Doug was off on the first day of school for the first time ever, then we got to spend the day together. He's always been at work when they start school, so he was here to have morning prayer, see the kids all dressed in their new clothes and to witness their excitement about going back to school. This year was a bit different in our new home because they didn't just head out the door. We drive them to the bus stop in North Logan, since we actually live in the Logan city limits and are in a different school district. We drive them to the nearest bus stop that will get them to the county schools. Everything about it felt different. But, the enthusiasm was there for everyone!
After getting the kids out the door, we hottubbed, then started getting ready for the road trip that ZJ and I had planned to visit Liza and her family in their new home in St. George, UTAH!!!! So excited! Doug and I went for lunch, ran a few errands, then came home and he loaded the car with things for Liza and Buddy, including a desk and three saddle style bar stools. The car was full!
The kids came in from their first day, all very excited, telling Doug and I all about their classes, reunions, expectations for the new school year! We visited for about an hour, said a family prayer and then goodbye! ZJ and I pulled out of the driveway at about 4 in the afternoon. I'm not sure who was more excited. We took a stack of our favorite CDs, lots of munchies and a lot of anticipation! Other than an hour of stop and go traffic in SLC, which took an hour to go less than ten miles, we made great time and had a fun trip down!
We arrived in St. George at about 10:15. Sadly, Aylabelle was already in bed. We had a good visit, got situated and visited until almost 1AM. Liza's new townhouse is lovely. It still had a ton of boxes to be emptied, which was why we went down... to help her unpack. We didn't end up doing a lot of unpacking but we had a great visit together.
When Miss Aylabelle woke up on Friday morning, oh, my! She was so excited to see us there. Again, I'm so thankful for Facetime and the fact that we can live apart and still be familiar faces. She instantly gave us loves and hugs and giggles. There are no words... I adore this baby! Being around her for five minutes is evidence that she has an amazing mommy. She is so independent and does so many things on her own. Liza just walks her through everything and allows her to experience so much. I've never seen this kind of parenting, but it's definitely paying off. I'm in awe. Watching Liza get ready in the morning, Aylabelle mimics her every move. As Liza started to put in her contacts, Aylabelle pretended to put the solution on her fingertips, then put in her own contacts. She mimics putting on her makeup as Liza does. It's fascinating. Aylabelle has her own little kitchen and, honestly, I think she could cook a meal! She helps Liza do everything. Liza says everything takes three times as long, but she feels it's worth it because Aylabelle is learning so much.
I love hearing her talk. She has her mommy's manners with lots of thank yous, excuse mes, sorry and pleases. Really, she's amazing. I can't believe she is going to be 2 in October!
ANYWAY... Friday, we met Buddy for lunch at the Habit, a great burger place. We called my mom and invited her to join us. It was the first time that I've seen Mom since Aylabelle's baby blessing. We enjoyed a nice visit, then took Aylabelle home for a nap. Mom invited us over for lasagna dinner that evening. After dinner, we took some photos, visited some and then headed back to Liza and Buddy's and unpacked several boxes in their upstairs. It was a latenight with more talk and visiting.
Here's the first 4-generation photo with Aylabelle and my mom. It was our first ti`me ever being together. Mom had met Aylabelle as Liza and Buddy drove home last year, they spend the night. But, we'd not all been together yet. So, this was exciting to be together for that alone! Buddy took a few with the camera and a few with the iPad. We weren't sure who was more difficult to photograph, Mom or Aylabelle. Mom would not stop talking long enough to look at the camera!
Saturday, the girls and I went shopping. ZJ was hoping to do more school clothes shopping and found a few items. I was touched that she was most excited about something she found for Grace than what she found for herself. We went to Taipan for a bit and found a really fun piece for a nook in Liza's new townhouse. I was excited to see her excitement about her gift! I forgot to take a picture of it! We decided to grab a bite for lunch at Wingers and I called my mom called to see what she was doing. She happened to be shopping nearby, so she joined us for lunch, then Buddy called and decided to meet us too. We visited a bit more after we ate and took a few more pictures outside. That was goodbye to Mom because we were, at that point, still deciding whether or not to leave Saturday night and try to be home on Sunday for church or to leave Sunday and get home when everyone here was getting home from church. I was pretty tired and not looking forward to the drive home, so we opted for Sunday (and I was so glad. I was fighting sleep on the way home. Thankfully, we brought some grapes and some good music to sing along too and keep awake!
After lunch and telling Mom goodbye, Buddy did his thing and the girls all hit the pool for the afternoon. Liza's townhouse is in a large complex and somehow, they lucked out and ended up at the closest location, near the pool, possible. Wonderful! They'd already attended church in their new ward on the morning after they arrived, and loved the ward instantly. Great home, great ward, great location... I think that they will be happy there! And I'm slightly happy at the potential of lots of pool time with my girls in the future! Aylabelle loved the pool!
I'd seen a recipe that I'd been dying to try, so we made a crock pot dinner earlier in the day. After swimming, a fabulous (I'll definitely share the recipe!!!) dinner was ready and we enjoyed our last night with a great meal, tons of Scattergories and some YouTube surfing for music that we all loved. We stayed up very late, not wanting our time together to end, but excited to know that it will be much more frequent now that we are so much closer to each other!
Sunday morning, Buddy loaded the car for us, we had some more loves from Little Miss A, said our goodbyes and were on our way... and I didn't even cry! Seriously, I could not be more thrilled about having them live so much closer. Zee and I had a quiet and uneventful, thankfully, trip home. We were home by 4 in the afternoon, about the same time that everyone came in from church and meetings, leaving us all afternoon and evening for plenty of family time on Sunday evening.
Driving south is a breeze! Driving home is sloooowwwwww. But, it was awesome to spend the time with Zee, as well as Liza and her fam. We sang together, talked a ton, laughed a lot, munched and people watched as we drove. It was definitely a fun experience together and will be something that happens again, for certain... one on one road trips with the kids could be a new tradition.
A few more pixs from the trip...
Aylabelle played for half and hour, like she was going to sleep, fake snoring, then waking up. Oh, this baby! I couldn't love her more!
She really is a joy to be around!
Lunch at the Habit.
Mom and Zeej...
It was a lovely trip! I'm counting the minutes until the next one! Ironically, last week, I had three invitations from friends/family who were heading to St. George for various reasons. I think that I'll be able to get down there much more than originally thought! HAPPINESS!!!
Life is good!
After Doug gave Quayd his blessing, Quayd stood up and gave his Dad a hug. I was sitting right next to them and snapped this picture because I had the camera close from the fashion show. As I took the picture, Doug looked at Quayd and said, "You're taller than me!" It was a momentous occasion for Quayd! He was already flying high, excited, but this sent him over the top! It also reminded me that we need to start our door with their heights here at the new home.
Another sweet moment... Grace has been talking all summer long about giving her sister a "Freshman Present". She could hardly wait for the moment last night and finally, she was able to give her a Willow Tree figurine, that she bought with her own money, to "CELEBRATE!" I love that these two girls are BFFs!
Sweet...out of focus but sweet...
Here's another crack-up pic of our son, the actor...
or a HAM!
Silly boy!
First day went well for everyone!
ZJ and I are taking a little roadtrip to St. George for the weekend. Everyone else has work and other obligations, so it's just the two of us. We are excited for the fun getaway. We're taking a car load of things down to Liza and Buddy. We'll be back for school on Monday, but plan on making the most of the weekend. We'll see my Mom while down south. She lives in the town next to Liza and Buddy. This is our first girls trip alone. We are both excited!
Life is good!
Well, it's here. School begins today. And every year, every year, I am so sad when school begins. I hate it when they go back! I love being home with them. I love playing together. I love doing our summer things or not doing anything. BUT. This year, for the first time ever, I'm really really happy to see them go back to school... partly because this means that my days will be a bit more mine again. Selfishly. I have done nothing but chauffer kids from one job to one activity to the next all summer, every day, allllllll summer. There have been days that I've had to be in eleven places. I've spent the majority of the summer in the car either driving or waiting. So, I'm glad for schedules and settling down.
BUT. Even more than that, I'm sad to see school begin because this year, Quayd is a senior. Grace is a Junior and ZJ is a Freshman. All three of my kids are in high school. HIGH. SCHOOL. STOP IT!!! I'm so not ready for this! My heart hurts. And Quayd. Last night, he was flying high, bouncing off the walls, "I'm a SENIOR!!!!" Oh my. Grace was just buzzed about seeing friends and potential social life and and and. ZJ... well, she was asking, "Mommy, please home school me this year. I really don't want to go back to school. I just want to be home with you! I'll be your best friend!" She's always been my homebody. How is it that they are all three in high school? How is it that I sent them off to school this morning and I will only have this "Back to School" experience three more times? How is it that I was blessed to be able to do it a second time around with three amazing kids. It makes me cry!
So, last night, we had the traditional night before back to school where the kids gave us a fashion show of all their school clothes, then Doug gave each of them a Father's blessing. The fashion show was short and sweet. The biggest change this year was that the kids have all worked all summer and bought their own clothes, by choice. They were so proud of that! It was definitely a different experience shopping. Things that they'd have never batted an eye at buying, this year, on their dime, they were much more consciencious about the things they purchased. It was a great learning experience for them!
Anyway, here are their back to school pix from this morning. The girls are more into dresses this year. And Quayd. Oh my. He's such a ham.
Quayd, Senior Year! He's a Thespian, very excited for the drama opportunities this year, preparing seriously to serve an LDS mission. (He literally could be on a mission at this time next year, how's that for scary!) He's outgoing, hard working and eats like no one I've ever seen in my lifetime! He also has softened quite a bit this summer. His APTC experience really brought out the "man" in him. He's quicker to apologize, to appreciate and is much more reflective about things. LOVE THIS SENIOR of ours!
Grace is just as feminine as ever. She's loved getting a job and earning money of her own and is quite proud of herself for working hard. It's been fun to watch! She's also read the Doctrine and Covenants on her own this summer and looks forward to Seminary. She hopes to date this year. However, she's as shy as she is beautiful, so she knows that she's going to have to step out of her comfort zone, which is usually a book! She's gentle and soft-spoken but can have attitude bigtime! She really wants to go to college. She's excited about singing with the performing group, Bella Voce, this year! We love it when it's her month to do dishes because she sings her way through them! Always our princess, Grace.
ZJ, a freshman! STOP THAT! She's our feisty, Martha Stewart, amazing can do anything go-to girl. She's got spunk and attitude and a strong-will. She really the most like me of all six of our kids. She cracks me up! One thing about Zee is that she has absolutely no inhibitions! She will break out in a dance or song in the store, she'll tell people when they need to shape up, she'll tell someone that they are pretty or have nice hair or whatever. She's a writer, a cook, a homemaker... gee, she really is like me. ha! She's not a big fan of school, however. She hates the drama there and would rather just stay home, learn what she needs to and do what she wants to do. She's a pill! This year, ZJ is excited about being a member of Rotary Interact, a volunteer/service organization, that she hopes will send her to help in building homes in Mexico next summer. LOVE this girl!
So, it's going to be a busy year with lots of events in the works! It was very strange this morning to take the kids "back to school" pix in the living room and not on the top of the stairs and front porch of our old Smithfield home. The kids all commented on it. No one complained though, which was lovely. The summer has brought camps, youth activities, neighborhood friends, and a real acceptance of life in the new home. Hard to believe that we are at this juncture in the school years. High School for everyone! CRAZY! We are happy and loving it though! I just want this year to be wonderful and to come at us slowly!
Life is good!!!
For Home Evening, we took the kids and joined the YSA ward for Box Boating at First Dam. I'd never heard of it, but each ward was given a huge box (that tread mills are packaged in) and a roll of duct tape. We had a gazillion hamburgers cooked on the grill and tons of chips. The young adults all worked on creating a "boat" from the box while the burgers cooked and they took turns eating and creating their boats. OH MY WORD! We had a blast! We laughed so hard!
One instruction that we have all been given is to let the kids have a good time doing their thing. We are there as observers as much as possible. It was a riot to watch these kids coming up with their ideas. Our team had the worst idea for a boat of all, which was proven within fifteen feet of the shore! But, they had a blast building it! Our boat was a huge box, much too large, and not at all stable. The idea was to build a box/raft instead of a boat. Oh well, it was fun trying. It got into the water and literally toppled over forward, dumping the cute gal who was supposed to navigate it across the water and back within feet of the shore. One guy in our group was sort of the "Chief". He is so darn cute and fun, but his ideas weren't all that wonderful for floating a boat. Everyone just rolled with it and followed his lead. They had a blast doing it. No one cared about anything but the fun!
My favorite thing was watching Doug and our own kids interacting and getting involved. This is going to be a fun experience! I can see that clearly already! What a gift to work with all these super sharp college kids who are attending church by their own choice, building their own testimonies because they want to, being involved because they want to and not because Mom and Dad are making them be there every week. I'm talking sharp kids! I'm loving them already! Learning their names will be a task, but I'm determined to know them all by name ASAP!
One of the teams made us laugh so hard. They'd cut out a dragon like image on the front of the ship and used ketchup and stuck fritos in the ketchup to decorate it. This boat made it all the way across the dam and back! AWESOME! One boat floated the race with two people in it and then continued to be rowed around the dam after the race was over. They had build a good ship!
Such a fun evening, visiting with other leaders, getting to spend some time with Norm and Tamara, who are our neighbors and were called the same Sunday as Doug to serve as Bishop of another YSA ward in our stake. We meet in the same building and will see each other a lot. Norm and Tamara are two of my favorite people in our home ward, and I predict a close friendship with them over the next few years!
It took over an hour to build the boats, but less than five minutes for them to race across and back!
You can't see much of him, but our cute Seth, who'd been our chief, left our sunken ship only seconds into the race, swam across and then pushed this cute gal from another ward, back in her boat. It was sea-worthy, but her rowing was lacking some experience. How fun to see him helping another girl from another ward. That's the spirit!
It was an awesome evening! Life is so dang good! Live it joyfully!!!
I'm doing a little blog catch-up again. It's been a blur of a week, so I'll post or is it pre-date a few entries. School starts this week and I may be able to catch my breath!
So, this happened.
Zee and I were getting out of the Expedition at the mall this afternoon, so that she could do a bit more school shopping. (We take it a bit at a time, so that I can keep up with them!) As we were stepping out of the truck, I decided not to carry my purse, but just my iPhone, which has the leather wallet case. I hate this case! It's been nothing but a pain! Things slide out of it all the time. I've lost my debit card twice, lost my temple recommend and a few other things. NEVER would I get this again and it was $60! BIG waste of money! ANYWAY, I dropped my phone, it hit the curb next to the truck. I picked it up and, as I did, said to Zee, "I'm betting I just broke my screen." I've had a cellphone since Quayd was born. And NEVER, not once have I broken a phone! This three month old 6-plus with the most expensive case I've ever bought and it shatters. I was SICK!!!!
We hopped back into the truck and went straight to the ATT store and quickly discovered that the insurance I pay for each month on the phone has a $200 deductible! Um, did they want to mention that when you sign up for it!? I'll have a new phone here in a day or two, but seriously, I. WAS. SICK!!!!
I took a picture of it with my iPad and sent it to Doug, with a text, "So, this happened." He called an hour later, "You broke your phone? Dang." Then, he went on to caution me to be careful that I didn't get cut by the shards of glass. (I already had cut my ear and my index finger twice, by then.) I explained the process of getting it replaced. Not once did he ever say an upset word. He didn't complain. He didn't act frustrated. He was just sad that I had to deal with the replacement and will have to be careful with my phone until the replacement arrives.
It's really a strange thing. I didn't worry or even think about Doug getting upset over things like this. BECAUSE. He never does. It was an accident. He knows that accidents happen. We were glad for the insurance, even if it does mean paying the deductible. BUT, I never worry about him getting made.
As I was chatting with Carol about it, tonight, I recalled an incident in my life that was "one of those moments" where your entire perspective in life changes... a paradigm shift. This was the day that I realized that I had been brought up in fear.... fear of getting in trouble, getting punished, getting hit, spanked, beaten (both physically and verbally, always emotionally) whatever you want to call it.
When I was about twenty-five, my aunt and uncle (brother and sister) were visiting me in Utah from North Carolina. They had driven across the country in Aunt Sue's Cadillac. We decided to go to SLC for a day of shopping and Aunt Sue had me drive since I knew my way around the city and she'd driven enough. When we arrived at Trolley Square, I parked and handed Aunt Sue her car keys. She put them in her purse. She asked me to pop the trunk. I did, then, I pushed to button on the door and locked the car as we got out. She then tossed her purse into the trunk so that she didn't have to carry it. Just as we closed the trunk, we all looked at each other and realized that we had just locked the keys in the trunk! I was horrified! HORRIFIED!!!
I stood there in a state of panic! I apologized over and over and over! "I'm so sorry! I'm sorry! I'm sooooo sorry!" Aunt Sue and Uncle Bobby were stunned by my frightened and, pathetically irrational, response to the situation. Aunt Sue said, "Baby, relax. It's no big deal. We'll call a locksmith or tow truck to get the keys. Let's just go on in and have a nice dinner while we wait." Uncle Bobby kept telling me to calm down because I was visibly shaking. We went inside and ate at this wonderful little french restaurant and had the best time shopping. They never gave it another thought, other than to tell me to calm down and not worry about it every time I apologized again and again.
Here's the paradigm shift...I remember the shock I felt that no one called me "stupid" or any other names that went along with it. No one hit me. No one raised their voice. No one blamed me!!! No one was even upset, besides me. And looking back, I can see that it wasn't even me who'd locked the keys in the trunk. But, all of my life, until I was a married woman, it wouldn't have mattered that it wasn't really my fault. It would have been my fault and it would have been big trouble for me. "You should have thought! You shouldn't have let me put it in there!" yadayadayada.
I recall telling Doug the whole story later that night when we were got home, and the feelings of relief I'd felt, along with the fear and guilt that I'd felt all afternoon. This took me days to get over! Yet, the more time went on, the more I realized that when I was late, Doug never got upset. When I made a mistake, he never raised his voice or criticized me. I looked back over the first few years of our marriage, previous to the key incident and I realized that he had never ever gotten upset with me for making an innocent mistake. And it was a turning point in my life. (Note: my mother was doing the best she could. I honestly believe that. Forgiven, and still working on the forgotten part. Things like today bring it back up, but... well, read on.)
I began to realize that a mistake is a mistake! We joke in our house that if you spill milk, "You're name is Mud." (Doug hates the smell of sour milk.) If you spill milk in our house, the reaction you get is a resound chorus from everyone in the room, "Ooooo! Muuuuud!" We all laugh, it gets cleaned up, it's over! Period!
So, today, on the day that we picked up the van, after the transmission has just been repaired, and the Expedition started leaking anti-freeze like a sieve and I broke my gazillion dollar cellphone, Doug said, "Man, Bam! Bam! Bam! We've been hit." His next words were, "Well, at least the insurance will help with the phone. And the tranny didn't cost as much as we thought it would. And I think I can fix the Expedition." Then end. No fear on my part. No anger on his. I love that man! I love that he's patient and such an example of kindness and patience and tolerance! I love that I've had thirty-eight years of making mistakes without being punished for them! And I make plenty of mistakes! Deep sigh! Big smile!
Anyway, just for today, be a little more patient. A little more tolerant. No use crying over spilled milk. Or locked keys. Or broken phones. Accidents happen. Life is good.
With Grace and Quayd gone over night, and Doug went in so early this morning, ZJ climbed in bed with me and we slept in til 8! So lovely! It was a sultry and hot day in the valley! ZJ and I had to get all of the food for the YW Retreat before Grace got home so that the girls could prep the food in advance before the YW head to the ranch. My foot has been giving me fits lately, so I am ever so grateful for two teenage daughters who are willing to help! Grace made the cookies, ZJ made the meat for taco salads and organized and packed a lot of the food. I make the lists, they check them off! SWEET!!!
ZJ and I met Denise for lunch at Buffulo Wild Wings and the Carol picked me up later in the afternoon for a run to Sonic. So, in the middle of lots of preparation, it's always fun to have a break with my friends!
It was a dark, dismal, humid, windy afternoon, but the Quayd and ZJ still went to Hyrum Dam with the YM/YW for a water activity. I was starting to stress by the time that they got home. Storm warnings were on TV and the mother in me doesn't like that! BUT. They had a blast!
Grace got home from her Retreat, unpacked and repacked, then made cookie dough for the girls to bake at the YW retreat, which is Wednesday and Thursday, at the ranch. (Talk about crazy! We may find time for school shopping sometime before next week!) Grace had a wonderful time at her Retreat with the performance group. She's so happy and looking so forward to school beginning! It was an exciting experience for her and she was either singing or telling tales every second from the time we picked her up!
By the time that they came home, the sunset was AMAZING! Doug came in from a Stake Meeting and said, "That was the most incredible sunset I've ever seen!" I was excited that I'd gone outside and snapped a photo of the sky through the trees in our backyard. Neither of these photos were enhanced. It was a dark as could be, then as redish orange as could be! THEN, it poured the rain! SWEET! It cooled things right down! Have I mentioned that I love having air-conditioning after all the years not having it! (I always was satisfied with the evaporative cooler, but now, I'm thinking, "WHAT was I thinking?!"
Liza and Buddy are almost completely packed and ready to load their truck to move to St. George this weekend! Only one minor problem... they've yet to find a home to rent when they get there. Lots and lots of prayers are being said for them to find a suitable, affordable home ASAP!
And here's the coolest news of all! So, a few days ago, Natalie texted me to invite me to ride with her next week to Cedar City, which is 45 miles from St. George! She's taking her daughter to school there and will be spending the night. That meant that I could spend one night, help Liza and Buddy unpack and help with Aylabelle. SWEET!
THENNNNN.... two of our friends who live in Arizona are up for the week. They will be traveling home to Phoenix a day earlier than Nat is going down. They said that I could ride to St. George with them and we can catch up while we travel. Then, I could come home with Nat two days later, meaning two nights with Liza instead of one! SWEETER!
Then, today, while Carol and I were together, my phone rings. It's Doug's awesome Aunt Kay calling to tell me that she and her daughter are going to St. George tomorrow and if I'd like to ride down with them, I'm welcome to. They planned on being there for three days! Only problem with this was that Liza and Buddy won't even be there yet! However, they make this trip a few times a year! SWEETEST!! BUT, this is just awesome! I have a feeling that I'm going to be having lots more little surprise opportunities to see Liza than I'd imagined! AND I think that the same will work in the other direction for Liza, as well! I'm going to LOVE having them in Utah, even if it is 380 miles away! LOVE LOVE LOVE IT!
It's still raining and the wind is blowing. The hot tub is calling my name! Life is good! So is a wonderful storm on a hot, August night! Now, to pray for clear skies tomorrow night at the ranch during the meteor shower! ;)
Yesterday, Sunday, Doug was finally sustained and set apart as counselor to the Bishop in the Young Single Adult ward. (There were a few clerical things that needed to be taken care of, so it took a few weeks longer than planned before the actual sustaining took place.) I felt overwhelmed by the tender feelings that we both shared all day long. Doug was asked to speak and bear his testimony in Sacrament Meeting. I love this man. He is such a gentle man and his humility never ceases to amaze me. It was cute... while Doug was speaking, one of the thoughts he expressed was his love for me. He said, "My wife is the greatest thing that ever happened to me." As he said that, Quayd and I both noticed this couple, in front of us, that were seated very close to each other. The girl looked at the boy and said, "Awww. That's so sweet." Quayd immediately leaned over and said, "Did you see that, Mom? They are in love." At the end of the meeting, Bishop Skeen (formerly known as Trace to us all - wink-wink) said, "And we'd like to congratulate these couples who will be getting married in the next two weeks." Sure enough, one of the couples was the cute couple that Quayd had noticed. "SEE! I told ya!" He was so proud of himself. It made me laugh.
Doug's blessing when he was set apart to his new calling was perfect for him. It is always so amazing to me that a blessing can be so perfectly stated, when given by a person who may be a total stranger. (Doug had never met the member of the Stake Presidency who set him apart.) It was as though he'd known Doug his entire life, expressing Doug's strengths and encouraging him just where he'll need it. I love it when the Spirit speaks! Perfect!
Here's Doug and Bishop Skeen. Could my hubby be any better looking in that suit!? I think I'm in love all over again!
We were overwhelmed by the day... so many people to meet, so many names to learn and remember, so many tasks that will need to be done. We are really excited and looking forward to this coming year and serving these students! It will be awesome!
Immediately after Doug was set apart in the Stake offices, Bishop Skeen invited us to his office. He showed the kids his wall, which had wedding announcements and pointed out to our kids that these kids were all kids from the YSA wards, great kids, all getting married in the temple! A young woman walked into the office while we were visiting, the new Relief Society President, who'd been sustained in Sacrament meeting. She walked in and Bishop said, "Okay! Let's do it!" Immediately, Doug and Bishop were placing their hands on her head to give her a blessing and set her apart as the new RSP. Talk about jumping right in! It was a tender moment for me to witness Doug's first official act in the Bishopric. It's going to be a great year! We are so excited for the students to all return to USU in two weeks and for things to really get going!! In the summer, most students go home, so the YSA wards combine from June - August. Two weeks and it will be full speed ahead with all of the students returning to USU.
ZJ has worked all summer and asked not to be paid until she was ready to shop for school clothes! She finally asked for her first paycheck and we went to the bank to cash it...$532.50!!! Doug was on the phone and it was so fun to watch her reaction to being handed the bank envelope! I said, "Now, open it and double check. Count it." She opened the envelope and said, "HUNDRED DOLLAR BILLS!!!! and they're MINE!!!!" So cute! She has big plans of paying tithing, saving a bunch and hitting the mall! Her comment to me was that she would like to save lots, become a billionaire and then buy Zions Bank, since it's her namesake.
(Before she was born, Kelly was driving down the street in Tampa, Florida, talking to me on the phone and said, "The next street name I see is going to be what we name the baby." The next street was Zion Street, which is a total Utah name, not a Florida name. Zion if it were a boy and Zyanne, if it were a girl. I suggested Jentry to go with it and said, "Then, when she's a teen, she can be ZJ. Zeej never waited till she was a teen. She's been ZJ most of her life and loves it!) She's kinda cute, isn't she?
Grace left this morning for Bella Voce Retreat. She's in Idaho and will be home for one night then the girls will be heading to the ranch because ZJ is hosting a Young Women's Retreat at the cabin. She's planned this to the T and will be watching the meteor shower from the ranch, where there are a billion stars in the sky every night! Grace was so excited and I have to admit that I choked up a bit, watching her walk into the highschool, as an official Junior! HOW does time go by so quickly!! She was just standing there stomping her foot because Quayd got to go to Kindergarten and she had to wait another year!!!
Quayd and ZJ thought that they'd try a Pinterest trick and put hydrogen peroxide on his hair to give him highlights. Senior Pix were supposed to be today. That's not happening. Orange hair and Quayd's face... no beuno. Live and learn. He's filming for something right now, so at the end of the week, it's haircut time, then he'll get in on Senior Pix retakes. Oops. No pix today of Quayd. (wink-wink)
It was a wonderful weekend! I told Doug, as we were lying out in the grass in our backyard that I have not been this happy in my lifetime! Really and truly! I'm loving every minute of life! I feel so great about all that is going on in our world! Yesterday, a friend commented that she could just feel my joy! That's the way I like it!! We are blessed! Truly blessed! Life is good!
Grace and I were on our way home after I'd picked her up from work. We always take the "scenic route" when we are heading to or from her work, along what is known as "the boulevard". It is one of the most beautiful sights in the valley, a narrow street, passing the Logan LDS Temple, an incredible view of the south end of the valley and some of the most beautiful homes in the valley. There are usually joggers, moms walking babies, couples holding hands, down this beautiful sidewalk. It really is one of the prettiest places in Cache Valley!
SO. Grace and I were driving along the boulevard, towards home. I was on the phone visiting with Doug's mom. Grace's head was buried in a book, as usual. I looked ahead and saw an old pick-up pull into my lane of traffic and stop. The man in the pick-up was talking to two little boys who were on bikes, with helmets, tall flags on their bikes, obviously the children of some cautious parents. As I got nearer, the man didn't pull back into his lane. He continued to talk to the boys, so I drove into the oncoming lane and passed him. I drove to the end of the block, where there is a three way stop/intersection. I drove through the intersection, slowly, watching the boys on the bike. The man finally pulled away, slowly, did a U-turn and stopped in one of the other streets of the three-way. Then, he turned on the side street and stopped too.
It made me nervous. Why was this man stopping now? What was he pulling over for? So, I did a U-turn and went back to the boys, who were just in front of the temple now. I slowed down and said, "Are you boys okay?" "Yes." I asked, "Did you know that man?" The older of the two boys, probably about nine years old, said, "Yeh, he's our dad." I said, "Okay, good! I just wanted to make sure that you were safe." He said, "Thanks!" and I pulled up into the temple intersection, did another U-turn, and headed back toward home.
In the meantime, the pick-up was heading back my way. Our eyes met from the distance, so I rolled my window back down and said, "I was just checking on your boys to make sure they were okay, when I'd seen you stop and talk with them." The man's cross expression softened, he smiled and said, "And I was coming back to see why you were talking to them." We both laughed and at the same time, we said, "Better safe than sorry!" He said, "Thanks" and I pulled away...laughing...hard!
It made me laugh all afternoon, but, it also is sad that we do have to live in a world where we have to watch out for each other's kids in such a way. It takes a village, right?
All three kids are back to work and feeling better! Happiness! Today, we got to take Zaylee to the county fair. The girls had a blast!! Happiness! Liza and Aylabelle arrived back home safe and sound to an almost completely packed home, thanks to her amazing husband! Happiness!!! Life is good!
It's been a beautiful day with loads of emotions. Literally, loads. Today was Zaylee's adoption day. We've not been able to share much over the past two years because of DCFS, but as of today, the DCFS case was closed and we don't have to worry about what they say or think any longer...because it doesn't matter one bit! Now, I can share my thoughts and feelings without worrying that the "jello sheriff" would come knocking!
We are thrilled for Zaylee to have been legally adopted today by Amy and Conner! Zaylee got a new middle and last name today. Her initials are now ZJ, which makes her very happy. She says that she is ZJ2. She thinks that's pretty sweet!
Doug and I had not even mentioned the adoption date to the kids until this morning. Or to Liza and Buddy. The feelings around here regarding Zaylee have been pretty raw since the story took a new turn in April, in which we were all informed that Liza and Buddy would not be adopting Zaylee. But, this morning, Doug and I discussed it and decided that we would let the kids know, give them some time to talk and think about it, then let them decide if they wanted to go to court for the adoption. We called Liza, then called the kids upstairs for a family counsel.
Their reaction was mixed, at first. The kids have really struggled with this nightmare that Zaylee has lived for the past two years... for her whole six year life, to be honest. It was two years and three weeks ago that she was removed from Kelly's husband's care by a SWAT team (men in turtle suits, as Zaylee called them) in a drug raid. After over seven months of having her live with us, she was placed in the most awesome foster family, then returned to Kelly, and removed again twice to live with two other great families. During that time, the kids have been frustrated that we couldn't just adopt her ourselves, the the B's couldn't adopt her and she and Miki could be full sisters, that Liza and Buddy were taken out of the equation for reasons which no one really understood, but mostly that Kelly couldn't just leave Kevin AND take responsibility herself! That's a whole other story, we all know.
So, this morning, all of the above were discussed. ZJ and Zaylee have always been the closest. She was the first to get up and start getting ready. Quayd was the last to leave the living room. He had to process the whole thing, but minutes later, we could hear him singing in the shower and getting his church clothes on. Grace has been the most quiet about the whole situation.
The main fact that was established with the kids was that it's taken Zaylee the longest (almost seven years) to get to a family. She's been through more than any of the other seven children. She's had the roughest journey, but she's finally there!! We counted our blessings that all of the children had found wonderful families and each are very blessed to be where they are today! AND that prayers were answered, in the Lord's time. (Trust in the Lord and trust in His timing!) Each child has had to go through their own trials, for whatever reason, we may never understand in this lifetime. But, they all landed where they are supposed to be! The fact that Zaylee has been through so much is heartbreaking to us all, but, things have fallen into place, and for whatever reasons, all of the previous plans had failed and now, she is where she is! We support this and trust that it will be, eternally, for her good.
We arrived twenty minutes early at the courthouse because our Corbridge Rule is that"early is on time". This was great because it gave us time to visit with our friend, Paul, who also happens to be the J's attorney. Also, Maurene, Zaylee's therapist, who I've spent hours with, came early. So, I was able to chat with her a bit.
Zaylee and her family were the last to arrive, just as the doors were opened for us to enter the courtroom. She looked adorable and was grinning from ear to ear! Her siblings were equally excited and they all looked adorable! I'd imagined getting seven kids Sunday dressed on a weekday summer morning and the excitement in the air at their home all morning long, as I remembered our own adoption day!
Zaylee's caseworker, Courtney, others from DCFS, the Guardian ad Litem, the CASA worker, Zaylee's new grandma, her parents and six siblings were all present. Paul presented the information to the judge, asked the standard questions to Zaylee's new parents, Amy and Conner.
At the end of the prepared list of questions, he asked them each to share their feelings and thoughts about adopting Zaylee. Both parents shared tender feelings. Amy mentioned how Zaylee is not only breathtakingly beautiful on the outside, she is a beautiful person inside and so easy to love, how they had connected from the very first time they met, how close they feel to each other now. Conner's final words were "It is an honor to be Zaylee's father." Zaylee crawled back and forth from each of their laps, hugging them, leaning on them, just loving on them. It was so sweet to see her so happy. I noticed at this point that Quayd had tears running down his cheeks. I knew at that moment that it had been a good decision to include the kids in witnessing the adoption. Witnessing the adoption brought closure and understanding to each of us.
Recently, we have learned some things about one of the other children that Kelly had given birth to. Since that news, we have felt even more blessed that the babes had been left in our care before they had to experience some of the things that this particular child had to before their removal. As we discussed it with the kids before court this morning, we felt strongly that it was divine intervention that protected them from those experiences. And now, Zaylee will never be in a similar situation again and will be protected and nurtured by a loving family. That alone, is a tremendous relief to Doug and I! Many, many prayers and much fasting had taken place. Our prayers were heard. Our feeling as we witnessed this adoption, were, again, confirmed that things are as they are as they are supposed to be.
The judge then, asked a few other questions and signed the documents. Then, as always, it's picture time! There were tons of photos taken. We all chatted inside and out of the courtroom for a bit longer, made plans for Zaylee to come and have a sleepover at our home. DCFS has no say anymore! (That never did make sense... she lived with us for eight months, but couldn't have a sleepover at our home because she was in foster care????? REALLY?) There were hugs and kisses and tears. It was awesome!
One other sweet little moment. Zaylee came over and was just hugging me and holding my neck. Then, she hugged Doug, who was sitting next to me. Just as she let go of my neck, her little brother ran up to me and threw his arms around my neck, just giving me the biggest and longest squeeze. It was adorable. Again, I could feel that Zaylee is experiencing this everyday in a very loving home! HAPPINESS!
We left the court and went to Firehouse for lunch. We'd ordered our food and were being served our salads when I looked up and in walked Zaylee and her entire family! She came running over to our table and gave us big hugs. She said, "Gram! I knew you would be here!!!" Amy said that Zaylee had chosen Firehouse because it was my favorite place. It touched my heart to know that she was thinking she would get see us, if she came there. We visited back and forth throughout the meal and before we said our goodbyes, we made a solid sleepover plan. We left one big happy and smiling family eating their pizza! Best of all, our family was one big, happy, smiling family too!
As we got into the truck, the kids all commented that, now, they knew that it was a good thing. Their biggest concern has been that we were "losing" Zaylee. They felt better, seeing that Zaylee will still be a part of our lives, that Amy and Conner are so open to our connection. Truth is, Amy and Conner have seven adopted children and are experienced at open adoptions. They get it. They love that their children can be loved by even more people and still have their roots and connections. They are good people and want what's best for Zaylee. She is happy, she is safe, she is free! Miss Zaylee, or ZJ2 is blessed! Prayers answered! We are thrilled. It was a great day.
Life is good.
I was awakened this morning by the "ding" of a text message notification, a partial ring from my "Liza's calling" ringtone and then a few more dings. I was in a deep sleep, it was only 6AM. IT took me a second to realize that I wasn't dreaming before I grabbed my phone. The last text said, "Turning my phone off" and I woke up immediately! I realized that today was the day that Liza is flying home after spending a week in Denver with Buddy's family, while Buddy's been in St. George beginning his new job. She's flying home to AZ to meet him and move!
I immediately dialed her number, just in case. It went straight to voicemail, so I had missed her. Literally two seconds after I put the phone down, she called! I was literally SICK!!! She, along with a dozen others, had missed the flight, after running the entire way from Denver's heightened security to the gate, only to be told that they flight was leaving in two minutes and it was too late. Remember, she's hauling a diaper bag, a purse and an almost two year old!!! She said that people were not happy!!!
So, she missed the flight and was re-ticketed on the next one. She was now sitting on that flight, waiting for a new pilot because their pilot had called in sick. The most important part of the call was when she informed me that this new flight was bringing her to SLC!!! AS I TYPE, LIZA AND AYLABELLE ARE SITTING 90 MINUTES AWAY FROM ME!!! I'm dying here!
I immediately started thinking of how I could meet them at the airport and spend an hour or two with them this morning. However, ZJ has to be at work at 9 and Grace has to be at work at 11 and we didn't know if she would have a five minute layover or a three hour layover because they didn't know which flight the passengers who were being rerouted would be on. So, I may have literally raced down and not even had the chance to see her. She literally just texted that she landed, two minutes ago. My heart!!!
In the meantime, Buddy has been staying at my mother's home this week, while he is getting oriented on his new job, looking for a home and getting things situated for them to move back to Utah this weekend. (Liza's on the phone! She may or may not fly in twenty minutes. There's one person ahead of her on standby for the next one. I'd be sitting outside waiting at this point, and probably not get to see her at all. She'll call back in a few!)
I'm so excited just knowing that we will now be, at least, living in the same state, even if it is at opposite ends! I can hardly stand it! I'm not sure when we'll head south, but I feel a roadtrip in my very near future!!!
SO. Buddy's mom has been in Arizona and Colorado visiting her married kids. They've all been together quite a bit. Liza texted the other day, "Call me before you open this link." I immediately called and was so very happy to find these lovely photos, taken by Buddy's mother, who is quite the photographer! I didn't even realize that they were planning on pictures, so I couldn't have been more pleasantly surprised! Could Aylabelle be any cuter!? (Says the humble gram!) I asked Sherie for the link to her website. She's now, a traveling photographer, doing weddings and sittings all over the country! Check her work out here! And you can see Liza and Buddy and Aylabelle under "Family". Sheree is amazing!
Liza just texted that she's on board! Good call not to go because she'd not even have had time to walk to the top of the stairs and wave down at me! But, STILL!!! MY HEART!!! She's so close! I have tears falling down my cheeks! Oh, I'm so happy that they are coming close to home! I think I just decided that our upcoming roadtrip is going to be even sooner!
Okay. Time to take ZJ to work. Life is good! AND SO IS FEELING BETTER!!!!
I'm still trying to catch up but decided that I'll just post the current and catch up on the Corbridge Reunion and Quayd's experience at ATPC later. Right now, my mind is in full shower mode for Taylor's shower on Thursday!
Today, I was dragging a bit after a sleepless night. I hottubbed first thing. Seriously, my foot has been giving me fits since the reunion. I've decided that my turn to prepare reunion food is going to have to be passed to another sibling next year! Anyway, enough whining....
Quayd is still sick. He seems to be getting worse instead of better, so he'll be going into the doctor first thing tomorrow. He'll have to call in sick to work. When the word "strep" is used, most people are happy to know you're staying home and in bed! I need to find a new doctor...bot that we don't like the one we have... not that Smithfield is that far, but the hospital and medical center is just a few blocks away. We'll see.
I planned and prepared for the shower most of the day, then made a nice dinner for the family, which we ate on the patio. Have I mentioned I love having a covered patio? It's so nice to eat outside! And I love living in Logan where there are no farm animals nearby. Rarely a fly! That's another nicety of living in the city. Today, I'm feeling quite thankful for our lovely new home! AND I love that I'm right smack dab in the middle of Carol and Denise's. Denise dropped in this morning. Carol dropped by later.
Oh, I love this picture of us! And note! We drank water! (Only because we knew we'd be drinking cokes at the theater in half an hour, but, hey!)
Speaking of eating outside on the patio, tonight, after dinner, Carol and her daughter, Madi, who was in town visiting met Carol's son, Tanner and his girlfriend for dinner at Buffulo Wild Wings and ate on the patio (It's much quieter) then we all went to see Jurassic World. It was my second time, and I liked it much better this time than the first. Carol and I busted out laughing at the end of the movie. Madi gave us the shhhh. BUT... the question is asked of one of the main characters, after the whole dinosaur adventure, "How are you?" Carol and I laughed and laughed... how would you be if you spent a day being chased and almost killed five hundred times by a dinosaur?
Since Robert's death, we have noticed how many people say, "How are you?" It's almost a sad thing to ask. The pity look and "How are you doing?" I want to write a book on what NOT to say to the grieving. First on the list, "How are you doing?" How do you think that they are doing? NOT GOOD!!! How else would they be doing? Not to be rude, and we realize that people are well-meaning, but that's not a good question to ask. A better thing to say, which we laugh about because it's been said to Carol in Idaho by the good old cowboy friends of Robert, "Dangit all the Heck" or you could substitute a few other words in their places. It's kind of funny, but Doug thinks that that's the best response you could give a grieving person. It says VOLUMES!
I was having this conversation with a friend who'd lost her mother. She said that the best thing you could say to the grieving is "I loved your ____ because_____." OR share a memory of them. Don't ask "How are you doing?" Trust me, they aren't doing well. They aren't loving life at the moment. Share a good thought about the person. Tell a good story about them. Mention a great quality they have. It will go a lot further in the "meaningful comments" department. Just sayin.
It's late. I write like this and then wake up the next day, asking myself, "What was I talking about??"
During the movie, I slipped out to the potty and noticed a text had come while in the show. My friend, Kara, let me know that her father-in-law had passed away tonight. Her mother-in-law is my sweet friend, Sharon, who I've adored for almost twenty years. She's been a patient and caring wife for the past several years as Seth's health failed him. Tonight, his body is free of pain and suffering from Parkinsons. I will slip by and see her as soon as possible. I went back into the theater, leaned over and whispered to Carol that Seth had passed away. "That's four in six weeks." Enough already! Although, Seth's death is a blessing. He lived a long and faithful life of service, raising some amazing sons.
I'm running on about three hours of sleep and have a huge day ahead of me tomorrow! Life is good! So is going to the movies with your soul sisters. So is knowing that there is life after life and having the gospel. So is getting a good night's sleep. Enough said!
THE BEST NEWS EVER!!!!!!! I'm so excited and even more excited that I finally get to share it!!!! Buddy has accepted a job offer in the athletic department at a different university, which means that he and Liza and Aylabelle will be moving on August first to.... drum roll.... ST. GEORGE UTAH!!!!! This is the best, most exciting, happiest news I've had since the day that they left Utah... well other than the day that they said Aylabelle was on her way! AND the day that Aylabelle arrived!! It's official! Things are already in the works, but I wasn't allowed to blog it until their best friends returned from a family vacation and all of their "important people" had been told personally!
We found this out on our way to float the Narrows a bit ago and I bawled the entire way there! This means all sorts of good things. First, it means that instead of 14 hour drive, they are four and half hours away (plus pit stops). It means that I can wake up and say, "I think I'll go see my girls today" and be there by lunch! It means that Buddy can drive Liza to the midpoint in Nephi and I can drive to the midpoint in Nephi and I can bring my girls home for a few days! It means that they'll be able to come to bigger family events and some holidays. It means we live in the same state and have the same area code! It means I can see them more than twice a year! It means my heart is full! It means I haven't stopped smiling for days and days!
We are THRILLED and so proud of Buddy and his hard work! HAPPINESS!!!! OH MY WORD, THERE ARE NO WORDS!!!!
ZJ is so dang sick. Not amused! She's coughing non-stop and congested and achey. Apparently, there were three others who came home from camp sick as well. One of the girls came with strep. She's not showing any signs of improvement yet and she hasn't eaten for three days. In the meantime, we've been enjoying watching old movie favorites. She's had a Pirates of the Caribbean marathon, watched Chocolat, Mr. Mom and a few other oldies. She sleeps through most of them, but it's passed her time. Reading kills her eyes! She is majorly stressed about missing out on our fun weekend ahead. My heart hurts when one of my kids are sick!
I keep meaning to share two recipes. I can't believe how insane this summer has been! We wake up, run all day and crash latenight. It's been anything but a relaxing summer, but it's been fun! Anyway, here's a new recipe for sloppy joes. My family are not big sloppy joe fans when it's a can of Manwich. But, this recipe is simple enough that you will never want to open another can again! It literally takes about ten minutes to put together from the start.
Best Ever Sloppy Joes
2 pounds of ground beef
1 medium onion (we use purple), diced
1 large green pepper, diced
2 or 3 stalks of celery, diced finely
1-2 tbsp. minced garlic
1 1/2 cups ketchup
1 cup water
2-3 tbsp. brown sugar
1 tsp. chili powder
1 tsp. mustard
1/2 tsp. red pepper flakes
1 1/2 tsp. Worchestershire sauce
1 can tomato sauce
tabasco sauce (I used 3-5 shakes)
salt and pepper, as desired
Brown the beef with the veggies. As the beef is browned and veggies are tender, add the remaining ingredients. Simmer for about fifteen minutes and serve!
Also, we have gotten into French fries lately. I didn't eat a fry for the past several years, until a few months ago. We have discovered this "oven baked" recipe and it's fantastic! And simple, once the fries are cut. I use a large crinkle type cutter and it simplifies the process.
Amazing Baked Fries
Cut your potatoes into 1/4" strips, then cut those strips into 1/4" squares. (Ours are never quite that thin. We do them more into flat wedges.) Soak in a large bowl of ice water for 30 minutes. (Make your sloppy joes while they soak!) Grease a baking sheet with about 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Set it aside. Pour the water off the potatoes and drain them well, then pour them out onto a towel or paper towels. Dry them off for a few minutes and dry the large bowl. (I use the large Fix and Mix bowl from Tupperware because it has a lid.) Put the potatoes back into the bowl, then drizzle about 1-2 tablespoons of olive oil over the top. Cover with lots of salt and pepper. Put the lid on the potatoes and shake them until all are covered well. Pour them out onto the baking sheet in one single layer. Do you stack the potatoes. Use two pans if necessary. Cover them in foil and bake in a 475* for about five minutes. Remove the foil then lower the temp to 425 for about fifteen - twenty more minutes. You can stir them a bit, but we like them crunchy, so we leave them be. Remove from the oven and cover in parmesan cheese. The cheese will melt onto the potatoes like a coating. Oh my! SOOOOO tasty and really not a lot of work!
Carol had been out of town for a few days and came into town this afternoon, so we made a fast plan for Cokes at Roadhouse before we went to dinner at Black Pearl with our good friends, the D's and the Burns', who moved to Tennessee a few years ago. We had a great time gabbing and laughing and catching up. Todd had to leave early to get to Young Mens, but we loved every second together. We'll be getting together with the kids once before they go back east again. As we drove away, my heart was filled with gratitude for lifelong relationships, which I know these are!
Aaron and Ginn's daughter, Cassie was with us for a bit and she brought her sweet baby, Charles. Oh my heck, he's adorable! I've never seen a baby laugh so hard! He is a doll!
My foot has been giving me fits this week! Too much going on! Just got out of the hottub with Doug. Another thing that I'm thankful for tonight!
Missing Quayd. But, we get to see him tomorrow night for a dinner. Very happy!
I'm tired! Life is good! Goooooood night!
Quayd left this morning for his Aaronic Priesthood Training Camp. He was excited, nervous, a little anxious. This is supposed to be a wonderful experience helping him to prepare for his mission, which amazingly, is only a year away!
Grace got her first and second paycheck today! She's slightly happy, excited, proud of herself! She made me very proud. When she showed them to me, after work, I said, "We'll go to the bank and open a new savings account of your very own today!" She said, "First, tithing, Mom!" Good girl!
Instead of going to work this morning, ZJ has been lying right here on the Lazy Boy. She's one sick girl. She's on anti-biotics now and hopefully, we'll see a new and improved ZJ before morning! She's feverish, has ear aches and just plain miserable. Sadness. The dogs are sharing their chair with her and don't go far from her side when she's down like this.
Speaking of the dogs, they think that they are people too!
Life is good! Live it joyfully!
Mom is dealing with Boyd's funeral and his family and and and... She's not even planning on attending the funeral, which makes no sense to me, but, there's been drama from one of his daughters. Mom was mentioned as Boyd's "friend" in the obituary, in a statement that thanked her for her care of Boyd in his last years. There was no mention that they've been companions/partners since before Quayd was born, not to mention that she'd cared for him, literally spoon feeding him this past few months. An hour later, the her name was completely removed from the obituary as though she'd never even been a part of his life. Boyd would be terribly upset by this, no doubt. To each his own, but I will say this... nothing makes my heart hurt more than when I see people doing stupid things, selfish things after a loved one has passed away. Seriously? Do they care nothing about the deceased? How do you sleep at night, knowing that you've used the death of a loved one to prove a point? I don't get it. I've made it clear that if anyone decides to get nasty after I'm gone, I'm going to come back and haunt then! ;)I'll never understand that!
Quayd will be attending the Aaronic Priesthood Training Camp all next week. He leaves in the morning. This is supposed to be a very exciting experience for the boys his age. It's his first one. We're looking forward to this opportunity for him and are praying that he captures what it's all about!
The girls have been gone all week to girls camp. I missed them bigtime! They arrived home yesterday morning. They had a blast, but Zeej came home very sick. There was a girl at camp, who went home early and was diagnosed with strep. ZJ is showing all of the symptoms and has barely moved since she walked in the door. She was supposed to speak in Sacrament Meeting today but she wasn't up to is, so Grace offered to take her place. Grace gave a beautiful talk this morning!
What's really strange is that Doug did not and will not be chaperoning or attending either of these camps and it's the first time in their lives that they've not had their dad there. He's always been great to offer his time to the youth. Now, he'll be donating his time to the older youth!
We had a fun date night and floated the Onieda Narrows Friday afternoon with the YSA ward. The kids and Doug and I joined in with our friends, Jamie and Ryan and about thirty others a few Saturdays ago and had a blast! It was too fun! The kids were so anxious to go again, but Quayd worked and the girls were camping, so it was just Doug and I again. This is a river in Southern Idaho. It was the first time in thirty-eight years that I've touched water in Utah or Idaho that wasn't FREE.Z.ING!!! Seriously! This water felt more like the Atlantic Ocean in August in Ft. Lauderdale! Perfection! Friday, however, it's totally overcast skies and a bit cooler outside, so it wasn't quite as pleasant of an experience as our first. I told Alan, "I'm not sure I want to go if it's raining, I'd hate to get wet!" It didn't rain on us but we raced for the hottub when we got home!!!
Speaking of Alan and Jill, remember the otters? Well, Alan and Jill were at the ranch working on the cabin, so we made a little stop at their home on the way to the Narrows to leave the Otters hidden in their home.
My fires are winding down! We had our class last night, Today, I got to teach Relief Society, my first time teaching in the new ward. HAPPINESS!!! Then, getting Quayd off to camp and preparing for the Corbridge Reunion dinner for 150 people and then I'm hosting a bridal shower for Taylor, Carol's daughter the next week. That's the rest of my July.
My happiest thought today, however, is that Carol and I made a huge decision. We've been planning a road trip to Arizona! She has family there, we both have a family that are close friends of ours, and of course, there's my girls and Buddy! But, while we were on our last drive to Idaho, we decided to make this road trip a little more fun and we will be flying! Tickets purchased on Friday! We're going to Arizona in two months! HAPPINESS!!!
Liza's birthday came and went! Woohoooo! BUT, not so much because we didn't get to spend it together. AND I gave her her gift while she was here. So, a Facetime party had to do. Buddy's family is visiting Arizona this week and Buddy was in Utah for a Stake Young Men's high adventure trip to Moab. We talked several times, but it's never the same when we don't celebrate together!
We did have some discouraging news this past week. The company that Doug has worked for for the past ten years is building a plant in another country. Their workload locally is decreasing (as I understand it?) and Doug will be having his work hours cut back some. He's worked this crazy shift for three years now that has had him up at 3:53 every morning and in bed at 8 (or shooting for it, anyway.) And now, they are cutting back one day of the work week every other week, which means a paycut and no chance for overtime, which we depend on at certain times of the year. Life is full of surprises, but ironically, I've not been too stressed over it. I just feel like things will work out, somehow.
That's it for now! I tried typing all the things I love about Liza in another post and they disappeared when I added the photo of her and Buddy. I'm seriously going to be moving soon to a new blog location! It's in the works!
Life is good!
First, a serious note: Mom's manfriend, Boyd, passed away this morning at 4:35. Mom is doing fine. We aren't sure when the services will be, but, we are assuming next week. His children will plan and arrange it. He lived a long and full life. He'd have been 92 on Halloween. Not sure what the future will bring for my mother. She's lived a life full of trials and struggles and she usually brushes herself off and moves forward. Enough said about that. (Note: The photo of Mom and Boyd was nine years ago.)
Carol and I went just returned from one crazy night in Idaho. We went up yesterday morning and stopped in her childhood hometown, Rupert, to have lunch. We ate at the Drift Inn again, outside on the patio, which was lovely. After lunch and a stop for treats and munchies in Burley, we went on to her home. We packed a few more things, unpacked our things, settled in for a movie and cards, then headed back to Burley for dinner.
As we were driving back from Burley to settle down for the night, she was telling me a story that was blowing my mind! We were deep in conversation when she noticed red flashing lights in the rearview mirror. We pulled over and the officer asked her if she knew what the speed limit was. Carol, who's much more reserved than I am, responded and gave him her license and registration. As he was walking back to his car, I said, "Officer, may I say something?" I went on to tell him that Carol's husband had just passed away a few weeks ago and she was talking to me about it. The officer, kindly, asked her, "When did he pass away?" She responded, "June 8th" and he walked back to his car. He returned and said, "I'm sorry about your husband. I'm giving you a warning this time. Take it a little slower." She thanked him and we drove away. We had just had a conversation ten minutes before about tender mercies and this was, indeed, one!
We got home, watched another movie and decided to get into the hottub. Now, one thing that has been most humorous for years, and moreso lately, with every trip to Carol's Idaho home... she is horrified of mice! HORRIFIED! Robert's home is in the middle of nowhere. No neighbors for miles. Nothing but sagebrush and juniper bushes for miles. MILES. The home is fenced with ranch log fencing but the bottom few feet has a mesh wire fencing attached to keep rodents, rabbits and wildlife out. There's also a cattlegaurd gated entrance. No critters allowed! The home is also almost sterile clean, so another reason that rodents would not be a concern inside. EVER.
(Here's a picture of Doug and Carol walking in the front yard last fall after Robert's first surgery.)
Since Robert's death, his daughter took his two spaniel springer dogs to her home. And somehow, we've heard, a new problem has arisen. We'd not seen any rodents, but we've seen their "calling cards" outside everywhere. So everytime we open a door to the outside or any door that's closed, we knock and rattle it to alarm any "rodents of unusual or ANY size" that we are coming! I've been teasing Carol about it constantly.
SO. Last night... We're hottubbing. It's almost midnight. We're in the middle of nowhere, miles from anyone who could hear a sound! We're gabbing about life. My back is to the back door and the porch, Carol is facing them. The back patio light is on. Mid sentence, Carol SCREAMS! LOOOOOOOK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Oh, SHOOT!!! SHOOT!!! SHOOOT, SHOOOOOOT, SHOOOOOOOT! (There may or may not have been less Os in the sentence and a few I's inserted.) I turned to look and sitting on the step, just inches from the back door, the door that we would have to walk through to go back into the home, was a PACKRAT!!! A HUGE, as big as my foot PLUS his several inch long tail, PACKRAT! She was DYING! Now, normally, a mouse would have had me flying from the hottub to the roof in a single bound. However, this thing was so huge, I think I was in shock. He actually had a teddy bear face, with big ears and eyes. I don't know why, but I'm certain that this was one of those tender mercies in life because, I was as calm and cool as could be.
I said, "Carol, it's okay. He's as afraid of us as we are of him. We're a thousand times bigger than him." She's still saying, "I'm dying! SHOOT! I'm sick. What are we gonna do? We're never getting out of this hottub." Really, I'm confessing, his size was alarming, but he was just sitting there staring at us. So, I said, "Let's both splash a wave of water at him and he'll leave." We did. He bolted down between the concrete porch step and the vinyl fence. RELIEF! For about 30 seconds. We were gathering our bearings and trying to make a plan for what to do next. All of a sudden, we see these cute little ears and big eyes pop up over the edge of the step again. Then, he climbed right back up there on the step, no fear, and just stared at us. Carol was dying. I'm sitting there praying, "Please give me courage because at this point, Carol's not ever getting out of this water." She's saying, "Oh, no! What if he climbs in here?! Move the steps!" (Can you say Lucy and Ethel?)
I had this wave of insanity or courage come over me and said, "Okay. Watch. He's scared." I stood up and leaned over the edge of the hottub. He didn't move! I stood up completely and made little noises. Carol's saying, "Don't call it here!!!" We were half laughing, half in tears. So, I slid my leg over the edge and stepped out onto the hottub steps. He still sat there. I took two steps toward him and he still didn't move. FINALLY, as I took the next step, he slid down out of sight again. I couldn't get back into the water quick enough!
Carol said, "We're not closing the hottub. We've got to get out of here and run into the house. The hottub can stay open, I don't care. I'm never coming out here again!" She even said, "I'll give you a hundred dollars to close it! I'm not doing it!" We were laughing and teasing and both dying all at the same time. So, we decided to make a run for it. We stood up, grabbed our towels and raced to the door and inside, screaming, "Shut the door, shut the door, shut the door! FAST!" We were both horrified that he'd climb up and race inside when we opened the door. Then we BOTH would have spent the night back in the hottub until someone came looking for us.
We got inside and were just dying. You can't just leave a hottub open overnight for multiple reasons. So, I said that I'd shower, get dressed, put my shoes on and then go outside around through the side garage and out to the back patio (about 60 feet) to shut it. Carol stood at the back door of the patio near the hottub, watching through the window as I, loudly, raced to the hottub, shut the cover, latched it down and came running back around the garage door and inside All the while, through the closed door, she was singing so loudly that I could hear her through the glass, "Did you ever know that you're my hero?!" We were laughing so hard!
I raced inside to the kitchen sink, washed my hands and, for some reason, walked to another exiting door, which has a huge window in it, flipped on the light to see the front side of the house. On the porch, right there inches away, on the other side of the door, was a darker and even larger PACKRAT!!! It jumped up on the front rock wall of the house and raced along it, making a stop at the bbq grill and then, just standing there, looking at us. We. WERE. DYING!!!! There's more than one! What if they have friends and cousins!?!?!
We raced into the bedroom, turned our movie on and, literally, for the rest of the night, at every sound, said, "What was that!?" It was really creepy. I was pretty astonished that I'd been brave enough to go outside in it, but one of us had to! We then talked about our fears. I've got such a freakish obsession with flies. I told Carol that I would have gone out and picked that PackRat up and carried it away to the trash with my bare hands before I'd touch a fly strip. EEEEWWWWWW! I hate them! I'm not a fan of mice either. I've literally slept on top of a card table the one time we ever had a mouse in the loft at the ranch. But, this was no tiny little mouse. He was, literally, bigger than the six week old kitten that Alan and Jill had shown us the night before. While we were watching one of our alltime favorite movies, "Seems Like Old Times", I decided to google and read about packrats, hoping that I would read that they hate humans and would never go near them or that they don't like coming inside when people are there. Instead I read that they are curious and love going inside. EEEEEWWWWWW!!! So, I kept telling myself, all night long, that he was more like a dog or cat than a mouse. I was mostly concerned because of their lack of fear when they saw us. Evidently, they are considering Robert's yard their territory, not ours! EEEEWWWWWW! Did I mention EEEEEWWWWWWWWW?!!?!?!?
We finally fell asleep with the movie on and my Mom called at 4:45 to tell us that Boyd has died. We were both awake, listening to all the sounds and hoping that the rats had gone to visit relatives somewhere far away instead of inviting them to come and check out the treats that the two crazy ladies had brought in last night. We saw no evidence of them having been inside the home, but without dogs there, they are having a hayday! EEEWWWWWWW!
My mind was just reeling after Mom's call. I thought about Boyd, about my mother, about our unwanted houseguests and finally said, "Carol? Tell me a story." She'd been trying to fall back to sleep after Mom's call, but I would say something every few minutes. Finally, she said, "A story? I'll tell you a story. Once upon a time, there were two crazy ladies who were awake at 5:30 in the morning. So, they rolled over and went back to sleep. Goodnight." Laughing took the edge away and we did go back to sleep until 7:30 or so.
We left this morning, to come home, and were both jumpy, worrying that an unwanted visitor had climbed into the car while we were loading it up. We took turns keeping watch so that they couldn't get in... not that we would have known what to do to stop them. I've had the "creepy crawlies" all day, but I've laughed. ALL day. And I told Carol, last night, I could just imagine Robert laughing so so hard at the two of us freaking out in the hottub. I'm certain of it! We always make the best of our time together.
Life is crazy, insane and apparently, with a variety of packrats, but good!
I just dropped ZJ off at the Stake Center for Young Women Girls Camp. The girls completely packed themselves, including doing their laundry. They are growing up too fast! ZJ was already missing Grace, who, as a fifth year leader, left yesterday, to help decorate and set up. It will be a sweet reunion for them. They are excited for this new adventure.
It was not a happy thing to find out that the old ward girls were going to Heber, a camp with cabins for all of the girls that every girl dreams of attending once in their life, and to know that they were not going to be a part of it. (Grace went her first year, but Zee has never been.) For four months, we heard, "Can't we go to camp with the Old Ward too?" BUT... we felt strongly that they needed the experience of camp with the girls in the new ward, so that they would be able to bond and make connections here. There's something about YW Camp that unites their hearts for years to come!
Grace was called to serve as the Laurel President (for the 16-17 year old girls) and ZJ was called to serve as the MIA Maid President (for the 14-15 year old girls) last Sunday. We are happy to see them excited to serve diligently in this capacity for the time. I hope that Camp is a wonderful new beginning for them where they will connect with the rest of the girls in the new ward It's hard to imagine that Grace has less than a year and a half left in Young Womens! Time is just moving too too fast!
A few weeks ago, someone asked me if I was getting "excited to finally have empty nest in the next few years." Heck no!!! I'm not even excited. I love the busyness of having kids in the home, I love the fun we have together, I love watching them making good choices in life. It's not always perfectly wonderful, but I love the energy of being a busy mom, caring for a family, watching them have successes and offering them as much as we have to give. So, no! I'm not ready.
Mom just called as I was typing that last paragraph. Boyd made it through the night but he's passing. He's very near the end. The nurse just came in and said that he is doing the "death rattle" and it won't be long. Ninety-two years is a good long life.
Last night, I got a text that our old neighbors home was on fire and having multiple (about fifteen) explosions. When we went to pick Quayd up, we went buy. There were about 25 emergency vehicles lining the streets. We went to offer them any assistance that they needed. They are not LDS and therefore, didn't really know many people in the neighborhood. They've always kept to themselves, but they had a beautiful daughter who was Quayd's age and played with the kids when they were younger. We'd gotten to know them through the years and really enjoyed our visits with them. We also exchanged lots of treats through the years. My heart went out to them. We heard from several of the neighbors who were lining the streets that they didn't even know their names. So, it will be a good opportunity for the neighbors to get to know them and hopefully help them through this mess. When we left, there were no windows left, the entire home had been flooded with water and there was much smoke damage. Most of the garage and attic were totaled. Fire and water... wow, there's nothing worse.
We had Alan and Jill over for a quick dinner, then following our stop at the old neighborhood, we went to their place for a bit. They are storing our pop-up trailer and we needed more sleeping bags for the kids. Quayd was excited to climb Uncle Alan's Rock Wall. My kids would move our home right into their back yard just to be close to them. Never a dull moment when Uncle Alan and Aunt Jill are around.
I'm heading to Idaho with Carol this morning for a short trip. Quayd and Doug will be busy doing their thing and I'll be back tomorrow. Crazy life we are living, but I wouldn't have it any other way. I really should take a quick nap before she gets here since I didn't sleep much last night. The thunderstorm kept me awake wondering if Grace was in the tent or if they brought the girls into the cabin. But, like I always say, I'll sleep when I'm dead! Life is too good to miss a minute of it!
I've had issues continually with my internet for the past two weeks. I'm hoping that it's been resolved, but this still leaves me with the issues of Typepad. I have loved Typepad over the past ten years. However, they have made changes in their formatting and publishing process. The issues of the photo size is making me insane. This is my journal. I stopped scrapbooking when I knew that I had another avenue to use for journaling that included my photos. Now, I get thumbnail size pictures and I've tried their new procedure for photos in each entry. It's a several step process rather than the old three steps. And then they are still small. I'm more than frustrated. I'm seriously thinking about other alternatives. My goal is to make a decision before my bloggiversary in August. As of today, I'm going to try posting my blogs on two locations to see if I can make the adjustment. I really don't want to move, but I really don't like what I've got right now. I'll share more later.
Mom called this morning and left a message that Boyd, her manfriend/partner of the past twenty years, is dying. He's been on Hospice for the past month. When she arrived at the assisted care residence this morning, she was told that he probably will not make it through the day. We will attend his funeral, which will be in SLC, I'm assuming. It will be strange to think of Mom without Boyd, especially for our kids. This has been a rash of deaths in our family. Grace said as we were driving her to the Stake Center for camp, "Enough with all this death and funerals already!" Amen and boy howdy to that!
The girls are going to YW Camp this week. Grace left today because she's a leader this year. We raced home from the funeral and got her off with the other Youth Leaders. (It's her fifth year!) ZJ will go in the morning. They are packed. Secret Sister gifts wrapped. They can't wait! It's going to be an insane rest of the week.
Tuesday - Tina's funeral. Grace off to Camp, Doug's summer work party, Ward/Neighborhood Party, make a trip to Alan and Jill's for a few items from our camp trailer, which is living at their home now
Wednesday - Drop ZJ off at camp. Take Quayd to work, Head to Idaho with Carol for one last trip
Thursday - Home from Idaho, Church Meeting, Somewhere in the middle, prepare two lessons, clean house and catch up on laundry.
Friday - Float the Onieda Narrows with YSA ward, study both lessons some more
Saturday - Pick up the girls, Teach Strengthening the Family class, help Quayd prepare to leave for Aaronic Priesthood Training Camp (he'll be gone all next week), possible funeral for Boyd
Sunday - Doug will be sustained and set apart as Bishop Counselor in YSA ward, ZJ speaks in our Sacrament Meeting, I teach Relief Society in our Home Ward
As usual, when it rains, it pours!
The girls and I attended our friend, Tina's funeral today. Each of her six children and three of their spouses took five to seven minutes to share their thoughts about their mother. It was a touching and beautiful tribute to Tina, who was such a remarkable woman. I wept almost non-stop from the moment I walked into the chapel. Tina was such an exemplary woman to all who knew her. Her children, all grown, were so impressive as they shared the lessons learned from their wonderful mother. She will be sorely missed. It was just a beautiful service, filled with my own emotions, as well as emotions for their family.
It was so good to see old friends and neighbors. It was like coming home. It was my first time back in the chapel since we moved. I didn't even realize how much I missed it. We sat with Stott and Wendy, which felt just right and normal. Oh, my. It was an emotional afternoon. A real reminder of how blessed we were to live among such good people for so many years. We have no regrets for making the move. It was the right thing for our family at this time, we feel confident of that. But, we love those people and miss them immensely. There were lots of hugs and lots of selfish tears, as well. I came home and bawled as I told Doug about a hug from friend, Trish, that just melted my heart and the kind words of friends, Kathy and Kim, that were so touching, I could not even repeat them.
{{{{{deep sigh}}}}} How blessed we are to have so many great people in our lives! Please keep Boyd in your prayers. Thank you.
Life is good. Busy. Crazy. Sometimes painful. Most of the time joyful. But, oh so good.
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I can't believe that we are on the down side of summer vacation. It's going much too quickly, but that's indicative that we are much too busy! We've had so much happening in our lives, summer's been a blur.
I should share that last night/yesterday was a very special day for our family. Yesterday, Doug was ordained as a High Priest. He has always joked that he wanted to die being the oldest Elder in the church, but that will no longer be possible. Doug has always enjoyed being in the Elders Quorum and being a part of the group of great men he's worked and served with, especially in our last ward in our old home. However, all good things must come to an end... so that new good things can begin. And begin they will.
Doug has been called to serve as a counselor in the Bishopric of a Young Singles Adult ward. This calling came a quite a shock to us last week. It's taken a week of "adjusting" and learning what it will mean for our family. Doug will be serving in a YSA ward, which means that he will be attending the ward, filled with college age students only. No marrieds, no families, all between the ages of 18-28. He will be counselor to an amazing man, who we are certain is also a wonderful Bishop, as he is awesome at everything he does. The bishop is and has been one of Doug's life heroes since the day they met. It will be a wonderful and growing experience for Doug and our family.
What this means for our family... I will attend our home ward with the kids for Sacrament Meeting and then I will slip out quietly for the remainder of the block in Doug's ward. We will be hosting one monthly family home evening in our home, feeding 1/4 of the YSA ward on that night, just for fun. (Sounds fun to me!) We've been told that the students will all frequent our home on a regular basis. Doug will be in meetings/activities three or four nights a week for the duration. Our family will be encouraged to attend the activities and be involved with the students, as much as possible. It will be time-consuming and tiring, but uplifting and rewarding. We are very much looking forward to it.
It will mean that our involvement in our own home ward will be less or that I will be doing double-time to be involved in both wards, which right now, I hope to be able to do. We've been instructed that family comes first in all things, so we'll do our best to keep things as normal as possible for the kids and also to serve our very best wherever we are needed in both wards.
This calling came as a complete shocker to us both! We were on our way to float the Oneida Narrows last week, when a call came for us to meet with a Stake President who was not our Stake President. We went on Sunday night to meet with a man that we'd never met or heard of before. He was kind and humorous and talkative. He was so very lavish with praise for both Doug and I, from things that he'd been told by others about the both of us. Over -the-top, generous with praise. To the point that it was extremely humbling and made us both ask, "Are we really up for this?" But, of course, Doug said yes to the call to serve. We will do our best to live up to their expectations. We are so excited for this new adventure!
There was also the question of who should perform the ordination. It has to be done by a High Priest. Doug would have loved to have had his father do this, which is traditionally the way it happens, but his father passed away when he was seventeen. Buddy could have done it and Doug would have loved that, but they could not make it up from Arizona. His uncles, who ordained him an Elder, have all passed away. He has cousins who he could have asked, but didn't want them to have to travel. He has two brothers, but then he'd have had to decide which brother. So, he asked our dear friend, Jim, who is like a brother to Doug, to perform the ordinance. Jim is currently serving as a YSA Bishop in another ward and stake. Jim's blessing was touching and kind, with counsel and wisdom for Doug to use as he serves.
Last night, we gathered in our living room and Doug was ordained by Jim, along with our current Bishop, a Stake Representative, his brother Danny and Mom's new husband Norm.It was a beautiful experience. I'd prepared refreshments for afterward and we all sat in the den, munching and visiting until almost eleven. Doug had to get up at 3:53, so it's going a long day for him at work, followed by our first meeting with the YSA Bishop. We, and the kids, enjoyed visiting with Jim and Kristy, Doug's Mom and Norm, his brother Danny, our Bishop and his wife. Liza joined us on FaceTime as everyone arrived and she and Buddy were able to listen in to the ordination. It was hard for us not to have her here in the flesh, but we were grateful for her to participate by technology. It was such a lovely evening.
We are excited, humbled, nervous, anxious, looking forward to this new chapter in our lives. Every day brings something new! Love it! Life is good!
After two weeks of five minutes with and five hours without, we have internet!! I am home from a couple of days in Idaho with Carol. Doug, kindly, sent me out the door, so that I could go up and help Carol go through and pack some things. She will be moving all of her things back to her Logan home soon, so we've been enjoying time in her Idaho home as much as possible. It's been a delight to spend so much time together, especially uninterrupted! Oh my gosh, we do have a good time together! We laugh when we are together over the goofiest things and just have a great time in each other's company.
This trip, we saw the movie, Max, about a war dog. Wonderful story and very intense movie. Clean, no skin or language, family friendly. Excellent. I know that the kids will want to buy it as soon as it comes out and we will. We also hot tubbed, ate more than we should have, baked almond joy cookies, packed boxes, shopped and went for pedicures.
Our pedicure adventure gave us lots to laugh about and, as we agreed, it was worth the experience, just to tell the story. SO....
We went into a salon in Twin Falls, which is about an hour away from Carol's Idaho home. There were several workers there, none of which spoke very much English, which is not an issue for either of us, but would have made a difference in what happened, I'm certain.
We asked if they were free to do two pedicures together, we picked our polish colors and they invited us to sit in the two chairs at the end of the shop. (Say seats 5&6) Carol's guy immediately, handed us our "menu", then got right to work on her feet. I sat there. And waited. And waited. Ten minutes went by before my guy even came near me. He walked up, handed me a bottled water, put one foot in the water and started removing my polish on my other. Carol was already several steps ahead of me having her toes clipped. She texted me "OUCH!!!" and that her water was like ice water!
A woman needed to pay, so my guy jumps up, as he's barely started, and goes up front to the register. He didn't say a word, just left. He was gone FOR.EVER ...which wouldn't have bothered me but there were two other workers just walking around and gabbing. Finally, he comes back to me and continues with his nifty little nippers. This time, he jams the nippers into my toe so far that I flinched. Carol and I were texting that we were both bleeding from the knees down, at this point.
Out of the blue, he jumps up again, without one single word, goes up front a sec then comes over to chair 4, where he'd worked on the lady who was there when we arrived, and starts cleaning her chair!!! He's in the middle of working on me and decides to clean the chair because he passes it and thinks it's a good time? WHAT? He drained the yucky, cloudy water, sprayed the basin and starts scrubbing it all, sprays some more, lifts the pillows, cleans under them...at least I could say that it's a clean place, right? This took a few more minutes. In the meantime, Carol's next to me getting a massage with the hot rocks and her feet wrapped. We are texting, "WHAT'S HAPPENING?!?!?" My guy finishes cleaning the chair and puts the cleaning stuff away. He hadn't changed to new gloves after doing the other lady's feet and before he started on my feet in the first place. I rolled with it, even though I was dying inside! GERMAPHOBE NIGHTMARE! I literally was self-talking, "She looks like a clean woman,she's wearing a really stylish outfit, her hair was styled, she was wearing very cute flip-flops, I'll still be alive. It's okay."
But now that he's scrubbed the nasty foot stuff (whether the lady from the other chair was clean or not!)...eeewwwwww!!!!! He walked back to me and starts to reach for my foot with the same nasty cleaning gloves!!! (I'm a freak, I realize, but seriously? Is this sanitary?) I asked him kindly and with a smile, "I'm sorry. Could you please change your gloves, since you cleaned with those gloves?" He looks at me and says, "One dollar. Gloves." Okey dokey then. He changed the gloves, having to put on three because they kept ripping, grabs my foot and starts to scrub. At this point, Carol is already 40 minutes into her treatment and I'm on step 2, about ten minutes into mine. Carol and I were texting and dying! We are barely looking at each other to keep from laughing.
In the meantime, another customer has walked in and said something to one of the non-working girls. The worker comes and converses with my guy in their language while he's scrubbing my foot. He keeps saying, "Tickle." I'm thinking, "No! Ripping my foot to shreds, thank you." Can you say ROUGH!?
Out of the blue, a minute later, my guy gets up and walks over to the woman who'd walked in, has her sit down in chair 1 and starts working on her feet! He never said a word. (I'm thinking that the woman had been in and had a problem that he was supposed to repair.) Um, did he want to say, "Excuse me." or "I'll be right back." But...Nothing.
Carol texts "Really?" I text "Can I just leave?" She responds, "YES! This is ridiculous!" We both text that we have had nippers poke our knee caps via our big toes. My guy is still working away on the lady in chair #1. Carol's guy is now about 50 minutes into her treatment and ready to polish her pretty (although throbbing) toes. I'm still not ten minutes into mine and my guys down at the other end working on someone else!
I reached over, grabbed my purse, sat up, stepped my feet, that looked much better when I arrived than as I was leaving, into my flipflops and walked out the front door right past my guy who never even noticed. Neither did Carol's guy! Or anyone else?! I walked around the corner and about a block through a parking lot to the other end of the strip mall into Target. Carol and I were texting the entire while. She said that they still hadn't even noticed that I was gone. I went inside Target and walked all the way to the back corner of the store to grab something we needed before Carol texted that they finally realized I had left.
She said that her guy asked, pointing to my empty chair, "She go bathroom?" Carol said, "No, she left." She said that my guy walked over and looked at my empty chair and asked "Left? Why?" She said, "Because she was tired of waiting for you. Because she was tired of being ignored. And for the record, I'm not happy at all. I brought her here. This was her first time here and she will never come back!" She said they did not even say a word! Her guy was finishing her up, she paid the guy and left.
We both had throbbing toes all night long... to the point that we took ibuprofen because we felt like we had our toenails removed instead of painted! And I didn't even get to the fun part! No massage, no hot rocks, no oils, no polish...just now ingrown toenails! Talk about disappointed! But, we laughed about it for the rest of the night, in between whining about our sore big toes! Seriously, it was hysterical! We won't be going back there, obviously. I mean really... REALLY?
That was our biggest laugh of the trip. We never get together that we don't laugh, even in the most difficult of times. We talk about Robert and the good times, the fact the fact that there should have more of those good times, about our kids, about our memories and our future plans. I said to Carol, "How long have we been friends?" "Twenty five years." "And how is it that we don't run out of things to talk about?" It's because we are friends.
Life is good.
Our grandson, Jason, turned twelve on Saturday. We were thrilled to be invited to attend his ordination to become a Deacon in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints! This is a rite of passage, the biggest day of a young man's life to date at age twelve! This was a double-special day because Quayd was able, as a Priest, to stand in the circle of Priesthood holders, along with Doug, Jason's dad and uncles, as Jason was ordained. It was a touching moment to watch and listen to the beautiful blessing given to Jason by his father, Dave. There were tears everywhere in the room! My favorite part was after the blessing, watching Jason hug his dad. I captured the moment and haven't even shown it to them yet, but wanted to record it here in my journal.
As most know, Jason was adopted by Dave and Katie and we adopted them all! They are an amazing family, who we can't get enough of! We have loved nothing more than watching Dave and Jason together through the years. They have a special bond that is fascinating and heartwarming to watch. At twelve, Jason can do almost anything his dad can do! They golf together and work together, hike together and serve others together. Jason has a tender heart. Everyone in their ward mentioned it. He's recognized for being there to help, whenever there is a need. He's truly an example of "willing to serve". We love him so much!
Between Sacrament Meeting and the ordination, we slipped away and over to Doug's Aunt Kay and Uncle Jim's. Kay is Doug's mom's sister and we just adore her! Jim is just a fun, fun man! The kids have not spent a lot of time with Mom's extended family. We told them about Kay and Jim and guaranteed them that they would love them! And they did! We were not there two minutes and I could see that the kids were just loving it! Jim took them for a tour of his amazing back yard while Doug and I visited in the kitchen. Kay was preparing a birthday dinner for her family and we helped a bit. We visited for almost two hours before heading back to the church and the kids first words when we walked out the door, "Next time we come to see Jason, can we come again to Aunt Kay and Uncle Jim's?" Family is the best!
After the ordination, we all went back to Jason's home for a BBQ with several members of their extended family. Through the years, we've grown to love them, as well! It was such a fun BBQ! And the food! When Dave and Katie are involved, there's not going to be anything close to a match for food! OH MY!!! Dave did burgers on the grill that were A.MAZ.ING!! No recipe was used, but I watched and even helped a bit with mixing the meat. They both had their hand in adding some zesty additions to the meat. Here's what I captured and we will definitely try to recreate the burgers at home. He mixed together:
1 pound spicy ground sausage
3 pounds ground beef
1 can chopped green chilies
a ton of shredded cheese
various seasonings
I've never thought about adding shredded cheese to the beef instead of slices on top. OH MY!!!
And Jason's requested birthday cake was Rice Krispy Treats. Katie dolled them up in two batches. Her additions made them THE best treats EVER!!! She added to the butter:
Heavy cream
Coconut Marshmallows
Toffee bits (as it cooled down)
white chocolate chips
May I just say, "OH! MY!!!! HECK!!!!!"
It was a delightful evening. We enjoyed our time together so much. After taking a few pictures, Jason walked up and handed me to beautiful flowers that just made my day. He really is a sweetheart. Jason is at Scout Camp this week... his first time being away from his parents other than a few sleepovers here and there. He was so excited. We are so thrilled to be a part of his life!
What an outstanding weekend we had! Life is good!
Once I was home from our roadtrip, I was instantly busy preparing for our garage sale. We'd committed to this date with Layne and Julie a few weeks ago. We were all dreading it terribly, but since we'd had a trailer full of stuff for a garage sale for the past month, sitting inside our garage, it was a must! I wanted to reclaim our garage!
We emptied the trailer into the driveway, pulled out and emptied most of the boxes that we've saved since our move in February and were able to free up much of our space! We were ready to call it a night by 9 and ordered pizza for a very late dinner! The kids thought it would be "cool" to sleep out front, so Quayd set up his cot in the utility trailer and the girls pitched their little pup tent in the driveway.
We were up bright and early for the sale...Layne's idea to have it from 7-11. This way, we beat the heat and were done with most of our day left for other fun things! Doug hung signs in the neighborhood, I finished pricing things and the girls helped by baking cookies for the guests and being "Go-fors". Since Quayd had done most of the heavy lifting and carrying, we let him continue to sleep until almost nine. Several people noticed him sleeping and asked how much for the young man sleeping in the trailer. Each time, I told them, "He's not for sale because he's priceless!"
A few yard sale tales...
After the garage sale was cleaned up, we went with Julie and her son (Layne was already off to a swim activity with the Scouts from the ward) to Firehouse for a nice lunch then came home to prepare for our class. The class went well. We enjoy it more and more each week!
While Quayd was at work, we watched the Sandra Bullock/Tom Hanks movie, Extremely Close and Very Loud??? (I think that's the name.) OH MY. What a movie. Very sobering, beautiful story, SO SAD. It was apparently nominated for an Oscar in 2011 and I had never even heard of it. Worth Watching, for sure, but not over and over. It hurts too much.
A productive day. We have our garage back. We have still a few pieces of furniture to sell online. We earned a little extra cash. Sadly, it's not really extra. The transmission on Doug's van went out while I was in Idaho. As Buddy shared, a few months ago, "It's always amazing how the Lord blesses us with what we need, but usually not more than we need." Good wisdom.
Life is good. OH!!! One last thought about garage sales. Layne's analogy.... having a garage sale is like when you have a stomach bug. You ache and you hurt and you just feel yucky. THEN, you throw up and you feel instantly better. Perfect comparison. THE minute it was over, we felt GREAT!!! Have I mentioned how much we love our new friends, Layne and Julie!? They rock! And they make life "even gooder", as Doug would put it! Enough said!
Oh my! What a week. We've not had internet since last Monday, but I didn't realize it was down the entire week because I didn't have time to sit down to use it until I was home on Friday. By the time I was free to realize it was still down, it was yesterday. I called Comcast and their very nice repair guy was here first thing this morning.
ROADTRIP!
Carol and I left Tuesday morning, bright and early and headed up to her and Robert's Central Idaho home. We were without real plans for anything other than gabbing and eating and taking it easy. We had a lovely time together. There were lots of laughs, some tears, more Diet Coke than should be acceptable in any circle, very very little sleep. It was a good time. It was good to be there together, Carol's first time in Idaho since Robert's funeral. I'm so very grateful for our friendship and cherish every minute that we get to spend together, especially alone and uninterrupted time!
A little travelogue...
Monday morning, we headed north and spent most of the day in Pocatello with Carol's daughter, Madi and her daughter, Makayla. I was very excited to go to lunch at our favorite Pocatello eatery, Mama Inez. They have the best shrimp enchiladas I've ever tasted! We shopped and hit a couple of different Sonics and I had my first Costco experience... wowser! Carol introduced me to chocolate and caramel covered macadamia nuts...like Turtles. Oh. MY. Word!!!! Delish!!! It was a good afternoon. That's the most time I've spent with Madi in a couple of years. It's great to see her so happy in her life!
We left Poky and headed to Carol's Idaho home. Of course, we didn't go straight there. We stopped several times... for treats to take home, for dinner, to buy a puzzle and a few games, then at the theater for San Andreas! WOW!!! Talk about an action packed movie! We loved it!
We didn't actually get to the house until well after dark. The home was very warm and ready for the A/C to be turned on. When we turned it on, we quickly realized that it was having a problem. So, we got our jammies on and sat under the ceiling fan to keep cool until we finished our puzzle. Lots of gab! We were quite proud to finish it before bedtime although it was only a 300 piece puzzle. (I've never done such a small puzzle and quite enjoyed being able to race through it like that!)
Tuesday morning, we slept in until about 8:30 and got ready for our big day in Twin Falls. Before leaving town, we went up to the cemetery and visited Robert's grave. {{Deep sigh. Head shaking.}} We went up to Shoshone Falls. This was a place that we'd gone last year when Doug and I spent a few days with Robert and Carol. Last year, there was no water, literally. This year, it was fabulous!
Many of the things that Carol and I did brought back memories and brought up emotions that were painful. Robert's passing is still so new, so devastating. In one way, this trip was a healthy thing. In another, it was quite painful. My heart hurts for her! Heck, my heart hurts for us all! There were so many moments that we both thought, out loud, of the "If onlys" and the "what might have beens". And there were others that we were able to enjoy and laugh. One thing about my friendship with Carol is that we can laugh, no matter what. It was good to be able to laugh, even through the pain.
The falls were breathtaking. We were a little unnerved by the fact that we'd seen San Andreas the night before, so standing near a reservoir reminded us of the movie. Regardless, what a sight! Beautiful!!!
A very nice man offered to take our pics with both of our phones. A huge difference with the phone camera!
That afternoon, we enjoyed a nice lunch at an Italian restaurant, checked out the theater, but there was nothing worth seeing, hit Pier One, did some more shopping for new pajamas and then headed back to her home to make dinner to take to Robert's daughter's home. We had a nice dinner with her and her family, then headed back to Carol's home. We stopped at her nephew, Cam's home to visit and took a fun ride up to the reservoir on the Razor with Cam and his wife. It was a bittersweet ride. We laughed and had a great time, but, again, it was also a very blatant reminder that Robert was not there with us. Just as the sun was setting, we went back to the house for movies, treats and cards and another late night. We started a scary movie but about two minutes into it, we passed and moved on to another. Good times.
The reservoir was beautiful as the sun set.
Wednesday, we were awakened quite early by the air-conditioner repairman. I mean early, as in 7:15! I was so excited for Wednesday! We went to the town where Carol had grown up. We toured her sister, Janet's home, which is so beautiful, it gave me goosebumps! LOVED it! We toured the town with Janet and had a lovely lunch on the patio of a restaurant on the town square, then a fabulous quilt shop! WOWSER!!! Seeing Carol's schools, old friends homes, hearing tales of her youth was so much fun. I love this little town and told her several times that I could live there forever!
That evening, we decided to have a simple night at home... we took a ride to the next valley for some beautiful photos and an hour walk through a cemetery (not Robert's), just enjoying the fascinating headstones. This little valley reminded me of our beautiful Cache Valley, but was barely habituated. It was a piece of heaven on earth, for sure. We ran across this old LDS church that was built in 1928 and used for worship until 1954.
This valley...beautiful!
We also stopped and took a tour of Robert's office, which had at one point, been the old town bank. It was fun to look inside the beautiful antique safe.
After our drive, we went back to the house, made dinner and watched a few movies, including some new to us Doris Day movies. We'd started a new puzzle and I worked on it until 3AM, enjoying our newly repaired air-conditioner. Crazy, I know, to stay up that late. One thing that I am always guilty of is never wanting to go to bed early because there's still time for living! I'll sleep when I'm dead!
As soon as we woke up, we loaded up and headed home. Our drive home was filled with more gab, more treats and a few good laughs. We also started planning our next road trip! (What a blessing to have a husband who encourages me to enjoy life and sees to it that I can!) My time with Carol is always special. I love our friendship. I love our time together. I love her. Right now, it's not all fun and laughs, but it's always good to be together.
Life is good. Hard, but good. I am blessed!
It was a very emotional afternoon for me as I dropped Grace off for her first day of work! It's official... all three of my teens have jobs and are working for a paycheck. I can't believe that this has happened so quickly! Where has the time gone.
Grace came home and told me about her day. She'd lifted heavy things, smiled at cute boys and made two friends. She was very happy! We are proud of her persistence in wanting to have a job.
I am just amazed that I have three kids working! In the past week, I put 220 miles on the Expedition and 13 of them were my personal use. The remainder was taking kids too and from work, which is what I do, pretty much all day...dropping off and picking up, waiting in between. This will fill my summer hours and I am getting lots of reading done while waiting!
Tonight, after her work, the girls and I spent an hour in the hottub gabbing about silly things that had happened to us in school... like walking into the wrong bathroom, getting in trouble from teachers and so on. I love when they open up and tell me silly stories and we can relate on their level when I share my own.
Doug and I did manage to squeeze in a movie between dinner and pick-up and his bedtime. We watched the Best Marigold Hotel something-something... Doug loved it. He called it inspirational. It was a sweet story with the Downton Abbey ladies, which was fun. It is a little slow and definitely a movie for a more mature (as in age) audience. I wouldn't buy it, but I'd watch it again.
Carol has invited me to go up to her Idaho home for a few days and I'm excited for us to have a little get-away together. We have been making all sorts of "We should this and that" kind of plans and set nothing in stone so that we can have a spontaneous time together. I feel a lot of extra calories and Diet Coke, very little sleep and hopefully, we can find a few good laughs along the way. I'm blessed with a husband who's saying, "GO! HAVE FUN!"
Life is good.
I'm exhausted after three nights of less than three hours of sleep. It's been a fun weekend, just having Doug home and getting things done around the house. We ate a lot, laughed a lot, talked a lot and slept very little. He went to bed tonight just after 6!
On Friday night, we had Layne and Julie and their son come over at 10:30PM, to have a fire and make s'mores. We gabbed until 12:30 and just laughed and enjoyed the beautiful evening outdoors. After they left, we cleaned up and Doug and I decided to hottub until almost 1:30. I was pretty wound up still and read a bit to try to get to sleep. I read something disturbing regarding a friend and couldn't stop thinking, praying and worrying about them after that, so sadly, it was 4:59 the last time I looked at the clock. Another restless night! Dang!
Saturday, we spent most of the day preparing for our lesson. The week had been so chaotic that we'd not had a lot of time together to sit down and decide who did what in the lesson. (We both read and study it through the week, but we plan it together at the end of the week.) The class went well that evening. We watch our class walk away and always just hug and express gratitude for their goodness and input! We are loving the class.
Father's Day was quiet but I tried to make it fun for Doug. Breakfast in bed... omelette, bacon, fresh fruit, toast and avocado. For dinner, it was salmon and burgers on the grill, homemade French fries, a veggie tray and cheesecake. Within moments of finishing dinner, Doug spent some time with Liza on facetime and then was in bed.
Highlights of the weekend...
Seriously, a very quiet weekend. We didn't go to Summerfest Arte Fair, which has been tradition. We didn't do any major projects. No big events at all... just a lovely warm summer weekend at home! Life is good. Very very good. It's 11:11 and I'm calling it a night early too! HAPPINESS!!
I'm so thankful to be married to this man, whom I consider to be the greatest man I ever knew! Awesome husband, Awesome Dad, Awesome friend! We are blessed!
I'm still having issues with Typepad. I don't get the problem. It's worked fine for almost ten years and now posting a photo takes longer than ever. When I'm posting them, they are so huge that the entire picture doesn't even fit my screen and when they are published, they are thumbnails. They are communicating with me, which is my favorite thing about Typepad, but what the heck?
The story I told the other night and then lost as I was hitting publish...and tried again last night and lost it again. Third time's the charm? We'll see.
On the morning that we drove to City of Rocks, I'd already had my Route 44 Diet Coke from Sonic and had refilled it with two cans while we drove. (Addict, I know.) Suffice it to say, I needed a pit stop, after two hours of driving. We pulled off the freeway at the Malta, Idaho exit where the only thing we'd seen for at least thirty miles was sagebrush. There was a green roofed gas station that had two llama and a few sheep for petting out front. It seemed like it would be a friendly welcoming place. On the front window was this sign, which made us all laugh out loud:
We all hopped out and went inside. Doug purchased a six dollar quart of oil because he remembered that we didn't check it before leaving, so just in case. He walked back out to the Expedition with the girls. I went straight to the potty and was greeted by this sign:
Lovely. We were another half hour before we would reach the next town.
Meanwhile, Quayd had found a cool wooden pendant that he wanted to purchase for $10. I'd brought my Sonic cup inside and thought I'd freshen it up with a refill. I walked over to the fountain and poured my half full cup of wonderful Sonic pebble ice into the drain. As I poured it, I thought to myself, "Self, you probably should have checked their ice first." I hit the button to refill the ice and it literally took a minute or so to drop six cubes of ice. SIX. I don't drink anything unless the glass is full to the brim with ice, so I decided to pass. I walked up the register with Quayd to pay for his pendant and the clerk/guy said, "How much ice did you get?" I said, "About this much, I think your machine is out of ice," pointing to the bottom two inches of the cup. He said, "That'll be twenty-five cents." I said, "Seriously? You're going to charge me for six ice cubes? The machine is empty." He then boldly announced, his chest puffing up like Superman, "Ice doesn't grow on trees!" I was stunned by his attitude! I laid Quayd's pendant down on the countertop, along with a quarter, turned and said, "And you are rude! Let's go Quayd, he's not getting another penny from us." Really? Over six ice cubes? That pendant would probably have been his biggest sale of the day. No bathrooms, no fountain drinks, no manners!
Quayd cracked me up. For the next hour, he wanted to go back to the place and "let that guy know that he can't speak to my mom like that!" He was so protective of me! It warmed my "feel goods". We spent the next few miles thinking of things that we coulda/woulda/shoulda said.
The funniest thing was that when we told Carol the story, she said that she's stopped there a few times for potty breaks on her way to and from their home in Idaho and their home here in Logan. She said that the bathroom has never been open...not once ever! Seriously, we want to go next time and just walk into the potty there and use it because we are betting that they just don't want to be bothered by customers using their potty, hence their sign.
THEN CLOSE if you don't want to serve your customers. There! That's my rant, tongue in check, but still! Now, it just makes us laugh. As Doug says, "Some people's kids."
a very long post... and I still left out much of the weekend... no editing... sorry. And Typepad still hasn't corrected the issue with the small photos or the format issues. They did say that they are working on it though. Click on any of them to see them larger than a thumbprint size.
It was a long week, full of emotion for us all. Knowing that Robert is free of pain was pretty much the only happy thought that we could have in this whole situation. Seeing Carol and her kids hurt makes my heart hurt. All of our hearts. Being that we were heading north for Robert's memorial services, we decided to try to find some happy things to do as well.
The kids and Doug were able to take off for the weekend and we headed to Idaho. We left Logan and headed north, bright and early. Years ago, when Doug and I first met, he showed me pictures of a trip that his Dad had taken him on, to the City of Rocks National Reserve in central Idaho. He was sixteen at the time. We've talked about if for forty years. Last summer, while we were visiting Robert and Carol, Robert took us on a tour of his ranch and pointed out that City of Rocks was very near and we agreed that we'd take a trip to see it together on one of our next trips. Even though we had spent the whole week adjusting to the thought that "Robert is gone", it really hit me that he is, indeed, gone and we won't be going to City of Rocks together or to Idaho to visit Robert ever again. Again, my heart hurts. Sadness.
But. We did take the kids the day before Robert's services and we did have a good time.
City of Rocks is what Doug calls "a sleeper". People, even people who live in Northern Utah, have never even heard of it, but it's an amazing place for hikers and rock climbers of all experience. The kids were thrilled. We were oohing and aahing in every direction! It really was amazing. Here's some photos of just how awesome it is. Heavenly Father spared nothing when it came to beauty here. From the pix I'd seen of Doug all those years ago, I sort of expected something looking like craters on the moon, but Doug's pix were black and white, and close-ups, so this was a total surprise to me! Although my foot keeps me from hiking and climbing, I was able to get out and take pix of some amazing things while the kids and Doug took off and really enjoyed! I was able to stay in the Expedition and write a letter, read a bit and just enjoy the scenery. Doug took the camera with them and got some fun pix, as well.
They are standing on top of this, one of the smaller rocks:
ZJ found a perfect "recliner" at the edge of a cliff.
Thank heavens for ZOOM!
Quayd has no fear when it comes to the mountains! He loves climbing, every since he was a little boy! Another larger rock.
Grace, always true to her name, loves Dad's extra attention to keep up!
We passed this guy, out in the middle of nowhere, alone on a huuuuuuge rock! A rule in our family is NEVER be alone in the mountains, on even the smallest hike. But, seriously, on a mountain like this? YIKES!!
AMAZING!
This "rock" was phenomenal. It was massive! Below, the next photo shows a guy climbing the tallest section at the left.
You could barely see him as a "dot" but when I zoomed in, I literally was sick to my stomach watching him climb. He's right here on the mountain.
Here's a zoom close-up of the climber. I told Doug, "I really don't want to watch someone die today." It was hard to watch these guys. Quayd thought it looked like something he should be doing right then! Can you say insane?!?!
Quayd did get his share of climbing in, but his was on a few more gentle slopes. Doug and Quayd went off alone for a while an I'm thankful, as I see these pix, that I was not there to watch. Mother Bear... always puts a damper on the wild adventures in life!
Again, Doug took this and I'm glad I didn't see it!
Love this boy!
...and this girl!
And, of course, this silly one! Selfie-queen that she is!
And this man...he's my hero! A silly one, in this pic!
I'm so thankful that their dad is such an adventure lover! Never a dull moment with Doug around!
They loved every minute of it!
This boy! He's truly fearless!
Fearless and determined! He loves to reach a goal!
Here's Quayd, running back after his last climb, to the truck when he heard his dad whistle. They each have a whistle and they come when they hear it. When they were young, they had to be within earshot of the whistle at all times. Now, they venture further, but not when hiking. They had a blast! It was a spectacular experience for us all!
An hour later, we were visiting at Carol and Robert's home for a bit before the first viewing. We left Carol and headed to the nearest city, where we had a hotel reservation. We changed clothes and then, at the last moment, decided that Doug and the kids would stay back at the hotel while I went back to the viewing, thirty miles away. It worked out that we were checked in at the same hotel that Carol's sisters and much family were staying. So, a group of us road back to the church for the viewing and all the kids, and a few men stayed behind.
The viewing was well attending that evening. Carol, Robert's son and daughter were in the line greeting people. After going through the line, I stood in the background alone for quite a bit of the time just watching from a distance. This friend of mine, she's amazing. She is gracious and kind and an example to us all. I'm so thankful for our friendship. At one point, I literally wanted to just scream, "STOP THIS!!! It can't be real!!!" It was so frustrating to know Carol is hurting and to not be able to do a thing to make it better! I hate it! But, she was just wonderful, greeting so many people, as she stood by Robert's casket. My heart hurts. I hated to leave her and go back to the hotel and there was very little sleep for us all that night. My kids adore Aunt Carol. Doug...well, there are no words. She is his sister in his heart, in his mind. He would do anything for her. We were all hurting because we knew that she was hurting.
After thru viewing that night, I returned to Doug and the kids at the hotel. We went out for a late dinner, then back to the room and turned the lights right off as soon as we were ready for bed. As I said, it was a long night. We were up for breakfast before 7, then ready to leave for the funeral by 8:30. Five grown people, especially two teenage girls in a hotel room... we did quite well getting ready so quickly and in peace.
Of course, Zee saw me with the camera and had to be silly.
Robert's funeral was perfect. His life long best friend and a business partner spoke. Also, his bishop, the bishop who was called to serve after Robert, spoke. We laughed, we cried and everyone left wishing that Robert could continue to be with us to make us all laugh with his wit and humor, to be an example of compassion and charm, to be there to share many more years with Carol. He was a good man and it was blatantly evident that he'd impacted many lives and was a man of integrity and influence. He will be greatly missed in that community, in the lives of his family and friends.
Following the procession to the cemetery, we joined everyone for family dinner, which we were invited to stay for. It was a lovely meal for 175 people prepared by the Relief Society. Lovely meal. After we said our goodbyes to Carol and her kids, we caravanned with friends/Carol's niece and her husband, Doug's co-worker/friend heading back, another direction to City of Rocks for a few more hours of climbing on our way home. However, after driving about 40 miles up a switchback winding mountain with steep cliffs that had the girls and I in a panic, the road was closed two miles from the peak!!! We were forced to turn around and return to where we'd began. At that point, we separated and we headed back to Utah, leaving them all to find another way into the City of Rocks.
Our three hour drive from there was a delight. The kids were playing "I spy" and a few other travel games and we ended up playing our own version of "Encore", where someone suggests a word and we all think of song lyrics and have to sing eight words from any song with the word in their eight words, until we are all out of songs from that word. The last person who sang a song gets to choose the new word. We sang to the words "think, wind, rain, blue..." and "love" lasted for over an hour. It was great fun and ZJ blew me away with the oldies that she knows! "I love Pandora, Mom!" Yes, she does!
As we were approaching Snowville, Doug and I decided to call his sister in Malad, ID and check in on her. She'd had a hip replacement two weeks ago. She insisted, "Please, come and visit!" and we were thrilled for the invite. We turned and headed up this old country side road across a mountain to Malad. It was the first time that Doug and I have been on that road since living on the ranch the summer we were married. We'd driven it weekly that first summer.
As we were heading down to pass on the Malad side of the summit, we were still singing and laughing, when we all noticed a truck off in the far, far distance. It was heading our direction in our lane!!! As we got closer, it was obvious that the guy was not moving. Doug slowed down. The truck got closer. Doug came to an almost complete stop. The guy still was barreling toward us. He was close enough for us to see his face and the beer bottle in his hand as he drank from it, still completely in our lane coming at full speed toward us. Doug realized that he wasn't moving and he wasn't slowing down and he hit the gas and pulled us over into the gravelly berm on our side of the road. (For years, Doug has always told me that if anyone is ever coming at you head on, you never cross the lane of traffic because they will eventually see you and they will try to correct by pulling back into their lane, then you will hit them head on anyway.) He did exactly as he has always instructed me. He was off the side of the road, the guy passed us right where we had been, literally a split second before, taking another drink from his bottle. Our adrenaline was up! Mine is up just reliving the experience! The kids were freaking out! I was freaking out! Doug was calm and pulled back onto the road and drove on. He was having the same adrenaline rush, but he managed to be in control for our sakes, as usual.
He suggested that I call 911, but we both wondered if we would even have access to 911 that far out. The dispatch responder was just as intense as I was and assured me that there was an officer already heading that way from a previous call and informed us that one from the next county was coming from the other side of the mountain. I called the police department tonight, to ask if they'd got the drunk driver. He is in jail as I type, two days later. Thankfully, he did not harm anyone on the road. Thankfully, our family was unharmed and able to return home in peace and safety, just as we had prayed to do before we'd left. Prayers answered.
It was a wonderful weekend. Heartbreaking. Wonderful. Spiritual. Uplifting. Heartbreaking. Robert's life was celebrated in a way that would have pleased him. I'll share a bit more about his service tomorrow. He was/is a good man. We were blessed this weekend with uplifting experiences, safety, good memories. Life is good.
City of Rocks National Reserve, Idaho
A few pix from the past week...
I love this picture of one of my Sleeping Beauties! The girls are best friends. I mean, best friends. They both have their beautiful bedrooms and I think that in the four months we have been in our home, they have slept in separate rooms about three times. So, while Grace was in Arizona, ZJ was not happy to sleep alone. My favorite thing was having ZJ crawl into bed with me after her dad went to work. I love this girl and I love our relationship.
Watching ZJ wait for Grace's plane was a sweet moment. We were able to get a "family pass" to the gate because Grace is a minor passenger. We barely arrived at the gate before the plane landed.
When Grace got off the plane and came around the corner of the ramp, we all saw each other and she started running toward us. ZJ insisted, "I get the first hug!" They were instantly giggling! We were not even a few feet from the gate before Grace was giving ZJ gifts.
They talked all they way home. Laughing, singing, telling each other stories of their week apart. there ere several times I heard them comment about being each other's best friend! Music to this mother's ears!
At 1AM, I was sending them a few texts to shhhhhh! Normally, everyone turns in their phones at 9:30. Where we didn't even get home until 11 and they were gabbing up a storm, I was not worried about them bothering with their phones.
With all that has happened recently, with Robert's passing, with the finality of Zaylee's situation and a few other things unmentionable at the moment, having my girls together again and feeling love and support of family and friends has been a blessing. Sometimes, even often, life is harder than we could ever dream, but with every fiber of my being, I can say, I know that with each challenge comes something of greater benefit... we may not see it right now, but we will... in time. Life is good.
I've not blogged for a few days because there was really nothing that I could say. No words to describe this experience. Today, my life-long best friend/sister said good-bye to her wonderful husband of one year, as he died from the same exact thing, a brain tumor, that took her first husband thirteen years ago.
Life is not fair and we don't get to pick our challenges, I realize. And I'm a firm believer that our challenges make us stronger. But. This! This. I do not understand. It's devastating. For Carol. For her kids. For all who knew and loved this great man...one of the most remarkable men I've ever met and loved. We all feel as though we've lost a piece of our hearts.
I have such a strong knowledge of, and faith in, the Plan of Salvation... an understanding that death is not the end...that there is much more after our mortal life... that there are eternal families and bonds. That, I do not question. I could completely envision a smiling Robert, free of pain, passing through the veil between mortality and eternity today... a joyful reunion with his first wife, with Carol's first husband (who I'm certain was there to greet Robert), with his parents and siblings who've gone before him. Although, I'm certain that Robert was heartbroken to leave Carol after such a short time together, this had to have been a celebration for them all.
BUT, in spite of the joyful reunions on the other side of the veil, there are so many things that are wrong about this situation on this side. So many! I can't even go there. I won't. I can't.
One other thing that really hit me hard tonight, as we drove home from picking Grace up at the airport in SLC... When I say that Carol is my sister, I mean it. We have no common blood. I realize that. BUT. I was thinking about my relationship with Carol. I had to be gone this afternoon to welcome Grace home and was not able to be there with Carol, although we did keep in touch by text and phone. It just about killed me.
Driving home at 10:30 tonight, I thought about my relationship with Carol and with Denise. They are truly my sisters. I was thinking about how I refer to each of them as "my best friend". I love these two women like sisters. They know each other. They are as different as night and day. But, I love them both more than life itself. They are the sisters I never had. If someone asked me to choose one over the other, I could no sooner do that than Carol could choose one of her four sisters or Denise could choose one of her two. Doug and I consider them, every bit as much family, as we do any of our blood family. For almost thirty years, we have loved like family.
That being said, Doug and I both feel as though we've lost a brother today. We hurt more deeply than words can say for Carol and her kids. Our hearts ache. Our kids' hearts hurt. We held each other a little tighter because we are together, Doug and I and the kids, tonight. It was a relief to have Grace in my arms again. I sighed a deep sigh as we drove back into the valley. Home. I had tears as Quayd greeted us when we walked in and hugged me for a long moment. ZJ has been my rock. Doug and I held each other a little longer before he crawled into bed, three hours later than usual.
I am and have been so so blessed with so many wonderful people in my life, on this side and the other side of the veil. I'm thankful that Carol is surrounded by her amazing family and that we consider each other family, as well. I'm thankful for the short time that Robert was in our life. He made an impact that will last forever. Forever. His wit, his laugh, his humor, his smile, his eyes will be with us.
Another thought that I've had many times today, was of my dear friend, Toni, mother of six, who left this earth-life far too soon in a tragic car accident, almost twenty years ago. Rarely a day goes by that her influence does not still touch me, influence me, make me who I am today. Robert will be the same. He has become a part of our lives forever. And for that, I can say, on this devastatingly heartbreaking day... life is good. Enough said.
I should have posted these pix last week on the day that I shared our Zaylee news. Typepad has not yet responded, so I expect that the pix will be small. I'm getting to the bottom of the problem, however. Anyway, it's been an amazing school year. This year brought more change than any before because of the move in the middle of everything else. We're all adjusting and doing great though! I asked Quayd last week to tell me how he feels about the house on a scale of 1 -10, 10 being the best and he said 9! So, we're adjusting well! Now to begin our first summer in Logan. Here's the beginning of school and end of school pix.
Quayd's first day of his Junior year:
Last day. He's officially a Senior in High School! HOW did this happen!?!? This year, he's worked hard, saving money for his mission, become a member of the Thespians and really developed his love of acting and has finally expressed an interest in driving. One thing that I love about Quayd is his respect of girls. He doesn't do the "She's hot!" thing. It's always "She has the most beautiful eyes!" He's a gentleman. I love that about this boy!
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Grace's first day of her Sophomore Year:
Grace has had a great sophomore year. She has loved school and worked hard to make good grades. She started dating and had her first "boyfriend". She's made the performance group at her school and will be singing and dancing as a Junior next year! She's also been working hard on her Young Womens goals. Beautiful inside and out! One thing I love about Grace is that she takes listening to the Spirit very seriously. When she's prompted, she acts. I love that!
ZJ's first day of eight grade: (Oh, those glasses! So glad that fad didn't last long!)
ZJ has developed into a lovely young woman this year. She's my right arm! She's worked as hard (or harder) on our move and getting the new home together. She was Miss Social at school all year. ZJ organizes and plans and follows through and she keeps us laughing a lot! She's excited to be a Freshman this year and says, "It's time to get serious about grades." When she puts her mind to something, it happens! One thing that I love about ZJ is her humor. She makes me laugh most when she asks for something and says, very quickly, "I'll be your best friend!" and if you ask her to do something that she doesn't like doing or tell her something she didn't want to hear, it's "That hurts my feelgoods."
I could not love these kids any more! They are amazing and wonderful! We're looking forward to a summer of sun, fun, trips to the ranch, gatherings with friends and making some memories!
Life is good!
again... something is totally wrong with the format. It's time to contact Typepad.
Aylabelle and I, just before they left! The only pix I got of the two of us this visit. Sadness. Oh how I love this baby and she's barely a baby anymore! Talking up a storm! My favorite word she says, besides "Grammie" is "chocwat!" She loves her chocolate!
My favorite thing... seeing Doug watch Aylabelle. Truly, that smile of his when she's around! His eyes light up when he hears her name!
Here's Grace and Aylabelle before take-off to Arizona! Grace was so thrilled! Her text all so far have been just a delight to read!
Her text crack me up! She's texted pix of what she's eating. Tonight, a text that asked me to guess how hot it was in Arizona. Then she texted this: So, I am making cookies and when I was done with the batter, I put the whit chocolate chips in and blended it for a small while... and guess what? The chocolate chips melted inside the cookie dough. So we are having white chocolate cookies tonight. It was supposed to be white chocolate chip cookies with white chocolate chips but these were the results:
This one cracked me up. It's Liza dragging Grace away from me before they left for the airport! I love that Liza is such an amazing sister!
I'm feeling much better tonight. Not as much BobbleHead. Happiness! Denise and I even went to Buffalo Wild Wings for lunch on their patio. The weather has been perfect! It actually feels like summer has arrived! Happiness!!!
Life is good!
Doug and I postponed teaching our family class until next weekend this past weekend because of Liza and Buddy's visit. We had less than 48 hours to spend together, so we wanted to make every minute count. They arrived at about two on Saturday. After all week with Buddy's family, celebrating his sister's graduation and a family reunion, we were so excited for our weekend time with them. Liza and I made a quick run to Sam's Club for some odds and ends, then we came home and gathered around the table for cards! We were so excited to finally have some time together!
While we were on round four or five of Scum, I got up to get something from the cupboard in the utility room. Doug came in too for some reason and I don't remember much after that. I fainted. Then, I got up and fainted again. The second time, I didn't come back up. The room was spinning and everything was coming at me. Then, truly the next couple of hours is a blur. Julie, our neighbor, is a nurse. Someone ran and got Julie who did a little accessment and insisted that I needed to go to the hospital, in case what was happening was a mini-stroke. I don't remember the blessing from Doug and Buddy, I don't remember being rushed into the ER or getting the IV in the ER. I don't remember a CT -scan which we've titled, Cancer Transmitting Scan. (I do remember that.) I also do remember them trying to close a box over my face before an MRI and freaking out over that, hence, a double dose of something that knocked me out. I don't remember coming home at all or crawling into bed. The next thing I do remember is waking up Sunday morning. Apparently,and thankfully, I did not have a stroke, mini or not. But, I have a very strange case of vertigo. How or why, again, I don't know. Now, two days later, everything is not coming at me in circles, but I am still leaning and feel like I have "bobblehead". And sadly, ZJ and I were left alone at home with the Gilmore girls while Doug took the rest of the family to the airport to send Grace, Liza, Buddy and Aylabelle off to Arizona! One of the strangest things I've ever experienced! I'm still alive though!
Yesterday, Layne and Julie came over with treats and my wonderful visiting teacher dropped by with treats, not even knowing what was happening. Doug and the family have kept on top of everything for me. I've spent a lot of time reclining in the lazy boy which is now in the den. Go figure!? I get two days with Liza and I spend it lying down. grrrr. BUT, it's been great to visit with her and watch Aylabelle interact with the kids. She talks so much! Love that girl!
This morning, I took it easy while Liza and Buddy pack and prepare to go. Buddy also finished the tile that needed replacement in the kids bathroom! HAPPINESS! One more check off the list!
We have been trying the last three visits to have a girlie girl time. We managed to fit it in this morning. Grace and ZJ tried on Liza's wedding gown. It brought tears to mine and Liza's eyes. Liza pointed out that Quayd was only one year from his mission and Grace could very easily be wearing a wedding gown of her own before he come home! NOOOOOOOO! Not yet! Hard to imagine!
It's been a good weekend, in spite of it all. Buddy kept the grill going. The girls and I made time this morning to do something that we've been trying to do for Liza's last few visits. We had a little wedding fashion show with Liza's wedding dress. It was a fun hour. I enjoyed watching the girls faces as they put the dress on and how they came to life and became more confident the longer they wore it. Here's my faves.
ZJ looked adorable! It was too fun!
Of course, we can't take a photo of Zeej without her hamming it up a little!
Grace looked darling, as well. She was actually nervous in the beginning.
I love to watch these girls sister relationships! I also love talking about the temple with the girls! It was a great morning!
Quayd and Doug drove them down. Grace was so excited! This is her first flight that she's old enough to remember. She was glowing with excitement. These flight tickets were her birthday gift in January, but with the move and all, it's taken until now to find the right time and it was perfect for Liza to be with her the first time on a plane as a "big person". They both texted me all night and sent lots of fun pix, which I'll post tomorrow. It's after eleven and I'm exhausted! Suffice it to say, Grace is loving her vacation already!
Life is good... a bit spinny and leany, but good!
Quayd ~ first day of school, Junior year! I can not believe he's officially a senior!
Last day of his Junior year! Taller! More confident! Better looking every day!
Grace ~ first day of her sophomore year!
last day ~ She's as lovely as ever!
First day of eight grade! Thankfully, the glasses were fake and the trend is over!
Last day ~ She's had quite a year, grown a ton in spirit and personality!
It's been a great year! Bring on summer vacation! Life is good!
I'm a 55 year old LDS wife, mother of six and lover of life! I teach, I write, I throw a party for every reason I can think of. I try to make every moment count!
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