September 21st My Favorite Day!

Favorite Day, You say? Why would anyone pick September 21st as a favorite day? I'll tell you why someone would pick today as a favorite day. I'll tell you in 4 words: EARTH WIND AND FIRE! Yeah I'm serious. My favorite band: EARTH WIND AND FIRE. They happen to sing my favorite song: SEPTEMBER! Ok well that might explain why I like the Month of September. But why the DAY September 21? Anyone familiar with song will know this! The very first verse of the song! Let's say it ALL TOGETHER:

Do you remember the
21st night of September?
Love was changing the minds of pretenders
While chasing the clouds away!

Awesome, right? That also happens to be my future wedding date if Marriage ever happens! The beauty of that day? I'll of course open up my wedding reception with my favorite song! PERFECT right? RIGHT?! I have decided Each Year on this Day to throw a party. And Earth Wind and Fire Party! And just laugh and dance the night away. This is the one song that puts me in a great mood no matter what! I just can't sit still when I hear it. Can you? Try it! I DARE YOU! I invite everyone to Borrow my favorite day and my favorite song and laugh and dance the night away. Even if you're just sitting at home, put on some Earth Wind and Fire and DANCE! BOOGIE WONDERLAND! I promise you will not be able to wipe the smile off your face and stop your feet from tapping! Try it! I DARE YA!

Cruizin... On A Sunday Afternoon...! Part I

Woke up to a beautiful Sabbath on 8/21/2011. Got my praise one in the morning and decided to take a little road trip. What better way to remember the Lord than to be out in his country enjoying his creations. I jumped on I-15 and headed north. No particular place in mind. Just the desire to soak up the last bit of the weekend before the Monday grind. I found myself headed toward Ogden. I’d heard of a camping location up that way and wanted to check it out. Before hand I kind of just drove around the city and the neighborhood where at family home sits. After my quick tour of the city I headed East toward Ogden Canyon. If you’ve never taken this drive you gotta do it. Not only is it a gorgeous view it has elements of danger: Sharp curves, falling rocks…not just rocks… boulders from the eroding mountain ranges from above that have landed in the road and moved to the side.

I hoped this particular road trip was going to be an adventure. The plan was to just go where I have never been before and see where I end up. There’s road construction going into the canyon which is always a delightful joy. Once you get passed it the drive is quite refreshing. This will not be a boring drive and will keep you on your toes.

I came upon a place called Pine View Reservoir and a camping ground Called Anderson Cover. This will become a spot on my list of places to go camping. Its beautiful with the lakes in the background. I had seen the Reservoir and the dam before, but never went passed it. Little did I know I was selling myself short. I have sense learned there is great adventure in the phrase…” let’s just keep going and see what’s up ahead!” That’s exactly what I did. I continued passed Anderson Cove and decided to take the next left turn that came around. The left turn had me then headed north. I traveled North for a small while and decided North looked boring and decided to turn at the next intersection. I took a left and was immediately fascinated by the building and the signs I saw.



I had hit the little town of Huntsville, Ut. I parked my care at Huntsville Square, grabbed my camera and started talking. The air was hot but there was a cool breeze dancing around the sleeves of my blouse causing them to tickle my arm.
I passed a dentist office that looked as if it was façade from “Little House On The Prairie” and right next to it was a bbq house.




I turned the corner and across the street was a small building: Ogden Valley Community Church. I was small and cozy. Visions of a 1 room chapel danced across my mind .

I continued down the block and across the street and before me was the Shooting Star Saloon lined with Motorcycles with laughter and music floating outside from the windows.





Then I turned the corner I saw more of the “Walnut Grove” houses with rustic relics on the houses and in the well manicured lawns. It was truly a step into Norman Rockwell-ville and Old school Americana. I was content and a peace with myself and the world.





I walked the streets and drove the neighborhood and encountered horses,



beautiful lake front homes,





an elderly woman in Pajama’s walking down the street with empty water containers



and a tiny vegetable stand with summer and zucchini squash on it next to a sign with the word “FREE” next to it!





For a moment I wished it was my neighborhood. After about an hour of peaceful roaming I headed back to the intersection that led me to this place and decided to see what the East side has in store for me. The roads were windy and reminded me of the snake river. Along the way there were several turn outs for Camping sites. Cache National Forest: Magpie, Monte Cristo, South fork, perception park, Meadows, Willow.... some of the places were very dense with trees and brush. Once again getting restless with the winding of the road, I decided to turn off at the next main intersection.

But instead I got off on a turn out and headed up a steep incline. The road is immediately narrow with very little visibility in front of me because of the winding around the side of the mountain. A little bit nervous, I press the gas. I'm in intrigued as to where this road will take me. There's a turn out to the right that levels off to less dangerously entry way and I can see several cars parked on what seems to be ledge. Of course I continue up the narrow steep incline. On the passenger side of me, a rail and a steep drop off. On the driver's side the oncoming traffic lane and a mountain. For the most part very little shoulder on each side.

One Thing you learn when traveling narrow mountain roads: You gotta commit! There is no u turning in situations like this and backing up it out of the question. When faced with this kind of thing, you must be sure you are willing to go the distance because the only way out is whatever way you find at the end of the road, sometimes you get a place to turn around on the other end, sometimes the road takes you a scenic byway that ends across the state line. Personally I recommend exploring every wrong turn because it may actually a correct turn. In my case, it was.
I crested a hill and spotted a place with a small shoulder to the side and decided to pull of and see what was over the side of the cliff I was driving on. What I found was absolutely breath taking.











I couldn't stop taking pictures of this place.
I jumped in the car and continued on anxious to see more










<


I looked around and finally got some inkling of where I was:



Still No idea where I was at this point. That Sign meant nothing to me! I lingered at this location for a while and walked down a dirt path to the bridge where the water fall was. I stood on the bridge enjoying the breeze and the mist of the water.

(crystal clear water)



(Off the bridge over the waterfall)

After walking around soaking up the Sun and taking in the Scenery, I recognized it was getting late and I probably needed to head back down to Salt Lake. Much to my reluctance I jumped back into my car and began to head home. It was a perfect day of solitude and peace... UNTIL...(to be continued)

Don't Get Left Behind in 2009

Happy New Year Everyone! Can I just say I'm happy to be leaving the mess of mixed emotions and confusion called 2008? Oh it wasn't all bad, I had my highest highs and lowest lows this year. I don't remember much of this year after mid June. But my memory is slowly coming back and my thinking is less jumbled and improving with each day. I must admit when I look back at 2008 I get a little upset sometimes because I feel like I lost my whole summer basically. July, August and September are a foggy blur. I couldn't even tell you what I did for July 4th or 24th, or Labor day. I remember going to Michigan and being on a boat ending up in canada. I remember falling down the stairs before going to Michigan. And I remember Halloween and most of everything there after. Yup,that's about it. I see pictures with me in them, but I wasn't there. SADNESS!
The Sadness is I took this part of 2008 to the entry way of 2009 and allowed it to over shadow the many wonderful things that happened and that I can remember.

I dropped the baggage of 2008 at the entry way of 2009 and stepped through the portal into 2009. A little bit wiser, a little bit smarter. My skin is a little bit thicker and I'm a little more cautious for reasons of my own.

I put up with alot of lies, disrespect and other B.S in the name of "turning the other cheek." Quite honestly I've run out of cheeks. I only have 4. (yes I'm counting the 2 you sit on also.) Too many people have mistaken my kindness for weakness and my silence for acceptance. I've been percieved wrong, lied to and lied on, manipulated. And I've kept silent about it for the sake of forgiveness and understanding.

I'm grateful for all of it. Every last bit of it. I learned what I want and what I don't want in life. Who I can trust and believe and who I want by my side for 2009.

Tonight as I step through the entry way of 2009 my vision is more clear and my focus is more, well focused. I will be leaving behind things, people, memories that are not participating in my progress. I'm leaving behind alot. Emptying out emotional closets and mental cupboards. I'm letting go of "security" blankets that no longer service me. Im cleaning up and making room.

Making room for what, you are probably wondering? I'm not sure of what is coming my way for 2009 but I do know this: 2 objeects cannot occupy the same place at the same time. I'm getting rid of those "old acquaintances" that should be forgot and making room for those thing which are uplifting, loving and that belongs. I'm not sure what the new year is going to bring. I'm excited for the adventure. Don't get left behind.

Memories

I hope this is a good idea
Everyone needs to play...This is Fun!
1. As a comment on my blog, leave one memory that you and I had together. It doesn't matter if you knew me a little or a lot, anything you remember--it can be funny, weird, awkward, random, etc.!
2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. It's actually pretty funny to see the responses.If you leave a memory about me, I'll assume you're playing the game and I'll come to your blog and leave one about you.

Graduations, Celebrations and Fun.... OH MY!

It has been a whirl wind couple of weeks.

Baby girl graduated from high school.

My whole family was there and it was an amazing time. The last time all my siblings from my mom and dad WITH my mom and dad were together was 11 years ago at my younger brother's wedding. My parents divorced about 25 years ago. It was almost spooky and sort of cool to all be in the same house doing the day to day routine and having the day to day conversations. It was like a warp in time of how things might possibly have been had my parents stayed together. There was no sadness in thinking that, it was actually sort of comical. I enjoyed the time together and the family dynamic as is.

The Graduation was AWESOME! I screamed for Alieshia, her friends and all the kids in my Sunday school class. So much so that I lost my voice for a week! It was worth it. The class officers did an great job with their remarks and as they called each students name to recieve their diploma, they flashed the graduates senior picture and next to it a baby picture of them

My thoughts couldn't help but go back to her first days of preschool and all the day inbetween of laughter, heartache, peer pressure, studying, writing papers and so on. There were days when she couldn't get enough of school and days when she was soo ready to be done.
I can remember telling her how horrible I was in math and how if she needed help on it, she'd have to seek out the tutors at school. Her senior year, one of her interships was a math tutor and she earned a scholarship from it.

A couple of nights before graduation was the senior awards night. There's where all the honor students and their parents are invited to an assembly and the students are recognized for their Academic Achievments. They announce all scholarships that have been offered for each student, as well as honorable societies and awards. She rec'd a 4 year tuition scholarship at one of the State Universities, and 2 intern scholarships, one with employment full or part time, which ever they choose.

When she hit Jr High I required her to play an instrument, sport and pick a language that I asked her to maintain through high school. I wanted her social interactions to be just as important and well rounded as her academic interactions. As a result she's learned team work and leadership, international communication and the joy of fine arts through music and theatre. Although she has near perfect pitch and sings alto AND suprano, she chose to play the violin. Her language is spanish... I guess she writes and reads it better than she speaks it, and her sports were basketball in Jr high and she threw the Discuss on the track team in high school.

I think she's ready for the world. She's been several places and seen several things. I put opportunties befor her that would challenge her fears and strengthen her independance and I am quite confident that she's ready.
She'll only be 2 hours away. It's time. I'm excited to see what she can add to this world. My success as a parent has much to do with how well she functions on her own. Im anxious to see her "do her thang" out there.

She has beat all the "single parent household stereotypes"

all with dealing with one hella crazy family ESPECIALLY her mama ;)

(Mom, Graduate, Uncle)

The day after graduation was the graduation party. I think we had just over 100 people at the house rotating in and out for the night. It was awesome. She chose a "fiesta" theme so we had latin music and colorful lanterns handing outside lighting up the back yard from the night sky. We made "mocktails" ( smoothies) and hand them in colored martini glasses. I believe it was 11 pm before they even started busting up the pinata. The celebration lasted until after midnight and it was a fabulous time.

Each guest recieved a bottle of "vintage Designer Labeled water" with my graduates photo on it.

Congratulations Ali-doodle-bug-boppy-pocahonri-lieshi-ancumr!

Let's do it again in about 4 more years :)

What World IS This????

I'd like to know what world did I step into and can I stay for a while????
That last month has been absolutely incredible. It started with the Christmas Holidays filled with so much peace and happiness, at least for me and the majority of my friends. And it's gained even more momentum! And if I had my way, the momentum would not stop there it would increase into one big gigantic snowball and consume everyone I love along the way! Ummm, but not in some psycho kind of way.
As mentioned before my mother called me Monday morning to let me know my Aunt Anna passed away and that my grandmother was probably not too far behind. (Grandma and Anna are Sister's) It reminded me of a few years ago when I had 9 friends and family members pass away within a 12 month span. 6 of them within 60 days and 4 of them within 3 weeks. Although we can't control when people leave us in this life, you hope for the best and that things like this will be at a minimum.
Although I was a little down from the family news I decided to react differently than to slip into a small state of depression and grieving and so on. There's a typical attitude and pattern I have when death confronts me and quite frankly I'm sick of it. I new healthy outlook for death and even LIFE if what was in order. I was quickly forgetting the feelings and goals we made at Christmas.

Tuesday evening I began to get funny little phone calls from my sister. It was the last 30 minutes of my working day and I don't typically answer my cell. I answered and she sort of in a demanding tone asked a me question I wouldn't typically give over the phone nor would i particularly give to anyone else. But she's my older sister, so it was no big deal. A few minutes later she called me back. I couldn't get to the phone but I called her back. She asked for my zip code. I gave it and was asking her what's going on when she said...
"gotta go..." and hung up.
A few minutes later she called me again as I'm walking out of my building for work...
" Hey, what's your SSN?"
And me, being curious give it to her.
"what are you doing?" I demanded!
" Can't talk Im BUSY!" she said... "
I could hear our other sister in the back ground saying....
"girl, just stop trippin and let us do what we're doing..."
And then the line went dead. I jumped in my car and headed home. I decided to call back.... The phone rang.
" Hey what's up?" said my sister.
I was starting to get annoyed...
"Ok, you call me for my ssn, zip code, street address, verify my birth year.... WHAT IS GOING ON?" I demanded.
To which she said. "I can't talk right now..." and hung up again.
"SHE GOT SOME NERVE!" I said to myself.
By this time I'm at home trying not to fume. "ok FINE WHATEVER!" I said to myself and sat in the middle of my living room floor pouting.
I had walked in, took off my coat, kicked off my shoes and just sat in the middle of the floor quietly: No tv. No Radio. No Noise and a small side lamp on. I was waiting. For what, I'm not sure. I let my mind drift off to a friend and the Chaos around his life right now. I'm concerned for him and focusing on others helps my own issues seem lessened. I guess it could be worse, I said to myself. I just sat and listened... To my heart... the voices in my head assuring me... the clock tick.... And then my phone rang.
It was HER again.
Hmmmmm.
"Hello!" I said.
" I need you to write down a number for me...." She said.
"mmmmm hmmmmm.... " I mumbled... "what is it."
She gave me the number. It was actually familiar.
"what are you up to??" I asked... curiously.
"Well I need you to call the number tomorrow after 9 am and tell them you want the title sent to you in less than 30 days." She said.
"WHAT?? What does that even mean" I said
"Just do it after 9am tomorrow" she said giggling.
"Will they know what that means even if I don't? I asked.

She laughed and said... "yeah, they'll know. And if you think about it you'll figure it out..."
And I said.... "figure what out? What are you talkin about ?"
She asked me if I was driving still and I told her I was sitting on the floor... and then I hard my other sister saying
"I can't wait, give me the phone..." And then she jumped on the line and said..

"girl, call that number tomorrow and tell them you want them to send the title to your car as soon as possible... cuz it's not their title anymore..."

"who's car am I driving?" I shrieked in a high pitch voice.... all i need is to be getting in a wreck with someone Else's car... I was thinking...

"Cuz I don't get the title for another year and half....." I was saying...


"Girl, as of about 7 minutes ago It's YOUR CAR! It is now paid off!" I couldn't believe it!

"WHAT??? HOW? WHEN? WHY? WHO?" I was stammering.....

"Girl, we have been trying to get this done for you for the last 2-3 weeks. Have you noticed you haven't had a bill for 2 months? Your daughter had to catch the mail and steal it and give me the info of it and...." My mind was screaming. I couldn't hear a thing she said after that because my mind was screaming.....I couldn't breath..... WOW....... just WOW!

4,200. worth of dept... Obliterated. Gone!. No more. WOW!

She would have to fill me in on the details later because I could not comprehend or process what was going on. I hung up and found myself in the middle of my living room floor sobbing and shaking. I look up and gave a HUGE shout out the Man Upstairs. That feeling, that feeling we held around Christmas was back! I call my mom. Explained to her what just happened.
"as much as you take care of everyone else WHY are you so surprised?" I wasn't sure why. My family just sort of rolls that way.... doing thing kind of thing for those we care about. I think it's ingrained in our DNA. My sister said.... "shoot, I'm just having me some fun doin all this." I know exactly what she means. It's why I do it as well.... to see the joy in others. And THEN she let me in on ANOTHER surprise she's got brewing. I'm Soo excited to pull this one off! Keep the ball rollin, right?!

Can someone please tell me... "WHAT WORLD IS THIS????"

This year is a good year to be in my care Cuz I'm keepin the ball rolling and inviting people to step into my world! Start a ball rolling where you are and make this the year of the Ball.

Picture it..... Sicily!

OK, so it's not Sicily, it's Ogden. And it's not Italy, it's Utah. It's late-ish. The Family estate is calming down for the evening. No where near ready to bed down for the night because we roll pretty late around here, but just taking it down a few notches for a mellow evening on a FREAKIN COLD night. I'm Antsy. I went into the kitchen to grab some dinner... but realize I really wasn't hungry. I returned to the living room to watch some tv with the sibs, but wasn't into the show. I grabbed a book to go read... but then sat back down in front of the tv. Yeah... Antsy. Something wasn't quite right and it was annoying me. I couldn't figure out what it was but indeed, it was. I sat on the couch and decided to try and zone in on what was going on inside my head. I had a feeling I needed to go out for a bit. I was just telling someone not 10 minutes earlier that it was cold out side and I wasn't going out there, and its rolling up on about 11 at night. I sort of pushed that thought to the back of my mind. It's about 8 degrees outside AND the wind was blowing. You could feel the breeze around the doors and windows of this old house. My gaze fixated on the TV...."the Dog whisperer" was on and I wanted to see how he was going to convince this dog not to be scared to go out walking or scared of the wind. The longer I sat the more unfocused on the show I had become. That Gnawing feeling I had earlier would not let me sit another minute. I jumped up, literally jumped up and announced.. "I'm Going For A Drive!." My daughter looked at me like I was crazy. My sister looked at me and shrugged. My brother was probably wondering... "typical , hella cold out side, out the door in only flannel jammies and slippers roaming around in the middle of the night on the streets of Ogden." I jumped in the car and didn't know where I was headed. I just went on some instinctual navigation system inside of me that had been lying dormant for a while. I headed south on Washington Ave... turned down a street called Chester. I've never been down this street before, had no idea why I was on it now. So I rolled down Chester until I came to a street called Porter. I rolled down Porter street for about a block and then turn down Cross. I took Cross street all the way back to Washington and then headed north on Washington back toward the house. Typically I turn down 6Th but this time I turned at the gas station by 7Th and saw an Older woman who appeared to be pushing her car. The street light was out. The gas station was dark and vacant. She was pushing at the back of her car and her driver side door was opened. I drove by her and did a quick turn Down the next street Adams st. I figured the house is just a couple blocks away I'll go get my brother to help. Then I thought: "hmmm an older woman, middle of the night a big black man... that may not set right with her. So instead I got on my cell phone and called my sister and simply said... "hey, meet me in the drive way right now...." I pulled into the drive way and she came out of the house and jumped into the car. I told her I saw an old lady pushing her car a block away and she may need our help. So I pull out of the drive way go around the block to the gas station and the car is gone. My sister is looking at me kind of like I'm trying to pull a joke. From the time I left the house in the first place to the time I saw the lady was maybe 10 minutes. From the time I saw the lady from the time I called my sister, picked her up and came back to where I saw her was less than maybe 2 minutes . I'm baffled. You know how you know that you saw what you saw, but now you only think you saw what you Know you saw??? Yeah, it's like that. I'm staring blankly at the spot where the lady and the car was. My sister turns to me and says... "uh.... so what color was this car?..." I said.."red." "and where did you see this car?" "right here." "uh huh, I see..." We were both quiet. I guess I felt that if I sat there long enough she would materialize in front of my eyes. So I just sat there for a few seconds. ( this is reminding me of when my car was making loud crazy noises the week before Christmas. The whole week before Christmas. And when I took someone for a ride so they could hear it and try and figure it out.... nothing. The noised disappeared.) I sighed. I headed east up 7th then turned north up Adams... driving very slowly. Cuz who ever she was, if she was having car trouble, she can't have gone that far. And it's freakin 2 degrees out, and the wind is blowin.... and I'm just cold thinking about her out there somewhere. Just as we're coming to cross 6th street my sister points and says... "right there!" I looked, and there was black silhouette of a car and a person. I tear around the corner and pull up the car. You could tell it had stopped in the middle of the road and she was trying to push it towards the side, but couldn't because there was no way for one person to steer or push at the same time. "ma'am can we help you?" I asked. She stayed by her car and called back that she was fine and that no, she was almost home and if she lets her car sit for a while it will start up again and she could drive it home. "well I'm more than happy to take you home and you can take care of this tomorrow." Shoot it was after 11pm. Suddenly my sister said... "Sister Jones! Hey It's Lyn, this is my sister" Lyn was the first councelor in the ward Relief Society so she knows EVERYONE in that area. Although Sister Jones was not really familiar with my brother. So getting my sister was the right vibe. They start talking a little about ward business. She's standing out in the freezing cold... for who knows how long it's freakin -12 degrees out and they wanna chat about ward business in the middle of the street in the middle of the night? FOCUS PEOPLE! "Whats with the car, sister?" I asked. She explains that she picked up her car a couple hours earlier from the repair shop and the battery light kept coming on.. and now she knows why. Her car would run for a short time and then stop. But if she lets it sit long enough, it would start up again and let her drive a little bit. So when it stopped, she'd push it to the side of the road if needed and then let it sit for a few minutes and then drive as far as she could. She had been doing this since about 20th street. (We were sitting on 6th street). She'd been doing this for a couple of hours in the dark and cold. I'm flashing back to this summer. A few friends of mine and I were doing a relay for life walk for the cancer society. I was team captain and was in Ogden going back home to Provo for the big day the next day. Sooo much to prepare for. As I headed down hwy 89 my car over heated. I kept putting water into it and it kept over heating. I could go maybe 2 miles before it would cut out on me. It was 98 degrees outside and thermometer in my car was registered at 103 degrees. within 30 minutes I had gone less than 3 miles and had poured 2 gallons of water into my car. I had 1 gallon left. I could either drink it or put it in the car. Normally I would just lock up the car and walk someplace. However, I had broken my ankle about 3 weeks before and although I was not using crutches, I still had it casted. So i couldn't even hike out. The portion of the highway I was in was sort of like a bowl. you come down a Huge hill just to go back Up a huge hill. This was the route that truckers take to and from Wyoming and various other forlorn places in the state. It's also the spot where your cell phone doesn't work so well. I remember sitting in my car, hood up, my t-shirt was dripping wet with sweat. I could wring it out. My arm rest was actually muddy from my sweat and the dirt from me dinking around under the hood. My bother wasn't picking up his phone. 2 other friends offered to come help, both at work. The one, I KNOW would have come as soon as they could. The other... well you know you have those friend who offer, and they'd help, but for some reason you feel guilty about it? yeah well I figured there were both anywhere from an hour to 30 min away and there's no reason why they should have to rescue me. I knew I was on my own because I knew no one would stop to help. And I was right. (remind me to blog that story sometime for the conclusion) Tangent, sorry. K, so anyway... she had been doing this drive, stop push thing for a couple hours in the cold. Lyn is talking to sister Jones about what's going on. And then I tell her to call our brother to come and help. She says..."he won't come, will he? I wouldn't come on a night like this.... Lyn says.. "yeah he will" "Well he's sleep isn't he?" "Sleep? are you kidding me? Naw he ain't sleep!" She dials our brother and tells him.. "Hey, jump in my car and come up 6th street. Oh yeah...you need your coat and some long pants... this may take awhile..." I park on the side of the road with my hazards on. Lyn and Sister Jones are outside trying to see if they can just tighten something up or jump the battery or what. within 2 minutes we see my sister's car turn out of the alley and come up 6th street and park just behind me with the lights on. Lyn explains what's going on. I tell her to have Sister Jones come sit in the car and warm up. Her car is warm, she insist that we don't need to make a fuss about her and she'll be OK. I had to explain to her... "Sister Jones, we can't just leave you here, our parents would be so disappointed if we did that... we just didn't grow up that way. We need to make sure you get home safely even if we have to take you there ourselves. My mama would be HIGHLY ashamed if we left you in this situation...and you don't want to have that on your heart would you?" She kind of laughed.. by this time my brother was out of the car and my sister was explaining the situation. I was sitting in the car running the heat full on because I get hives when the weather is really cold...and another trip the E.R for me because of hives was out of the question for this day. I had broken out in Hives earlier today, twice... and that was enough for me. I guess they were going to try jumping the battery but decided to push her car where I was sitting, so she wouldn't get a ticket since she was diagonally parked facing east on the west bound side of the street. I moved my car. Sister jones convinced them to let her try and start it again since she was soo close to home. The siblings obliged and let her know we were be right behind her to make sure she got home. We all got in our cars. I had flipped my car to the west bound side of the street prepared to give light to their 2 cars for the jump. And they were now facing east toward where Sister Jones lives in "The Village" apt. Sister Jones started up her car an away she went... Eric and Lyn right behind. I flipped a u-turn and pulled up from the rear. By the time they got down to the street to the sign that said.. "dip" Sister Jones' car stopped again... (less than 1/4 mile down the road). By the time I got down to the "dip" sign my brother was pushing her car into the parking lot of the Village Apartments. My sister had parked her car at the office. My brother pushed her car into a slot bedside my sister's car and I pulled up on the other side of Sister Jones' car. Sister Jones jumped out of her car and thanked us soo much for our time and for helping her on a night like this. Now in true.. "Dudley" fashion... Lyn had enquired where exactly where she lived so we could make sure she was inside safely. We made sure she was home safe. We then got into our cars and headed back to the family house. Prepare for Mama Lecture: ***On a side note... My parent's seriously trained us to be a certain way. If I had told this story to my mama and I hadn't stopped, her backhand would have left Michigan, slapped me up in Utah and been back home in Michigan in less that 3 seconds. You never LEAVE somebody: If you are some place with a friend and only 2 people are left and you are one of them.. you don't leave them alone, you leave together. If you take someone home or drop them off... you don't leave until you are sure they are in the house. ( flash the porch light as a sign that you are in and things are ok if they drop you off) For my sister and I... If we are some place with a Man and he leaves us, or leaves before us or doesn't make sure we are safely on our way before he leave on his way...that's not your kinda man. My brothers... make sure your ladies are home when they are supposed to be and safely in their house when they get there. Don't ever expect more from anyone than you are willing to do yourself. Mama lecture part 2 Sometimes the Lord needs people to go above and beyond what's expected to get his work done. Be that person when you can. It's not bad to expect alot from people if you give alot to people. (where much is given, much is required) but don't hold them to your high expectation or you will feel failed (amen on that one.) Hold them to the expectation they set for themselves. Hold people accountable for keeping their word. Don't say things you don't mean or make commitments you don't intend to keep. Never leave people or plans hanging.... oh I could go on an on. Sadly enough we all do those things that we probably shouldn't. Human nature tends to get in the way of what we should and shouldn't do. I think as long as we don't leave ourselves satisfied with.."oh well, everyone does it.. or that's just human nature.." and stop trying, we're allowed to slip as long as the slipping isn't the rule. *** MEAN WHILE BACK AT THE RANCH.... when we all get into the house... for some reason... we all burst out laughing at our adventure. My brother looked at me laughin and said.... 'How come your vibes and promptings always put "US" in the middle of something?" I started cracking up... "well I was antsy and some thing kept telling me something was wrong.. so when I got the vibe to go for a drive, I went for a drive... you don't ask questions.. you just do what you're told and you know it's in his hands." Lyn chimed in saying..." well you know how she is! When that girl get a prompting she is all over it, no questions asked. I learned to trust it. I don't even question it anymore. Cuz it's amazing to see it in action. It happens with her all the time and you just don't fool with it." Eric went on to say "Sister Jones was soo cold and tired, she had already exhausted her energy and couldn't get warm and was shaking so badly already." This was how things were on His end... Eric was saying how.. it was weird.... "First Karyn jumps up and announces she's going on a ride. Then less than 10 minutes later Lyn's phone rings and she's out the door gone. Then less than 5 minutes later my phone rings and Lyn is telling me to just jump in her car and bring it around the block... I'm thinking what kind of mess did Karyn get into this time... that Lyn can't get her out of. And then I thought.. wait.... in the movies... everyone start disappearing one by one...getting killed off... I didn't know what to think but I knew whatever was going on... I had to come... and if something happened to one of us... it better happen to all of us... or else mom would kill me anyway cuz I'm the oldest...." We bust out laughing shaking our heads in agreement again... Because as soon as we tell mom the story... I can hear her now.... Talking to Lyn.. ." you let karyn go out in that weather alone at night?.... Why didn't you go with her?" ( growing up, mom would not let me go anywhere w/o lyn or let lyn go anywhere w/o me. I can remember getting back handed when i said.. ."why do I have to follow her outside to the garbage can, it's JUST right there.. you can watch her from the window..") And then I can hear lyn saying back to her... "well I did go with her when she came back 10 minutes later and picked me up.... and then 2 minutes after that i called Eric and then came to where we were.....cuz he's the oldest.. and he knows that if me and Karyn are in trouble, he's accountable to you if something happens to us....(pause)... Yeah we did leave the baby (ali )in that house alone... there was no need to bring the baby (Ali) out in that weather, Ali was locked the the house and the dog was there...". (the "baby" by the way, is 16 years old.) My mama is on the ball and WILL make sure all her bases are covered when it comes to her kids. Even though we're grown. I stood for a minute in stillness... and there were no longer any antsy or unsettled feeling. I took a deep breath made some hot chocolate to ensure I would be warm enough not to break out in hives and settled in for the chilled out and relaxing night. Yeah.... it's like that!

"Trials still lay ahead, and beyond that, GLORY."

I always felt like the scape goat in the family. Me and my father tend to butt heads when I was younger, but I feel now as I get older, I wanna be a lot like him. Not totally like him, but a lot. I knew my daddy loved me, but I didn't really know that he liked me so much, until today :)

This is the email I got from him today on my birthday and later today came a bouquet of roses and tiger lilies. (See above photo) "Roses and Tiger lilies" you say, "what an odd combination" Yeah they're unique and beautiful... (just like me ;) (I've reduced personal names of family members to just Initials or nick names for obvious reason's but I'll allow my real name to stay) ok... On with the show:

Dear Karyn
I can't help but think of Jack Benny when the age 39 comes up. There is a slight difference in his calculations, having more than 39, 39 thBirthdays under his belt when he hit the happy hunting ground. Since I don't lecture any more, I just wanted to take a little time to stop and smell the roses as I ponder life that has brought us to this point.
You missed all the overseas stuff. No Germany, no Army, no glorious travel to distant lands. I had been working at Kellogg's only 3 months when you hit the scene looking like Grandma Gamble and with this sandy carrot top hair. What was up with that?! As a baby you had it pretty will made 'cause L was old enough to poke at your eyes, to see if they were real and could dunk you in the back yard swimming rubber thingy. E paid lots of attention to you by throwing you like a football and practice sliding into 2nd and Karyn base. Through it all, you gained a toughness that would help get them off your back, but more over, would help carry you through to where you are today.
You are defiantly not among the ordinary. Though you exhibit that rough exterior, here is a woman with the determination to do the right things in life and teach from the heart. The road (rod) is long and the Adversary is constantly trying to pull us in other directions. You have stayed the course and provided the best opportunities for you and your child, who would not have stood a chance, if taught by a lesser individual. You have planted good seed and given tender care, pointing in the right direction. I think of the many sacrifices you have made as a single mother, and I don't know half of what you went through, and what you own life expectations might have been. However you never placed yourself before your responsibilities. One reason is because you never treated your daughter like a responsibility or obligation. She was that extension of you that has a chance for the greater goal. If only I could have had the kind of understanding and commitment when you were created.
Although your word is far from being over, you have shown the kind of strength that allows us to endure.
Bless you on your 39th, and bless those whose hearts you have touched along the way. Trials still lay ahead, and beyond that, GLORY.

I LOVE YOU ,
DAD





Daddy,
It's been basically a typical day. Nothing too bad at all. Nothing to great. There's something to be said about just having a Good simple day. Sometimes we don't appreciate them enough.
I woke up this morning thinking... "wow... 39 years.... what do i have to show for it?" Then here comes "big Al" , stumbling down the hall...looking like your mother "Pearl Jr." "Happy Birthday Lady!" she grins with a hug. That girl cracks me up! In ways I feel like the "Odd one". In other ways I feel like the "lucky one."
Those siblings of mine were preparing me for this tough old world. They taught me that "Life's not fair, but so what." You just keep doing what you have to do to accomplish what you need to accomplish.
My mother taught me to never give up.

You taught me: No matter what crappy things other people or the world throws at you, and no matter how you may not like somebody or something you keep doing the right thing. No matter what pain or anger someone has caused you.... do the right thing. There is no justification for doing what you know is wrong. Sometimes I react first and then think later. Sometimes it may take me a week or month to come around to doing the right thing...because I'm stubborn like that, but it's always there in the back of my mind.... and just a matter of time before my soul won't let me rest until I "git er done."
When accomplishing the many obligations I've had and the lessons I've taught and the firesides and talks I've given it has often been said... " She has been taught well, and has learned well, and is the example of..." I always give credit to You and Mom. And if I can pass that along to the "big Al" then I am happy with letting that be what I have to show for my years on earth.
It's been a tough few months. There have been days lately when I've wished I was a 2 year old and could just crawl into the arms of a parent and feel that safety and security and love. I guess we all have them days. And when things get that way... you forget to see what keeps you going and you start to lose your energy spiritually, emotionally and even physically.
You have been an answer to prayer today, and I'm not even surprised. I got your flowers today! What an awesome surprise, thank you!
And thanks for those lessons you have taught our family that will keep us strong, focused and doing the right thing.
My theme for this next year: " Trials still lay ahead, and beyond that, GLORY!"
Thank you daddy, for kicking my world back on track. I needed it.
I love you,
Karyn Michelle


I'm keeping my dad's words in a place where I can go back to them and draw strength.
This is why it's important to let others they mean something to you. You don't realise the life changing effect if can have on them.

AWWWWWWWW YEEEEUUUUUHHHHHH!


I was in the grocery store the other day and I walked in right behind an older gentleman. He was sort of poky and stumbly as it if he might fall over. I was patiently behind him in no hurry. We were traveling the same direction so i just lolly gagged behind him a bit not wanting him to feel hurried or rushed. For some reason I was observing him... he was looking around as if he were noticing things for the first time. I was intrigued. I watched him sort of walk over to the Chinese food bar and chat with the people behind the counter. Just some friendly banter and he gave a big deep breath into the air and remarked how marvelous the food smelled. He left the counter and went along his merry way. A college student sort of brushed passed him in a hurry. The college student then stopped, turned and said.. "excuse me sir!..." And the older gentleman replied... " hey that's alright young man... nice bumping into ya!" I sort of giggled at his happy go lucky style. I was headed towards the plants and the floral counter and to my surprise the gentleman headed that way as well. I stepped over to the different arrangements of daisy's, Callie Lillie's (my favorite), roses and other floral plants. The colors were bright, brilliant and breath taking. Peach roses with red lace tips, yellow carnations with sunbursts of orange in the middle. The variety of colors made me forget about jolly old guy stumbling about the store for just a minute... until i saw him out of the corner of my eye. He came up the flowers... bend down and cradled a blossom in his wrinkled hand... closed his eye's and took a big SNIFF! "ahhhhh!" I cracked a smile and looked a him. He turned my way and said.... "my lady.... sometimes you just have to stop and smell the flowers along the way! You should find time to take one day and just enjoy the beauty of what you smell, hear and see! IF you do that, you'll be happy!" I nodded in agreement and with a wink, he was off!

That experience gave me a tingly sensation! And when he walked away.... I cupped a blossom in my hand and drank in the fragrance. Delicious! And I walked away.... singing the song that was on the overhead speaker. He made me feel good, simply be being himself.

I don't know what it was this man had, but it was contagious. I was reminded of this experience this week because, two days this week were the most gorgeous sunsets I've seen in years: the sky was dark with shades of purple, fushia, blues, plums and grey. I chased the first sunset to the edge of town trying and get a picture of it. The frustration of traffic slowing down and buildings blocking the view was irritating. By the time i found a spot to take a picture the sunset was mostly gone. I got a couple of pictures (see above pic)... but nothing like I wanted. And I defeated the purpose of enjoying it.

I thought the 2nd sunset was a "do over" because I missed the point of the first one. The second one I just watch from the place I was in. It was breath taking. I was in awe. Sometimes when we stop and enjoy the beauty of God's creations around us.... we can here him saying.... " I Love you. See what I've given to you today? Who else in the world can give you such things?" Nobody. As I watched the sun dip behind the mountains and the sky go completely dark. I heard him whisper.. "I love you, my child. I love you." Thanks for the sunset dad!

It kind makes ya go..... AWWWWWWWWWWWW YEEEEEEEEUUUUUH!


It's like that~

My Soul Just Opened Up!

Those who know me know I'm skittish about death. Not death per se but, about seeing or being anywhere close to the shell of a person after they've gone to glory. But on the flip side I have a fascination with cemeteries. Names, dates, who they are. I get certain feelings and inspiration about people and what lives they lived. Sometimes I can hear their voices speaking to me from the dust. It's like a moth to the flame really because sometimes I have trouble sleeping if its been a particularly spiritual experience where the veil has become so thin I can hear their voice.
Wednesday Elle and I took a trip up to Preston, Idaho to visit the resting place of a friend of ours that passed away 2001. Usually ever President's day weekend we go and pay our respect to him and then we go to Logan to visit a baby girl whose parent's have moved to California and are friends' of Elle. I had mentioned to Elle that I wanted to get to a cemetery in Harriman but could never find it. She said she'd show me if it weren't to dark when we got back.
Well it was dark when we got back but she showed me how to get there so I could at least know where it was next time I wanted to go. It was way out and very dark. Sorta creepy, but it was OK, I had prepared myself to be in cemeteries for our road trip
Yesterday morning (Thursday) I got up, did the morning ritual took Ali-bop to school. Before I knew it I was in my car headed for Harriman. I was cranky and not in the best of moods. I was tired from the day before. Cold from the day before. I'm not sure why the cranky mood. I get the cemetery and was pretty fascinated by it. It was rather small, not office or anything to go into and inquire of anything. There was a Pioneer Memorial and a Veteran Memorial that captured my attention. I read the memorials of the people who settled the area and Veteran's that died so that we might live freely in this country. And then I walked around and found some of the resting places of these people. In my walking around I came across a very bare site. Just a cement slab, none of the garnishing and decorations that so many of the other stones had.
It simply said: "Native American, No Name, No Date."
I was mesmerized. I kept reading it over and over. I walked away with that burned into my Memory. I took a couple of steps to the left passed another head stone, can't remember the names or dated. Took another couple of steps and came across another cement slab.
This one said:
"Afro-American Woman, No Name, No Date."
I physically could not take a step for about 2 minutes. My mind could hear people calling, the name wasn't clear but it was as if they were searching for someone.was she scared? Was she lost? Was she cold, neglected?

A rush of different feelings came over me and then I felt nauseous. I grabbed my Camera and took a couple of pictures of the head stone. I began to walk away. And then I saw "Native American, No name, No Date" etched in my head as if saying...."what about me?" I went back and took a picture of that headstone. I soon left after that. My mind was focused on the images of "No Name, NO Date."
How sad. How Alone. No more! I called my sister on the way home and told her what I just experienced.
She said... "wait.. there's no birth date?"
I said "no."
She said... "no death date?"
I said "no"
I heard myself say.. "We're adopting them!" Can I tell you how cool my family is?
She said... "OK!"
She will "name" the Black Woman. I'm letting my daughter name the Native American. We don't even know the Gender of the Native American.
I also told Elle that we're adopting them. She too, said.. "OK"
I have just adopted 2 new family members. I don't know who they are, where they came from or even if they led good lives or not. But my heart has found all this love for something about them. I have to honor that. We will be going to visit them very soon.

Ok I just found something that I absolutely LOVE! It put me in the best mood. Go ahead, click the link.
http://cuppycake.ytmnd.com/

Now tell me you didn't laugh!

$20 bucks if you can figure it out...