Hi...it's been a while!

Just an update. Let's see....I quit my job at Michael's after 4 years (miss my friends but not the place,) Steve continues to work on our outdoor kitchen, LOVE spending time with my kids and grandkids, went fishing, almost had a fire(lots of smoke, no flame thank goodness,) hosted a prom dinner for 7 couples with Chef Trent and Hostess Courtney (and assistant chef Steve and assistant hostess Wendi), Went to Flagstaff several times, made a garden, bedroom re-do, got a bike, LOVE spending time with my kids and grandkids, Steve had a wonderful medical check-up and Josh comes home in August for a looonngg visit!!

Random pictures: (OVERLOAD)

It's Monday

So...it's Monday. I woke up, went to work, now I am home. Depressed. Melancholy. Sad. Worried. Not wanting to fold the laundry. Not wanting to pay bills. Wanting to go fishing. I even asked my very busy husband to call in sick today and take me fishing. He couldn't. Crap!
Why do I get like this? Life isn't that bad. But, to me, today, it is. I miss my Flagstaff family and my Tempe family. Weird. I had them all weekend. I miss my son who is in Korea, (pronounced Kurea.) I worry about him and that drives him nuts. I wish we could all live in a big compound. With acres of land for the kids and dogs to run around on. Each of us in our own home of course, to keep us sane, but near each other. We could share stuff, and borrow stuff, and hang out, and my grandkids could come over anytime they wanted. Wouldn't that be cool?
But, what would help cheer me up is to go...fishing! Because, as you sit there, watching your bobber bounce on the water, waiting for it to dive....you can think clearly. And think and think and think. And you have time to put everything back into it's proper order. Everything into perspective.
Yep, fishing!!




And camping on the rim would help, too!

Lessons and Heroes

This last week my wonderful husband took 16 young men, ages 14 to 18, and 6 adults on a High Adventure hike. It was a four day hike and covered about 9-10 miles. (Long, difficult miles.) But...let's back up a little. This adventure had been planned for several months. Steve put hours and hours into the planning; studying topographical maps, researching the area and preparing these boys. He sent out e-mails and handed out hard copies of info which included information about the hike, what to bring, how to prepare, etc.
Then...a few days before the hike....the forest was closed because of fire danger. So, back to square one. Steve again went back to his topo maps and spent countless hours researching and studying to come up with a Plan B. And then they left this past Wednesday morning. The hike became a little more difficult than Steve had thought. They hiked in pouring rain for several hours; one night they slept on a sandy beach, one night on river rock; one night in the forest; hiked up to five hours a day; nursed our Bishop back to health; and then to top it all off...Steve realized that they were not making as much progress as they needed to each day and were still far from the trailhead. Because of some unforseen circumstances, the last morning, they had to forge a trail...straight up and out of the canyon. Several grueling and tortuous hours of whacking and blazing a new trail.
Now let me tell you a few other things about this hike. Each morning and each night they held a devotional. The boys were able to hear their leaders bear testimony. The last morning, several of the boys bore their own testimonies of hard things. They talked of their love for the Savior and the gospel. When one of the members became ill, they all were a witness to the power of the priesthood. These boys had leaders, my husband among them, who loved them and sacrificed much to be out there in the wilderness with them. When the camp was a mess the first morning, Steve had to get on them. The next morning...they "encouraged" each other to clean up. When plans changed, Steve spoke to them all and told them how proud he was of them and how proud they should be of themselves. Then he prepared them for the hardest day yet. He knew that they could do it and he let them know that. As they hiked out the next morning, several of the boys unselfishly helped to carry the packs of others. And on that last day...the boys began singing hymns. Loud and clear. They made it.
I am proud of them all. I am proud of and have a great respect for the leaders. These brethren will most likely never forget this hike. Steve has a reputation in our ward of hiking the boys hard, plans not going quite right, and late arrivals home. But he always tells me tales of how they grow from the hardships, how they pull together. The greatest thing is to hear these young men bear their testimonies of what they experienced and learned. A few of these hikes are still talked about years later. These young men KNOW they can do hard things!
And...if I ever am stranded somewhere....I want to be with Brother Terry!! I will make it home!!

Picture Fun!

Hi All,
I was just looking through my computer pictures and found these. Teehee!

Rufus: the cutest dog!!

You have all read of our dog, Rufus. He is a wonderful boy! He is big and healthy and beautiful. He is also a handful, like any other toddler. I thought I would share a few pictures taken of him recently.
Rufus LOVES ripping the heck out of stuffed animals. He goes after the squeaker and usually gets it! Then he proceeds to gut all of the stuffing out and spits it out all over the floor. Then...once the animal is dead and gutted, he walks away leaving the empty, furry shell. Well, recently I was in Walmart and as I went down the aisle where the dog toys are sold, I heard a familiar noise. It sounded like an elk bugle! I saw a woman standing there holding what looked like a stuffed moose toy....but the squeaker sounded like an elk bugle. No joke! I waited patiently and then finally asked her if she was going to purchase said moose/elk. She said no because it had a weird sounding squeaker. Ha! So I brought it home for Rufus. However he didn't get to play with it until I showed it to my family members who would appreciate the noise it made! On receiving this new toy, Rufus started to gut it like all of his other toys, but upon hearing the noise, I think he thought it was a baby animal and his fatherly instincts kicked in. So cute. He only ripped off one antler! What a good dad!

Rufus would carry it with him wherever he was going to be. And, he would sleep with it under his chin!

And a final picture: (please note that if I could keep him off the loveseat when I am not home, I would!)
Notice where the moose/elk is??

Sadly, the moose/elk came up missing. I finally found him outside baking on the trampoline. He is mostly intact, except he has been thoroughly gutted and his squeaker removed. I found the squeaker!! I will give it to Steve to use on his hunts!!

It's a Wonderful Life!

I got back home on Friday. I was blessed to be able to spend an entire week up in Flagstaff with Kristen, Jamon, Keegan and new Braxton. It was an adventure. Kristen was safely delivered of a beautiful baby boy on Saturday, May 28th. Her labor was only half, (but still 12 hours,) of what it was for Keegan. And...bless her heart, she never even had to push! He just kind of fell out. But, that is her story and she blogged about it on her site!
I am very proud of my Flagstaff family. It was a privilege to be part of the newness. Kristen and Jamon are wonderful parents. Keegan is already an amazing big brother. And Braxton...well, he is precious!!




I am so grateful for my family! I love my kiddos beyond words. They are my greatest joy! And as for my grandbabies...I say, bring 'em on, keep 'em coming! With all the highs and lows, and lows and highs that my world holds, I still believe "It's a Wonderful Life."

Quiet Sunday in May

It is beautiful outside. Sunny, not too hot, clear. So great! Good Sunday meetings. Going to dinner tonight at Tracee and Rees' home, (unless there is a very important call from Flagstaff, which in reality seems NEVER to come!!)
I always have cause to ponder and think on Sundays. Maybe because they are so peaceful. Today I am thinking about grandmaship: the act of being a Grandma/Punkin.

*It is kind of weird, this role I have. Am I supposed to be fun, or funny, or chubby or skinny, or strict or a spoiler? Am I supposed to be chill or crazy?
*I have a very real fear that at some point I will have grandbabies living far away from me. I will die a little, maybe I'll die a lot, and then I will have to get rich somehow so I can fly whenever I need a grandbaby fix. But what if I am a pain in the butt and I don't know it and my children don't really want me around that much? I don't want to be a pain in the butt. But what if I am? Will they tell me?
*My mother, sweet Elaine, LOVED all of her grandchildren as I am pretty sure all grandmothers do. Can I love them all like she did? Can I love them all like I love my Keegs? He could do anything and it would be phenomenal! Seriously. He is truly amazing.I pretty much think they all will be phenomenal children.
*In Relief Society today, (the women's meeting time,) someone shared that a grandson called his grandmother this morning from a far away place where he was stationed. Oh how sweet! Will my grandbabies call me? What a great day it would be that started out by answering the phone in my older age and hearing, "Hi Punkin."
*I am so excited to welcome this new, sweet boy into his Punkin's chubby embrace!!
*I want to be remembered like my kiddos remember my mom! I'm scared!