Update

It is hard to get updated information from the Internet about the fire.  I think about 9,000 people have been evacuated and the fire gets semi-contained and the winds change directions.  Last count, I heard over 4,000 acres have burned, no homes, no one hurt.  Our family is still safely sleeping here and kiddos are in the living room or I'd see if the t.v. has better numbers.  Couldn't sleep with bedroom windows open last night with all the smoke in the air.  That will be a major issue for all these people going home- smoke damage.  It is a dry, dry season ....I read that we've had 400 fires (Utah) this year- like 380 of them people started (through careless actions.)


I have other company coming tonight so today will be crazy getting beds changed and get back on track for things for the reunion.  Lots to do.  David took his scouts camping last night at Deer creek so yesterday afternoon was also crazy trying to get him ready and off.  They were suppose to go water skiing but I convinced David he needed to switch to tube riding.  David didn't want to do tubes since so many accidents happen with them.  I said, "Well, you don't have to drive so fast and crazy with tube riders!"...to which he replied, "But then it isn't any fun...."

Boys!

Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.  Albert Einstein

Evacuation

Ryan and family just called and are being evacuated because of a huge fire.  200 plus homes have been evacuated so far.  Our skies (about 20 miles away) are lightly smokie and the light is orangie/red.  When Ryan called, he said, "What should we take???" 

It is an interesting question that we should each ask ourselves before the fire.  What is most precious to you....besides family and pets.   Do you know where those things are.  I told him to hurry and run through his home with a video just to have a record of possessions (obviously you don't do that if there isn't time.) 

I would grab my computer hard drives (since my documents and pictures are stored there)....my scriptures for sure.  Our 72 hour packs.  Blankets and water in addition.

I'm so glad my kiddos have "here" to come to.  Worry about those without family or friends nearby.  Their local high school is an evacuation center...and some will just wait it out until they are free to go back home.

(The fire was started by people out target shooting.)


Truly, life happens in a second!




Fire and gunpowder do not sleep together. ~Proverb

Stepping Stones

Summertime has hit our home with full force.  I have the kiddos a lot and so am trying to think of activities to do to keep us all busy.  We are blessed to have a pool (albeit our "Tijuana" pool...) and the kids love to swim, swim, swim.  I have suits in all sizes in case anyone forgets and usually have them in a bin and I always am being asked to find a suit.  I found these darling hangers at Gardner Mill (The Quilt Shop) and knew they would be perfect as a permanent home for extra suits.  They have already been put to use!

Yesterday in THE HEAT OF THE DAY (what was I thinking???)- we started our stepping stone creations.  The kiddos loved designing their own stone...whether with hands prints or the myriad of jewel stones we picked out the other day.

Chubba wubba totally freaked when I tried to take a foot print (hand didn't work either) so Gracie made this stone for him (picture sideways- it's a "P")

I took them out of the molds today and I think they look great.  Half the kiddos done, more to come.

Most of what you will create is for your enrichment or is a stepping stone to other better, more insightful work.  Maybe once or twice in a lifetime you will be recognized with the kudos of the public, so in the meantime, create for yourself.  Don Hahn

Shortcuts

Voting

Just to remind everyone to vote in Primaries next Tuesday.  I'll be gone next Tuesday and found out if you live in my area (Sandy) you can vote early until Friday (sorry I don't know if that includes Friday) at the Sandy Senior Center on 13th East and 9400 S.

I'm encouraging people to vote for Mark Crockett for County Mayor.  Friends and neighbors have worked with both candidates (Winder is the other) and totally think Mark is the better one suited for the job.  Both are good guys.....but they think Mark is the one to get the job done.  (this is for the Republican Primary)

Injured

Elaine forwarded me a picture of Roger's leg when they got home.  I still can't believe the injuries (all taken in stride and with much laughter and much harassing.)

It's a job to get things put away from a long trip and I'm almost there....but ready to start packing for another trip to Bear Lake next week.  It is my mother's family reunion that we hold there (Blue Water Resort)...and I've been holding my breath about it not knowing whether or not my mom and my dad would both be healthy enough to make the trip.  My dad for some reason wants to drive there with my brother.....a two-day trip as opposed to a few hours on a plane and then a 3 hour ride....but who cares.....I just can't believe we'll all get to see them.  My brother and his wife Cher and their two married kids and their kids are coming for the first time which means that all my kids/ families will be there as well. (well, except for a few strays.)  My closest/favorite cousin from Mom's side, Deanna, will be coming here for the weekend (from Arizona) before we go.  I told her I'd have her chocolates ready on the pillow.  We have awesome Idaho cousins that buy, haul, and prepare all the food for the reunion- but a couple of us chip in with the salads.  I've got 3 giant salads I'm making (unless I change my mind- any suggestions for reunion friendly?)- plus a couple of meals for lunch for our whole gang since lunch isn't included.  The salads I'm doing are:  spinach salad with bacon, Swiss cheese, mandarin oranges and poppy seed dressing.  Grape salad with cream cheese/sour cream and brown sugar and pecans.  Salt Lake Pasta salad with cheese-stuffed tortellini, olives, artichokes, kidney and garbanzo, salami, tomatoes and avocado.  Love them all.  The lunch meals for our family (about 30) are lettuce wraps, sandwiches for whoever, taco salad.  I'm so excited but there is one thing I'm not excited about.....




Sunday, Travis and Tenillie invited us for dinner for Father's Day after church.  Travis grilled some Korean ribs and Tenille made a great meal.  Nash, their (and mine) new 5-year old is hyper to say the least.  Watching him is totally like watching Travis at that age.  He needs "attention" and "action" non-stop and wants it now!!!  He was suppose to get something upstairs and didn't want to do it...until I said I'd go with him.  First he runs from one room to another on his way and dives into the sofa.  I did that as well. (Trying to show him I am a fun grandma....)  Then he had to high-tail it up the stairs on all fours.  I followed along.  He thought it was hysterical.  We get to his room and he climbs up on the dresser and jumps off ....and I knew I was out of his league.  But I COULD ride back down the steep staircase on my bum.  I grew up doing that!


Can I just say, "OUCH!"  Followed by many more OUCH'S and DONUTS!!!!!  I totally bruised my tailbone and I am hobbling to say the least.   To "be" is fine...but sitting and especially the up and down about puts me through the ceiling.  I might have to get a donut for the car ride to the reunion.


Almost 100 always has its thrills.....


Wisdom doesn't necessarily come with age. Sometimes age just shows up all by itself. ~Tom Wilson

Boat On

Sunday when I taught Sunday School, I put these quotes up on the board since I began my lesson telling about just returning from Lake Powell.

When the tides of life turn against you and the current upsets your boat, don't waste those tears on what might have been, just lie on your back and float.

　
　

Only the guy who is rowing doesn't have time to rock the boat. Jean-Paul Sartre

　

Should you find yourself in a chronically leaking boat, energy devoted to changing vessels is likely to be more productive than energy devoted to patching leaks.  Warren Buffett  
　

　
O God, thy sea is so great, and my boat is so small.


"Nodding the head does not row the boat" Irish Sayings quotes

　

We are the boat, we are the sea, I sail in you, you sail in me"  Lorre Wyatt


and then I found this quote that just made me laugh!-

"Marge! Look at all this great stuff I found at the Marina. It was just sitting in some guy's boat!"      Dan Castellaneta quotes  

We Are Not Found Wanting

We got home from Lake Powell in the wee hours Sunday morning exhausted then I had to get up early to prepare my Sunday School lesson (where I used to take at least 10 hours to prepare a lesson, I am now comfortable with 4-5)  I had been reading and thinking about the lesson all week at Powell and discussing it with my friends but I still wasn't ready...and although I was sooooo tired Sunday morning, I became so filled. I love the Lord.  Love the Sabbath.  Here is one of my favorite quotes from the lesson:

Alma 5:29

Jeffrey R. Holland said: we are bombarded with the message that on the world’s scale of things, we have been weighted in the balance of found wanting. (Daniel 5:27) But God does not work this way....

I testify that no one of us is less treasured or cherished of god than another. I testify that He loves each of us-insecurities, anxieties, self-image, and all. He doesn’t measure our talents or our looks. He doesn’t measure our professions or our possessions. He cheers on every runner, calling out that the race is against sin, not against each other. I know that if we will be faithful, there is a perfectly tailored robe of righteousness ready and waiting for everyone..."robes...made white in the blood of the Lamb. May we encourage each other in our effort to win that prize.

Our Heaven on Earth

We may have all come on different ships, but we're in the same boat now.  Martin Luther King

We got back yesterday from our wonderful Lake Powell trip.  What can I say, it is our favorite place on earth.  I'm usually a picture-taker (although a terrible one...) but instead of taking pictures like this....

 or this.....(Ben actually took this beautiful night time picture a few years ago)

 or this,

the picture below is actually the only picture I took this year.  Cookies.  But just not your average cookies.

Two years ago (the last friend trip to Powell.  Last year was family only)  Valene made these cookies for dessert for a meal.  They disappeared.  Not just the cookies but the Tupperware container they were in as well.  It drove her crazy wondering where they went to.

As we were unpacking the boat, lo and behold, the container of cookies was found in a compartment of the ski boat!  The ski boat we used last year including a trip to Powell with the kiddos!  And not only that, they looked perfectly fine.  Which is why Penny fed one to an unsuspecting Tom.  Mean!

Our trip with friends was perfect.  Well, almost. David and a couple of the guys left on Monday.  Two and a half hours late.  Then a blow out on the boat trailor before they were even out of town.  Then, we're getting old that everything we do, someone gets hurt.  First of all there is Joe.  Not his fault that he got hit by a falling tree a year ago and has permanent injuries.  He's usually the guy climbing the highest bluff and swimming across the channel.  So this was a little hard on him.  But Roger pulled his hamstring the first water ski of the trip.  He actually heard it pop.  He was couch-ridden for a couple of days but we made him get back up on the horse.  It actually helped his leg when Elaine threw him off the back of the SeaDoo they were riding (we can't just ride SeaDoo's...you have to go so fast and turn so quickly you lose your passenger.).....kind of stretched it out.  Then Tom got his foot either broken or a horrible sprain (again, flying off the SeaDoo but he didn't get any sympathy since he was DRIVING BY HIMSELF!)  He was limping around with a swollen and black and blue foot.  Roger was black and blue from his kneecap to  (as Forrest Gump would say) "his buttocks."  Then funny Kathy did something to hurt her ribs.  Greg ran the SeaDoo's into the houseboat twice (remember when he ran one up and on our ski boat a few years ago.)  We just shake our heads...but hey, it's his brand new SeaDoo's...he can ruin them if he wants to......

We ate wonderful meals and then ate some more.  We had enough couples that I only had to prepare one meal....David's traditional steak dinner we always have on the last night and pina coladas to celebrate his birthday.  ANOTHER BIRTHDAY!  As Roger so kindly pointed out, David is now older than dirt....  (just so you know, even though David's thumb is still in its brace, he skied and knee boarded with all his tricks.  He just amazes us.)  David and I took a tube ride together which was Valene's delight.

We laughed until we hurt.  We played games in between.  We all came home brown and sun-drained and yet so filled.  David can't leave the lake without "one more ski" "one more time" so we always drag ourselves away at the last possible moment.  I told David earlier I didn't want to get home at midnight anymore.  We didn't.  We got home at 2:30 a.m.!

Those going:  Roger and Elaine Christensen, Joe and Brendalyn Baer, Greg and Kathy Wilson, Tom and Penny Gwilliam, George and Valene Cook, us and Aunt Pat.  Aunt Pat has gone so many times with our friends, they are her friends now as well.  She keeps us all moving and exploring and cleaning.  We'd fall apart without her.

Kirk and Cathy Olsen, our BFF's, couldn't go at the last minute.  Kirk had big-time work deals that he had to deal with and then we had an unfortunate death in our Ward, that Cathy felt she needed to stay here and help with the family and funeral. (She's our Relief Society president)  We missed them terribly but that is where they needed to be.

We laughed so hard over so many things, I can't even remember them at the moment.  Except funny Kathy's faux paux in Africa.  Kathy of course didn't write and tell us this but Greg shared how when they were going on a safari, Kathy with wide-eyed amazement started going crazy about seeing a "5-legged" elephant.  She was squealing and wanted to know everything about it....until the guide finally stopped laughing and told her it wasn't a 5th leg.  "Well, it sure is," Kathy exclaimed, "it's dragging on the ground....."

Oh, how I've missed that girl! (and it wasn't the elephant's trunk....)


 A lot of people ask me if I were shipwrecked, and could only have one book, what would it be? I always say 'How to Build a Boat”
Stephen Wright

Just thoughts

Life is like laundry.  You sort it one load at a time.

Weekend- nothing too exciting this weekend.  David has been on a cattle drive for the past few days and got home Friday in order for his hand (thumb) therapy appointment.  I've been battling the laundry (oh, how I get sick of that...)  I have washed, in addition to 4 loads of laundry (plus folded a couple more)....1 quarter, 2 dimes, a huge safety pin (not sure where that came from) and a pair of the kiddo's swim goggles.  I am so bad at laundry.  Even after all these years.....


Funny Quote- "And I find chopsticks frankly distressing. Am I alone in thinking it odd that a people ingenious enough to invent paper, gunpowder, kites and any number of other useful objects, and who have a noble history extending back 3,000 years haven't yet worked out that a pair of knitting needles is no way to capture food?" ~Bill Bryson


Reflection- This week I had an email that was in my junk mail (It is good to periodically check those because good stuff gets put in there.  I guess it doesn't like my funky friends email monikers!)  It began as a "I know this may seem out of the blue but I want you to know I've had a crush on you forever..."


Okay.  Enough already.  Pretty sure this wasn't legit since I'm almost 100.  But it did cause me to ponder.  So many people give up what they want most for what they want at the minute.   How tempting to click on that email (which I'm sure was a virus) in the hopes of.....what?  Something, exciting?  And instead, disaster occurs. I've been thinking (and watching) about Facebook and  texting and other social media....that allows instant connection (in a seemingly innocent way...) with people from your past or people you might not even really know.  People that would never pick up the phone and call an old flame....feel fine about texting or facebooking. I wonder when I see "old date pictures" how the now spouses feel?  I know from camping, when you put a log on the fire, it increases the flame. 

Well, actually, this email that I got "did" remind me of a phone call I received.  I was 30 years old.  I was really heavy and out of shape and feeling like a whale and could hardly breathe and had 3 little kids running around, brains scattered on the ceiling, laundry growing in mounds, husband usually out of town.  And the phone rang.  It was a college boyfriend.  I hadn't seen or spoken to him since long before I was married.
He was just calling.  To see how I was.  To say he had never gotten over me. And wondering how I was and was thinking that maybe I was divorced and needed help, needed him....
I looked at the chaos of my life......and then started to laugh.  I could hardly answer him back.  Finally, through my laughter I said, "You have NO IDEA the lift you just gave this 9-month pregnant woman!"


What's cookin'-  I've been cooking up a storm (I know, I'm always cooking)...hoping to share some new good recipes.  I've tried several Pinterest recipes....none that I was jumping up and down about.  David and I love pudding cake and so a warm lemon pudding cake recipe caught my eye.  That it was made with a cake mix should have been a warning. And lemon pudding.  Actually, if you like warm cake topped (or bottomed) with warm lemon pudding, this would work for you.  Us?  Not so much.  Then I made the Alfredo sauce from Olive Garden's own site.  Not a favorite as well.  Too many eggs and my fresh grated cheese made it grainy.

Today is a crazy day trying to finish up odds and ends for Lake Powell.  LAKE POWELL!!!!  One of our favorite places on earth.  I have my pina colada slush in the freezer ready to party.  David's getting the boat de-winterized and hopefully working.  Wilson's had a glitch with their Excursion so I've had to reorganize people and  cars going down.  Yay.  Yay.  Yay.

I have a couple of grape vines to plant today ... not that we need more grape vines but I have matching arbors in the back yard and one side of one arbor keeps dying.  If these don't take, then I'm done there!  Have to pick up some Euro shams for my new bedroom quilt.  I'm having my sewing gal do a dust ruffle and more coordinating pillows.  I'm excited about this project.  One dance recital today.  Pick up a couple new life jackets. Deliver a birthday gift. Buy a few more groceries. Family coming over to swim.  Prepare a lesson for Sunday School tomorrow.  Get my MIL off to Logan.  Then bring on the fun!

Those that say you can't take it with you never saw a car packed for a vacation trip.

June Bucket- Sheron's Home con't

 For Bucket, on Tuesday, Sheron Fitch hosted.  She invited Charity Lighten, from www.wholefoodmommies.com, to come and speak to us about healthy eating, plant-based foods.  She made a wonderful bean salad, a vegetable curry over quinoa and a chocolate mousse....which I can't tell you what was in it since most of you would say ick.  But it REALLY was delicious...and I'll post the recipe on the cooking blog.

A highlight of Bucket was touring Sheron's yard.  I've decided it is one of my favorite yards ever. It isn't that big but every inch of it is well thought out and beautifully designed.  It really should be in a magazine.  Everything about it is inviting.

Sheron's MIL recently passed away and the neighbors gave the Fitchs' a tree.  Sheron went to Walmart where they do dog tags...and had this sweet heart engraved "in memory of" to hang in the tree. What a great idea.  You could even hang words like faith or hope and Be Still...in your trees.  My mind is clicking.....

Loved these planter boxes hanging outside Sheron's door.  Enchanting.  (Sheron, if you are reading this, please comment and leave the website where you ordered them.  Thanx!)

The saddest part of Bucket was that we really didn't really have time to say goodbye to Karlin.  This picture isn't a happy picture because we were having a teary farewell since Karlin and her family are leaving to Maryland where Karlin's husband will served for 3 years as a mission president.  It is a very happy/sad time.  Karlin is one of my friends that I went to France with.  She is a most amazing woman and I'm going to miss her insight and optimistic thoughts.

Optimist: someone who figures that taking a step backward after taking a step forward is not a disaster, it's a cha-cha. ~Robert Brault

Cottage Love

Tuesday was Bucket Luncheon at Sheron's.  I mentioned last year that they took an old shed and redid it inside and out and made Sheron a cottage retreat.  We got to tour the cottage and I fell instantly in love.  Every single square inch of this place is personal, serene, lovely, perfect.  Each piece has a story, from the pillows she has made from older fabrics to the arched wood they gathered and bent for the dried flower wreath to an old drawer (5th picture) from her grandmother's home that she uses for a wall cupboard.  Lovely.  Lovely.  Lovely.

Just as there comes a warm sunbeam into every cottage window, so comes a love

-born of God's care for every need.  Nathaniel Hawthorne

  

The Sky is Falling

If I could stand in an open airplane doorway two-and-a-half miles above the ground and will myself to step into empty space, then I could do anything.

DAVE STEIN, How Winners Sell

Brandi made up a bucket list for healing during the past two years.  Hiking Zions- check.  California/Disneyland trip- check.  Skydiving....

She started talking at work.  Soon they were all talking.  Soon they were all working out and working toward their goal of skydiving together.

When my youngest, Tanner (father of Chubba Wubba) heard his sister was going, he was NOT going to be left out.

Then a couple of patients at their work facility wanted to come and watch.  We  drove all the way to Ogden. (about an hour or more from here.)

The weather was hot and perfect.  Adrenaline was running high.  The workers commorady was intense.  Brandi was also jumping with a "friendaboy (cause we can't say boyfriend!)  I couldn't believe David wasn't signing up.  Of course his story is that he's already been there, done that.  His first semester of school was at Utah State.  He and a buddy immediately joined the skydiving club, forged their parent's signature....and David's first ride up in a plane, he jumped out.  Wow!  He got a few jumps in before the plane eventually crashed in the Heber Reservoir and that was the end of that club.

There were so many from work, the plane had to go up 3 times, with 4 or 5 in each one.  It was amazing to watch.

Before Tanner was getting ready, he wanted lots of goodbye kisses with his family.  You know, in case they were goodbye kisses.

Brandi was so excited, she could hardly stand it.

Tanner couldn't stop grinning.

Pictures afterwards included the awesome work crew plus a few of the patients that came to watch.  Talk about a bonding experience.  Work on Monday will be full of stories, I'm sure!

They lived to tell about it and are ready to go again!

If riding in an airplane is flying, then riding in a boat is swimming.  If you want to experience the element, then get out of the vehicle!