It's a New Year!

One amazing cairn!

A "cairn" is a trail marker, usually rocks stacked on top of each other, indicating which trail hikers need to continue on. They aren't directional, but placed next to the trail to eliminate confusion.  I just read a book called "Death Clouds" about six young Boy Scouts who got caught in a severe winter storm in the Santa Rita Mts. near Tucson, AZ.  Three of the scouts ventured ahead on the trail to the summit of Mt. Baldy, but took a wrong turn coming off of the mountain, ended up on a side trail, and died from exposure to unusual freezing weather.  Did they miss the cairn, or was there even a pile of rocks on the right trail?

Andy has had trail markers his whole young life, but for some reason he has chosen to ignore what could have kept him on the right trail.  Why do some people choose to ignore the warning signs, to disregard what will save their lives?  I wonder if he understands that today.

I read my 2010 journal where I shared all the stress associated with our son.  The past couple of months since he's been in jail have been a warm spring day with all the freedom one feels running barefoot through the green grass, hearing the birds sing, and feeling the sun sending warmth and light.  I almost feel guilty saying that.  For some of Andy's life he had the capability of bringing light and warmth to those around him.  

There have been several hearings where the prosecutor and the defense attorney are trying to work out a deal.   And after each hearing where Andy rejects what the offer is, the next one is worse.  I can only hope and pray he will be sentenced fairly and what will do the most good for him.  Because I have no control over what will happen.  That was relinquished when he chose not to follow the trail markers.  It not only affects the one walking through life, but others as well.