40TH BIRTHDAY

 A memorable day spent with some of the most amazing friends that have come into my life and blessed me beyond words.  

 I had the opportunity to take a solo trip to Bend, OR and the first thing I did was stop at my favorite coffee shop that holds so many memories.  After that I got my hair done and had a super amazing lunch with my friends Suzy and Leslie!

 Thursday evening I met up with this beauty and her husband Nevin.  We got unpacked and had a nice dinner at Tetherow.  Thursday night was an early night as Amanda and I needed a good nights rest for our big hike.

 We started out at 7am and it was freezing!!  We started off on the wrong trailhead but quickly knew something was not right so we headed back to the car and on the way found the right trailhead.  Pictured with moms ashes.

This journey was all about honoring my moms wishes to have some of her ashes at Three Sisters. 

  Keith and my mom met on my birthday so I wanted to create a space for them with some freshly picked flowers, mom's wedding band and their wedding photo with South Sister in the back ground.

 Another beautiful spot for mom to rest and enjoy the gorgeous landscape.  

I imagined mom here and how she would feel.  Hiking to a place like this would never be an option for her.  Choosing these places to put her ashes along the way was important to me.  

 Because of all the fires surrounding the area our views were not as clear as they could be but we were so grateful for the air quality we did have.  

 Amanda and I did this hike in 2012 together and it was special to come back with her and share this day with her.

 This was pure joy as our feet needed the flat terrain.  The elevation gain on this hike was 5000 feet in a 6 mile trip to the top.  

 The landscape is breath taking.

 And rugged.

 The final push to the top.

The white snow behind me was another resting place for mom.

 The terrain was really tough and each step was slow and painful. We were joking about how much we looked forward to going down because at least it would be a different kind of pain.  So many times I felt mom and knew that my ability to do this journey is more than a blessing.  

 At the top we found a nice place by the water to release more of moms ashes.  It was a beautiful moment and the entire top of the mountain was covered in butterfly's.

 The last and final resting place.

Dear mom, I found this place for you.  I imagined you sitting here at the top and how you would have found a way to make it here if you could.  You would have called up your brothers and nephews and had them each take turns carrying you on their backs until you got here.  Your sisters and nieces would have carried up the food and your sister Shirley would have made enough food to feed every hiker that sumitted with all of us. All of your great nieces and nephews would have come too to celebrate you mom.  Steve and I are so proud to be your kids and the strength, determination, and our ability to value life is a reflection of you mom.  

 For you mom, to see and overlook this magnificent place.  

 Next year I will come again and visit you mom.

 I hope I can make it annually.

 And relive this moment.

This was about .5 mile from the trailhead on our way back.  I was convinced that if I looked at my feet they would be one huge blister.

 The creek was SO cold we could only place our hurting feet in for a second but it felt so good to get out of our shoes....and despite my feet feeling like they had been run through a meat grinder, they were in good condition.

I got this tattoo to represent my journey to honor you mom.  South Sister mountain range and your print that was taken moments after you took your last breath on this earth.  The wheat represents beauty, strength, love, abundance, and charity.  On my journey to the top, I found one small patch of the most beautiful wheat and gathered it to take with me to the top.  The meaning behind finding that solo patch of wheat in a 12 mile span is something that I will cherish in my heart forever.
I love you mom and miss you daily.  Thank you for your presence on this journey.

The rest of my evening...

 The hike took us 8 hours and after coming home and cleaning up, we met some friends at Crux for a nice evening of food and drinks.  

 While we were out hiking, Nevin bought me some amazing balloons and the worlds best gluten and dairy free cupcakes EVER!!  

 Ida's is the best!!  

After devouring our late night cupcakes, Amanda transformed me and took me out dancing until the late night hours!

Thank you Nevin for keeping a close eye on us.  

I will not forget this special day.