Ryland's Graduation Weekend May 16, 2025

Friday, day one in Colorado. We arrived in the morning and as usual Keri was so gracious to pick us up from the airport.  We arrived to a Ryland display.  Keri had a great experience planned for us. 

Keri gave us a tour of the mini garden she built.  Yes, she created the whole thing. 

A pickle ball tournament was scheduled for Monday so we were taken to the courts to practice.  I hadn't ever tried pickle ball. It's a fun game and I would love to play again.  The experts had to take it easy on us.  

It was a fun test of our pickle ball talents and the weather was fabulous.  I have some work to do when it comes to pickle ball.  So good to be with the family. 

Ryland and Easton are just a tad competitive.  I am not sure how they scored this and I don't know who won but it was fun to watch the two of them battle it out.  Easton had a broken finger and still managed to play. 

2025 grad! Ryland 

The favorite aunt as she calls herself has arrived, Katie.  

Part of the Ryland display was a variety of pictures of him over time. Don't you just love the middle one?? 

Easton and Ryland

Easton, the favorite aunt, and Ryland.

Love this picture.  Not often we get a picture together.  Off to Saturday! 

Bloomsday #44 2025

Here I am again.  Getting ready for another Blooomsday. I have said it before.  It isn't just that I am heading to my 44th Bloomsday, it is more about me being able to continue to do Bloomsday.  It might be an old story to some but it isn't to me. God orchestrated a healing after my ruptured brain aneurysm in June 2012!  I never missed this race and it is a reminder how great God is yesterday, today and always.  The word thankful isn't good enough to express how I feel. 

35,000 plus people in this race and I ran into Rian and her friend.  

When I took this picture I thought this might be a great stop after the race.  After the race the line was too long so I didn't stop.

Riverfront Park!  The Spokane River!

Heading to the start line and checking out the food vendors for afterwards. 

Sheila and me at the start line.  This is about the 13th Bloomsday we have done together.  

I bought a sweatshirt at a thrift store to toss.  It was still cool enough that I hung on to it until the 2nd mile.  These sweatshirts will be donated.  

Nice picture of a boy on a parent's shoulders batting the beach ball. 

And here we go!

Just a little crowded!  Not so crowded that it slowed us down. 

Our first hill.  Steep and short.  Short compared to what was coming. 

The next hill.  This one seems to be over until you get to a certain point around the curve and it is not over.  

More than halfway.  

Doomsday Hill is coming up. 

See the tiny people climbing the long hill. 

And here we go.  You are timed up this hill.  My time was about the same as last year but it seemed harder.  Maybe I just don't remember what the hill was like last year. 

Yep, the vulture was there at the top of Doomsday Hill. 

He has done them ALL!  

This group always reminds me of Sargent Pepper Lonely Hearts Club Band. 

Lots of colorful costumes.  

Less than 1/2 a mile left and feeling great. 

Here it is! The finish! I always get a little teary eyed when I see the finish.  It is a reminder of God's healing power. 

The trophy. Bloomsday shirts.  Not our favorite this year at all but glad to have them to say we did it.  Sheila had surgery about a week and a half before this race.  I was impressed!!!!  No problem.  We actually did it a couple of minutes faster than last year.  She was amazing.