Beautiful day in the neighborhood

- I spy with my little eye -

something that is pink.

Walking home from church yesterday after playing

“I Spy”

with the primary kids.

I said to myself -

I see trees of green, red roses too.
I see them bloom for me and you.
And I think to myself,
What a wonderful world.

I see skies of blue and clouds of white,
The bright blessed day, The dark sacred night.
And I think to myself,
What a wonderful world.

~Louie Armstrong

I do not know if you can tell

but I love nature photos.

love, Love, LOVE

My instagram feed

consists of

IG Utah, IG Arizona, Utahgram, IG Rural America,

  National Geographic, The photo society, Seasons and Landscapes,

and many other talented individuals who I have stumbled across.

I love beautiful photos of our amazing planet.

And even many of my own friends,

taking me me places I have never been.

I am so grateful!

 

I love that I live in a area that all I have to do is look up,

or take a small walk and you get views like this.

Plus, let’s be honest I promise you would much rather see a picture like this

then too many of me.

It probably goes without saying that I would take more pictures of Mookie

- if he would let me-

You will just have to believe me when I tell you he was an adorable two year old -

stinker!

thus the name Mookie

Which he obviously has not completely outgrown

-because-

He sends me pictures like these to freak me out

- he knows I have a slight fear of ledges/edges

-not heights,

but edges!

You will notice that many of the pictures today have Squaw Peak

and Rock Canyon in the background.

I call them

-The many moods of Squaw Peak-

 

Every day as I am coming and going,

to and from work.

I pause and look up – for just a second

- every time – every time

A different mood,

completely,

impressively,

different!

the journey

Thanksgiving 2004

Samantha 16, Katy 12, Mckay 8, and Nellie14.

I came across this picture this week and I remember the day vividly.

We started a tradition of taking family pictures every Thanksgiving.

We spent Thanksgiving as just our little family.

Most of the time we have a big extended family dinner and love it,

but for some reason we were all by ourselves this year.

Since we had our big family thanksgiving dinner the Sunday before

I decided to cook something beside traditional Turkey and potatoes.

I spent days shopping and finding recipes. I spent days cooking food from all over the world.

My family has never let me live down the year I cooked that crazy food.

For some reason no one liked the sweet potato soufflé.

 

This little house is down the street from us,

and I do believe every family in our neighborhood has a family picture in front of it.

 

I had children in 3 different schools,High School, Jr High, and elementary,

we were busy watching dance recital, piano recitals, theatrical plays, choir concerts, softball and baseball games.

Everyone was healthy – Most days were Happy –

Life is Good!

 

Forgive me for the little side story:

Mookie looked at the above picture and called me Lynyrd Skynyrd

Seriously I have had my hair called so much worse.

(I could do entire post on the life and times of my bad hair choices.)

– I thought it was hilarious-

and the picture got moved to the basement.

 

 

(sorry it is blurry but you get the idea)

In my mind and memory this was a perfect day.

This was just just one of those days when we were all together, happy, healthy,

we ate a lot, and laughed, and laughed some more….. 

and I thought It cannot get better then this.

It was nice think about that this week.

Brought a smile to my face!

Thanksgiving 2012

Our latest family photo.

Plus++

 

Mckay 17, Katy 20 and Josh 23, Samantha 24, Ian 24 and Carterbaby (6 months),

Plus Nellie 22, in the West Indies!

Guess what it does get better!

(hair and everything)

I think Heavenly Father is trying to tell me something.

Hope on. Journey on.

Honestly acknowledge your questions and your concerns, but

 first and forever fan the flame of your faith,

because all things are possible to them that believe.

~ Elder Jeffery R. Holland

The big 26!

26 reasons why the last 26 years have been such an adventure!

1} He is always planning something.

2} He always has a project.

3} He loves the great outdoors -

4} especially Southern Utah,

5} actually anywhere in Utah…

6} He never likes to take the same road/trail to get there…

7} you remember the little bug on the dirt road between

Zion’s and Navajo lake.

8} He loves motor less ways to get there –i.e.: biking, hiking…

9} or maybe using a few ropes.

10} and of course, we would have more fun if we try a different(never used) road or trail.

11} you remember the trail up to Benson creek.

12} you remember the canyon down Benson creek

– so worth it!!

13} He loves to use Google earth…. to find said trails.

14} He seriously should of been a professional tour guide!

15} He may know more about Utah’s back country then most.

16} He has shown us the most beautiful corners and canyons of this amazing earth.

17} He is hard to keep up with on a hike – or on the bike

18} but he always waits up for us.

19} When he plans a party

20} everyone always has a great time because….

19} He is an amazing cook

20} and he entertains us all with his infectious laughter,

21} and silly games….

22} He always remembers what we like -

23} and gives the most unique gifts…

24} you remember the 50 lbs. of  Idaho potatoes.

25} We eagerly await our next adventure.

26} because we know the outcome – will be grand!!

 

 

 

}

Working together

We shape our self
to fit this world

and by the world
are shaped again.

The visible
and the invisible

working together
in common cause,

to produce
the miraculous.

I am thinking of the way
the intangible air

passed at speed
round a shaped wing

easily
holds our weight.

So may we, in this life
trust

to those elements
we have yet to see

or imagine,
and look for the true

shape of our own self,
by forming it well

to the great
intangibles about us.

 

 

-- David Whyte
from The House of Belonging

Simply Happy

Once upon a time these two cuties!

had a little man!

who was a happy fellow.

Except…..

When we tried to leave the restaurant-

were he was enjoying his lunch.

Oh my!

The injustice of life.

 

The above story is printed for two reasons:

1. to send to Aunt Nellie – ‘cause he is so stinkin’ cute – smiling or crying

2. No one told me that all Granma’s do is laugh at babies antics-again so stinkin’ cute!

 

On a side note: we immensely enjoyed our little Spring walk in the city!

The Sun is shining and we feel it’s warmth

and….The light of early morning sky-

awe inspiring.

Also: Pictures(and letters) from Trinidad

never fail to warm our hearts.

Excerpt:

“The swamp tour last Monday was amazing though.

It was one of the coolest things I've done in the Caribbean.

We sat out on the water as the sun was going down and hundreds of Scarlet Ibis flew to this island to nest for the night.

They were the most beautiful color I've ever seen. “

 

You’ve got to admit it all makes one

SIMPLY HAPPY!

HAVE YOU NOTICED

Have you noticed  -

how this granma will feed baby things that are totally inappropriate-

Seriously, granma should know better....

Have you noticed how hubby …

Will do things he really doesn’t love -

just for me……

Have you noticed that every one loves the baby….

in the family….

no matter how old he gets -

Have you ever noticed……

that baby is a charmer -

every one will talk to you when you are with this baby.

 

Have you noticed that nobody can talk about anything else -

except how sick of winter they are…..

Have you ever noticed that when you are with those you really love -

- you get completely -

-silly-

Have you noticed that every one loves that one movie

that you just hated….

you know the one….

and finally -

Have you ever noticed

that life is in the moments

Those beautiful- beautiful moments!!

Love one another

This year in our annual celebration of LOVE day.

We feasted on all the yumminess we could handle.

(seriously my hubby is a great cook! hallelujah!)

and we took family photos that hopefully we can place on awkward family  photos .com.

And for some reason a certain missionary in Trinidad has been on our mind

A-LOT this week

'cause we know the family pictures(and parties) are much better with her in them,

and do not mention this to her, but our bishop told us her release date,

So lets just say I am so excited for my 46th birthday!!

and after we spent an afternoon laughing

maybe,

I will finish this blog on a serious note today -

“Love is the condition in which the happiness

of another person is essential to your own.”

Robert Heinlein

that pretty much sums up how much I love these guys.

Happy Love Day!!