And Then It Was Over

Some of my siblings and their children and grandchildren headed home on Friday afternoon.

Jessica, Scott, and Tosha flew out early (very early) Saturday morning.

We were so glad they came and grateful for the moments we shared.  So glad that we already knew we would be together again in November, because saying goodbye is not easy.

We (Gary, Jena, and I) had a slower morning and did a few things before heading out on our homeward trip.

Our vacation home rental

One last stop at the graveyard--not sure whenever I will be back to this spot again.

Symbolically, mom and dad together--

So grateful for the plan of salvation and temple covenants 

which assure us that we can be together forever. 

And then we are off again--taking the Denver Mountain route back to Salt Lake.  It seemed like the perfect time to travel through the Rocky Mountains in the fall with no snow in the forecast.

We spent the night in western Denver in the foothills...which aren't as impressive as the mountains surrounding Salt Lake Valley..more foothills before the tall Rocky Mountains begin.

A full moon as we walked to a local spot for dinner.

Over the Rockies we went on Sunday morning and so much as changed since our last trip this way.  The freeway now includes so many more tunnels--some quite long.

Mostly there were evergreens or trees turning yellow for the fall.  I guess we were too late for the reds and oranges...

At a rest stop in Colorado--Glenwood Canyon which one of the last part of the modern freeway to be completed.

Finally so red trees here

Another tunnel--and this one dipped down for a ways--it reminded me of going into the Cross Harbour Tunnels in Hong Kong.

and another one.....

Almost missed entering Utah......

even beauty in the desert

We made it back home around 8:00 pm Sunday night--tired, but safe and sound (as ever anyway.)  Leaving for Israel in 4 DAYS!!!!  Is that even possible!