On Monday, I walked up the stairs to a treehouse
Near a volcano
In El Salvador
No big deal…
Just a regular ho-hum day for a middle aged American wife and mom who only 48 hours ago welcomed a new daughter-in-love to the family.
I jest. It was this a significant moment. Why, you ask?
1. I’m very afraid of heights.
2. I’m not really a very adventurous person anymore.
3. I am accident prone.
4. The treehouse towered high above the mountains in the El Boqueron National Park
5. And it swayed…
Surveying the land – mountains, volcanoes, crests of the ocean peeking near the sky’s edge – such majesty and glory,
I climbed the steps and held on mightily to the thin railing. My eyes shunned all notice of the open risers. The recent earthquake we had experienced a few days ago from neighboring Guatemala was shoved aside. Up, up, up the stairs I climbed and then with trepidation, down, down, down the same.
I felt the Lord’s open hand and His voice saying, “I’m giving you this moment. Take it.” He gave me a gift. All I needed to do was accept. I said yes.
The park is just 25 minutes away from the Salvadoran capital and sits atop of the San Salvador volcano at an altitude of 5,905 feet which is about 1800 meters above sea level- (special thanks to fellow blogger Traveller Soul for the reference). The air was clear and cool, hibiscus and poinsettia blossomed at every view. The light fragrance of cypress reminded me of Christmas. How I wish I could have bottled the smell!
Ike then bespied a small swinging bridge near the treehouse. “Mom, go on this with me!” he declared.
Incredulously, my feet advanced. Before I knew it, I crossed the bridge. I’m not sure who was more surprised my orange hair, freckle face OS or I. Though a rather clumsy journey, by golly, I did it.
And now as I sit back in suburban North Carolina and attempt to write on my blog again,
Similarly I feel as if I’m overlooking a panorama of memories, experiences
Emotional mountains and volcanoes
The vista of pain and joy, loss and gain
Do I even dare to share and grant access to this life and try to write again? We shall see.
For the time being, I’m moving one step forward and reflecting on the chances I’m given to be blessed and
So how about you? Any chance you can relate to my journey? The brave part? The blessed? Hope you’ll share!


Since Aaron was a little boy, our family has instilled values, traditions and a belief in Jesus Christ. When I tucked Aaron in at night, I prayed for him. As I sat on his bed, I thanked the Lord for another day of being his mom. My heart is glad each day that I’ve had the honor and the privilege of being his mama. Of course I feel the same way about each of my boys.
Ephesians 3:20-21 “Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
I usually quantify how interesting my life is based on where my feet take me


To see a groom behold his bride for the very first time
It’s like after Thanksgiving dinner
Nothing –


cry.”


But as our ministry-minded middle announced his plans to marry, I envisioned the rehearsal dinner. I considered the food, the venue, flowers, decorations, it is one of my favorite things to do. Yet my spirit was unsettled about one major issue. How do we reconcile the fact that Aaron will probably never hear from his grandpa again? Although I will never understand the circumstances surrounding his strange departure or the vast amounts of pain this created, the Lord is sovereign. That’s the only part that gives me peace.
That is why I included pictures of my husband’s parents’ wedding in the decorations. Unless you have been in a similar situation, you may not appreciate the significance. I also had a photo of my parent’s wedding even though my mom has remarried and my dad’s been gone for over 25 years. But positioning that little framed picture of my in-law’s on the table was like moving a boulder. I didn’t want to cause my husband any more anguish. In addition to not having my FIL with us, our Soldier would be missing the festivities due to his deployment to Qatar. The Hubs was ok with seeing the photo again, bless his incredible heart.
The placement of that wedding picture announced that the poison cocktail of Alzheimer’s, vascular dementia and deception would NEVER erase the good memories we cling to each day.








