This morning!

This morning I woke up very early.

Why?

Well, because it is the last day of the month and I needed to register one of our cars.

Oh.

So I made it to the Provo, DMV by 7:20 am and was finished by 7:25 am.

Nice!

Yes, VERY NICE.  So much nicer than the days I waited for a few hours in Las Vegas.

This is also Pay Day.

Yippee!

On the last day of the each month I am either making menus and shopping list..or I am shopping from my list.

Today, since I was already going to be in Provo, I decided to do my Costco shopping in Orem.

One problem.

What?

Costco does not open until 10 am.  I had to think of something to do for two and a half hours. 

Oh.

I had brought a book along with me, but I didn't really feel like sitting in the car and reading because it was so beautiful outside.

So I got in the car and started driving.  I went East on Center Street in Provo.  I enjoyed driving by all of the beautiful old homes, most of which had flags waving outside preparing for the 4th of July and the Freedom Festival.  The flowers were LOVELY.  Lawns so green.  It was thrilling.

Then, I turned left on 900 East..or 9th East as we Utahns say.

Went past some familiar sites...like "Laundry on 9th", "Gold's Gym", The "BYU Creamery", The "MTC", and the "Provo Temple".  When I passed the temple, I soon came to Canyon Road...I turned right and decided to head to Provo Canyon.  The thought came to my mind in this way....
"Hey, I could drive to Canyon Glen and read"

Cool.

So I drove up Provo Canyon, passed Canyon Glen because I didn't see the sign quick enough.  Turned around at a park named Nunn's Park and headed back to Canyon Glen.

The parking lot is so much bigger than I recall..so I drove to the edge of it, nearest to an open park area.  I saw GREEN and more GREEN and paths, beautifully paved path's.  I know I'd never seen those before.  A pavillion with lots of picnic tables, an amphitheater, and more picnic tables scattered throughout the park.  So, instead of grabbing my book to read, I grabbed a different book. A little book I like to write in and a pen.  Locked up my car and headed through a little gate in to Canyon Glen.

Let me tell you that as soon as I walked through the gate, a few memories flickered in my mind.  I spent a bit of time at Canyon Glen in the 1980's.  Some of those times were with friends, other times were alone, like today.  I would write in my journal, pray, think, just appreciate being able to find a way to pull myself away and retreat to the mountains, just for some rejuvenation.  I'm like that, I've always been like that.  I love the beach and ocean as well, but I've not had as many experiences at the ocean as I have in the mountains.  I like to think, ponder, dream, talk to God and try to listen, and just be quiet and listen to nature.  So, when I was in college and also when I returned to work in Provo, Canyon Glen became a retreat for me.  Not far in to the canyon, but far enough. 

As I walked along the path that lead me in to the park, the memories began to fade and I found myself pulled by the sound of the river.  The Provo River.  I made it on to a nice walking/running/biking path. I followed it and headed farther in to the canyon.  It was so green, cool breeze and people were jogging and biking past me, but I just kept up my solitary pace and enjoyed each moment, each leaf, each glimpse of the river's flow, each bird, each cricket and the majestic moutains.  I walked for awhile, then decided I better turn back.  So I did and when I came back to Canyon Glen, I followed a smaller path back down in to the park and found a picnic table to sit at. Pulled the pen out of my pocket and opened my book and wrote.

That is awesome.

I'd like to share this park with my family now.  I think Spencer, Camilla and Neal will love running in the green grass.  Eric will love the paths and beauty of the park as well.

I also hope to return with friends.

I promise to return alone as well, on another day when I need to find a retreat, a place to recharge what is deep within me.  I hope to return and write more. 

Here are a few pictures of Canyon Glen and the path...I didn't take them, I didn't have my camera.  These are in Fall.  I look forward to returning in fall.  Today was overcast, green and cool.

A PERFECT MORNING! 

  

Canyon Glen

The foot bridge that you can cross to get to Canyon Glen and the walking path.

P.S...I did make it to Costco by 10 am and shopped for all the items on my list for two hours, went home to put it all away and then went to Walmart to finish my shopping there.  I do not enjoy shopping, but today, I actually didn't mind it...hmmm.

A little something...

Spencer cleaned his room in preparation for our friends to come stay. He was able to fill 3 1/2 white garbage bags with school papers he saved through out his 8th grade school year. His teachers told him to save the papers, "JUST IN CASE". My mom has my shredder or else we may have shredded, but probably not. It's hard enough to get a 14 year old to clean our his closet and room, shredding would probably be asked a little too much. All that hard work just shipped to the dump. His room looks nice though.

Camilla came out of her room one morning shortly after school was out. She was dressed for some summer fun. She decided to sit and tell stories. She loves to tell stories, she makes them up, or changes stories that she knows just a bit. This day she told about the "Ugly Duckling". I have a movie, but don't know how to upload it yet. Eric decided to snap a few pictures of her and this on is my favorite. She reminds me of "Mother Goose"

Neal really loves his HAT! He's very good at keeping it on. Which I am so thankful for, it has saved him from a summer sunburn so far. There are many things that Neal does NOT LIKE to do that I'd like him to do, but this is one area that we agree on. He should wear his hat outside.

Today I am working on making out a menu for the month of July. I Have accomplished the menu. Added a few new recipes to try. Now I am prepared to make the Costco and Walmart lists for the month. Tomorrow is Pay Day! We are so thankful that Eric has a job and that we can look forward to a Pay Day.

This month, by the 20th as I was rechecking our account balances. I discovered that I had not calculated correctly for our June living expenses. So we had $10 to live off of until the 30th...which is TOMORROW!
Guess what???
We are still alive!
June has been an AWESOME month.
I'll be gone most of tomorrow so I would just like to say....
I loved spending time with my family and friends this last month.
Hope to catch up with more family and friends in July.
There are a few friends that I haven't seen in awhile and hope to catch up with them in July.

I look forward to Eric having a few weeks off in July as well.
Thanks for working so hard!

It's an Affair of the Heart

It was July 9th, 2005, Las Vegas, Nevada.  We had front row seats and back stage passes!  The last time I saw Rick Springfield in concert. 

I LOVE RICK SPRINGFIELD!

It is an AFFAIR OF THE HEART!

The draught needs to end.

I need to get to a Rick Springfield concert in the next year...rush the stage, scream, dance, sing, and totally go crazy.

He has been to Arizona, Nevada, Colorado and soon Idaho.

WHY NOT UTAH??!!??

I feel the need....

The ITCH...

Gotta make it happen!

I want to see a RICK SPRINGFIELD concert.

I know, I do appear to be a quiet, sensible, mother of three, happily married and actively engaged in church service...I am!

But I'm also a middle-aged, crazed, FAN!!!

Five years is WAY TOO LONG!!!

Some how, some way I will get myself to a concert and scream as he plays the beginning riffs of  "Affair of the Heart" on his electric guitar and takes the stage....

I can almost feel it!

It's gotta happen this year!!!

Helping Dad Water

Neal likes to help his dad water the bushes and flowers.

Eric reports that he's a pretty good little helper.

But, he wants to drink the water from the hose.

We keep telling him "Don't drink that poopoo water!"

It's irrigation water.

One Enchanted Evening...

Our friends Scott and Stephanie Church came to spend a few days with us last week.  We were able to enjoy time with friends from college days, eat good food, tour the Peteetneet museum, hike and enjoy visiting.  One evening we thought it would be nice to have our children stay at home and just the four of us take a nice romanticstroll around Salem Pond.  It was beautiful.  A little cloudy and cool, which just added to the romantic feeling in the air.  The surroundings were perfect.  Adding to the ambience was the opportunity to spend time with another couple that we love so much.

The intense sweet aroma of honeysuckle enveloped us as we slowly walked on the path near the pond. 

We were not content to just gaze upon it's beauty, but had to taste it's sweet nectar.

The nectar reminded me of  light, raw honey.

Not long after tasting the nectar of the honeysuckle flower, our romantic walk began metamorphasizing in to something a bit different.

Scott and Eric became inseparable for a short amount of time.  Becoming almost irate if we tried to seperate them.

 

Steph's beauty became intoxicating to me and she wanted to engage me in the "KOOKY MOONSTRUCK" dance.  As you can see it was quite fun!  

The moves are tricky.  I was concerned that Steph would fall from the fence in to the pond.  Just when I thought she would jump, we both broke out in song....the lyrics were something like, "I'm not crazy, I'm just a little unwell..." and "don't keep me hangin' on"  It was almost as if we were in our very own musical.

Then it was as if the clouds were going to burst and begin pouring water down on us, and next thing I knew I was standing next to Scott.  He looked and smelled just like a ROCKSTAR!  A sense of euphoria overtook me and all I could do was giggle like a silly school girl.  Scott was soon overcome by the same sense of glee and he too joined in the uncontrollable laughter.    

 

We were hanging on to each other so tight trying not to fall to the ground in abandoned merriment.

At the same moment that Scott and I were trapped in uncontrollable laughter; Eric and Steph discovered that they were both in black.  They began a period of mourning for the fish that was dangling from a lone fisher-woman's pole.  We do not have a photo of their weeping because Scott and I were laughing so much we just did not get that shot.  

Finally the solemnity of the occasion. The dead fish.  Pulled us out of our enchanted trance and we were able to bring back the romantic mood we had begun with

   

As you can see,

ALL'S WELL THAT ENDS WELL.

A Good Father

What makes a good father?  I've been thinking about fathers a lot today.  I know tomorrow is Father's Day and that is part of the reason I have been thinking about fathers.  The other reason is because I spent the day with my dad, mom and sisters. 

 We are going through mom and dad's home and cleaning each room; working with dad and mom to either throw things away, pass things on to family or Deseret Industries.  It's not an easy task.  Not a job that can be done in one day or two.  This is the third month we have worked on this project.  We have cleaned a computer/craft room, my parent's bedroom and closet, two bathrooms, closets in the hallway and some of their livingroom.  Two of my brothers, John and Robert, worked on the kitchen last weekend and did a wonderful job.

I'm not going to go on and on about this project, but I bring it up because going through items that have been in my parent's home and in their possession even before they lived in the home they are in today has made me reflect a lot on my life and how I grew up.  My parent's live in the home that my grandpa and uncle built in the 1970's, there is a lot of family history and memories there.

I grew up with a loving father.  I have memories of my dad being fun, funny, supportive, hard working, and willing to help almost anyone.  There are many things I remember about my dad.  Sometimes I agreed with him and his perspective and other times I did not.  As a teenager, I didn't always appreciate his point of view.  As an adult I have appreciated his constant concern for my welfare as well as the other members of my family.  I have appreciated his willingness to continue to work hard and serve others.  I have watched him give a lot of care for my mom as she has gone through different surgeries.  I have watched him drop whatever he is doing to go help one of his children who might need extra support.

I'm now in the process of watching my dad age and have some experiences that are very difficult for him.  Now, I am watching us, as his children try to follow his example of being supportive, helping him accomplish some projects that he's unable to do himself and take some time out of our daily routines to spend time giving him some extra support.

What makes a good father?  A man who practices what he preaches.  A man who loves his family.  A man who serves others.  A man who honors his wife.  A man that puts his arms around his children, no matter how old they are and gives them a hug and kiss and says, "I love and appreciate you".  A man who teaches you about Jesus Christ, Heavenly Father, Prophets, Prayer, Testimony, Scriptures and Enduring to the end.  

A man who tries his best.

I am blessed to have a good father.

I am blessed to have married a good father for my children.

I am blessed to have had many good men in my life who have been and still are good examples of fatherhood to me.

I am blessed to have a good father in law.

I am blessed to know I have a Father in Heaven.

Happy Father's Day to the Men in my Life.    

     

Spencer, Neal (Who is not very happy), Eric and Camilla

 

The only professional family portrait we have. Taken, in 1991 shortly after John returned from his mission.  This portrait hangs in my parents bedroom over their bed.

Dad and his girls.  Bev, Wanda, Dad and me.Bev, Mom, Wanda and me.

Happy Father's day to my love, Eric, may your kids love you as much as I love my dad!

Thank you, Eric, for being a GOOD FATHER! 

Happy Father's Day!

Behind the Music

*Caution, what you are about to read may shock you...may be hard to believe....may even make you say "hmmmmm"...but go ahead and read it anyway!

Once upon a time, in 1982, I was fortunate enough to meet up with Scott Church, Linde Safsten and Lisa Dew.  We met at BYU, all freshmen, in the same BYU LDS Ward and we became friends and started a POP-ROCK BAND.  Because Scott was the only male in the band, we decided he could be the lead singer.  The name of our group was POLE IG A ME.  I believe Scott said it was french for "one guy and three girls"...who were we to question him. He seemed to know everything. 

We were together for one year and didn't have much success.  Infact our biggest audience was in the lobby of May hall, on Monday evenings as FHE groups were gathering. So because of lack of talent, the band split up and we all went our separate ways for a summer, then we met back up fall of 1983, and decided to just be average, ordinary, every day college students...oh and we said goodbye to Scott in 1984..he went on a mission.

Somehow that BAND bound us together and though we've had days, months, sometimes years of separation, we always found our way back to each other and we try to jam...but that never gets us anywhere so we eat good food, talk and laugh.    

Prepare yourself to fast forward 27 years to 2010.....

The original members of POLE IG A ME...

Lisa, Linde, me and Scott.  DO NOT TRY TO ADJUST YOUR SCREEN, WE REALLY ARE THAT SEXY!!!

Browsing through old photos and reminiscing...

Along the way we added people to our group like my sister, Bev.

A few spouses....Eric and Stephanie..not pictured are Brad and Jason.

  

We still don't seem to be able to make sweet music together, but we are pretty good at being FRIENDS!!!

In the Blink of an eye

The teenage mind is marvelously a mystery........

This afternoon as I informed Spencer that he was going to get a haircut today,

He moaned and groaned about how he didn't want to.

I said "at least get a half inch cut off, please" 

I said, "It's summer, you might want to try something shorter...for swimming and airsofting."

He pondered what I said.

Then he announced...

"I'm going to get an army buzz"

I laughed.

He said, "Really"

So, an hour later he walked through the door

A changed young man....

Very handsome both ways..but I love seeing my boy's eyes!!!! 

Grandpa's Garden..continued

Spencer was the last to have the tiller in my first post...he passed the tiller on to his dad, my sweetie pie, Eric.

Eric really put some muscle in to his portion of the tilling relay.

Looking good honey.  I think in Eric's next life he wants to come back as a FARMER!  Hee, hee, hee, hee. Haw, haw, haw!!!  HEE HAW...

The next to grab the tiller was William, he almost looks like he's riding the tiller instead of pushing it, but I know he was working hard.

Peter was a little more serious minded about his turn with the tiller.  I believe he only had to push with one arm...look at the strength of that BOY and he's not even 14 yet.

I would have to say that the award for the person who had the most FUN tilling was definitely Jeffrey!  I could have sworn I heard him singing..."I feel the earth move under my skin...."

It appeared that Taylor would be the last tiller to take the field and he had total concentration..trying to get that last row done just right and win the adoration of the coach! 

But to our surprise, Jared pulled up the rear after the coach.."Grandpa" said, "You can NEVER till too much"  So Jared finshed up the tilling portion of planting grandpa's garden.

It was a joy to watch!!!

More garden posts to come...