Imagine it’s September 24, 1999. I’m at work and I get the call that my daughter, Kristin, is in labor and on her way to the hospital. Hours later…and I do mean hours…I get the honor of holding this little bundle in my arms. 
My granddaughter, Savannah. Unlike this photo, she was wide awake, not crying, just awake…and as I held her she studied me as I talked to her. It felt like I was being studied through the eyes of an old soul. Clearly, she was connecting my voice to my face.
I knew she was special when I watched her organize the movies on the endcaps of the local Blockbusters – she was less than three at the time. Those early years of watching and enjoying her great imagination and her love for infomercials continue to make me smile. There were the times we’d be camping and using my walkie-talkies while we engaged in a sci-fi exchange. I loved playing into her made-up a world that others might not understand. Savannah has shown me two distinct sides of herself through the years. One that is so filled with imagination she is almost hard to keep up with – the other side so serious and insightful you would look to see if it was her speaking or some adult that had taken over her body. I remember driving her to daycare one morning when she was four-years-old. We drove along quietly, and then I hear from the back set, “Poor choices give the enemy power.” What child makes that connection at four? Or when she was five-years-old and she spends our travel time in the morning explaining how she had plans to create a fossil fuel from corn. It was way over my head, but she sure sounded like she had it figured out. It has always been as if she was an adult in a child’s body.
As time went on, and with a lot of pleading to doctors and others by her mother, the right doctors diagnosed Sav with ADHD and autism. Because she is high-functioning autistic, Sav uses her voice to help bring awareness to others in order that they might understand autism and try to reduce the stigma attached. Savannah is an amazing, complexed, beautiful, and great young lady. 
But that greatness comes from a lot of hard work, and it equally fell on her mom’s shoulders. Kristin spent years educating herself while her daughter learned to work alongside the rest of the world. Kristin has always made sure she fought to get Savannah every opportunity for training, counseling, and any other tools Sav might need to be a success in life. Special-needs children take special tools, and none of it comes without frustration, time, patience, and determination…on both the child’s and the mom’s end, along with family’s love and support. And now, today, Savannah has become, and not surprisingly, a huge success in her life. 
Life, like a book, has many chapters. And as Savannah ends the chapter on her last year of high school, a new chapter will begin. Soon she will be on her way to college. I am beyond proud of all her accomplishments. Her intelligence (SAT score of 1210), her creativity that she transforms into amazing drawings, and her sweetness. Her striking blue eyes and dark brown hair with blonde tips peaking out here and there will light up a room. 
I know Eastern is going to be getting a wonderful student. One that will truly take learning seriously, and excitedly…well, as excitedly as learning can be…lol.
However, this new chapter takes her away from what is familiar, and into the unknown. A huge step for any young person going off to college, but even more so for any level of autism. New sounds, new people, new food, new routines, new textures, and new smells…even down to the bed she will rest her head on every night. Though we are all so proud of her and excited for her next adventure…as you can see from her sister’s enthusiastic jump…
and other family photos filled with smiles, she will be missed. She will no longer be hanging out on the couch binge-watching a show or having weekend DND (Dungeons and Dragons) marathons. My treasured memories of having her spend the night to binge-watch all the episodes of Big Bang Theory. Instead, she will add chapters to her book as she continues to grow emotionally, expand her knowledge, and venture into adulthood. 
In truth, Savannah has amazed me from her early years and continues to amaze me today…I have no doubt she will always leave me speechless and smiling at whatever she is accomplishing.
Congratulations, Miss Savannah Overby…job well done…love you forever and a day 🙂
Ahhh…Reno, Nevada. The glitter and lights, the noise of coins as the machines go clink-clink-clink…but gambling was not our focus in Nevada. It was my son, Mikey, my daughter-in-law, Silver, and our four-year-old grandson, Cameron. Other than Skype or Facebook messaging, I haven’t seen my son and his family for four years. I’m sure you can imagine how it felt to wrap my arms around my Mikey, and then to hug his little guy, Cameron, the first night we were there in Reno. My daughter-in-law had to work, and with her schedule, we didn’t see her until Sunday. It was a whirlwind weekend, filled with laughter, and fun. When I looked into my grandson’s beautiful brown eyes, it was like looking into my son’s eyes. It’s the connection you feel that melts hearts together. Over the weekend, we walked to the Truckee River with Cameron letting us know when it was safe to cross the street. He even stopped another lady from crossing before the light…safety always his first objective. We tossed rocks into the river, 
letting the simplicity of life engulf us. There were the bikes you could rent that Cameron was so excited to see every time. 
On Sunday we checked out of our hotel and spent the afternoon at their home outside of the hustle and bustle of Reno’s gambling world. It is, beyond words, difficult to leave my family with the knowledge that it could be a year before I see them again. But I can’t think about that now. All I can think about is the wonderful memories that fill my heart, and the smile on Cameron’s face when he looked at me with those eyes…eyes filled with so much love, happiness, and charming personality. Grampa Dan easily brought out his young innocent laugh that was so contagious and sweet. 
I miss them all already. 
To my son and family…I am blessed to be a part of your life. You make my heart so happy. You’ve made a beautiful family home. But it’s the happy child in Cameron that truly marks your love for your family. Cameron is a true joy and a wonderful reflection of the best of both of you.
After many tears shed leaving Reno, we pushed through to Redmond, Oregon where we met up with friends we made in Kanab, Utah. Colleen and Mel were gracious enough to host a lunch for us as we enjoyed the view from their amazing home overlooking the river. It was fun catching up with the two of them and meeting their sweet daughter. This is a family that is filled with artistic talent…be it writing, quilting, furniture making, or hot glass art. My intent is to have one of Mel’s pieces in my home someday. It was a great having time to enjoy their company. Colleen and Mel, you truly make your home a pleasure to visit and I hope next time will be longer.
Next, Washington State (aka home), but that will be another blog all its own since it is a monumental event…stay tuned. But before I sign off, I want to add a well-known piece of advice…and that is to believe in yourself. Sometimes, we simply need a reminder that life is filled with possibilities. Mike and Cameron stand tall in this word. So, BELIEVE anything is possible. 
There are times you can’t avoid a situation that needs to be addressed. We were getting ready to leave Utah (which I loved) when Dan told me he was concerned about the injectors in the truck. Now, if Dan’s worried, it’s time to get on board with him. So, we had to make the tough decision. We could either continue west 500 miles to Reno to see my son and family or go 500 miles east and get the truck up to snuff for the rest of our travels this year. As much as I hated to do it, we made the sensible decision and postponed our Reno stop. If we don’t take care of our ride, well, the cost of towing a truck and travel trailer could put a lot of traveling on hold.
Once we were back in Colorado, we pushed forward to have the truck checked out. Dan needed to change out a few things, but thankfully he’s got that mechanical talent. We also had some medical items to take care of…not fun, but having your driver, i.e. my husband, sick isn’t either. Needless to say, the amount of time in doctors offices, mechanic garages and auto shops has pretty much gobbled up this past month. The bad news is the truck, and my husband, are getting older…the good news is both are fixable. Just takes time, patience, and a whole lot of TLC.
It wasn’t all “not-so-fun” stuff. I did get to spend some time with my favorite 8-year-old granddaughter, Ember. As luck would have it Noodles & Co. is also one of her favorite lunch spots. It didn’t take us long to agree on where to eat that day. 
The best way to get a little R&R from life’s little issues is to head for the mountains, and that is just what we did. A few days at Henderson Mines in Clear Creek County, Colorado is just the place. The mine is a large underground molybdenum mine. I had to look it up, so here is what molybdenum is – “the chemical element of atomic number 42, a brittle silver-gray metal of the transition series, used in some alloy steels” – so there you have it. It is an old haunt of ours that Dan introduced me to when we got married. 
We’ve camped there in the summer, hunted there in the fall, and snowshoed there in the winter. Even our new road companion, Wally, loved the camping trip. Such a goof, he decided he not only wants to be a cowboy, but he needed a feather in his cap. 
Colorado feels like a second home to me. Between family and so many good friends, we stay very busy and love every minute of it. The weather keeps us indoors a lot right now because of the heat, but the evenings are cool enough to enjoy hanging out on the patio while you listen to the rumbling of thunder from the lighting that fills the sky. There has been a few really good soakings, but it turned what was brown and drab in April when we were here last to a lush green beautiful state.
We will wrap up this trip with an evening of movie and dinner, our treat, for my stepdaughter, Shannon’s, 33rd birthday celebration. Then in the morning, we are heading west for a long-awaited visit with my son and family. I’ll post some shots from our camping trip over the weekend, too. Again, we didn’t get to see everyone, but we’ll be back through on our way to Michigan in July.