Birthday Celebration: Making Memories

Hard to believe that our “baby boy” is embarking on his fourth decade of life as of April 19. We were not able to travel to Indy this year for his birthday, so flew him to Salt Lake City and picked him up there so he could drive us to Colorado Springs to see Aunt Ruthie, Dean’s sister.

This was the first extended road trip in “The Cadillac” and the front seat passengers found the ride quite cushy. The back seat passengers, namely Linus and me, found it to be a bit crowded due to initially poor packing but also cushy. I did get my exercise during the trip as climbing out of the back seat of a two-door vehicle requires somewhat of a contortionist’s act.

On the way to Colorado Springs, we stopped in Leadville to see friends we last visited in Pima, AZ. Talk about a change in altitude! It was great to see the Brummers again and get acquainted with Eliza.

We had a wonderful time with Ruthie and Terry in Colorado Springs plus Jeff flew in for Brian’s birthday so we had a mini-reunion. Thanks to Ruthie we got to visit Magic Town at the Michael Garman Museum. What a marvel. Also got to drive around Garden of the Gods which was gorgeous despite the storm that was threatening.

Brian chose Boston Crème Cake instead of his traditional angel food cake as his birthday cake of choice. Jeff artistically placed the candles to read 39 which, unfortunately is not readable. 

Below we have Brian and Ruthie playing guitar duets. Makes me think of the jam session back in Bairoil, WY days with Dad Diehl on guitar, Belinda, on piano, Ruthie on trumpet or guitar and Gwyn on coffee can (her drum). Good memories.


Terry had a great scrapbook  of pictures of two  of her dogs. Brian decided to "sing" the scrapbook using her picture captions for lyrics and making up his own music along the way. He said he had sung a Dr Seuss book for friends in Indy so this wasn't too much of a stretch for his creativity. Shades of Gwyn! She used to make up her own lyrics when she forgot the words to a song she was singing.



All these wonderful memories make me think of the chapter we're reading called "Beliving God was Faithful in Your Past. When I think of how far back in time God has been faithful in my life, it's really awesome. (Of course, I have to take into account my advanced age)

The first chapter of Joshua tells of how God heaped up the waters of the Jordan River at flood stage so the children of Israel could cross. He commanded that 12 men be chosen to each pick up a large stone from the middle of the riverbed and carry it on beyond the bank to serve as a memorial for what God had done. Then whenever the descendants of the People asked, “Why is that pile of stones there?” an answer could be given of how God faithfully made a way for His people.

I think that would be a good practice to do—except my memorial won’t be a pile of stones—maybe more like a Letter to My Boys.