a few of my favorites.

luckiest day in 100 years.

Today, my favorite day in 100 years, I think about all the wishes I have made, living below the beautiful Ben Lomond Peak, and now behind her against Willard Peak I make wishes for my kids. Last month we hiked to the top of Old Ben. And I felt this tangible thrill, my goodness, I have waited so long to stand on top of her Peak, and look at the vast valley below. I pushed ahead of the group, and make it to the top first, and took a minute with just me and that lucky mountain. The one that protected me from the wind, caught my white bees in the winter, and colored the landscape in the fall. Standing on top of the mountain, I realized the triple vantage point of my hometown, my college town, and where I now call home. And then I looked up, to the massive sky above, and saw another vantage point, the one that God has over all of us, and knew, on that day, and today, the luckiest day in 100 years, that I was blessed and watched over.

a day with mom

The kids and I spend a day with my mom yesterday and had the best time. We went to "This is the Place" park, then to a lovely and so yummy restaurant called Oasis, and then to the kids favorite park in SLC, Memory Grove Park. We walked up the long trail next to the creek and looked and the leaves that had changed color, and wow, it all took our breath away. The kids each got cookies as big as Frisbee's at the restaurant, and ate them as we all walked along the trail. I loved the whole day!

On the way there I got pulled over by the highway patrol for going faster than the 65 mile speed limit. I always feel like I wanna cry when I get in trouble like that. Dang it! But he was so nice, and just said to slow down and be careful. WHEW! I have never gotten out of a ticket. Maybe it helped that my mom was with me. She made the day so fun, and I am always grateful to have her nearby to go on adventures with me and the kids.

writing, writing, writing

I am writing each and every night after the kids go to bed, and I love it! I feel like there really is a story in me, and I just need to make sure that I am telling it with enough interest and fun dialog to capture the attention of the reader. I am hoping to be done by Christmas. Go! Go! Go! Is all I think about!
 In other news, Emma is now in the gifted and talented program in Box Elder! YEAH!!!! She really needs this. She absorbs information in such a different way, and is a perfectionist with what she does. I am thrilled that she will get this valuable education. I took her this morning and dropped her off at the school where they have the program and the teacher was so enthusiastic. Today will be a good day!

a big milestone!

Hayden turned 12 this week, and it was such a great few day. He was so happy to 1st, pass hunters safety, 2nd get his first gun!!, and 3rd, to get ordained into the Priesthood. We loved having all of our family there for such a special day yesterday, followed by such a fun visit and dinner. We are so fortunate to have family that supports us so well during these big milestones. In another 12 years Hayden will be in a completely different phase of life, and that really seems so far away. But, I know how fast these last 12 have gone, so it is time to take advantage of each and every day. I still remember bringing him home from the hospital and touching his tiny toes and watching his tiny face and knowing that he was very special.

what 40 is!

My sister Jeannie turned 40 a few weeks ago.
40 is pretty smart! And pretty! And the life of the party. She is happy, and helpful, and loyal and sincere. :)

that'll do.

I am not an animal lover. I must confess. But I am a lover of those who love animals. Like my kids. And my husband. It feels like...the last few years have been laced with the pets that too soon left our lives. Even if that 'too soon' was more than twenty years like our dear horse Tory.

Still.

When an animal falls ill beyond hope...the last thing that feels right is keeping them alive. When we left for San Diego, our lab, black as night whose name is Cole, got very sick. When we returned, there was almost nothing left of him. Except. His happy black face. And, his will to want to please the kids and Kory. And of course, his appetite for strawberries. He seemed fine, until you looked at him sideways. And saw that he was nothing but skin and dog bones.

Years back Cole ran away from home one day, chasing the smell of things beyond our green grass. We looked for him for days. High and low. Far and wide. It seemed the dog was gone forever. We all cried, and felt so sad that his reddish brown collar did not have his name around his neck, so someone would find him and bring him back to us.

In a last ditch effort, Emma and I went to the pound one last time, after several days of looking. We walked into the barking carnival, and down at the far end we could see a dog, as black as railroad coal, jumping for the sky. "It's ME, It's ME!" He must have said in dog language! Emma and I could not believe our eyes. It really WAS him!! He jumped so high that day he nearly cleared the dog kennel they had him in. Never has there been a happier dog. Or a happier little girl. My Emma and I shared a few tears that day, and when we called Kory, his voice cracked when we told him we had found our dog at long last.

And so. On Wed when Cole collapsed. With no strength. We knew. That his life was nearly over. Hayden cried so hard it broke my heart. Emma's tears fell fast, and Kory and I sat there with our eyes filled to the brim. For a brief moment Cole lifted his head long enough for me to snap a picture. And Hayden said, "I had some hope right then Mom that Cole was going to be ok." But Hayden knew. And we all knew. That Cole's happy tail, his shiny black coat, and his appetite for strawberries, would have to wag on in heaven.

That'll do Cole. That'll do.

The kids say goodbye to Cole.

Kory, Wiley, and Cole in 2009.