Just Because

Three times today kids mentioned me blogging.  Why?  Because even though I said I would, I haven't (much), so here it is kids...  The updated blog post.

Today is Memorial Day.  I have so much admiration in my heart for the men and women who serve our country.  I also can't think of this day without remembering the family members we love and miss.

A friend said on facebook today that she was thankful not only for those who served and loved their country, but also for those who served and loved their families.  I loved that.  I struggle to convey the meaning of this day in honoring our military, but also in honoring all our loved ones who have died, and that said it perfectly.  Thank heaven for those who serve and love their families.

Of course today found us in Cedar Fort.  Joie worked hard over the weekend on a few crafts she wanted to take out there for the graves.  One idea was three painted bottles that were supposed to be topped with solar lights to light up the graves at night.  (I think her mom, who loved cute things, and her dad, the geek, would have both been proud.)  However, we didn't find solar lights to fit the tops of the bottles, so maybe later...  (But probably not...long story.)

She also made this whirly-gig wind chime.  She tied all the spoons on the paper plate, and painted them...pretty cute, Joie!  As soon as we hung it up, it started spinning.  (Probably Audrey having some fun.)

When we arrived, the cemetery was full of people.  It looked like a Memorial Day program was just finishing up.  The Cedar Fort cemetery is a small town cemetery, and everyone seemed to know everyone else...except us.  So we walked quietly in and set up Joie's hand made wind chime.

After only being there for a minute, a man approached us.  He showed us where the grass was dying from having snow sit on it so long in the spring, then told us that he has been taking care of these graves, and trying to get the grass to grow back.

Cedar Fort cemetery is not maintained by anyone except the families whose loved ones are buried there.  We're pretty free to put what we want on or near the graves, and there is a lot of variety as you walk through the cemetery.  After Ruth, Nick, and Audrey died, the graves had no sod or anything growing around them.  We weren't sure what we'd do to the graves (some there are sodded, and some are not).  Sod sounded great, but we were so overwhelmed with all the other details of Joie's life and loss, and the estate that we couldn't even think about it then.  

We noticed, though, that each time we went to Cedar Fort, there was something new or different by the graves.  One day we arrived to find the graves sodded.  We asked around, but couldn't find out who did it.  

Over the years, we've seen people leave a lot of things at the graves.  We know we aren't the only ones who loved Ruth, Nick, and Audrey, but we haven't known who it is that cares so much for the graves.  Or who waters the grass.  (There isn't a sprinkling system out there.)  Sometimes we've seen signs and cards posted, and flowers.  Once we even got there to find some solar lights in the ground next to the graves.  

Mostly, we've wanted to thank the person caring for their graves.  Then today, there he was, standing in front of us.  We introduced ourselves, and I'm pretty sure he didn't think that was really Joie standing there in front of him.  Instantly, I was thanking him, and told him we didn't know all this time who had been caring for these graves, but deeply appreciated his generosity.  He made it sound like it wasn't a big deal, but he cared so much about the grass, and how it was growing, and the graves, we knew that this was more to him.  

He kept minimizing what he's done there, telling us how he just took care of the graves because he knew what happened, and because the graves were next to his family's graves.  He told us how he met my mom and dad once when they were out there, but in all these years, our paths hadn't crossed.  The next thing he said was kind of funny.  "Who put up those solar lights?" he asked us.  Then without pausing for an answer, he said, "They sure are a pain to mow around."  Of course we didn't know how they got there, but we took them down for him.  

He came and went, talking to us, and to other people he would see and want to go talk to.  His wife stood beside us the whole time, and commented on how beautiful and amazing Joie was, and how she couldn't believe this was the same little girl.  A few times we all shared tears.  People are amazing.  I'm so thankful they've been there...our own little cemetery gardner and guardian angel for the graves of our loved ones.

Today I really am thankful for all those who serve...  No act of service is small.  Maybe it was "just because" we were next to his family's graves, or because he'd heard what happened and somehow wanted to help out, or because he has a kind heart.  Either way, he has given care in ways we couldn't, during times our hearts were too burdened to even make a small decision like when and how to sod graves.  Heroes like him need medals too.

New Chapter

My facebook post today:  "Dear 2012--  You pushed me around and even tried to intimidate me a little, but after all that, I'm still here, and you're going away.  Ba-bye!"

One thing I learned in 2012:  Better self understanding...learning how the things I react to in others are lessons about myself.  (...Still going to keep working on that one in 2013, since I learned it rather reluctantly in 2012...took most of the year, in fact.)  

Another thing I learned:  There is a whole lot of good in the bad.  2012 brought so many blessings...personal growth, family growth, job growth, opportunities, friendships, love, renewed acquaintances...so, so many blessings.  But I've admitted before that I'm a wimp when it comes to pain, and I'll be the first to hope that 2013 offers me far fewer growth opportunities than 2012.

But just in case, my motto for 2013 is: 

image credit

I heard another great quote this year:  "When you own your own breath, no one can steal your peace.  Keep breathing."  (Breathing in...breathing out...)

Happy New Year!

Pondering Christmas

It's 9:45 p.m. on December 25th.  We've enjoyed presents, love, food, and companionship, and as this day ends, my heart is full of love for this season and this day.

I love my Savior--our Savior.  The Savior of the World.  It means so much to say, "He lives," because he does, and is a part of our lives every day.

Where would I be without His love?  I can take anything to Him.

Anything.  My joys, my tears, my love, my mistakes, my worries, my fears...  All of it.  When I'm hurting, or worried, I feel peace.  When my heart is filled with joy and love, I feel His rejoicing with me.

And I am always amazed he does the same for all of us, where ever we are, and whatever we are doing.  His love for us is personal, and reaches every person where they are in deeply meaningful ways that only we individually understand because He knows us that well.

His birth--the gift of God's love to the earth--is meaningful beyond measure.  Last year I started a personal tradition of reading the Four Gospels by December 25th.  It's difficult to do, for sure, and there was more than one occasion when I was cooking dinner or goodies or food for a gathering that I'd listen to chapters on my computer while I was cooking, and other times when I would listen on my iPhone as I drove...  And I finished.  And how amazing it was, once again.  It strengthens me and lifts me and helps me focus on the incredible meaning of this season.

Without Christ's birth, there could not have been the gifts of the Atonement and Resurrection.  Without His birth, my pain would remain pain, and I wouldn't know the gift of complete peace in the midst of worry.  And most definitely, I wouldn't know the hope of once again seeing and living forever with loved ones who have died before me.

(Told you my heart was full.)

At the end of the book of John, Christ is once again with the apostles, and was teaching them after his resurrection.  He lovingly counseled with Peter to feed his sheep, and then in John 21:18 Jesus tells Peter, "...When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not."

At various times in my life I read that verse, and it has had different meanings to me, but mostly a personal meaning to gain the maturity it takes to set aside my own will and live according to His will.  That is such a difficult thing.  But through my life, as I've walked those paths where the Savior has taken me wither I wouldest not, I've always known His peace, and it is because of that peace that my heart is full.

I know it is because of the Savior that on all these journeys where I don't want to go, He can somehow turn that journey into a journey of growth and love and peace that knits my heart to His.

And so it is that His birth means so much--to me, and to the world, that each of us personally can know eternal love and peace, not just after we die, but right now in this life as we walk with Him on our life's path.

Amazing.

Merry Christmas to friends and family (cards are still coming...  I ordered New Year's card's this year, knowing we wouldn't get them out in time).  My love and best wishes to all of you this season and in the New Year.

Happy Fourth of July...No Fireworks, Please!

I was in Juniper last weekend with my family and took this picture of the very dry mountain near where we had a (fire free) cook out.

Then I found a similar shot taken last year--same mountain, different angle:

What a difference a year makes!

Fire danger is high this year.  It seems like the entire state of Utah is on fire.  This picture was taken from our front porch earlier today:

Two weeks ago I called 911 on a fire that started in an empty lot when someone flicked a cigarette out the window.  Within minutes it spread to the fences of the houses surrounding the lot.  Quick acting fireman were able to save the houses and keep the fire from spreading, but it's not just mountains that are seeing fire...  There are fires within city limits as well.

It's dry out there.  Every day there are new fires starting, and they're all human caused...cigarettes, firecrackers, shooting guns, overheated machinery...

I'm a freedom loving American.  I want everyone to be able to carry their guns and shoot off their fireworks.  I'm just wondering if there are ways to show our American pride without scarring Mother Nature.

Colorado banned fireworks this year.  I'm wishing Utah would follow...  I can't think of a better way to love our country than to take care of it.

Tomorrow we'll enjoy the city fireworks show, but we won't be lighting off fireworks.  

And along with so many others we're praying for the fires to be under control, and for people to use wisdom in their actions...

Individually, anything we can do to be careful is a good idea!

Lonely But Not Alone

I teach a class of 8-10 year old girls in primary.  I told them today they are never alone, and even when they think they're all alone, there will always be someone there, and we talked about how that is true in our lives.

Earlier today I was feeling lonely.  We were leaving to take some things to Ruth, Nick and Audrey's graves.

Tim was at work.

Extended family may as well have been a thousand miles away.

Teens and pre-teens (including Joie) were busy.  When I pushed Joie to get ready to go with me I was told...

"It's too cold..."

"I don't want to change..."

"I need to finish my report..."

Then finally, "In just a few more minutes, Mom!"

And of course once we were on our way, we were fine...me in my loneliness, and Joie seizing the opportunity for alone time...

She needs a white t-shirt for school on Tuesday.

Her class play is on Wednesday.

"And Mom, do people ever marry someone they knew in high school?  ...Or junior high?"  (Like that's not a loaded question!  Of course I wanted to jump in asking what his name was, but I didn't...at least not right away, but when we got around to it she wasn't shy to say...)

And before we knew it we were in Cedar Fort, and found that we really weren't alone.  My parents had already been to the graves a few days earlier on their way to Richfield and left flowers.  We added the flags and the frogs.  (Totally random on the frogs, I know.  Just go with it.)

Then there was this annoyingly cute beagle (emphasis on annoying) that bugs us whenever we're there, and wants to personally sniff inspect every thing we ever take to the cemetery...  There's a joke now that if we believed in reincarnation, the beagle would be Audrey.

Beagle...not looking so annoying here, but trust me!

Little by little, I wasn't feeling so lonely.  It was a good day for looking up, so I did...

Then I looked around me at the cemetery and saw all the other people who were there doing the same thing we were doing--paying tribute, and probably also doing their own share of looking up...

Then there was that song on the radio--a song from their funeral.  What are the chances that would happen right then?

Then that evening my parents stopped by on their way home from Richfield and we talked forever and ever about families, and love, and life.

Which probably made us all a little lonely.  (What we wouldn't give for a Ruth hug on days like today.)  But it felt a little good to remember and think about where we are now, and to think about what we do have.  We are blessed.

And not forgotten or far from our thoughts are those who give all so we can enjoy what we do enjoy.

Moms

Mother's Day is approaching, and I had this big plan in my head to do a mother's day series this year like I did last year, but like so many of my big plans, this one stayed in my head, and hasn't materialized, even though Mother's Day is only a few days away.

Instead, I'm going to support recycling by linking back to the Mother's Day series from last year...

Because the longer I'm a mom (or maybe just the longer that I'm alive) the more I know one thing for sure:  I'm getting perfect at being not perfect.  (But don't tell my kids...)

So here it is:

Mommy Musings (how I've evolved as a mom and in my thinking about what it means to be a mom)

Mothering in Seasons (important lessons about not being able to do it all)

Every Woman is a Mother (thoughts about nurturing qualities of women)

Moms of Special Needs Children (with link to the neglected blog on my counseling practice website highlighting a post about moms of special needs children...  And seriously, if you know a mom of a special needs child, give her the gift of your time and support!)

All About Birth Mothers (thoughts about the important people who give roots to children so that other mothers can give them wings)

Also, over the course of this year, I've come to know another mom who stumbled across this blog and started corresponding with me.  Her story about being a step-mom touched me, and in spite of a very busy year (having a baby, being a mom, step-parent, and going to school) she managed to send me a great post about step parenting that I'll post later.

Thanks, moms for all you do, and especially for the imperfect way in which you are willing to do it!  Really...I have to plug imperfection.  It's a great goal that frees us from the perfect ideal and lets us just be ourselves, and there is no greater gift to our kiddos than to just be ourselves.

Happy Mother's Day!

(Image credit)

Easter

I can't let Easter get too far behind us without saying something about my own feelings about the gifts of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

There is nothing more amazing in the entire history of humanity than the birth, life, atonement and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  Sometimes I think it seems so amazing that we forget it is not only a gift to human kind, it is also a very loving, personal gift.  

Last year Joie made a sign to put at her parents' graves:

The message is so simple:  Because of Easter, I can see you again.

What a beautiful message about resurrection and eternal life, and I love knowing that we will all be united again one day.  I don't know what my life would be like without that peace.

At the same time, I know the very human, very imperfect side of me struggles to always love, forgive, understand, follow commandments, let go of my own will and turn it over to Him...  And so many other things that would make it impossible for me to enjoy the gift of eternal life because I'd be living forever as a resurrected being in my imperfect state.

In God's perfect wisdom, He sent His son, Jesus Christ, to atone for our sins, so that through the process of repentance, we could live with Him, and with each other in a perfect state of eternal happiness.  

Every time I step out of my self to love...

Every time I forgive and feel my own heart lightened...

Every time I allow my will to bend to His...

Every time I, in my imperfection, need Him to make me perfect and whole, I'm blessed beyond what I can describe.  The joy of having my burdens lifted comes from our Savior's love for us.  It is real.  The peace of life in His love and light is real, and thanks to the miracle of resurrection, that light and love can last forever.

The beauty of this message is that we don't have to wait until then to enjoy peace and happiness.  With Christ's gospel on the earth today, we can enjoy that peace during our lifetime.  What a gift that He would not leave us comfortless and without direction in this life.  The LDS church has put out a series of Bible videos this year depicting the life of Christ.  If you haven't had a chance to watch these amazing videos, you can find them here.  

I am happy to say every day that I believe in Jesus Christ.

This year we were in Idaho on Easter and didn't get a chance to decorate Ruth's, Nick's and Audrey's graves.  I tried to get Joie excited about making a sign again to put next to a memorial my mom has in her garden, but the excitement and the pull of cousins and the holiday had her feeling not so interested.  Instead everyone helped out by writing messages we left in the memorial garden.  

...Because we can't think of Easter without thinking of the amazing day when we will embrace loved ones again!  The thought of it is overwhelming, and it is with joy we say we know that day will come.

(For last year's Easter post, see here.)

So Excited I Can't Stand It!

I can't contain the excitement any longer!

Because this guy...

Is finally on his way home from Atlanta!  He'll get here late enough that the kids won't know...

Until they wake up the morning of Valentine's Day to find dad making breakfast in the kitchen.

(Shhhhh....don't tell them.  They think he's coming home on the 16th but he was able to leave early!)

Like I said, I'm so excited I can't stand it!

Welcome to 2012

I just checked my work schedule for tomorrow morning and I am scheduled to see a client at 8:00 a.m.  After a looooonnnnnng holiday break with very few appointments, this is how I'm feeling about tomorrow morning...

(The feeling of jumping into ice cold water)

Come to think about it, that's kind of how I'm feeling about 2012...a little apprehensive, a little uncertain...

But 2012 is here.  

And I'm jumping...

Ready or not...

(Note to self:  You are not the penguin standing up on the iceberg.)

And tomorrow morning I'll show up on time, with a fully functioning brain, and a smile on my face...because anything less is so not 2012.

One...two...three...  JUMP!

Happy Halloween!

Hope your Halloween was haunted and spooky!  Here are a few highlights of our Hallo-week 2011!

Ready for the jr. high dance (not pictured...Megan)

Jack the Ripper checking facebook after the high school dance.

Pumpkin carving with power tools!
(Kicking myself that I didn't get a picture of Gabby carving a pumpkin...)

I'm amused by the can of dusting spray in the background...
I'm not even going to ask how that was used in pumpkin carving.

And Gabby's school party today:

Pumpkin toss

Choosing prizes with her friend the construction barrel

Mummy wrap game

She makes a cute mummy!

And Halloween night:

Welcome to our haunt!

Cute trick-or-treaters

The dog costume that lasted all of 30 seconds

The candy...

I let them choose 10 pieces then paid them $10.00 each for the rest.
They send the part I bought to Project Rudolph for soldiers.

And thanks to some great neighbors and friends, Gabby enjoyed her Halloween!  (Yes, that means freaking out over Hallween was at a minimum.)

I spent the afternoon with her at school, then she stayed with me to pick up jack-o-lantern pizzas for dinner.  

At 5:00 p.m Gabby said, "I'm just going as myself."  

"That's ok."  I said.  "Costumes are optional."

By 6:00 p.m. when we left to meet neighbors, she was dressed in two costumes because she couldn't decide what to be, so she was a witch/vampire.  At one point during trick-or-treating I had to leave to go drop off Megan and Jeran at a party.  Of course the haunted house happened while I was gone...  From what I hear, Gabby was a little freaked out, but she survived, and about 10 houses later (by the time I met up with them) she was back to normal again.  When we were almost home she said, "It's kind of fun to be scared."  

Progress?

Sunday Sharing

I wish I knew the source of this, but I don't.  I saw it on facebook this week and liked it.  

In Luke 11: 11-13, Jesus Christ tells us:  

"If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent?

 Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?

If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?"

Today Gabby asked me to make an Indian dish for her that I'd never made before.  I had already planned potato soup and cornbread for the family.  By the time dinner was over, I was tired and wanted to tell her to heat up one of the pseudo pre-packaged Indian meals she could just heat in the microwave.  I didn't want to cook again, but I knew it meant a lot to her, so I did.

Parenthood can give us a little bit of a view into the love our Heavenly Father has for us, and insight into the lengths he will go to help us...and insight into the times when the answer is, "no."  

Yesterday was a family work day.  We were prepping the yard for fall/winter, and cleaning around the house...not an easy task to sell to a house of tweens and teens.  They asked to hang out with friends.  They asked to "just finish this one part and do the rest later."  I knew that the work was hard.  I knew they'd rather be doing something else.  There was a part of me that wanted to just do the work myself so they could go hang out with friends.  But the wiser parent in me knew they were learning to work, and learning to work together.  They were also learning that family work is part of being in a family.  They were even learning that they could work and have fun at the same time.  My answers weren't the answers they wanted, but they were the best answers I could give from the perspective of a parent who knew what their lives would be like if they grew up without family work days.  

Today I was thinking about all of this and asked Gabby if her prayers are answered.  She's been a little freaked out by the whole idea of Halloween, and said she had a nightmare the other night.  Then she said, "I just prayed and He helped my nightmares go away, and now I sleep like a baby."

Funny, because I've been worried lately because Gabby has seemed a little off.  She hasn't been dealing so well with the whole idea of Halloween.  To us Halloween has always been a fun holiday.  To someone who isn't so familiar with Halloween, it's more than a little weird.  At first I didn't think much of it because I know she had Halloween and trick-or-treating last year, but at least every other day she says, "I'm just going as myself," or "Halloween is a dumb idea."

I prayed earlier this week to know how to help her, but as is often true with prayers, they are answered by others.

We ended up having a busy night on the night of a Halloween party Gabby was invited to earlier this week, so a friend's mom invited her to get ready with her friend.  

Two of the cutest witches on the planet!

The other mom took a lot of time helping them with make-up and hair.  That extra time and attention made all the difference to Gabby.  Then today when Gabby told me about her own prayer for Heavenly Father to help her, I knew that in a very personal way, her prayers had been answered too.  He didn't take away the fear, He just helped her handle it.

Amazing if you think about it.  We kneel.  We give thanks.  We ask.  We pour out our hearts.  We don't see the being to whom we pray, but for thousands and thousands of years, human beings have felt of His love and know, individually and personally that He is there.  

That's prayer.

Sunday Sharing

Today (July 24th) in Utah we celebrate Pioneer Day.  It is a celebration of the day the first group Mormon pioneers (who settled Utah) reached the Salt Lake Valley.  Early pioneers were driven west as they moved from settlement to settlement seeking religious freedom to worship how they pleased, yet not being allowed this freedom, they were driven from their homes by angry mobs over and over again.  Finally, they chose to flee to the west, to the (then) uninhabited mountain desert of Utah.  No one had yet settled here, and it was long passed over by other western moving pioneers because of the harshness of the climate and land.  The now thriving communities of the Salt Lake Valley are a testament to the strength and dedication of the early pioneers who settled this area.  Literally, they were refugees, and through their faith, they found freedom.

Our family went yesterday to see the film 17 Miracles.   It's a film about one of the pioneer handcart companies that left late in the season and encountered sickness, weather, and other difficulties along their journey west.  Many died, and all experienced pain and difficulties which tested their faith in God.  Yet, as with all the early pioneers, God showed his tender mercies to them through the challenges they faced, and they experienced miracles which strengthened their faith.

As a mother, I often wonder how my children view things like this.  Do they see the miracles?  Do they know that God is still a God of miracles?

That evening they didn't stop talking about the movie and about miracles.


"Can God really do that?"


"How did God just make food appear?"


They all shared bits and pieces of what stood out to them, and their amazement at the miracles of the early pioneers.  In my mind, I was thinking of our day, and the miracles we know, even today.

The conversation waned a little as the girls ran outside with their friends.  I was left alone with Nate in the kitchen.


He commented about some of the miracles we had seen in our own family, and for the next few minutes as we talked about miracles, I knew he got it.  I also knew that the tragedies that have accompanied the miracles weren't lost on him, but in tragedies, we have seen the hand of God.

We live in a mortal world filled with the potential for hurt and loss.  It isn't always easy to see that in the hurt and pain of mortal choice and conditions, God's hand can still guide and comfort us.

All I know is this:  Every time there is loss, every time there is confusion, every time there is pain, I feel peace, not in the pain, but through the pain.  And I know it doesn't always take tragedy to build faith, but for me, challenges have transformed my faith to Faith.

Later that night in our family scripture study I asked our children, "What is the difference between faith and faith in Jesus Christ?"  


Again, in their answers, I knew they knew.  Gabby said, "If you have faith, you believe something, like 'I can ride a bike.'  If you have faith in Jesus Christ, you know He can help you with anything."

Wow.  How did she know?

He comforts.

He teaches.

He heals, both body and spirit.

So we talked about pioneers, and modern day pioneers.

Pioneer:  to be the first to open or prepare; to take part in the beginning of; to lead the way.


There's a children's primary song in our church about pioneers that goes like this:

You don't have to push a handcart,
Or leave your family dear
Or walk a thousand miles or more
To be a pioneer.


You do have to have great courage
Strength to conquer fear
And work with might for a cause that's right
To be a pioneer.
(Ruth Muir Gardner)


We honor the early pioneers by being modern day pioneers.

"It is good to look to the past to gain an appreciation for the present and perspective for the future. It is good to look upon the virtues of those who have gone before, to gain strength for whatever lies ahead. It is good to reflect upon the work of those who labored so hard and gained so little in this world but out of whose dreams and early plans so well nurtured has come a great harvest of which we are the beneficiaries. Their tremendous example can become a compelling motivation for each of us. For each of us is a pioneer in his own life, often in his own family and many of us pioneer daily in seeking to do God’s will and lift and serve those around us."  (Gordon B. Hinckley)


More than anything, I wish for my children to recognize the hand of God in their lives, that they know He is a living God.  I hope for them to know that just as miracles have taken place, they do and will continue to take place as He loves us and guides our lives.

Oh, Say Can You See...And Other Patriotic Lyrics that Describe our 4th of July

Oh, say can you see what tremendous amounts of fun we had over the 4th of July weekend?  (Yeah...a week later and I'm getting around to posting about it.)

We went to Juniper, Idaho for the weekend.  (Except for Jeran, who went to scout camp again.)

Juniper.  This is my country!  Land of my birth!  (Not really.  I wasn't actually born in Juniper, but I did live there from before I was a year old until I graduated from high school.)  I'm still proud to say Juniper is a part of me and I'm a part of Juniper.

But back to the incredible weekend.

Spray painting t-shirts.

And if you say spray paint instead of tie-dye, teen boys get into the fun.

With the size of my family, there's bound to be beautiful tiny pilgrim's feet running around everywhere...so, so many cousins.  Twenty-three (in attendance) to be exact.  That's forty-six perfect sets of toes.  Oh, beautiful for pilgrim's feet...

This girl is a baby charmer.  Every time I turned around she had a baby in her arms.  And she was so sweet with them.  They love her!

And Megan was pretty good at entertaining the younger crowd...

No one but them understood the game, but it looks like they're having fun

Lots of fun...

And then there are these two (Nate and Braden), who aren't so tiny any more, and they're definitely, definitely up to something...

The younger crowd ready ride on the back of the truck

Except these two (Nate and Braden) who preferred the independence of the 4 wheeler.

Yes, we're thankful for all those tiny (some kind of getting bigger) feet.

There were also rides on River

And later there were bombs bursting in air (the water powered bottle rocket type), but we didn't catch that on camera.

And lots of dawn's early light moments and memories made far, far beyond twilight's last gleaming...most of which also weren't captured on camera.

The dawn's early light moments included the kids being able to do early morning chores at a neighboring dairy farm.  One of their cousins, Dani, gets paid to feed cows there morning and night, and the cousins love to help when they're visiting.  (Dani's sure they might not love it as much if they did it every day.)  We're just glad she lets them help.  They love it!  (And we thank the farm families are patient with our city kids.)

One of Gabby's favorite moments of the weekend was (and still is) feeding the baby calves.

My cute nephew, Edward getting to know the baby calves

Awwwwww....

At dairy farms, calves are separated from their moms at birth and given bottled milk so their mothers can provide milk for the dairy.  Since we've been home, when Gabby says her bedtime prayers, she prays for the baby calves, that they will be ok since they can't have their moms.  Hearing her talk about feeding the calves makes me realize how important it is for her to have those nurturing experiences...just one more reason I'm thankful to have roots in Juniper.  Those kinds of opportunities are endless there.

But back to the weekend...

There were beautiful spacious skies filled with stars, sunshine, clouds, sunrises, sunsets, and rain...

And when the rain hit, we were up in the mountains...

Did you know camp chairs can also double as umbrellas?

My view from inside the nice, dry car.  (I was helping Gabby hold a baby at the time...a good excuse that always works in a pinch.)

Certainly we saw our share of purple mountains majesty, which were actually green up close...greener on this very cool, wet year than I've ever seen in my life.  It was beautiful.

And while I was sitting in my camp chair still taking it easy from surgery a few weeks ago, many others got to go enjoy hiking the majestic mountains.  Gabby has hiked twice now.  Once in the Utah mountains before my surgery, and again this trip.  She might just be addicted to hiking.  I hope.  It's one of my favorite things to do.

The hikers.  Over hill, over dale, we have hit the dusty trail 

(but no caissons were rolling along).

Gabby is in the blue sweatshirt in the middle of the pack.  Joie is just to the right of her in the denim jacket.

Others hung out around the campfire during the hike.  Watching socks burn dry seemed to be the activity of choice.

That would be my nerdy feet because all I brought was flip flops, but I did find some socks in the car to keep my toes warm.

Nate was just amused by it all.

And Tim, who had just worked a midnight shift, took advantage of a quiet moment to just snooze a bit.

There were also rides on the most amazing swing on the planet...

Off we go, into the wild, blue yonder, climbing high, into the sun...

Here they come, zooming to meet our thunder... 

(Yeah...better when the Air Force sings it.)

Did I say there was a lot of food?

Dutch oven style

Campfire eclairs

Seriously.  Eclairs over the campfire.  Try it.  There were even s'mores.

It happened to be way past twilight's last gleaming when we left the canyon...but there was that pesky flat tire on our way home.  We'd been driving slow on rocky dirt roads and as soon as we pulled onto the pavement we realized we'd been driving on a rim.  Yes.  Another flat tire.  Sadly, our vehicle was the designated baby vehicle, so while Tim and several of my brothers were changing a flat tire, three of us sat in the car holding sleeping babies...because by that time it was beyond late.  

Too late for fireworks (that Gabby so, so wanted because she hadn't done fireworks before, but that would wait for the the next day.)

It was an almost perfect way to spend the 4th of July.  All weekend we all kept thinking about those of the family who weren't there.  Nine out of 12 of my siblings were represented at some point in the weekend, which wasn't bad.  And even though my parents are away for a while, they were sort of represented because we all crashed in their house.  (And Dad, you might recognize a few of your shirts in the pictures.  Thanks!  They kept us warm!)  But we all kept thinking of that one thing that would have made this 4th of July perfect.

My brother was to have returned to Germany from Afghanistan the day before (when it would have been the 4th of July in Germany), but his flight was delayed.  Bummer.

We all kept waiting to hear...

Then this facebook post from his wife:  

"He's home."  

Those words were the perfect end to our 4th of July weekend.  Joe was back on friendly soil.  

Oh beautiful for heros proved in liberating strife.  

Who more than self their country loved,

And mercy more than life...

Welcome home Joe!  Can't wait to see you in person.

We're looking forward to spending more time in Juniper this summer...less than a week and counting to Gabby's birthday party at the farm.

And on Monday Tim is off to the cabin with the kids (while I work).

It seems like we may be getting back to summer again after that 

S-L-O-W period.

You can't ever have enough summer.

Partial lyrics from:  

America the Beautiful

Star Spangled Banner

The US Army Song

Air Force Song

and This is My Country!

Photos provided by all the many people (myself included) who were holding my camera over the weekend, and photos from Beth and Trevor and Becky.  Also the photo of Joe and his family was shamelessly borrowed from facebook...pretty sure Tawny didn't take it because she's in it, but thanks to whoever captured that amazing moment for their family.