Family Vacation

Part way up Pikes Peak before the blizzard rolled in.

Our first family vacation without Briella. It really didn’t seem right to go without her. She loved anything centering around family and that included vacations. I even had a hard time packing as it just didn’t seem right going without her. We went to Breckenridge, Colorado. It was beautiful! I’m sure Briella would have gotten all kinds of ideas for her art. God is a beautiful artist. We did many things that Briella would have enjoyed…hiking to the Breckenridge Troll, going to Pikes Peak, visiting Whit’s End at Focus on the Family, playing games (which included Lamas Unleashed—her favorite), going ATVing, and going to an escape room (we even made it out with time to spare).  Briella was missed the entire trip. It was good to get away and spend time together as a family. Many memories were made. We had to evacuate Pikes Peak due to a blizzard rolling in. It was defiantly an adventure even if we didn’t make it to the top of Pikes Peak.

Breckenridge Troll with our Briella shirts

Picture taken while ATVing

In many ways Briella made it to Breckenridge with us. She was always in our thoughts. We took a picture in our Briella shirts in Breckenridge. It was one of our first family pictures without her. The kids always get to pick out a souvenir when on vacation. Briella usually always picked out a stuffed animal. We still bought Briella a stuffed animal this trip and it is now sitting on her bed with many of her favorite stuffed animals. We even left a little remembrance of Briella in Breckenridge. If you are ever there, look for Briella’s stickers. There are two there on light poles down main street.

We definitely felt God there with us. His beauty was all around, and He answered so many prayers that were prayed over the trip. It’s crazy how joy and sadness/grief walk side by side so much of the time for us now. Never before did I even understand that this was possible. Grief will always be a part of us. Briella is no longer here and she has left a empty space in each of us. But we still can have joy even in our sorrow. There are still good times mixed in with the sad…two paths intertwined. Lately God has been continuing to tell me to trust. Proverbs 3:5 & 6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” I certainly don’t understand why God didn’t answer our prayers and heal Briella. It sure seems like she could have made a big impact here. Yet I trust God. His ways are higher than our ways. “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord, For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:8 & 9.  Today I choose to trust and have an eternal perspective. I look forward to heaven and seeing my Savior, my girl, and hearing all the stories of the lives she touched. I will keep telling her story and her faith. To God be all glory!