Giving Thanks

To me, it feels like a day for a peaceful post. We went to the desert partly seeking peace, calm, and quiet - after a rough winter. On our first evening, we saw a gorgeous moonrise over a silent world of red rock shaped into castle-like shapes.

Later, as darkness fell over the place that we call K's Rock, the world was silent. The full moon made nighttime unbelievably bright - so bright that very few stars can be seen.

We call this K's Rock because we discovered this camping spot on her last trip to the desert two years ago. Indeed, her last day in the desert was spent in our camp at this quiet and beautiful oasis.

K has departed our Earth now but the world still spins on its axis and the stars make their own art. The full moon illuminated K's rock but made it possible to see only the brightest stars.

K's little brother, R, gave thanks that we were here. Just above my watermark in the photo, you can see a faint "K" that I etched into the stone on K's last day in the desert. She and I sat on that very rock on that heart-wrenching day. It was a day when I said one of the many goodbyes uttered in those last few months.

And Shyla gave thanks too. I feel as if Shyla was picked for us by K looking down from heaven. Shyla is the essence of love, and I'm so grateful for her.

And, I gave thanks for this beautiful world and for the wide open spaces of the deserts and mountains of our country. On this day in particular, I am thankful for all of those who have fought to let us have the freedom to roam our awe-inspiring country.