Thursday, May 13, 2010

Colorado Christian Writers conference and a personal note - by Terry Burns

Continuing in our series of reporting to you from or about various conferences, please allow me to report from the Colorado Christian Writers Conference in beautiful Estes Park Colorado. As we made our way over the mountain, we ran into the storm and though it was mid-afternoon, the snow had apparently been falling over here since 11am. I use the word storm, actually it was falling heavily in large flakes, but was falling softly, straight down. We are used to snow that comes at us sideways. It is very beautiful and Saundra has already ripped off 100 or so pictures.

If I make take advantage of this forum for a personal note, just before we got here we got a phone call from my cousin Judy that her mother had passed away. Our desire was to see if I could get someone else to teach my classes and turn around and go back. However, with eighteen inches now on the ground and still lightly falling that does not appear to be in the cards. It's clear we cannot safely get there in time. We are saddened by that but somehow I think Judy’s mother, Peggy Smith, would understand. Judy herself told us not to attempt it, particularly with mother in the car with us.

Peggy was the oldest of my generation of cousins, so I guess as second in line that makes me . . . never mind, I don’t want to go there. She was enough older that I was closer in age to her daughters and it was them I ran around with more. Peggy herself was closer to the age of the younger of the aunts and uncles. Still, I thought the world of her and I smile to think of the grand reunion that is going on right now.

I have picked a couple of Saundra’s pictures to show you how pretty it is up here. We aren’t in the dorms this year but opted for a cozy little cabin, although we were disappointed that we didn’t get one with a fireplace as we were supposed to get. We will think of Peggy often during this event and wish we were there for the services. But we will console ourselves that we are very close to where she is now up here high in the Rocky Mountains.

Very close indeed.

9 comments:

Jennifer Taylor said...

Terry,

I'm sorry for your loss, and will keep your family in my thoughts and prayers. Be careful and safe!

Diana Flegal said...

Terry;
You have my sincere sympathies and prayers for you and your family.

Jeanette Levellie said...

Terry: I weep with you in the loss of your aunt. May the Lord empower you with His grace and strength to teach.

Lovely photo, Saundra!

Tamela Hancock Murray said...

Please accept the condolences of my family as well.

Snow in May? I have to admit, I love Virginia weather. :)

Lynda Lee Schab said...

So sorry, Terry. Prayers for your family during this difficult time.

What a gorgeous photo! Makes me almost wish for winter again. Almost. :-)

Dorothy said...

May God's peace and comfort bless you and your family Terry.

And what a geography/meteorology lesson I have just had! Here I was thinking it was almost winter in my Australian backyard with the little rain and hail we've had.

I blush to even call it winter after those spectacular photos!

Dorothy :)

Maggie Woychik said...

Grieving with you, brother. Continue to drive safely. So good knowing we're in God's hands.

~Maggie

writer jim said...

Terry,

May God be with you and all the family. In times like these, we are so thankful for the hope we have in our Redeemer, for all eternity.

Raquel Byrnes said...

Terry,
So sorry for your sad news. My prayers are with you and yours.

Thank you for sharing those beautiful pictures! Saundra is quite the shutterbug...its eighty degrees here in Riverside and that sparkly wonderland looks inviviting.

Safe home.