My 365 | Week 47

5.18.14 – 5.24.14

Five weeks left to complete this 365 project. Although, I don’t know that I will stop taking daily photographs. The news we received this week about my Aunt Lisa reaffirmed to me the importance of capturing the little daily moments of beauty and truly appreciating what life has given me.

We began the week sharing the joy of family at a cousin’s high school graduation. (The graduate isn’t pictured here, but another cousin.) My kids enjoyed playing with cousins they don’t often see. They kids missed Aunt Amber, so they kept her entertained (and prolonged their bedtime) for quite some time via Facetime. Spring has sprung! My tulips are in full bloom. This has become one of the most heartbreaking weeks of my life. After having some health problems over the last month and a half, my aunt was diagnosed with a very rare and fatal brain disorder. Local doctors first diagnosed it as a double ear and sinus infection but after her family pushed further knowing something more was wrong, she was finally diagnosed at the Mayo Clinic 8 days ago with Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease. There is no cure or treatment for CJD, so the days ahead will be spent making sure she’s as comfortable as possible as the disease runs its course.  Growing up, Memorial weekend was always a big gathering for my dad’s side of the family. Usually almost everyone would make it home to Grandpa and Grandma’s farm. We’d spend most of the weekend at or on the Missouri River as Grandpa Bill loved to fish. In later years, us older cousins were excited to share the fun with the younger cousins. Since Grandpa passed away almost 15 years ago and the “grandkids” have been in varying stages of growing up – busy with college, jobs, marriage and our own children, these Memorial weekend gatherings haven’t happened as often. This past week was filled with many good stories as well as bittersweet tears as all of us gathered at Aunt Lisa & Uncle Gary’s. Tomorrow is never a promise. Take time to enjoy the ones you love.

Below, my favorite photo from my two visits this week. My uncle is a rock for my aunt. I cannot find the words to express my admiration for he (and my two cousins). In the past 6 weeks, they have watched their wife and mother go from a vibrant, fiercely independent and wonderfully caring woman to beginning hospice care for her. I can scarcely believe that this photo was from just last Wednesday as she now lies in a hospital bed. It is a cruel disease. 

For more information on CJD visit cjdfoundation.org.  Summer haircut. Remember the photo from a few weeks back of my husband planting spring wheat? Well, add a little rain and sunshine and we have a green field!  The hope of a meteor shower got me up in the wee hours of Saturday morning. While the meteors were mostly a non-event, I did try a star trail image as long as I was up. I’m very smitten with night photography. There’s something pretty humbling about being out in the middle of a dark field pondering the heavens above you. Head on over to my photographer friend, Cynthia’s Blog to see her week.