After a canceled trip at the start of 2024 and months of counting down the days, weeks, and months until their next scheduled visit, Gimmy and Pappy finally made it to Montana! It was an emotional trip filled with unforgettable moments, including celebrating Christmas all over again (Rost was thrilled by the surprise of a second Christmas), my parents experiencing the delightful chaos of a toddler birthday party (Happy 3rd Birthday, Rost!), and creating some truly amazing memories together.

Unfortunately, during their visit, my 91-year-old grandmother, Gommy, experienced a serious decline in health. This heartbreaking turn of events sent my incredible mom on an early return trip to Pennsylvania to be with her mother in her final moments.

Grieving my mom’s early departure and the loss of my beloved grandmother, I was determined to make the most of the time left with my dad. We shared some beautiful moments: skipping rainbow-colored rocks into the iconic waters of Lake McDonald, soaking in the healing warmth of Wild Horse Hot Springs, and indulging him with as many sweet treats as I could without pushing him into a sugar-fueled diabetic meltdown.

I’m deeply grateful for this time with my parents. Losing my grandmother has been a poignant reminder of how precious our time with loved ones truly is. I’m already looking forward to making more memories when Rost and I make our annual trip back to the East Coast in early June.

Xoxo.