and though it may not make sense, this is part of His  plan. They have been so gracious throughout this ordeal and I am so blessed and grateful I was able to meet their beautiful daughter. I pray that the Lord will guide them through their time of grief and comfort them during their sorrow. Please keep our friends in your prayers.