Garden of the Gods Saturday

We were in need of a quick outing this morning (due to Steve's folks staying with us over the holidays) so we hopped in the truck and blazed down the road a few miles to the very familiar Garden of the Gods.
Sun and blue skies greeted us - it looks warm but it was fairly windy and the wind had a sharp bite to it. A bonus (one of many) to running trails - being able to get a little shelter from the wind! Dark storm clouds were looming to the north with a little snow in the forecast. We'll see . . .

Savoring the sun and dirt . . .

The storm clouds are building to the north behind Steve.

The majesty of Pikes Peak rises in the distance. The beauty of this mountain never gets old. We ended the day with a quick 7.5 miles. Our schedule the last few weeks has been a little discombobulated (is that a real word???) due to the holidays, company, and family get-togethers and outings but it's all good. We treasure the precious time we get to spend with family and friends, some of whom we don't get to see often enough.

We came home from our run and were in the process of caffeinating ourselves when we received a heartbreaking phone call. Steve has worked for a local small business for 18 years (the owners treat him like family) and the owner, Ron, died suddenly late this morning from a heart attack. We did the post run turbo shower thing and spent most of the afternoon at the hospital with their family. Ron's wife is a 16 year liver transplant survivor. Another heart rending part of the surreal afternoon was seeing Ron's son, his son's wife, and their two little boys come into the hospital, returning from a road trip to Kansas and being told of his dad's passing. Because the son and his young family were on the road home, the family had refrained from telling him that his dad had died, only that he was in serious condition. When he was told, it was a highly emotionally charged time, to say the least. Witnessing the sudden and abrupt end to life is a stinging slap to the face or a punch to the stomach - it knocks the wind right out of you. It is also another reminder and chance to cherish each moment we have. Life can be fleeting and fragile. My little whinings about life seem completely trivial and ridiculous. They are out the window.

Tonight, I am thanking God for my countless blessings. Tomorrow, I will thank Him again for my wonderful blessings and the opportunity to celebrate life with a run on a beautiful trail . . . Celebrate life and happy trails . . .