COVID Backpacking or Nature Heals the Soul

It has been so much fun to have Doug & Ange with us for the summer, or really since the middle of April.  Dad and I have had extra company, help and humor and Emily has had playmates. Recently we enjoyed a backpacking trip together in the Emigrant Wilderness.  We prepared to spend 3 days and hike all the way to Granite Lake but of course, we didn’t know if we would make it.  We left from Crabtree Trailhead and hiked to Camp Lake and then Bear Lake.  At this point there is no longer a true trail to follow and although there are some cairns, it is mostly just a general direction to head towards.  Here are some pictures of the journey.

 Beginning the hike.

 Angle of Repose.

 Always good to have girlfriends.

 Made it Granite Lake about 7 miles of hiking, elevation 9200’ and yes that’s snow 

all the way to the shores of the lake.

 “I wonder if the snow loves the trees and fields, that it kisses them so gently?  And then it covers them up snug, you know, with a white quilt; and perhaps it says, 

“Go to sleep, darlings, till the summer comes again.” 

(Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland)

 A little shower on the way down to Bear Lake.

 Love this guy!

 Love this girl!

We were so proud, her first fish caught, gutted, cleaned, cooked and enjoyed.  

They really were delicious rainbow trout.

I felt my lung inflate with the onrush of scenery-air, mountains, trees, people.  

I thought, “This is what it is to be happy.”

-Sylvia Plath, The Bell Jar

California Scenes

Tommy's Goal 10/6/15

I haven't blogged in a long time, but Karin asked for some pictures of Tommy.  Here is one of his goals last week.  Notice the fist pump and I also like the effect of the blurry picture.  I also love that at the end of the game he comes over to the stands and gives Grandma a big hug.  It makes her day.

Finally First Day of School

So this year it took one full month for all of my kids to have their first day of school.

Those here in Merced started in the middle of August, Scott started the first of September, Doug the middle of the month and Ben has his first day tomorrow.  So here are their pictures - except for Ben, because I forgot to get his picture.  But you can always follow Karin on instagram and see his picture.

 Emily is in 4th grade and is already busy studying California history.  She has a teacher who loves reading and so she will read and write about lots of books this year.  She is playing tennis and we go out to the college courts and practice in between lessons.  She also has a fantastic piano teacher.  She has memorized a 14 page (including orchestra parts) concerto and will perform in November.  I love having her home with me, it helps to ease the sadness I feel having my older kids gone.

 Thomas is a freshman at Golden Valley.  He started seminary - always a rude awakening.  He made the JV soccer team and was selected as co-captain.  He is playing trumpet in the band and is pretty good at the guitar, but don't tell him I told you because he doesn't like me to make that public.

 Scott is back at BYU, getting some GE credits done and starting to narrow in on his major classes.  He is rooming with friends from his freshman year and has two jobs - receptionist in the English department and referee for intramural sports.

Douglas is in Rexburg, and so happy to be back with Dr. Steve Thomas.  He spends several hours each day on beautiful Steinway grand pianos and is having fun living on his own.

Ben is starting his MBA program at UCLA.  He has been involved in orientation activities for the last two weeks and he and Karin are back in student housing after living in Walnut Creek for the last 2 1/2 years.

So how am I?  It is really hard to have your children leave home.  I can't help but get teary-eyed during the day and I find it really easy to cry over silly things.  I love when all of my family is gathered together, so I'm really looking forward to holidays and family reunions.

Family Together

This month has been crazy and crowded and tiring and terrific.  I finally have a new computer and so I feel like I can rejoin the real world.  Now that's a crazy statement.

Having Scott home is so great.  I missed him so much and it's a very peaceful feeling having him here in person.  This summer has been great because I have had ALL of my children with me multiple times.  It's a lot of work keeping everyone fed and entertained but it's also very comforting to have them all in the house with me.  It certainly makes me appreciate all that my parents do when we all go home to Durango.

I have loved listening to Scott's stories and the feelings he has about his mission.  He loved teaching and it has been rewarding to watch him do some teaching.   He's applied for a job at the MTC and I hope he get it.

I forgot how much the two of us talked.  I remember when he was in high school I tried to read every book he was reading just so we could talk about it.  I have no idea how many other mothers talk with their sons like this, but we have always bantered about books, political ideas, music.  I love discussions and so I love when he is interested in something and shares it with me.  

We've also enjoyed going to the temple, playing tennis and relaxing at the beach.  It will difficult to say goodbye to all 4 (including Ben) of my older children in just a month.  Our home will be so quiet.

52 in 2014

My younger sister inspires me with her blog. First of all, she is a really cute mom and second she is pretty consistent about writing and posting pictures. She says her kids love looking back and remembering the things they did over the past year. For me, blogging is a little like journal keeping once you get behind, it's easier to not do it rather than try to catch up. But, my sister has encouraged me to try to post at least once a week just so my kids can look back at it. I feel a little bad that the older kids aren't represented on the blog in their younger years. I hope they don't think I don't love them as much just because there aren't as many posts about them as there might be about the kids still at home. I wish a had a cute name for a weekly update, both my sister and sister in law have a cute title for a weekly post they do. Oh well, there is very little creativity in this brain.

Freebies

So recently I ordered a new pair of running shoes from Amazon. But what showed up on my doorstep was two boxes, each with a pair of running shoes. At first I thought I might have accidentally ordered two pairs. But I didn't.  I've been watching my credit card for a month to see if I might get charged twice. But I haven't. So today I called the store Kindrunner where the shoes came from and they said it was their mistake and that I could keep the extra pair of shoes for free. Woohoo.!

Then my sister, who is a runner, sent me a family calendar she made and said I didn't owe her anything. I bet if she new I got a free pair of shoes today, she would have made me pay.

What I really need is a new refrigerator, I'm thinking about visiting sears tomorrow just to see.......