Technically, there was no Part Two of Closer to Heaven, just part one two years ago (Closer to Heaven, March 5th, 2023.) However, there was one last year that could have been Part Two: She Let Herself Go, March 4th 2024.

March Fourth came and went again, as it has every year since calendar time began. For our family, however, it became March Forth in 2008 when we lost our parents in a car accident that day. Since then, as you know if you are a reader, our family has grown stronger with this loss, and we march forth into each new day and year.

It has been seventeen years. Gail, Suzanne and I try to travel at this time to celebrate our parents and their legacies, but this year–and last year, too–we were not able to be together.

Two years ago, Gail and I went to our favorite Colorado town, but Suzanne was not able to go. Wanting to find a special way to commemorate the day, I traveled to the top of Pikes Peak–elevation 14,115–to be closer to Heaven.

Last year, as I detailed in She Let Herself Go (March 4th, 2024), I joined Gail and friends in Colorado, then took off solo for a road trip through New Mexico and Arizona, ultimately reaching Sedona, Arizona–elevation 4,350– to spend March 4th. I wanted to be in a mystical place that date, as well as being closer to Heaven. It was both.

This year, while I wanted to travel somewhere exotic to a higher elevation, I had higher aspirations to meet: my son and his wife, who are home to stay from the other side of the world after being gone four years, were available to spend the day with me locally, and there was no place of any elevation that could surpass that. It’s been Heaven of a different kind since they arrived home on Valentine’s Day, which was the sweetest gift I have ever received.

So, we found the highest spot we could find locally, and traveled there.

Coronado Heights–elevation 1,632–is a bluff rising 300 feet above the valley below, and is believed that the explorer Coronado climbed this summit in 1541 and abandoned his search for the city of Quivira. It is a beautiful local landmark, one we have traveled to many times to take in the natural, panoramic beauty. Once again, it offered just that.

And, of course, I was a little bit closer to Heaven.

There will be more Heaven soon, as they are expecting their first child in June. We have been blessed with babies lately, but I will try to sneak away from my grandmotherly joys for another trip to a higher elevation in yet another mystical place next year.

And speaking of babies, our spelling bee teammate, Jordan, was blessed with twin boys several weeks ago. Along with her husband and daughter, they are closer to Heaven too with their newly expanded family.

When I walked back to the car on top of Coronado Heights, I found this in my path:

This dime from Heaven was a sign from them, as dimes have seemingly become one of our parents modes of communication with us. Stay tuned for the Dimes From Heaven post in the next few weeks. We believe in signs, and they have been sending us a lot of them lately.

Spring is trying to spring in Kansas, soon new life will abound in nature. Enjoy the natural beauty whenever and wherever you can; as it has been a brutal Kansas winter. Summer can’t get here soon enough for me, but as Gail and Suzanne will attest, even windy, cold days are good days. Especially the windy ones. For me, if I get there, I hope there is no wind in Heaven.