Maroon Bells - From Oct 2012

For years I have seen the most beautiful pictures of the Maroon Bells in Aspen during the fall but never had the priviledge of seeing them.  We had planned a two night Widows Trip to Canyon City to see the Royal Gorge.  One of our Widows, Bina,  had never been there.  Unfortunately she suffered a severe fall resulting in a broken hip.  We could make that trip without her but still needed a getaway.  It's always so amazing what those times together do.  So where else can we go?  Aspen in the fall just seemed a wonderful possibility.  And so to Aspen we went.





The Widows are back

Well it's been a while since we have posted. Age does crazy things to you. Like you are so sure you have the correct email address for your blog that you spend hours fighting your computer, only to discover: oops wrong email address.  So thank you Jason with Webmaster Central Help Forum for giving me hope that our blog was not lost in cyber space. Or that there was some conspiracy (because in my life there always has to be a conspiracy theory, right?).
Although we have lost 2 of our beautiful widows, we have also gained some.  And the statistics show unfortunately the chances of us adding even more is very high.
Here's to learning to enjoy life when your life changes and you don't know what to do!

Remebering Helen

 

  My Widows wondered with our Mama gone will we continue to be "WILD WIDOWS"? The answer of course has to be yes. How can we not? Didn't matter when it, didn't matter where, we had to go.
      

We headed to the Cambria Suites in Ft Collins for some stories, memories and lots of laughs and even some tears. It was a bittersweet trip. Memories were many,laughter was included. But Helen was truly missed.

 

 

As Widows we have shared the loss of our husbands and now a very special part of our group, but true to our name, "The Wild Widows"  will continue on.

We lose a Widow

                               

On May 20, 2012 we said goodbye to Helen, our matriarch Widow, the matriarch of the Younger family but first and foremost our Mama. She was the Moma to 9 boys and 7 girls. Grandma to 51 grandchildren. Great-grandma to 52+ great grandchildren and even one great-great grandchild. She was 86 years young at least in her mind but unfortunately her body was 86 years old. We were blessed to have been graced with her love and guidance and her smile that lasted almost to the end. So many memories we have and have shared over the months since she left us. For me some of my most special memories will be of her on our trips. The pictures that follow are a glimpse of the gift of her life we were given.

Our First Widows Trip

Mt Rushmore -10 degrees We were Wild Widows back then We had a great time in Yellowstone

The widows at the Sand Dunes Air Force Academy

                                                          

It didn't matter where we were going, only that we WERE going. Always a smile on her face. This is one widow who will be missed.

We love you............

Helen Louise Adelide Younger Kreutzer

Another Widow Joins the Club

My Aunt Josephine (we call her Jo) joined our ranks recently. She and my Uncle Dan were married 63 years. We had the pleasure of her company to share my 56th birthday at El Jardin's in Commerce City.

Aunt Lamie her younger sister by 14months decided we need to come up with an initiation ritual for the new Widows. I think just being in our company is enough of an initiation. My Aunt Bernice could not make it, she fell recently and is recuperating. Her " Are we there yet?" was missed but Aunt Jo was not afraid to step up and take her place. Lucky for Mary, the driver, we were only going two miles.

Reflecting tonight on how our group has grown and how many more widows there are we would love to include in our group I was moved by the thought "The price we pay to be a part of the group comes at a higher price to some than others". But then GOD showed me the laughter we shared all evening. The conversations we are only just beginning and also the hope we are able to share with each other that life can still be lived after the loss of a loved one

.I sit and smile tonight and that my GOD and Savior for the gift he has given me in helping these women to laugh.

(If you ever have an opportunity ask one of them about speed bumps in a handicapped van. We truly are WILD WIDOWS and you better watch out!!!"[

To the Runway we go.

We made it. Finally the Wild Widows are out and about.  With our new wheels there is no limit to where we can go.    Restaurants.com provided us with a $25 off any $35 purchase and the Runway Grill was our destination.  The food was good but the company was better.  It's amazing how much sharing time together is so important.   We laughed, teased, and planned our next trip.  One of our Widows has not been to the Denver Museum of Natural History in over 50 years.  It's not where we go but who we go with, and to enjoy the life we have been given.

Oh yes - no Widows trip could be complete without our trip to McDonalds for our small ice cream cone. 

The Widows Got New Wheels

     Life has so many changes and just when we think we have it figured out, it changes. Two months ago Hospice informed us our Mom (who had become bedridden) had just days tohey asked if everyone had a chance to say their goodbyes. Now in a family of over 130 (just her direct children, grandchildren) that takes a while. We had company. She rallied. Two weeks later she hit a low. Once again any day. She was hardly eating or drinking. We knew it was getting close. Easter came and we had over 80 people for breakfast. The follwoing week was Mother's Day. Again we had a house full. The following week she was back to eating 3 meals a day. Who knew. For our Mom it seems changed her mind about going home or as I read in a book "Crossing the Jordan".
      Since she made the decision to live it was up to us to help her do it. The first step - get her out of bed. With the help of a "Hoya Lift" we were able to get her into her chair in the livingroom. As days moved on she began to show the desire to go places. Her sister's 80th birthday. A grandson's graduation party. We got her there with the help of a handicapped van and a rental van. Our problem we needed something more permanent.
      My brothers began the search for a handicapped van. They located one in Colorado Springs. We are now MOBILE. Church and hair appointment - hadn't been to either in over 2 months.

We have been shown life is about living and we each need to life to the fullest!