October 31, 2023

While there were so many people down there and campers right next to everyone with little privacy and the bathrooms sometimes had flies, the positive very much outweighed any negative. A few of my favorite things:

Watching Mason enjoy every minute of this trip. 

Enjoying almost every minute myself. 

The canyon walls on the hike. 

First glimpse of Havasu Falls. 

Mason’s jaw dropping. :)

Visiting Havasu Falls plenty of times. My favorite photos had the blue sky and clouds. 

Little moments just appreciating the beauty. 

Our evening game of Hearts. 

Mooney Falls. 

Having Mason's help getting down to Mooney Falls.  Then cruising back those chains to be done with that part.

Waterfall mist spray.

Not freezing. I was definitely cold Sunday, but not freezing.

Being with Darren, Mason, and Clayton in a cool place. 

Simplicity. 

Sheep on the Beaver Falls trail. 

Eating lunch with Mason by some cascades.

The bathrooms almost always had toilet paper. 

Clayton frying us up some Spam for breakfast. 

Making it out of the canyon in good time. 

October 30, 2023

Day 4 - Cold night but I survived. Phew. We guessed about 36 degrees but really I have no idea. Friday night was wonderful, Saturday cooler, Sunday cold. But we pretty much knew that. No matter how many times I checked the weather if I didn’t like it, it never changed. :)

The hike out wasn’t bad. The hard part was getting our heavy bags to the mule drop. Hiking out had pink lighting in the canyon as the sun came up with the orange walls.  It was not a warm hike out which made the last mile and a half up part doable. That and not having a heavy pack on.  This was an amazing "backpacking" trip - good times and gorgeous scenery.  I'm so thankful I got to go here. 

 

 

October 29, 2023

Day 3 - Somewhat of a rest day. Hung out at Havasu Falls for a bit thinking there might be sun there since the sun doesn’t reach our campsite. There wasn’t sun and we stayed not warm.  Hiked to Little Navajo Falls up the road. I liked these cascades. It was a cool day temp wise. We wore jackets and sweatshirts all day. Good thing someone warned us it would be cold. (Me - a thousand times. And I stressed about it constantly.) In the afternoon we walked to the top of Mooney because we decided it would be a shame to only see those falls on one day. Colder evening where we bundled up to play our round of Hearts. Another good day in Havasupai.

Me at Mooney

October 28, 2023

Day 2 - I started the day with a good cry at Havasu Falls. I just really miss my dad. (No one is at the falls at 6:30am.) Clayton cooked us up some spam this morning. :) For the day some hiked to Beaver Falls and some hiked to Beaver Falls Overlook (M and me). All hiked the sketchy chains and ladders that I call "straight down with very small footholds hold on to the chains so you don't fall to your death while being sprayed by mist from the falls" part of the trail. That is a real section that gets you from the top of Mooney falls to the bottom. (Mason loved it and I hated it. But he helped me get up and down so phew.) Speaking of Mooney Falls - that waterfall is amazing! Blows all other waterfalls out of the water. 200 feet of drop plus the blue pool was breathtaking. 

Today we played “guess the time” often. We were always way off. We decided that the campground has its own time zone. We also played “show me your best picture from today” but that game didn’t last long when Darren said, “Did you get one with a waterfall?” And he showed us his amazing picture with Mooney falls and a rainbow. Another round of Hearts to end our evening and into the tent by 8:00 because it’s been dark for 2 hours and is getting cold. Colder night but I stayed warm. 

(Mooney Falls through the tunnel)

October 27, 2023

Three and a half years in the making, it's time for our Havasupai trip!

Day 1 - We hiked the 10 miles down to the campground passing the Supai village which felt a bit like a third world country.  The hike was long but I did not expect the canyon we hiked through to be so pretty. We made it down and found a spot with 400 others right next to us.  Seeing Havasu Falls was really cool! Mason’s jaw is still on the floor. The water is the coolest color. Gatorade blue is the best description we can come up with. It is beautiful. Very, very, very beautiful. You see pictures and it's beautiful but seeing it in person was amazing.  In the shallow parts the water is the clearest blue I’ve ever seen. 

(Me, Darren, Mason, Clayton)

October 26, 2023

October 25, 2023

It’s been a miss my dad day.

October 24, 2023

I love morning skies. Today’s had clouds with a tiny tint of pink as the sun is starting to shine through the yellow trees and over the mountain on a morning walk after taking Sadie to school. Sigh. 

Elder Sabin 10/23 GC - “When nothing is expected and everything is appreciated, life becomes magical.”

“You will never be happier than you are grateful.”

October 22, 2023

Kenz and I took a Sunday visit to see my mom. It was so good to see her and spend a little time with her. We visited the cemetery and the houses my dad liked to go for a ride to. I miss that guy. I miss him so much. It was a good day and a sad day. I think this hole in my heart is just part of me now. I’m thankful Kenz came with me. 

October 21, 2023

What a great day.  Sunrise this morning, blip on Lone Peak with fall colors, cotton ball clouds, warm afternoon enjoyed outside, evening with Rylie’s request of taco soup and being together (K M R R C C S), night time Minecraft extravaganza. 

October 20, 2023

A few of the good things today:

My favorite Queen song playing in Subway as we get our sandwiches. Hike with Kenzie plus D and Baylie. Yellow leaves raining down on one part of the trail. This part of the trail also smelled like fall. Sigh. More creative Minecraft wrapping but this time for Rylie (a creeper and a frog). Rylie asking for Mambo Number 5 and Tokyo songs. Finishing listening to a good book (Unlikely Animals). Everyone here this evening for dinner and games. Kenzie cleared all her cards in SkyJo which was a first for all of us. I love that my kids have each other.

October 18, 2023

Ry’s birthday! It’s a beautiful October day for a birthday.

It’s still fall in parts of the mountain. Ridge trail has gorgeous yellow. It was fall beautiful.

I have enjoyed spending some time with Sadie the last two days. What a great kid!

October 15, 2023

It was a good weekend. Friday I thought - I sure live in a beautiful place. Fall mountains that are red and yellow plus snow capped that I can see from my house. (Also on Friday - the fish birthday party.)

Saturday had such beautiful early morning clouds on my run and then the pink sunrise topped things off. The eclipse was cool as well. 

 

Sunday had the primary program which is always a good sacrament meeting. Then we had such a great Sunday school lesson I got to lead on Philippians and Colossians. I really like talking about Jesus and learning with others how to improve just a little. Philippians 4:7 - And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. 

 

Birthday dinner in South Jordan with breakfast was so delicious. 

October 13, 2023

The girls are so funny. Sadie planned a birthday party for her fish. The others were game and we celebrated this evening. Sadie said presents were required. Quote of the day - “Since Jimin doesn’t have hands, we’ll have to open her presents for her.”  

 

October 11, 2023

Sadie pointing out a rainbow to me just made me smile.

October 9, 2023

Went on an after work hike with Darren and Baylie up AF canyon. The yellow was amazing tonight, especially as the sun would light up pockets of yellow. 

October 8, 2023

You and I? We can do this! We can hold on and hope on! We can stay at the tree and partake of the fruit with a smile on our face, letting the Light of Christ in our eyes become something others can count on in their darkest hours. As they see light manifest in our countenances, they will be drawn to it. We can then help refocus their attention to the original source of love and light, “the bright and morning star,” Jesus Christ. - Sister Runia October 2023 GC.

October 7, 2023

Good day celebrating Cam! That girl is amazing and now 19. And would it really be a birthday celebration without Froyo and The Ol’ Spaghetti Factory? Hard to know since we included those in the celebration again this year. Also Mabey’s Pumpkin Patch and some serious pumpkin carving. It was also a Minecraft celebration. Rylie’s Minecraft present wrapping was over the top and made us all laugh. 

Cam likes - mango smoothie, Minecraft, Baylie, winter, egg rolls, sushi, bluebs and fruit, her bed. 

Cam doesn’t like - school. 

 

October 6, 2023

Today's hike was brought to you by the color yellow. Dog Lake was a great choice today for a fall hike. 

 

October 5, 2023

The sweetest elderly lady at the library was kind and complimentary. Words matter and I’m thankful she shared kindness with me. 

President Nelson - April 2023 General Conference.  "My dear brothers and sisters, how we treat each other really matters! How we speak to and about others at home, at church, at work, and online really matters. Today, I am asking us to interact with others in a higher, holier way. Please listen carefully. “If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy” that we can say about another person—whether to his face or behind her back—that should be our standard of communication."

October 4, 2023

Cam and Sadie were extra pleasant today - chatting and hanging out. Got a quick solo hike to Primrose Cirque in. Cool clouds. It's been nice to be in nature. This evening the sister missionaries came over to share a message and have Sister Peterson say goodbye as she is getting transferred.

 

October 2, 2023

Finally saw some fall up the canyon. Darren took me to the Ridge trail. Snow and clouds made it feel wintery fall. 

October 1, 2023

I went on a quick morning Zion walk. Did some of the Pa’rus trail that was so pretty. Yellow bushes and colored cliffs - sigh. Rachael made us a delicious breakfast.

This trip was a gift. “Find the compensatory blessings in your life when, in the wisdom of the Lord, He deprives you of something you very much want. To the sightless or hearing impaired, He sharpens the other senses. To the ill, He gives patience, understanding, and increased appreciation for others’ kindness. With the loss of a dear one, He deepens the bonds of love, enriches memories, and kindles hope in a future reunion. You will discover compensatory blessings when you willingly accept the will of the Lord and exercise faith in Him.” - Elder Richard G Scott