'The Great Family Get-to-Gether'

Ah, 'The Great Family Get-to-Gether' resulted in a miracle photo that shows how much fun it was with 90% smiles (although photo shows only 50% smiling)of the 65% in attendance. Take one beautiful day, add 13 people, 4 cars, one disqualified softball game, a yummy breakfast and you have a hike to Donut Falls. All of us got a legal parking space and made it to the end of the trail.

10% made it to the top, 5% had walking sticks they liked, 50% waded in the water. Many were fearful of hike fatigue, but snacks at trail's end overcame that. Some saw moose, most got hot, everyone ate and had fun. Several took photos, mountain views were enjoyed, no one complained (to me) and we talked of repeating it again next year. Thank you all for coming because we needed it. Love Mom

Made It to Martin Harris Pageant

With my nephew's wedding in Logan last week, we decided to go the the Martin Harris Pageant, too. Only problem is I didn't buy gas when the tank was low, thinking there was one more station, but there wasn't. Twenty miles later at 7:10 pm, we sat at the crossroads of three towns with an empty tank. Tiny Clarkston, where the pageant was(fifteen miles away,)probably didn't have gas. Logan and Wellsville were our choices. Not knowing how far it was to each town, we turned toward Wellsville. Ten miles later we gased up.

Heading back toward Clarkston I wished for rain to delay it, because the paper said it began at 7:30pm. How dumb, we would miss half of the play, I could only be mad at myself. Arriving at 8 pm what a miracle to see we were actually early. The play started at 8:30. Yeah! Great seats, play & time to relax and forget my fiasco.

Martin Harris, one of the Three Witnesses of the Book of Mormon, came to Utah in 1870 at the age of 87 and settled in Clarkston, Utah, where he died on July 10, 1875. He enjoyed sharing his testimony with those who would visit him and encouraged them to share his story and testimony with others

On July 10, 1925, the 50th anniversary of Martin Harris' death, LDS Church President Heber J. Grant dedicated a large granite monument on the gravesite with an inscription telling of Harris' role as a special witness and his testimony of the Book of Mormon. Also, a copper box containing a Book of Mormon, a Doctrine & Covenants, and testimonies of many of the people who had known Martin and heard his testimony was placed at the base of the monument.

The pageant became a reality on a hill at the edge of the Clarkston Cemetery about twenty years ago. If you are in the Cache Valley this summer, be sure to see this free play about his life July 30th-Aug 13th. Be smart & buy gas at the freeway exit.

Fifty-nine and Failing

Recently I heard someone say it was sublime to be fifty nine. I beg to differ. After spending a month in that state of life. So far I have noticed my hearing failing, my memory more forgetful, my brain fuzzy when called upon to work and my joints freezing up more frequently. Not to mention, I finally found the phone, keys and camera I misplaced yet again. The shoes, good spelling and jacket are still missing. Frankly, I'm frustrated.

For all who have been there, done that, my apologies for not sympathizing with you sooner. Those have yet to hit the mark. Watch out! It's a bummer. This decline may be gradual or quick, real or imagined, but never welcomed. Even my granddaughter, Sarah, has noticed when I ask her to repeat it again. How annoying to look for days for something to discover it has been in the bottom of your purse or under the car seat the whole time. Apparently I am blind, too.

It's only a matter of time before the care center comes knocking on my door or the kids haul me there on the sly.

In Search of Internet Service

We fired our internet provider of two years. It was down more times than it was working. It had been an adequate union, but 'not available' was the killer. Currently we are in search of another service that won't break the bank.

'Bundling' is the big push by many groups these days, but the costs are unreal after the honeymoon phase. It feels like they are trying to boondogle us into a bungling batch of nothing. Making & breaking contracts makes it tough to commit. Phones are a must, but do we want it all?

Stay tuned to our new internet, faster, simpler and easy next week. Posts will resume, then.

Birthday's Best

Well another birthday has come and gone. It was a good day, with lots of well wishers via phone, Facebook, mail and in person. Allan gave me a sleek new camera small enough to pack around 24/7. Thank you. A Bonus Birthday.

Thinking back to other birthdays I remember ones such as:
One year I awoke up at 4:30 to watch the sunrise from a lounge chair on the back lawn. A Beat the Sun Birthday.

I got a brand new Schwinn two wheeler for my twelfth birthday. We were inseparable for years until it wore out. At sixteen a bright red Wilson tennis racket was waiting for me. I gave it to the grandkids last year. A Biking Birthday.

For my twentieth birthday brother, Jim, gave me some ice skates. I still have them, but the padded lining has turned hard and powdery. Smiley face drinking glasses showed up about the same time, thanks to a good friend. A Bought Stuff Birthday.

At twenty-one I got an engaged. The ring was hidden in the glove box. We got married in September. A Big Future Birthday.

Ten years ago I tried roller blading and broke my wrist. Later that day the car broke down and we had to hitch a ride home after seeing the movie, Mulan. We spent all evening in the ER. A Bummer Birthday.

I'm lucky enough to have a good weather birthdate. Except for about five years ago when it rained all day, most have been - Balmy with Blue Skies Birthdays.

When my birthday was on Sunday several years ago, there was no hiking, biking or shopping. I was able to nap and gave a lesson at church. A Behave Yourself Birthday.

Sometimes I have tried to cram so much into this one day, it would bomb and I regretted doing so. I've had several Bombed Birthdays.

Allan reminded me I was as old as he is now. Prior to that, I was excited for the 'Big' day. In the words of Tiny Tim, "Happy Birthday, Everyone!"

Gals Gabbing

A group of my high school friends got together for lunch this week. A few of the gals hadn't seen one another since graduation. What fun we had reminicsing about old times, jobs, marital status, grandkids and such. Some of us went to elementary school together and go way back. We laughed about and tried to remember some the antics that occurred. Who says you are at a loss of what to say. We talked about old flames, the haunted bathroom, teachers sneaking Coke in the closet and much more.

I pulled out the ole camera and snapped a few pictures. Some of us look the same, others better and yet, who cares. We teased the oldest that will be sixty this year, glad we are the youngest of the group. Call your friends and set a date to gab with the gals.

It's About (Ant) Time

"The ants march in the ants march out,
The ants march up and about your snout."

Do you remember singing this familiar song while marching around with childhood friends on ant and insect hunts?

With a late spring and cool temperatures the ants have stayed, underground or where ever it is they stay, until warm weather brings them outdoors. Ant swarms dot my sidewalk. Both large swarms of them and small piles of sand show their spring house cleaning has begun.

Usually the ants come indoors for a few weeks mid-spring, until it is consistantly warm enough to gather food outside. Perhaps their winter stores are depleted and our homes are a perfect emergency '72 hour kit' with plenty of food and to spare. No matter what I do they usually are found running bootleg from my kitchen to infinity and beyond. Or at work my lunch bag, left on the floor, has been invaded by these six legged "what's yours is mine" creatures.

It may take a while before we notice one ambitious ant first, then a trail of them trying to pack away the kitchen sink. Soon we realize they are back in force. No amount of sweeping, mopping or tidying will hamper their wagon train toting off whatever they like. Vacuum often or you'll discover they are even in your carpet under Dad's favorite chair, gathering crumbs from last nights snacks.

Can you imagine their conversations, "What a haul at the house on the corner." "Tell your family it is a smorgasboard." "We have hit the mother lode in that room!" All the while we are oblivious to them 'marching in, out and about."

Keep an eye out for them, because they will be back, sooner or later!