July 30, 2021

Random things:

“Our role as brothers and sisters in the gospel is to recognize that there is always someone who needs a friend. Gestures of friendship and belonging help more than we sometimes realize. You don’t have to be lonely to appreciate friendship.” - Dieter F Uchtdorf. (Social media post 7/21)

Dinner at Asian Star. Fantastic Chinese food shared with Cam and Darren. 

Been a rough month wondering where I fit and where my strengths are.  Is it really just dog walking and house cleaning?

Maybe life doesn't get any better than this, or any worse, and what we get is just what we're willing to find: small wonders, where they grow. -Barbara Kingsolver, Small Wonder

July 29, 2021

What a good wedding day for Mason and Rachael. The temple was fantastic. It was fun to see so many people at the reception - good friends and good neighbors. My parents made it to the temple. Mason is giddy in love and him and Rachael are cute together.

As I was thinking how not one person from my family showed up to the luncheon or reception, I had the thought that the Lord has sent me friends and neighbors who will show up.

Deb, Sariah and Lorien, Tara and Mary Ellen, Pettingills, Wilcox Fam, Tami and Kelly, Brother Wainwright, Brenda and Alyson, John hall from across the country and more. 

July 27, 2021

“Believing that God loves us and that we are His children is comforting and assuring.” - M Russell Ballard. GC 4/21

July 23, 2021

Trying hard to be content here and not jealous or frustrated that I’m not in the Tetons backpacking. It’s partly working. Helping is playing Dr Mario and getting Froyo with the kids. Don’t forget the one Dr Mario game vs Rylie where it was the closest win ever (and I came out on top).

July 20, 2021

Darren scored some permits for backpacking in the Tetons.  I joined him a few days early and then sent the group on their way on Tuesday. 

We stayed in a cute little place in Daniel.  Sunday we visited Upper Green Lakes. It had the most beautiful view of Square Top mountain. We relaxed at the beach part and soaked feet, chatted, and kept gazing at the view.

Monday we visited Grand Teton to pick up the permit and see some sites.  Darren's foot was bugging him so we drove most of the day, stopping at some lookouts.  We did find a parking spot at String Lake so I took a small hike. 

Wildlife for Teton area: Lots of pronghorn including a mama and babies. A marmot on the golf course. Elk posing for all the tourists. A fish that jumped fully vertical out of the water. An osprey gliding. Some common ravens. 

Tuesday I drove Darren to the trailhead to meet up with everyone.  I hiked a bit with them up Paintbrush Canyon.  I got to see a Teton moose!  My favorite.  After about 4 miles I turned around for the long drive back to Lehi.

“It smells good. - it smells like Wyoming.”

“They’re not savages.”

Also - the random restaurant in Daniel that was hooked on to the gas station was really yummy. 

July 18, 2021

Girls got home from New York late last night with a successful trip. Good food and cool sights. Kenz said it best - she got through a vacation with no tears but Cam didn’t get through it without puking. Poor girl. But she’s amazing and handled it like a champ.

Favorite:

Kenz - Brooklyn Bridge, top of the Rock, Rylie's cocoon, Julianas Pizza, Subway poo poo, Rylie's farts, ice cream, "you're metro!", Shake Shack after a long plane ride.

Ry - Cam's toes in my face every morning, letting loose and waiting for everyone to smell, the child running right into Kenz, "pugget about it", most embarrassing fart of my life on the plane, Los Tacos No 1, Kenzie's reaction to Times Square, Camrie's dark impulses, trying to get the best smells at the library, hotel breakfast.

Cam - Library architecture, top of the Rock, Julianas Pizza, strawberry ice cream, pigeons, Mr. Ohare dog, foaming pee, "It's a metaphor for life."

Sadie also got home from girls camp yesterday. They stayed up Spanish Fork Canyon in sister Gifford’s cabin. She said she had a great time and especially enjoyed playing on Electric Lake. 

 

July 17, 2021

That time you convince your two friends to drive to Bryce and camp a night and then drive home the long way, stopping to do all the things you’ve wanted to do along the scenic byway but haven’t. Also - one of those friends (Tami) took care of all the food - both buying and cooking. Happy birthday celebration to me.

Camp at Ruby’s campground. Hike the Navajo Loop. Stoped at Tower Bridge, Fairview Point (which a walk to Piracy Point) and Inspiration Point. Mossy Cabe Waterfall, Hole in the Rock museum, lunch sitting in the Escalante River, and Bicknell pickle pie. 

July 15, 2021

Happy Mason’s birthday! He hung out with Tanner and Cater Beck plus Rachael. D and I went with them to Nickel City. We had so much fun playing laser tag. He went to Spaghetti Factory for dinner and then played his new Xbox game of It Takes Two, where we heard lots of laughter. 

For his birthday I didn't even take a picture of him.  I hope he appreciated that.

July 10, 2021

Good evening with everyone but Mason (work). We took pizza to the Randalls where Penny was so excited to see us that she peed three times. :). Then we watched Black Widow. I like hangouts with my family.

Finally able to play Dr Mario. A game with Ry and a game with Mason to round out a good evening. 

July 9, 2021

Birthday 48 celebrations in the book. Recap:

Surprise birthday phone call from Rylie. 

Random old man at the library sang happy birthday to me. 

Presents with the kids. 

Darren spoiled with presents. 

Backpacking above Marysvale. I’ve wanted to do this for awhile and it ended up being a bit like Pack Creek. But the pasture was cool and pretty and tenting it with Darren is always awesome. 

Raspberry crumble mountain house (that you can no longer buy) for bday dessert. 

We decided one night was enough and headed to Bryce Canyon and Ruby’s inn for a shower and a bed. 

Evening on the Bryce rim was amazing. The light on the hoodoos was so cool. I loved this part of birthday celebrating. 

A Bryce hike Friday morning rounded out birthday party. 

Marysvale:

Hard hike. Pretty hike. 

Cool river spot to get water. Cool tent spot. 

Raspberry crumble. 

Random cell service 3.5 miles up bullion canyon to get some birthday texts. I love birthday texts. 

Some flowers smelled amazing at camp. And on the hike to the pasture. 

The stars! Saw them twice. So amazing with the milky way right over the top of us. 

More uphill to Bullion pasture. 1.5 miles and 1000 ft gain. No wonder I could go no father than the pasture. 

Daisy lined trail with a stream below. Sigh. 

View from bullion pasture was cool. Flowers and mountains at 10,500 feet. 

Tom Bird

Long, slow hike back down for me. But I didn’t slip and fall on my bum or off the side of the trail so huge success there. 

Darren brought a cooler full of cold drinks. It was amazing. We drank two while soaking our feet in the creek. Perfect after hike cool down. 

Bryce:

Never underestimate the beauty of a hot shower. 

The rim! Sunset point really was a better viewpoint for sunset than sunrise. 

Found the cool limber pine. 

Sitting on a bench relaxing, laughing, and chatting while looking down at the hoodoos was magical. 

Ranger Rick and the counter clockwise hike of swamp and sheep. 

“You don’t want to rush through it.” 

 

July 7, 2021

 Happy my birthday!