July 1st we flew from Denver to Cancun and Stayed at Iberostar Paraiso Selection Maya about 40 minutes from the airport. It was a hot week with a lot of outside time. We enjoyed eating lots of food, spending time snorkeling, at the beach, in the pool and relaxing! We loved all of the animals we got to see all over our resort.
Denny, Ike, and I hopped on a plane and flew to Jackson, Mississippi, with the primary purpose of the trip being a visit with Ike’s birth mother, Hope, who lives in Monroe, Louisiana.
We arrived in Jackson on June 20 and the following morning made the two-hour drive to Monroe. We took Hope out to lunch and reunited her with Ike. It was a wonderful afternoon and incredibly special to see Hope again, give her a hug, and watch Ike spend time face-to-face with her for the first time since he was born.
During lunch, Ike also had the opportunity to meet his two brothers, Christian and Noah, over FaceTime. We spent time catching up and sharing stories, and it was amazing to hear how many similarities Ike and Hope share. They both tend to be a little anxious, have a fear of heights, and even have similar likes and dislikes when it comes to food. It was one of those reminders that some traits seem to transcend time and distance.
Hope expressed how grateful she was for the life Ike has had and for the way we have raised him. Meanwhile, Ike thanked Denny and me what felt like fifty times for making the trip possible and helping arrange the visit. Seeing the appreciation from both of them made the entire journey worthwhile.
I am so thankful we were able to spend that time together. Before we left, Hope gave Ike a hat from the college where she works, and he absolutely loved it. It was a simple gift, but one that meant a lot to him because it came from her.
On our second day, we stayed in Jackson to explore the city. We visited the State Capitol, the Smith Robertson Museum, and the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum. Each stop was worthwhile, but the Civil Rights Museum was especially impactful. It is difficult to comprehend how terrible racial injustice in the South once was, particularly when many of those events occurred within living memory.
While we appreciated the history and educational experiences, Jackson itself was not our favorite city. For a state capital, it felt surprisingly quiet. What struck us most, however, was the level of poverty visible in certain areas. Just a few blocks from downtown, conditions changed dramatically, and we saw poverty unlike anything we had previously encountered in the United States. It was both eye-opening and heartbreaking.
The kids and I made the drive up to Basin to spend a week with Grammie and Grandpa. This year Ike helped me out with the drive so that we could get in some of his much needed driving hours to get his permit.
