Our Homeplace: At Tim's House

Ok, so I've lost track of time. I don't even know what day we're on, so I'll just lump them all together as that's the way it seems right at the moment--days running into each other.

Instead of talking specifically about what happened each day, I'm being led in another direction this morning. As I think back over the days on the road and the ones here at Tim's, I can't help but think about "family". Paul and I enjoy traveling and being together. That's sort of obvious since we'll be married 42 years come November 29th. But we also enjoy having our family with us. Brandon and Meredith have been a real blessing to us this trip. Paul has had help loading and unloading the luggage from the van to the room and back. Meredith was a real help to me when I was in such pain after walking so far to the balloon fiesta and back to the van. Most of you know I’ve been going to physical therapy for my back and walking doesn’t help the condition. But I made it, and painkillers and ice helped a lot. That long walk was on Saturday night for the ‘night glow’ show.

The next morning, we got up early enough to get a parking spot much closer, so my back didn’t fare as badly. Words can’t describe the balloon fiesta. Pictures do a better job, but they still can’t capture all the excitement and wonder of so many hot air balloons in one place, all being blown up, people trying to hold them down with ropes until they were completely inflated, and then others trying to hold the baskets down until they were ready to go airborne.

Once the balloons were completely inflated, it was only a matter of a couple of minutes before they were in the air, drifting over our heads, people waving down at us. One balloon’s pilot was handicapped. He had a special rig that contained his wheelchair. It was amazing to see what only looked like him and his wheelchair dangling from underneath the balloon. He was part of the “Bee” family. These were actually three balloons all related. Two bees looked to be joined together and would “kiss” as they lifted into the air and then flew away hand-in-hand. The ‘bee’ that the handicapped man piloted was their baby bee.

God is so wonderful to allow us to do the things we enjoy even though we may not be able to do it just like everyone else does. I’m glad this man did not allow his handicap to stop him. (See his feet dangling down in the picture below.)

It was a blessing to be able to share this experience with Brandon and Meredith.

Tim and his family were unable to make it after all due to work obligations. I wish all our family could have been there with us, but maybe another time. I’m sure we’ll make it back this way again.

Family time with Tim, Maryann, Ethan, Kate, and Natalie has been precious. Being with them during their every day routines is just as good as doing more exciting things, such as the balloon fiesta. It would have been nice if they were there, but sitting here relaxing, playing, sharing meals and sunsets across the mountains are all blessed events.

Paul, Tim, Brandon, Meredith, and I did drive through the Sonoran Desert, climbed a mountain (yes, I did!), and went to the desert museum. It was such a nice day (except for getting car-sick on the drive back—yuck). I’m much better today.