Rocky Mountain Thanksgiving: Grand Lake and Good Times

Mark and his sister Sarah in Grand Lake

A moose nativity set? Who knew?

On Saturday, I learned that there is such a thing in this world. Also a bear set. Maybe I don't get out much, but I've never seen nativity sets like these in a creche display:

Which is probably a good thing.

This was one of our discoveries on Saturday as a group of us headed up to Grand Lake under gorgeous clear blue skies to do some browsing and get a bite to eat. Others of the clan set off to go skiing again.

Shops galore

The whole family gathered one more time Saturday evening to eat leftovers, talk and laugh.

Ajax (one of our dogs) was in heaven on Grandma Koepke's lap

Violet (our other dog) also got lots of affection from Sarah

Rick, Mark's brother-in-law, his son Andrew and Mark

Mark talking to his grand-nephew, holding Ajax. Mark really bonded with Gavin, as he had with Gavin's father David - even though Mark once put dozens of baby frogs down David's swim suit when he was about Gavin's age.

Andrew and Gavin and Violet

Gavin is transfixed by Andrew's ability to cross his eyes

Stuffed, once again

Though the quality of this picture is horrible, it captures the good time that Mark's nieces were having

I'm grateful to be part of this marvelous extended family. I've now met all but two of Mark's nieces and nephews. They're all great people, as are their parents. 

It was a wonderful weekend, all the sweeter because we don't know how many more Thanksgivings Mark will be able to enjoy, due to his cancer. Though we don't often talk about it, both he and I know that we don't know what the future holds. Each day - and especially each holiday - becomes precious. There may not be another Thanksgiving, another Christmas, another family gathering like the one we experienced last weekend. 

Then again, there may be several more. Or I might get hit by a truck tomorrow. Realizing this, we focus by necessity on the present, the now. Because that is where our life happens.