The Wood Between the Worlds

 Just a favorite little lesser-known trail, where truly the wood is between worlds!

 Upper Butte Creek Falls

It took FOREVER to drive here (I had forgotten since the last time we came I was in a cocoon of grief).

 Tara and her sweet little

 The babies

 sweet kisses!

 Tara and Rachel are two friends who are very dear to me.  They both supported me in different but crucial ways through the loss of Elsa.  Tara was of course, a part of it.  Rachel was my Visiting Teaching companion at church.  Her baby ^ is only 4 months older than Elsa.  Instead of feeling awkward and avoiding me, she went out of her way to find out how she could help me in my loss.  She asked her sister who had a previous stillbirth what to do.  She made us dinner, brought us a plant (which traveled to Utah and back and is still alive in our dining room window), brought over the book Tear Soup, and sent cards to me every month in the mail with comforting scriptures.  I will never forget how she did not run away, but made my burden light.

 Some fun and games before the fireworks!

 still active...ever steaming

 from inside the visitors center

 arrayed in hues of violet

 and surrounded by 30 year old dead wood

 with hints of new life here and there

 lots of dead wood

 a picnic by spirit lake

and a canoe ride for all!

Goodbyes to moving friends:

This really deserves its own post and 6 months ago would've been better, but I'm tired.  Sorry friends!  Love you!  At least I'm finally getting these pictures posted.

 Tara, Kate and Katie...aren't we cute?

 Tara's and Katie's babies who were born 1 month after Elsa

 SO PRESH!

 Last year at almost the exact date, we had a picture take of the three of us with our matching pregnant bellies...now here we are a year later!

friends 4eva!