OCTOBER 2018
(this blog contains my weekly emails to my precious family)
WEEK 1 ~ 10/1/2018
1) Okay, so I turned 60 in August and these human beings held a gathering at Ft Stevens State Park on the Oregon Coast.
2) Then I got a crazy weird haircut and considered buying a wig. Whew! That was a close call.
3) What’s your favorite ice cream flavor?
4) We drove up to the Park City Hot Air Balloon Festival "Autumn Arise”. They didn’t…rise. Too windy.
5) It’s now a tradition that a handful of Orlando friends meet for lunch because we’ve done it twice…in 4 years.
6) I flew to Portland while visiting with Mallory from Studio C. Seat mates. She’s from Portland. Very pretty. And friendly.
7) I’m visiting Jerry and his family for a little down time.
8) Ava & I did a little Geo-caching waiting for the soccer game.
9) Kaelyn & Brennan postgame pic.
10) "God’s most extraordinary work is most often done by ordinary people in the seeming obscurity of a home and family.” Neal A. Maxwell
Happy 14th anniversary to:
9/3 Jerry & Erin Adams
Happy Belated birthdays to:
9/8 Justin Howell
9/9 RayDean Hill
9/12 Carrie Howell
9/15 Brian Hansen
9/19 Randi Scott
WEEK 2 ~ 10/7/2018
Hello incredibly great young people!
I’ve just returned from a relaxing week in Tigard with Jerry & Erin’s family. On my flight to Portland my seat mate was Mallory from Studio C, or the Purple Mattress girl.
I tagged along to soccer games and practices with Brennan and Kaelyn, a lil geocaching with Ava, went miniature golfing, watched Ava play flag football, walked kids to and from school, ate delicious food, and enjoyed the camaraderie of the Adams home.
Jerry treated me to a day in my hometown where we met Britni (who drove down from Lake Stevens with Violet and Hatcher) at beautiful Lake Sacajawea. Members of my family lived in Longview, WA 36 years. One by one each of the 7 C’s left home for college and started families. Lastly, my parents sold our home and moved to Utah 12 years ago. Last Thursday I could not think of one person in town that would remember me. As we meandered around the lake, drove around a few landmarks (i.e the nutty squirrel bridge), I came to realize that I have no connection to Longview except for fading memories. Still, it was a beautiful day and I’m grateful that those memories include my children.
I’ve been pleased to stay still this weekend to listen first hand to all 5 sessions of General Conference. I drove to Temple Square early Saturday and stood for 2 hours hoping to get one standby seat in the conference center. Turns out I was only fortunate enough to be seated in the tabernacle. Here are some of the highlights for me.
A Come Follow Me manual for home use due out in December.
A shortened Sunday Church schedule to 2 hours.
A correction to use the Lord’s designated name for His Church.
And 12 new temples announced.
The FIRST Women’s Session held on General Conference weekend and the entire 1st Presidency gave us counsel.
In addition President Nelson invites all women to:
- Participate in a 10-day fast from social media.
- Read the Book of Mormon between now and the end of the year, marking every reference to Christ.
- Establish a pattern of regular temple attendance.
- Participate fully in Relief Society.
Coming this week:
11th - Triple date with Jon & RayDean, Lincoln & Carrie
12th-14th An RV jaunt with Sam, Jamie and boys to Dinosaur National Park.
WEEK 3 ~ 10/14/2018
Howdy, hospitable, hardworking, heartwarming kids!
This evening we just returned from a 3 day weekend with Sam & Jamie’s family to Dinosaur-land — aka Vernal.
Vernal is a hub for some off the beaten path adventures. Vernal itself boasts a Dinosaur museum and has the best community pool in the state! Not far away was the Dinosaur quarry visitor center and shuttle service to the quarry site. We also ventured out yesterday for a nice hike to find Moonshine Arch.
And finished off the trip this afternoon exploring Fantasy Canyon.
Last Monday Amanda partnered with me to do some weeding at G’ma Creek’s front flower beds (my dear mother’s house).
Well-past sunset we decided to weed for 5 more minutes. Suddenly we found ourselves under attack and feeling sharp pains on our ankles. We ran immediately to the sidewalk, suspecting red-ants, and stripped off our shoes and socks. The pains kept coming on our arms, backs, legs, buttocks. We then ran inside while realizing we had disturbed a beehive, bees trailing along behind. Where was the iconic lake we were supposed to jump into? haha. Six days later my stings are still itching.
Lane and I also hosted a triple date with the Hills and DayBreak Howells to a David Archuleta and Colbie Caillat concert. I thought it was wonderful!
To inspire: LOVE is the measure of our faith, the inspiration for our obedience, and the true altitude of our discipleship.
Coming this week:
16th ~ Adelaide will be 5!
20th ~ Happy Birthday to Kim!
21st ~ Samie turns 17!
WEEK 4 ~ 10/21/2018
Good afternoon, good morning and good night!
Some of the week’s highlights in photo-form:
1) An early celebration of Anissa’s upcoming birthday. A luncheon at “The Garden”.
2) I’m tending 2 adorable grandkids in Mississippi while Chris Robison is working under contract in Texas and Jami is training full time for a part-time job.
3) Jami had yesterday off so we visited a dairy farm -- played in a vat of corn, made butter, wandered through a corn maze, rode the “Moo-Choo” train and had the most fun on their huge slides.
4) Lane opted for deep sea fishing off the coast of Mexico. He caught several nice tuna and speared the bull fish (with help from his new buddy Ricardo).
What’s the difference between a piano and a fish? You can tune a piano but you can’t tune-a-fish ;o}
I like this quote by Gordon B. Hinckley, "This is my prayer for all of us; 'Lord, increase our faith.' Increase our faith to bridge the chasms of uncertainty and doubt. . . . Grant us faith to look beyond the problems of the moment to the miracles of the future. . . . Give us faith to do what is right and let the consequence follow.”
Coming this week:
21st - Samantha’s birthday is TODAY!
22nd - Tom’s is tomorrow!
24th - Lane & I celebrate 22 years together…while traveling in separate countries.
25th - Josh is old enough to legally drive!!!
27th - Ava turns 12!
WEEK 5 ~ 10/28/2018
Greetings...
1) I loved every minute with the Robison family. Such a wonderful group! And I get to call them F A M I L Y .
2) We were fortunate to catch standby flights: Lane from Mexico to Houston. Carolyn from Jackson, Mississippi to Houston for a belated 22nd Anniversary. We enjoyed relaxing together and exploring a new city...
Then back to Carla (in Steph's driveway in South Jordan) 2 days later.
3) over the years the entertainment value of halloween has worn off - completely. I pretty much abhor halloween. But this I found funny...especially since I started counseling and medication for anxiety and depression last month.
We love you forever!
