7/26/21 Lake Powell

First time at Lake Powell with our boat.  It was amazing.  I really loved the canyons.  One day we hiked to end of Navajo canyon where the water fed into the lake as a large stream.  Then we headed to a cover where there was fun slot canyon at the end.  Another day we boated and hiked to Rainbow bridge and basically had the whole lake to ourselves, hiking through the slots, and playing with my family.  I really love these kids.  The boat launch was extremely sketchy.  #1 the water was so low that you backed on top of water sheets with rocks where the launch ended.  We ruined one tire that way.  Also, I just can't seem to get the boat onto the trailer well.  I didn't sleep at night fretting over the launching.   I lost some weight for sure, but once you are actually on the water, it is pure heaven.  I loved every minute of it.  Definitely will be back, hopefully with higher water levels. 

 

7/11/21 Life with 4 kids

 This week has been so calm.  With Gary Jr. and Lily visiting the sacred grove, Niagara Falls, and the Eastern US with grandparents, life is pretty calm around here.  We have gone boating a few times and done crafts, went to the river with friends, but really not much .  Grant got his cast off and got put in a brace, which is great progress too.  Overall, a calm nice week. 

I also found out the teacher's graduate program I have been pursuing is moving online, which is a real possibility for me.  I, however, contacted the department chair of MCC and although MEd + 18 credit hours is listed as a requirement in the job description, he said only 1 of 40 in his faculty have gone that route.  I don't know what to do.  I would love nursing, PA, medicine, teaching, seminary, I just don't know what to do.  

What I want is something that allows me to be flexible and work from home and still use creative juices and my mind a bit.   I don't know what direction to head, and it is frustrating beyond frustrating.  I feel like my hands are tied a bit. 

7/4/21 Happy 4th and Family reunion

 

Our family reunion was amazing at Bear Lake....we had beach days, boat days, hike days, cave days (that didn't pan out), and lots of food, devotionals, and games with cousins.  I had my fill of sister time and it was just amazing to be together with such a gorgeous backdrop.  My favorite was probably kayaking in the freezing water and hauling little children out to the water trampoline we had rented for the day.  It was such a great time.  Gary and I had the bunk room, in which there was a bed for every kid, but Gary and I also had bunks (no snuggling).  I had a little weight to lose now, but it was truly a wonderful week with my family. 

We made our way down to temple square the on the way back and got to look around the conference center.  We sent our two oldest for a week of church history tours on a plane home with grandparents this week (there flight was delayed and didn't get in until 3am).  

Grandma's 90th 6/26/21

 What a wonderful family reunion.  I drove up Wednesday, (Gary and Lily stayed behind for girl's camp).  And we attended my grandma's 90th birthday party.  What a wonderful party, catered by cafe Rio in at Timpanogas park, with my mom's cousin Ronny making the birthday cake and homemade gelato (he is a pretty famous caterer in Provo).  

My grandma has always been a selfless, soft-spoken woman, and sitting there, it was clear that her family was her treasure.  Each child and grandchild spoke and gave a memory, each felt like they were important to her and her favorite.  She has taken the time to bless our lives: give money when we had babies and given cards for every single birthday.

It was lovely, and I love her so much.  Her true birthday is Christmas day, but it was so nice to have all but 1 of her grandchildren there and great-grandchildren there. 

I had to share a memory, mine was about her buying me a comforter when she knew my BYU married apartment was freezing. She saw a need and filled it.  I also talked about how she had a desire after grandpa died and she actually had the freedom to choose...to attend the temple to receive her own covenants.  She kept it in her vision, what an example to us.

We also made a stop by the Provo City Temple....a place I used to attend Stake conference in my BYU days. (note the statue....)