Memorial Day 2010 by Joie

Joie (and Jeran) both asked several months ago to set up their own blog.  This is Joie's blog, with a new post on there about our trip to the graves this year.

Joie's blog

Link to the story of Joie's loss.

4th Grade Program

  

In a program to showcase the Utah History they have studied this year, the 4th graders at Sunrise Elementary put on a program for parents last week.  Dressed in a mix of western duds, fur trader outfits, Native American costumes and pioneer clothes, they danced, sang, and spoke about Utah History. 

The recorders?  No, those aren't a part of Utah History, just a part of the 4th grade cirriculum.  They were so proud to show parents what they have learned.

And as happens so many times in performances where Joie is involved, I find myself in the middle of this one fighting back tears which threatened to spill from my eyes. Smiling one minute at the hilarity of children dressed in various costumes playing recorders, and realizing the next that beloved family members weren't there to share the moment...

So I fight back the tears, aware that if I actually do cry, no one around me will understand why an ensemble of recorder weilding 4th graders could move me to tears. Then in that same moment I know, like I've known so many times before that they are there, her family, as they so frequently are.  I feel a sense of gratitude at that thought, this time fighting back tears for a different reason. 

I take a deep breath, and return my thoughts to the present, where Joie sits beaming at me from beneath the brim of her pioneer bonnet.  I give her the thumbs-up sign.  In that moment, all is right with the world and with one very pretty, little, would-be pioneer girl. 

"Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift. That is why it is called the 'present.' "   (As quoted by Oogway in Kung Fu Panda)

OOPS!

You know how sometimes you push a button on the computer to delete one item and everything gets deleted?  ...Well, that happened and somehow I've deleted everyone's blog from my blog list.  Please kindly reply to this post so I can add you to our list again.

Nate Turns 14!

What a year this has been for Nate!  All of the health complications haven't made life easy for him, but he's a fighter, and keeps getting back up again.  We had a lot of fun today making his day a celebration of his amazing life.  What a blessing to have him in our family!

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5k

Saturday we went to Smithfield to run the Smithfield Health Days 5k with Becky, Larry, and their family.  Yeah us! 

For a detailed account (and a great story about Joie) go to Becky's blog.

Signs of Spring

When Nate, Megan and Jeran were younger, I used to tell them, "Spring is winter fighting with summer, and summer always wins!"  This spring has us doubting.  Winter skipped over our part of Utah this year, and it's definitely making a comeback.  We need the rain (and even snow) so we're trying not to complain, but we're ready for summer!  In spite of the lousy weather, we have managed to capture a few spring moments on camera.

They're weeding the garden.  (Our excuse for not planting it yet is that we're still waiting for good weather.)

Look at the pile of weeds behind her.

Blossom wants to help dig in the dirt.

The boys cleaned out the window wells.

Name that animal...

Joie and her friend, Hannah found some eggs on the front lawn.  They were convinced the little birdies inside must still be alive, and made a nice warm bed for them on top of the heater vent, under the heat lamp.  When Hannah's dad showed up to pick her up, both girls met him at the door with, "Guess what?  We're mommys!"  Five short days later it was determined that the eggs were't alive, and they turned into a science experiment for the boys.

Every year for the kids' birthdays (all summer birtdays) they choose one large summer birthday present they can all share.  This year they chose a firepit so they can invite friends over to hang out and roast marshmellows.  The night we got the firepit we barely lit a fire before it started to snow.  We got to enjoy it for a few minutes.  Stay tuned for more exciting summer firepit memories...  We're hoping the fire stays in the firepit.

And they're not too old to ask, "Can we play with the box?"