SEPTEMBER 2022

 September 25, 2022

It’s Sunday night.  I’m ready for lights out.  But first here are a few pics from our week.  Some of you have shared a few with us. THANK YOU!!!

Randi had a birthday! 
We started up with pickle-ball again.  
Lane won GOLD in yesterday’s Springhouse Village tournament. 
Autumn has FALLen on us.
I spent a day with my Mother.
We made cookies, cleaned and laughed (no pic ☹️).
Lincoln and Carrie have been away for a week.
Isaac confided that he is losing his marbles.
The photo of us is him portraying what that looks like.
This week Tom’s family redeemed a CHRISTmas coupon for a picnic.
G’ma’s Special Sandwich - unhinged.  PB.B.M.C.C. on toast

Coming this week:
Sept 29th ~ Linc & Carrie and Steph & Jerel conclude their UK trip.
Sept 29th ~ Jennifer starts another trip around the sun!
Oct 1 & 2 ~ General Conference

We love you forever!
Momma C & Dad Lane (G&G Howell)

September 18, 2022

Is it Sunday night already?  Yes. Yes it is.

Special events have included (in random order):

RayDean’s birthday 🎂 
Justin’s birthday 🎉 
Carrie’s canyon birthday 🥳 
All-you-can-eat Fried Chicken🤣🍗
Lane’s 1/2 birthday 🧁 
Jami visits Utah, we meet my Mother for hotcakes 🥞 
Walking the block with Savannah and Charlie
Off to Vernal for Amanda’s mountain bike race 🚵‍♀️ 
Dalia & Tesila ran in the same JV Cross Country race (too bad we missed it).
We miss a lot of things.  But since we are back in SLC we’d like to spend time with our Utah kids and g’kids in the coming days and weeks.

In other family news:
Greg & Jennifer returned from their east coast trip.
Cam & Kim enjoyed a banking conference in Cali.
Mike & Mer are headed to Ireland for a vacay 🇮🇪 .
Jerel & Stephanie and Lincoln & Carrie enjoy a 10-day trip to the UK 🇬🇧 
Sam is making good progress as he gets settled into Ocoee, Florida.
Next week I’ll update our family addresses to add Jennifer’s, RayDean’s, the Hadley’s, the Gerber’s, and Sam’s.
Kylie is loving Austin!
We wish we were headed “across the pond”.
September 19th ~ Randi will be 36! 
Baby Owen Scott is 4 weeks old, has gained over 1 lb 3 oz above his birth weight, he’s a cutie, getting excellent care and developing his lung capacity.  Salute to Roy and Randi!

Take care of each other.  Provide love and encouragement.  You are the best people we know.  Keep in touch as best you can.  This is one of my attempts to do that.  We are praying for your success and fulfillment.

We love you forever!
Momma C & Dad Lane (G&G Howell)

September 11, 2022

I’m quirky. 
I eat potato chips smallest to largest.
If my bed is made then my room is clean.
I hate Halloween but I love the excuse to wear costumes.
One year I dressed as a “cereal killer”.
I collect tablecloths (& pins).
I love dipping french fries in a Wendy’s chocolate frosty.
I doodle.  I’m 64 and I still love new crayons and coloring.
I can hold my breath 25 seconds.
I forgot the word “orientation” 6 times this week.
I lick knives.
I can’t sleep with the closet door open.
I hate to love Peanut M&M’s.
I wish I could juggle.
Crunchy peanut butter trumps creamy.

I’m excited for this year’s new costumes.  Coming late October 2022.  Look out!

This week:
Sept 8-13 ~ Jami Robison visits from Cincinnati!
Sept 11th ~ Today, we remember the day that changed EVERYTHING!
Sept 12th ~ Carrie celebrates her 45th birthday!
Sept 12th ~ Lane marks his 1/2 birthday…74 1/2 wonderful years!
Sept 15th ~ Brian extinguishes 44 candles!

Please stay in touch.  We love you forever,
Momma C & Dad Lane (G&G Howell)

September 4, 2022

Hey you guys!!!

It’s so good to have gone, but no matter where you go, no matter how long, no matter how far, no matter how fabulous…it’s good to get home!!!

Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday were shared with the Gerber family, who moved to Pinesdale, Montana during our trip.  It was delightful - and hot!  Daisy held my hand and let me sit beside her.  Baby steps.

We drove home Thursday.  Lincoln prepared us a dinner of our Alaskan caught halibut and salmon…our first taste.  SOOOO good!  Thanks kids for the welcome home sign and cheers which rang through the neighborhood.

Yesterday was an extended family picnic for families of my aunts and uncles on my Mother’s side.  Out of a possible five hundred posterity of my Cottam grandparents 120 attended, which still was amazing…people are busy and distances are challenging.  

Reminders to myself:  
I enjoy painting, but stripes are time-consuming.
Face-painting is much quicker.
If I see a cement truck at the end of a parade run towards it, candy is being dispensed in HEAVY doses.
I love to color. I have some new techniques to try.
Save room to assist in eating a 24-foot banana split.
My family is outstanding!  

Coming soon:
5th ~ ‘stay-home-from-work-and-play-day’…formerly known as ‘Labor Day’
8th ~ Justin will be 21!
9th ~ RayDean will be 29 years old, with 23 years of experience!

We’ll be mostly in Utah until mid-December.  Have a great week.  Stay in touch.  You mean the world to us.  

We love you forever!
Momma C & Dad Lane (G&G Howell)

AUGUST 2022

 August 28, 2022

Sunday greetings!  This Friday marks the conclusion of our 73 day road trip. It’s been fantastic, frustrating, fun-filled, fearsome, and fortuitous!  

Here’s a quick(?) overview:
IDAHO
 Lava Hot Springs (enjoy w/ Linc & kids, Bells, & Slater too)
 Craters of the Moon National Monument
 McCall (visit Reta)
OREGON
 Eugene (visit Jerry & Erin’s family)
 Albany (visit Cam & Kim’s family)
WASHINGTON
 Lopez Island & Lake Stevens (camping w/ Britni & Brian’s family)
BRITISH COLUMBIA 
YUKON
ALASKA (6 weeks)
 Skagway, Haines
 Anchorage/Palmer/Seward/Denali (a week w/ Cam & Kim)
 Fairbanks/Dalton Hwy/Deadhorse/Arctic
 Soldotna/Homer/Kodiak/Aleutian’s 
NORTHWEST TERRITORIES
ALBERTA
MONTANA
 Glacier National Park
 Pinesdale (visit Callie & Rayson’s family)

Lane plans road trips like a moose.  He “thinks BIG!” 12,000 miles.

…and spending time in the woods, being wild.  Sharing these few signs that led us back home. 

Aug 21st ~ Randi & Roy’s baby boy arrived (7 weeks early) 
Coming soon:
Aug 29th to Sept 1st ~ we visit Gerber family
Sept 2nd ~ we return to South Jordan
Sept 3rd ~ Happy 18th Anniversary to Jerry & Erin!!!

Be unstoppable. We love you forever,
Momma C & Dad Lane (G&G Howell)

August 21, 2022

Bodacious Beloved Boys & Girls, 

Is it possible to have another stellar week?

Yes, yesiree!!!

~Dueling reels — bringing in a silver & a king simultaneously!! 
~The sun shines☀️on our final fishing day. 
~Lane helps reel in some bait😂.
~This amazing red sculpon is also bait. 
~The black rockfish may not be a great kisser but is very tasty. 
~This fishhold is divided among the clients which means we all cheer for each other!
~The tally count on each boat this week. 
~A big mock salmon can is a fitting trash can in Kodiak. 

~we left by ferry last Wednesday for Dutch Harbor in the Aleutian Island chain, out towards Russia. 
~celebrated my birthday dinner in the onboard restaurant. 
~our room was modest with first class pricing. 
~scenery included Mount Frosty and Castle Cape.
~6 ports included Chignik and Cold Bay.
~we arrived to Dutch Harbor (aka Unalaska) Saturday morning. 
~what might have been😩…the Grand Aleutian Hotel where we were booked to stay for 2 nights. 
~weather delayed all flights out of remote Dutch Harbor to Anchorage so we promptly cancelled our hotel room and hopped back on the 3-day (once a month) ferry😵‍💫
~once back on board we jigsawed, sudoku’d, read Come Follow Me lessons, played rummy, and slept on these benches for 3 nights. 
~we are nothing if not flexible!!!

(You’ll receive this when we reach Homer Tuesday and reconnect to WiFi.)

Coming this week:
24th ~ we bus back to Anchorage, pick up our repaired car and start the drive home. 
27th ~ Darren celebrates his 29th birthday!

We love you forever!
Momma C & Dad Lane (G&G Howell)

August 14, 2022

Howdy y’all,

This week was all about the FISH!

1) To fish or not to fish?  What a stupid question.
2) It’s going swimmingly in Soldotna and Homer.
3) Keep calm and fish on.
4) A fine kettle of fish from the Kenai River.
5) Good things come to those who bait.
6) We’re gonna need a bigger fishhold.
7) Something smells fishy (I’m told it’s the King Salmon).
8) Gotta hook ‘em to cook ‘em.
9) Reely good day after day after day after day.
10) Carpe diem - catching our limit 4 days in a row!

The haul includes silver salmon, sockeye salmon, king salmon, pink salmon, halibut, rockfish.  Who likes fish?

Coming soon:
15th ~ We anticipate another amazing day of fishing off of Kodiak Island.
17th ~ Camden Hadley’s 17th birthday (Mike’s son)
17th ~ Will you still need me when I’m 64?  That’s moi, today!!!
17th ~ Another 1/2 day of fishing…and we start the 4-day/3-night ferry ride out the Aleutian Islands to Dutch Harbor.
20th ~ Farewell party for Sam who is moving to Orlando (hosted by Lincoln and Carrie).
21st ~ Kiersten Hadley will be 14 years old (Mike’s youngest daughter)

Please email, text or call.  We LOVE hearing from you.  Even a short sentence or two helps us feel involved in your life.  Photos are a big bonus. 

We love you forever,
Momma C & Dad Lane (G&G Howell)

August 7, 2022

Extreme road trippin’!

The northern most road in Alaska is known as The Dalton Highway, built in ‘74 for oil workers, opened to the public in ‘94. 
It’s a long haul - 414 miles each way. expect pavement, dirt (mud), gravel, frost heaves, potholes, no shoulders, few guardrails, sharp drop offs, single lanes, wooden bridges, animals, few gas stations (pricey), expensive dormitory-type housing.

PART 1 - the drive north in perfect weather!
Photos L to R, Top to bottom. 
The official start.
Ceremonious photo opp several miles later. 
Panoramic scenery.
The pipeline travels with us, 1/2 of it buried.
Crossing the invisible Arctic Circle. Don’t forget to stop 1/2 way for gas in Coldfoot and an overpriced, smelly dorm room ($249)
Mishaps happen. 
The official end of the Dalton Highway. (It ends at Lake Colleen, Deadhorse Industrial camp/Prudhoe Bay. 
The stickered wall aka the mall. 

PART 2 - The Arctic Ocean lies 8 miles past the Dalton Highway. Access is only by shuttle bus through private oil fields. 
The weather was 71°. We hopped in. I took the plunge. Our basic accommodations were $220 night. Communal bathrooms. Bears are take seriously here. I love the boot dryers!!! Fill your tank up before you go $8.07 per gallon. 

PART 3 - driving south to Fairbanks. 
We tried to get out ahead of the rain but failed. 
There are many ways to travel the Dalton. 
Redneck rifle plunger. 
Stop for more overpriced gas and dorm room at Coldfoot. 
The sun ‘set’ for 3.5 hours  and the high temperature is expected to drop 30° in the next week. 
We finished it Saturday!! Our windshield, tires and 2 human adventurers survived. Now we are in Anchorage waiting for brake repairs and tire alignment. 

It’s not everyday that I can add to my top 100 travel memories. But Thursday was one of them!!!

Coming this week:
Aug 8th ~ X will be 33!
Aug 8th ~ we begin a 2 week trip exploring Homer, Kodiak and the Aleutian island chain by bus, boat and planes. 
Aug 12th ~ Cam & Kim celebrate 26 years married!  

Have any of you talked to Sam lately?  If not, you should!

We love you forever!
Momma C & Dad Lane (G&G Howell)

JULY 2022

July 31, 2022 

Holy moly what a marvelous week!!!  Unbelievably memorable.

1) Cam & Kim were HERE!!!  And took the nice weather with them when they flew home the 30th.
2) We fished out of Seward and on the Kinuk River (watched a black bear on the bank for 2 minutes).
3) Fed a moose at the Reindeer Farm.
4) Glaciers!!!  Drove 4x4’s four hours to glaciers, walked on Matanuska Glacier, took a Glacier Cruise out of Whittier into Prince William Sound for glacier calving. 
5) Flew over Denali!!!
6) Kayaked on Falks Lake…but I call it Brian’s Lake.
7) Compared before and after photos at the Anchorage Temple.
(FYI we found church mtgs today…the first since June 19th)
8) Ziplined.
9) Began our drive north to Prudhoe Bay…stopping in Fairbanks.
10) Our campground is right next to the Tanana Valley State Fair!

This is my 4th trip to Alaska, Lane’s 6th.  But these are some firsts:
~ Driving to Alaska
~ camping without the need of flashlights
~ duct taping our grill and bumper back onto our car
~ adding 6 additional pieces of duct tape Saturday
~ eating a progressive dinner of carnival foods
(Garlic butter artichoke, cob of corn, BBQ turkey leg, huckleberry ice cream dipped in chocolate and rolled in toffee almonds.)

This week:
5th - Slater will be eleven!
5th - Charlie is turning two!
6th - Savannah is celebrating her 4th birthday!

Write when you can.  We miss you all!  It was fabulous to see photos from the wedding of Mer & Mike.  We were able to share our own form of geo-caching with them in Skagway.

We love you forever!
Momma C & Dad Lane (G&G Howell)

July 24, 2022 

Still here.  In Alaska.  

1)  Last week we took the ferry from Skagway to Haines.
2)  We camped 2 nights near the port of Haines waiting to fish.
3)  Both days our fishing charters were cancelled for weather delays.
4)  We explored “Dalton City”, the movie set for White Fang (1991).
5)  We survived our worst night of camping - WIND is a four-letter word &$!#%
6)  We hightailed it to Anchorage to meet Cam & Kim at the airport.
7)  Along the way we spotted the Alaskan Pipeline. 
8)  We are staying with Brian Hansen’s parents in Palmer, AK 
9)  They are Mark & Dixie…and just as impressive as Brian.
10)  The four of us headed to The Alaska Zoo before driving to Seward…
…to be continued…

Items of note:
Today was Pioneer Day AND Luke’s birthday.
25th ~ Maggie becomes a teenager!
26th ~ Mer & Mike wed in a simply beautiful and beautifully simple ceremony.  SO SORRY to miss this!!!
27th ~ Our 73-day trip is 1/2 way complete.
30th ~ Cam & Kim fly home to Albany and we start our drive North towards the Dalton Highway.
31st ~ Chloe celebrates turning ‘double digits!

We love you forever!
Momma C & Dad Lane (G&G Howell)

July 17, 2022

Our 10-week Alaska trip continues with border crossings into BC & Yukon Territory, Canada and Skagway, AK.  Tips: be patient and get the ArriveCAN app!

1) we planned 8 days for our slow drive to Skagway, AK but completed in 6

2) the BC scenery was stunning

3) campgrounds were plentiful 

4) Four bear sightings along the highway

(Photo is from a book)

5) one unfortunate black bear smashed into our car

6) it’s miraculous that our car stayed on the road and is drivable

7) first time in Yukon Territory!!! (First Nation artwork, Klondike, suspension bridge)

8) we’ve camped 8 out of 9 nights since leaving WA - in mosquito swarms🦟, in bear country🐻, in rain🌧, in tremendous wind 💨

9) yet we are having a blast!

10)  took the ferry from Skagway to Haines. Fishing trip cancelled today😩

Family events:

July 18 - Jerel marks his 52 year here

July 21 - Jerry tries hard not to celebrate being 41

July 23 - Taggart turns into a favorable 14 yo
July 24 - Luke will be one year shy of driving!

Please send us texts, emails or Marco’s. We’ll check whenever we have WiFi.  Keep us updated. 

We love you forever!

Momma C & Dad Lane (G&G Howell)

 July 10, 2022

The 4th of July🇺🇸!  A great day to remember where I was born and raised, why I love being an American and what happened to create this country* (continued below signature line)

(Pics in random order)

1) mini-golf tournament with the Adams family

2) a patriotic picnic combined Eugene Adams and Albany Howells

3) Kaelyn & I tackled a tough puzzle…with help.

4) Brennan’s current favorite instrument is the piano and he’s terrific!

5) sidewalk view of fireworks 💥 (Albany)

6) nothing sweeter than fresh shell peas

(Grown by Kim & Cam)

7) San Juan Island camping with Hansens

8) hiking, picnics, paddle boarding, hobo pies, sand creations, ferries. 

9) I learned I fear😱caterpillars. And I don’t taking caterpillar 🐛 teasing well🤬. 

10)  painting rocks, Saran-wrap unwrapping, talent night and SING 2. 

Gosh, that week flew by. We hugged and waved and drove north to Alaska. But first, Canada 🇨🇦 (British Colombia and Yukon Territory).  More about that next week.  

Family happenings:

July 4th - we saw evidence of a wonderful Howell BBQ gathering!

July 12th - Greg is 1/2 century!!!! 

July - Bullock’s complete an Alaskan Cruise

July 9th to 16th - We drive from Lake Stevens, WA to Skagway, AK

July 16th - Britni undergoes an emergency appendectomy 

July - the Gerbers prepare to move to Montana

July - Mer & Mike’s house nears completion. 

Please include us in your happenings. You make our world go round.  We are cheering for your success! And…

We love you forever!

Momma C & Dad Lane (G&G Howell)

* continued commentary from above…

Several hundred years ago people broke free from a developed nation and started over as frontiersmen in a new and primitive land. One of the most radical, courageous, far-fetched startups EVER in the history of startups. Setbacks. Sure. Blunders. Certainly. Catastrophes. You bet. But the idea of freedom from an overreaching monarchy had taken root. These pilgrims, pioneers, patriots, protagonists did not quit. Outnumbered, outgunned, uncertainty.  It took guts, grit, blood, and perseverance to gain the freedom we still have today. Am I grateful for it? Do I deserve it? 

Their victory in 1776 meant implementing these radical ideas. People had to rethink everything they had known. Change was constant. It took grit to push through with plans to govern a new continent. Some advancements took decades, some centuries. Still we are developing. 

I appreciate what Caden shared in his letter last week about this great country.  God’s hand was evident. 

"And for this purpose have I established the Constitution of this land, by the hands of wise men whom I raised up unto this very purpose" 

So, Monday I sat amongst family, garnishing my brat, piling my plate high with baked beans, salad, a cob of corn, munching on melons and sipping soda - all the while just grateful to be me, living here, amazed.  I’d say I successfully captured Freedom on a plate that day 🇺🇸🌭🥗🌽🍉💥❤️

 July 3, 2022

These are the best of times…if I just stay off social media. And away from the news. Head in the sand.  Honestly, the best of times are ALWAYS with our outstanding family!!!

(Photos are scrambled)
1) we left Craters of the Moon after climbing this steep slope up the “Inferno Cone”.  ❤️‍🔥Hot stuff!
2)  over hill and dale we made our way to McCall, ID to hug Reta, Lane’s sister, and play the horses 🐎 (it’s a card game the senior ladies play😉).
3)  traversing the Columbia River gorge we parked in Albany for a few days finding good things to eat with Kim & Cam…and ELVIS 🎥 🍿😎. Thx for the shell peas!!!
4)  proceeding south a bit we hovered around Eugene until the 4th,
5) our days with Jerry’s family were filled with
6) unwrapping a ball of Saran Wrap
7) hiking 
8) touring the Natural History Museum (where Erin now is employed)
9) Kaelyn beat us in the long jump
(so did Jerry but he refused the medal🏅)
10) and fresh🍓🍋-aide & amazing meals

Happening soon:
4th ~ 🇺🇸We love AMERICA!!!❤️🤍💙
5th ~ road trippin’ continues as we drive to Anecortes, WA and join the Hansens for 2 nights of camping in the beautiful San Juan Islands, specifically Lopez. 
10th ~ this day (maybe) we begin our drive to Alaska, full speed ahead…at 250 miles per day😆

Good people are everywhere…if you can’t find one, be one!

We love you forever!
Momma C & Dad Lane (G&G Howell)