24th Weekend

Last week was our State's Days of 47 holiday.  We didn't do much- but we did attend the rodeo at the Vivant Center with Kirk and Cathy.  Always a great time.  Good rodeo.  Only our second this year (we also hit the West Jordan Rodeo a few weeks ago with Brendalyn and Joe.  Hot tamale!)


On Sunday, I taught in Relief Society from the Conference talk "Rufuge From the Storm."  Since we are in the middle of a huge service project for those here in Salt Lake- it was awesome to prepare and discuss this issue.  Here are some quotes I loved:

We must be careful that news of the refugees’ plight does not somehow become commonplace when the initial shock wears off and yet the wars continue and the families keep coming. Millions of refugees worldwide, whose stories no longer make the news, are still in desperate need of help.

If you are asking, “What can I do?” let us first remember that we should not serve at the expense of our families and other responsibilities, nor should we expect our leaders to organize projects for us. But as youth, men, women, and families, we can join in this great humanitarian endeavor.

Being a refugee may be a defining moment in the lives of those who are refugees, but being a refugee does not define them. This moment does not define them, but our response will help define us.

Last week in the newspaper was a delightful article about someone heading up a float representing the refugees in the Days of 47 Parade.  Ten countries (some I had never heard of) were represented- with colorful dress and dance.  Most had never heard of a parade and floats but were excited to be included in this Utah event-their new home.  Zion's Bank funded the float and also purchased tickets for refugees to attend the rodeo opening night.  Again- clueless about what a rodeo was.  One said, "Is it like the running of the bulls?  Will we need to run?"

Happy to say no animals charged us/them. 

Then on the actual holiday- I had scheduled a luncheon with my two writing friends- Linda and Carolyn.  I can't believe it but it's been more than a year since we've been together.  (Linda said 2 but that seems way too long!)  It was wonderful to be together although I had a few "fails" in cooking.  But the table looked nice with my Beehive dishes- perfect for our Utah celebration.

I served Creamy Lemon Chicken, baked yams, pretzel salad, rolls and a Sticky Caramel Toffee Pudding Cake for dessert.  Recipe for the Lemon Chicken on the cooking blog (or coming soon!)

Since we've last been together, Carolyn has married off her last child/only daughter, her husband retired, the following week had a bad mammogram and had to go through all that scariness, it was cancer, had a mastectomy, then reconstruction, then a knee replacement, and put her sweet mother that she's been the main caregiver for in an assisted living after she fell.  Wow!  Linda has had good stuff- she will retire in the fall and she and George bought a home in Moroni with 30 fruit trees and berries of all kinds!  That sounds gruesome to me!!!!  But she's so happy.  Me?  I've just been slugging this past year- trying to find my new normal.  Feel blessed that Carolyn is still with us- and love the friendship that the 3 of us have shared through the years.

Happy Birthday Abby!

Day 25
Abby is 19 years old today. She has been waiting for this day for so long, because it meant that she was old enough to go on her mission. She was excited about this next step in her life and was counting down the days. When this accident first happened, I was hoping she wouldn't have to spend her birthday in the hospital. I was selfishly hoping I wouldn't have to spend her 19th birthday in the hospital with her. It turned out to be a great day with family, friends, an...d some new friends. Thank you for making it a wonderful day. 💙💛🎉

I am slowly coming to accept this path. I admit I don't want to. I don't want to be here anymore waiting, eating hospital food, waiting, sleeping night after night in the hospital, waiting, ignoring and neglecting everything else, waiting, and feeling completely exhausted. The hardest part is not knowing how long it will go on or how hard it will be. I can only take it one day at a time, just get through today, look for small improvements, hope my other kids understand, hope for a quick shower. Trust that God knows all, sees the bigger picture, can heal Abby, can help me through each day. Trust that He will somehow make this okay. I do trust Him. I have seen the tender mercies along the way.
I know He knows Abby, her amazing talents, her kindness, her innate goodness, and how she wanted nothing more than to serve Him. He will somehow make this okay. I know patience is a virtue, but it doesn't make it any easier.
We have settled in at Primary Children's. So far, Abby responds well to her speech therapist, who is from Michigan and who's husband is studying chemistry. No wonder Abby likes her! Michigan and chemistry are two of her favorite things. Her nurse today grew up in Sweden!! What are the chances of that? I can tell Abby loves her. 💙💛
I don't know what the future holds. I hope it holds a recovery that happens quickly, but that doesn't seem to be our path so far. We will keep hoping and praying that Abby recovers and that we have the strength to help her through this ordeal.
Her trach was capped for 8 hours today and she did great. She breathed through her mouth and nose just fine. She can hopefully get rid of that thing soon!! We also heard a small humming noise from her mouth. 💗
We were so down about the blood clots in her legs, but on repeat scan yesterday, they couldn't find the most concerning one, the clot in an artery. Hopefully that means the first scan was a mistake and that clot doesn't exist. 🙏🏻
We put gym shoes on Abby today while she was sitting up in the chair. I wanted her to jump up and go for a hike with me. Her ankles are getting so tight and it was so good to stretch them a little.
Thank you to all you amazing people who are helping us, praying for Abby, teaching us how to support others. You are so kind and so amazing. We could not do this without the kindness around us. Thank you. Please keep praying for miracles for Abby. ❤️❤️❤️
‪#‎conqueringheroesforabby‬

Birthdays!

This past week we had lots of birthday in the family- Marci on Monday, Summer on Wed. and Annee (16!) on Friday.  Ryan and Marci and family drove across country to be in some festivities in Nauvoo- Ryan was excited to grow a beard (he's a bishop so has to shave- lol).  Poor Josh- age 16, has to dance in something is totally mortified.

But we celebrated Summer's 1st birthday on Wed. with a Hawaiian theme.  She's our sweetheart!

Turning one year old is AWESOME! You get to smash cake all over the place, spit it back out on your Mom, and if anyone gets mad at you just cry a lot and they’ll forgive you. Have a Happy Birthday, kiddo!Summer- you'll not remember being one but we hope you always know how much you are loved!!!

Party On!

We've had some good Cook time this weekend.  Saturday night was friend Gail Miller's birthday party for her husband, Kim.  Kim is such a great guy and a funny guy.  I am so glad they have found happiness after the deaths of their respective spouses.  Kim was a law partner of David's so we knew him "before and after."

Gail held the party in the Vivant Center (former Energy Solutions/former Delta Center...)  Think VIP dining- fabulous décor (fancy western)- foods prepared by the special events people. They had put together a great presentation of "This is Your Life" with Steve Brown- a local sports announcer MC-ing.  Love Gail and Kim.  Had a great evening.

Funny stories were told.  My favorite Kim story was from years ago.  The firm had their annual golf tournament at Park City.  Beautiful homes and condos surround the course.  Kim teed off and put his shot right through someone's picture window.  He set off to speak to the owners.  When he got back in a few minutes, everyone wanted to know what they said.  He said they weren't home ...but he took one of his business cards and wrote on it "You have my golf ball.  I want it back!" and threw it through the broken window!

We picked up Cooks to go- and met in the parking lot another of David's former partners- Mike Carlston and his wife Linda. The girls all hit the powder room as soon as we got there.....and when I started to exit....Linda grabbed me and said, "Wait!"  I had a 6 foot long string of toilet paper hanging from my pants!!!!!  Linda, Valene and I laughed and laughed.  We could hardly stand.....

I'm sending them a note today with some tp- saying "it was fun to hang with you...."

So that set the mood for a great time!

Last night was Bon Appetit at the Cooks (my favorite restaurant.)  It was my turn to do the dessert so I was in heaven all day cooking.  I had difficulty choosing between 2 recipes but Sunday evening, we went over to Nick and Cari's for a fireside- and Cari went overboard on desserts.  One knocked my socks off- an Almond Blueberry Shortbread   I was sold!  It is decadent and delicious.  Recipe and others from the dinner on the cooking blog.

So- Valene made a lovely spring roll topped with a peanut butter hoisin sauce for an appetizer and a zippy Rainbow slaw (a touch of maple syrup-amazing!) for the salad, strawberry something icy to drink, home baked rolls, roasted vegetables with cotija,  and a grilled beef tenderloin with chimichurri sauce that was OVER THE TOP!!    I can't wait to make it.  It was 5 -star!!!!

Some days my life is pretty normal.  Some days it is mighty fine!!!!!

Girl Time

 Last week I got some girl time with Brandi's girls.  Lunch is always fun-

 Then I also had Addi come the week before since her mom and sisters were at girl's camp.  Parker came one night but he's not into crafts.  I used to always plan the crafts for the kiddos but now Addi is old enough to watch YouTube videos and choose our entertainment.  She was excited about this confetti ball made on a balloon.  Can I say it took four hours.....four hours of hand cutting confetti.  Really- 4 looong hours.  But we were together and laughing and we love to be together.  After the ball dried out in the HOT sun- Addi popped the balloon.  The anticipation was huge....

unfortunately the ball caved in- not what we had planned.  Bust!!!!  But still- 4 great hours together!

 

When we treat children's play as seriously as it deserves, we are helping them feel the joy that's to be found in the creative spirit. It's the things we play with and the people who help us play that make a great difference in our lives. Fred Rogers  

4th of July

Yes, Yes, Yes!!!!  4th of July in Granite was a big success.  Thousands of people.  Successful fun run.  Huge community breakfast.  Parade that makes me weep.  It's a family parade....families make floats pulled by tractors or 4-wheelers.  Kids decorate bicycles.  Everyone throws candy.  Some parade entries quirt parade watchers with squirt guns.  People decorate their horses.  Kids put their pets in wagons (chickens) and pull them along. Motorcycles and old cars.  Our Grand Marshall was June Davidson- our 100 year old miracle.  At the end of the parade was a free carnival with bounce houses and face painting and FOOD TRUCKS!  David and I were in charge of the celebration for our second (and last) year.  I really felt good about how everything went.  Yes!  And it's OVER!!!  (I was busy working the parade so I gathered some pictures to share)

Brandi had to work but Doug brought the girls.  Ryan and Marci and family came- it's Heidi's firecracker birthday and Elijah's on the 5th.  We ate at the food trucks then went home to swim and celebrate birthdays.  I had filled a red, white and blue cowboy hat piñata for the kids to hit.  Gracie's friend swung real hard with the golf club and hit the swing set and totally broke the club in two.  We laughed and the kids squirted silly string and we had a nice relaxing rest-of-the-day! 

And.....it's OVER!!!!!!   Sigh.  Now I can go back to being a slug.....

Here is my nemesis- because I want a cool train for all my kiddos.....

 Here come the llamas that often get out and David has to rope!

 Here is our Ward Barbie that I love walking with her kiddos float!

Yummy Recipes

On June 30th we had a family dinner to celebrate a ton of birthdays.  Ryan's happened to be that day.

   We had BBQ chicken and Honey Garlic Shrimp and roasted cauliflower and green beans with bacon, nuts and blue cheese....and, and, and.  Yummy stuff!

Recipes on the cooking blog:

Impossible Buttermilk Pie

I have a few recipes that I wanted to get on the cooking blog.  This weekend my friend, Pretty Patty Petty came for part of the weekend with daughter Kyle and grand- Ellen.  Ellen is from North Carolina but had been at some grand camp in Victor Idaho where PPP picked her up and then took her to the airport yesterday to fly home.  For Sunday dinner I made Buttermilk Impossible Pie- one of the easiest desserts on the planet- and David wondered why I don't make it more often.  Just put all the ingredients in a blender and Voila!  Serve it was any fruit or a preserve- add 1 cup coconut if you want.  All delicious!

Recipe on the cooking blog:

Memorial Day

(No change on sweet Abby but I'm trying to get caught up on journaling....)

 I'm so far behind and just realized I didn't journal about David and I flying to Washington for the week of Memorial Day.  We picked up my dad - he had the dining room make up lunch boxes for us-and  stopped for Krispie Kreams (dad's favorite) then headed up to my brother's lake home on Spencer Lake.  This is their second home and  a little bit of heaven.  Gary has a pontoon boat for fishing and although David and I aren't really fisherman,  it was wonderful to be out on the lake for hours- trolling, visiting with Gary and Cher and my dad.  Everyone (not me- I "non" fished!) caught tons and then when we would get to shore, Gary would clean all the fish- then Cher and I would clean and vacuum pack them all and off to the freezer.  They do this every time they go fishing....and then Cher delivers all the wonderful frozen fish to their local food bank.  Amazing!!!

I loved the lake, the houses around the lake, the area of lily pads.  So peaceful.

 My dad turned 89 during the week!  Wow!!!!  We loved every minute with him.  With them. 

 We went to a special market to get fresh clams and LOBSTER!!!  We ate like we were celebrating all week long.  Oh wait?  We were!!!

David and Cher and I went for beautiful walks through the woods.  I'm always looking out with my painterly eyes and loved this scene of mailboxes.  Cher thought I was nuts- who would want to paint mailboxes?  Me.  Only I don't think I've mentioned I have quit my art lessons.  I have painted forever and ever...but I've not had my heart in it....and thought I needed a break.  It was not an easy decision and I miss my instructor and the people in my class.  I will probably go back some time but not until I'm ready to paint.  Even so, it has been a loss for me.....

Love my little family!!!!