February 17, 2026

Back to work today at PG High School but thinking about our great weekend (2/12):

Porters breakfast - best eggs ever. Sitting on a rock overlooking Zion eating PB M&Ms. Oscar’s burger and sweet potato fries with caramel (ask for the caramel). Patio at our hotel. Walter’s wiggles and Sally’s switchbacks :). Sandee’s lemon bars. Bumbleberry Inn (it gets all the stars, it was great, although I might take a tip of a star off because of the new carpet smell). Finally hiking Watchman Trail. The views from Watchman (we should hike this again but in the morning). West Rim Trail (of course we hiked this trail - we love it). Kyle from New Zealand chatting with us after he hiked up to our snack spot. Sunrise at Court of the Patriarchs. Those Zion cliffs as a backdrop to a weekend away with Darren. 

February 16, 2026

We finished up our long weekend with Clayton and Sandee in Beaver Dam. Church, dinner, and games yesterday. Today we drove home with a stop in Richfield. We threw away a few more things and brought home some slides and projector because as I was debating what to do with them, I pulled out a slide and looked at it to find this gem. 

(Cris and me with my Gma C reading us a book.)

Also this slide is classic my dad. You can see his handwriting and I’m sure this was his idea to ski down the backyard little hill. 

February 15, 2026

Those Zion cliffs are amazing. So gorgeous. Zion cannot be captured in pictures. You really need to see it. And the more time I spend here the more I see the beauty. Seems like there’s a gospel analogy with that. Like the more time I spend with God the more I see Him. 

Pic from my sunrise watching at Court of the Patriarchs yesterday. 

February 14, 2026

Darren + hiking + red rock + snack spot with chocolate = best Valentines ever

 

February 12, 2026

Mason and Rachael came over for a bit tonight and since I was the only one home, the three of us played SkyJo and Dr Mario. Baylie wanted to join. 

February 9, 2026

Lorien and I hiked to Lake Blanche today. I try to do this hike every so often in the winter because I love seeing Sundial Peak in the snow. Can you see it? Yeah - me neither. But it was still a lovely hike and it snowed on us which hasn’t happened much this winter. It was freezing at the top so we ate a cookie and headed back down. 

February 8, 2026

Had all the kids tonight for a Cole birthday Sunday dinner. The sound of kids chatting and playing games is great. 

Yesterday I went to Richfield to see my sisters.  Mason and Rachael came with. The Richfield house is a mess - one thing after another.  But we had some good chatting about my parents.

February 6, 2026

Today was a quick hike to Willow Lake on a day off of testing. The lack of snow is sad and concerning. I came home and my yearly journal books had been delivered. 

February 3, 2026

Darren loves that he can now watch hockey in the evening. I remember hockey enjoying Darren from 1994. 

Also, it’s do a puzzle and listen to an audiobook season. 

Also, the girls were singing by along to the Hannah Montana soundtrack. 

Also, it was a pink shirt day with Sadie. Although hers was her pajamas. 

February 2, 2026

Happy Groundhog Day! Oh how I miss my parents on a day like today. The girls were talking about it last night and how Gma and Gpa would take them to Build-a-Bear. I remember going bowling. Mason mentioned celebrating at IHOP. Good times. Sadie celebrated today by getting her ears pierced. 

January 30, 2026

Drove to and from Richfield today. I love that drive. I have no idea the number of times I’ve driven a variation of it between Richfield and Utah county over my 50+ years but it’s a big number.  

January 29, 2026

It’s been a bit of a stressful week with things coming all at once bringing a lot of work to come. I’m not the only one with stuff. Poor Cam had to get tonsil stones removed and Mason and Rachael are quickly packing up and moving. 

January 25, 2026

Send that text you thought about sending. It just might make someone smile as Hannah did for me this morning. 

I thought about what a good trip we had this weekend. Bleu cheese bacon burger and sweet potato fries at Oscar’s. Being kind to our Zion Guru worker. Our Zion beanies. Wearing waders like tourists. The feel of deeper water against the bibs. Neoprene socks. Driving HWY 9 with the morning light. The Narrows! Frost covered trees. Bryce Canyon in the snow. Driving through a snow dusted Red Canyon (the color was cool). Deb’s cabin and playing Tens. A new necklace. 

January 24, 2026

Today we decided to skip muddy Zion hiking and do a quick tour of Bryce Canyon instead. We found snow at Bryce which was beautiful and COLD. 

Last night I realized that by visiting Bryce I had been to all 5 Utah National Parks in one month. Kinda cool. First park was on December 27 and fifth park was January 24. 

January 23, 2026

My hiking friends and I are at Deb’s cabin for some Zion fun. We decided to hike the Narrows today and it was spectacular! Such a great hike! It was a really great day. 

Driving through SR 9 in the morning was gorgeous. Then we had such a fun walk through the narrows. It was gorgeous and so enjoyable and it was January. We were decked out in tourist narrows gear - bibs and boots and neoprene socks. Every turn was my new favorite spot. First it was the alcove part where the water flowing was loud and there was turquoise water and some rocks and red tall rocks. Then it was the narrow sandy somewhat deep part by Mystery Falls. Then it was…

You could drive your own vehicle up the canyon which was cool. I haven’t done that in 10 years or so.  We headed to Oscars after our hike for a yummy burger. Driving back to the cabin a young ram wished us farewell with a red rock backdrop.  Sigh. Like I said - great day!

(Me, Wendy, Lorien, Deb)

January 21, 2026

Darren and I barely survived another valiant activity. (And this was only the second one.) We took Mason to Costa Vida for dinner where Sadie joined us for her break. It’s nice talking to those two. Then she came home and made us laugh - that witty girl. To Darren - “You’re almost there.” (Talking about a dance move he was trying). :)

January 19, 2026

Darren humored me this morning and took me to hike Park Avenue in Arches before we drove home. I don’t know why but I really like that hike. We touched the trail sign at the top and turned back around. It was a good and relaxing long weekend. 1 out of 12 completed for the year. 

January 18, 2026

Today was a good day:

Sacrament meeting in Moab with a bonus good talk. Fisher Towers. Views. Bald eagle driving along castle valley road. Colorado River (with photo). Raven caw echo. Windows from behind. Sunset Gru arch. Hotel snack dinner. Snow capped La Sal mountains. Darren laughing at how obsessed I was with the river and the mountains. Making Darren laugh. Non existent Football Arch. Hotel hot chocolate two nights in a row. 

January 17, 2026

Did a little Bears Ears hiking today. We drove on Highway 95 and Darren and I talked about how we think my dad probably loved that road. It was right up his alley. We also decided he had a cool job driving around some of the state. I don’t think HWY 95 was in his district but it stinks that he’s not around to ask. 

First stop (after Maverick for our breakfast and car gas) was House on Fire. This ended up being a really cool ruin site. Getting there a little early meant it didn’t quite look as on fire as prime time but it also meant we had it to ourselves which I loved. (It had me singing This Girl (house) is on Fire all afternoon.) Then we went to Natural Bridges where we hiked 9 miles under 3 bridges and saw a cool ruin/rock art spot. That’s a great Saturday in mid January. Also, Darren’s “Wow” when he turned the corner and Sipapu came into view was awesome. 

January 16, 2026

I love driving Hwy 6 after Wellington near sunset. The shade of blue at dusk looking east is one of my favorite colors. It must be the grey shade of cliffs but whatever it is it makes it awesome. 

Doug’s BBQ in Monticello was a delicious dinner. And The Atomic Motor Inn is as small town clean motel as it gets. “Motorin’”. 

January 13, 2026

Tonight Camrie said, “neato Reno”. I smiled just thinking about my dad as he used to say that all the time. 

January 11, 2026

“It’s not fresh, but it’s air.” - Sadie after enough time had passed after her two sisters farted. 

Other things that made me smile:

Ry made us pretzels - they were delicious. A first Peep eating of the season. My library friends. Tina Turner’s song The Best comes on and reminds me of climbing up Frigid Air Pass. 

January 9, 2026

Journal prompt this morning was - Who is someone who makes you laugh? Darren. It’s Darren and I love it. Also the kids. I have funny, clever, witty kids. 

As for comedians, I love finding funny, clean comedians. Greg Warren, Ryan Hamilton, Alex Veluto, and Karen Morgan are some of my favorites. 

January 5, 2026

Got out on a little hike just up to Granite Flat and finally found some snow. It was lovely. Some snow on the ground and some snow falling from the sky. 

January 4, 2026

Some thankful things this week: Darren, new puzzle, Capitol Reef, Hot Spot fries, when the sky is pink through the window blinds, when you go to do an exercise and the last one you did was a hike, snagging a permit for the first part of your birthday trip, laughing, Cam and Sade being Cam and Sade, seeing Kenz mid week, Sadie describing an arch to me that she’s been to that looks like a cat and we figured out she was talking about Druid, C and S singing Descendants at 10pm in my room, Greg Warren at Wise Guys, K and T for Sunday dinner, this picture Sadie gave Darren for his birthday I finally remembered to take a picture of. 

January 3, 2026

Greg Warren is so very very funny! Darren and I laughed and laughed and then laughed some more - for an hour - while Greg entertained us. Dan Gardner. Garder clown and garder mountain lion. I think he’s our favorite comedian. We laughed harder tonight than we ever have and we’ve laughed at a lot of comedians. 

January 2, 2026

Day trip to Capitol Reef for D and me. I like to come to Capitol Reef in December as it feels good to remember my mom and dad at that time but this year it had to wait until January.  

6 hours of driving but we hiked more miles than hours driven so it was a win. 9.2 of awesome Capitol Reef. Frying Pan, Grand (more like decent) Wash, and road back to the trailhead at Hickman. I love the views along the frying pan. Sigh. The only thing missing was pie. But we made up for that getting my favorite fries at The Hot Spot in Salina.  I still wish I could have dropped in on my mom and dad.

(I spy Darren, Henry, and Fern.  :))

January 1, 2026

Happy New Year.  Just a few ideas to start the new year:

Be where my feet are and be bored. 

Isaiah 54:10 - For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee.