Digging in the dirt with the daffodils- For Amy

I received a surprise package in the mail last week from amazon- Daffodil bulbs.  Shortly thereafter, I read a text from my best friend in college, Amy, with the following note and poem by William Wordsworth

"I hope you may be blessed with many "fields of dancing daffodils" that will feel your heart with pleasure."

I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud 

BY WILLIAM WORDSWORTH

I wandered lonely as a cloud 

That floats on high o'er vales and hills, 

When all at once I saw a crowd, 

A host, of golden daffodils; 

Beside the lake, beneath the trees, 

Fluttering and dancing in the breeze. 

Continuous as the stars that shine 

And twinkle on the milky way, 

They stretched in never-ending line 

Along the margin of a bay: 

Ten thousand saw I at a glance, 

Tossing their heads in sprightly dance. 

The waves beside them danced; but they 

Out-did the sparkling waves in glee: 

A poet could not but be gay, 

In such a jocund company: 

I gazed—and gazed—but little thought 

What wealth the show to me had brought: 

For oft, when on my couch I lie 

In vacant or in pensive mood, 

They flash upon that inward eye 

Which is the bliss of solitude; 

And then my heart with pleasure fills, 

And dances with the daffodils. 

 So I took to my backyard garden box and cleaned up the lingering summer squash plant and prepped it for daffodils. The whole time I was thinking, "I can't wait to see these daffodils dance!"

 While I am not known for my green thumb, google assured me that it was easy.  So I followed the four step process which concluded with a good soak of the bulbs and then I smiled- I only hope that come spring they will be smiling back at me.

The old saying "the best friends" are old friends holds steadfast in my heart.  Amy and I were English majors at SUU together.  We braved the classes of Moorty, Aton and Simon, and relished the lectures by Lee and Cook.  She was, is and, will forever be a blessing to my life.  The day the daffodils arrived was an answer to prayer from my friend on the other side of the country who is strong, and brave, and faithful- and is my forever friend!

Chasing storms, choosing paths

Saturday morning the clouds were lying low and the mountains were screaming our names.  I was long overdue for one of Rigby's "walk abouts" and I was dying to breathe some fresh mountain air even if it including scouting for deer.

While Rigby is not a destination trail hiker, I am.  So I must say, I was overjoyed to see we actually were going to follow a trail- Woot Woot! Excitement rallied in my stomach as the freshly fallen snow crunched under foot.  It was September, I was in snow, and breathing in mountain air.  Life doesn't get much better than this!

Of course whenever I am in the woods and have a choice to choose a path, I reflect upon Robert Frost's poem, "The Road not Taken."

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,

And sorry I could not travel both

And be one traveler, long I stood

And looked down one as far as I could

To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,

And having perhaps the better claim,

Because it was grassy and wanted wear;

Though as for that the passing there

Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay

In leaves no step had trodden black.

Oh, I kept the first for another day!

Yet knowing how way leads on to way,

I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh

Somewhere ages and ages hence:

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—

I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference.

Parenting has taught me even more about Frost's poem. They will each take their own path- they must choose. Not us. This is sometimes a hard one to swallow. Maleck is our last little.  I love how he make his own trail cairns.  I hope they all will forge their own paths- create their own trail cairns!

 We hiked in silence- we didn't want to alert any nearby deer.  Our hike led us on the edge of The ravenous Brian Head Fire that hit this mountain hard this past

summer.  I was amazed by the striking force of mother nature and of the disaster caused by an accident.

 We watched a storm come in- it was breathtakingly brilliant.  We let it wash over us and sought refuge in the cavity of a rock.  It was almost as if we were purified in that moment- the clouds enveloped us the snowflakes fell upon us, the wind rattled- yet there was beauty.

 The storm left its mark- its aftermath- the clouds, the light, our hearts- the feeling of taking The Road Not Taken, being enveloped by an afternoon storm and then left with its memory and its lesson.


Wishing it was Saturday already- reflections of a mother wearing camo!

Just Breathe

With one breath I can tell it is here.  Yep, the change is subtle, but the echo of transformation is intense and beautiful and leaves me wanting more.  More color, more outdoors, more adventures.  

Unfortunately, I can't wander every time I get the inkling to so I indulge in the eye candy before me- the pumpkins on my neighbor's porch, the sunflowers on the corner, the withered corn stalks in my backyard garden- just a few.

 They all remind me that the pilgrimage from summer to fall is now complete.  I pour hot chocolate, cuddle with my blanket on the front porch, and pull on my favorite sweater.

The passage of time is marked by the seasons.  The change of seasons stir up forgotten memories- memories of my little people playing in the leaves, picking pumpkins, and giggling in the fall air.  The seasons record our memories- this change reminds me to just breathe.

Mormon Barn

I love it when I find a good story.  Most often they are found among dilapidated structures and definitely off the beaten path.  Our trip to New York yielded once such story.

Mormon Folk lore has it that this bar in Geneso Towship in western New York was the Whittle's barn.  It was here that the Mormons gathered to worship together.  It also provided respite for weary travelers.  

Joseph Smith, the prophet, of the Restoration preached here.  Today, it a peaceful spot behind a home.  The larger structure no longer exists, and its history largely remains unknown.

This stop to me was a treasure!

A letter to Mi hijo

Mi Hijo,

I drove Emma to school incognito this morning.  I had on your gray hoodie (I always wear one of your sweatshirts when I am missing you more than usual).  I even had the hood over my head.  It was one of those "hard to get out of bed"  days.  I may even have dropped a tear or two okay maybe a waterfall of tears. Don't worry though, we still had a warm breakfast and family scripture study- we are in 1 Nephi 11.  Stockton and Madsen had great comments.

I came back and cuddled Maleck in bed before reading with him in the Book of Mormon.  We are reading about Moroni- Maleck loves him.  After all if "all men had been and ever would be like unto Moroni... Satan would never have power over the hearts of the children of men.(love that scripture).
Maleck and I then pulled ourselves from bed, and I fed him breakfast (scrambled eggs and cinnamon toast- his favorite) while he watched Curious George.  Yep, I caved and let him watch TV before school.  While he was eating, I took a cup of hot cocoa over to Julene (Juge) and wished her a very happy Monday- not always the best day of the week for we moms.

Good News though, I made it to the shower and here I sit hot cocoa in hand tapping a letter away to my favorite missionary. It seems Mondays just can't come fast enough.

The air is changing here and the leaves too!  I can't  wait to get on the mountain and see the explosion of color.  I am hoping we can hike to "Grandpa's tree at Cedar Breaks" this Saturday after Maleck's football game.

News from home:

Maleck is tearing up the flag football field, enjoying basketball and just can't stop talking about Hudson Springer's birthday part Saturday where they played some sort of virtual reality video games at the movie theatre.  He is convinced he and I should go on a date and play together.

Emma placed 6th at her meet in Hurricane last week and medaled.  She looked so strong.  She also spoke in church yesterday and nailed it.  There were however a few alligator tears just prior to her going on the stand- she was terrified, but you wouldn't have known it.

Madsen enjoyed a week in Colorado with daddy hunting last week.  But unfortunately had to return home to a LOAD of homework- AP Geography is pretty tough.  He jumps right into fall baseball and basketball this week.  On Thursday, he has a game here against Desert Hills in baseball. I am excited to see him on the diamond again. He has good friends and is working hard, but has his own struggles.  He is very kind and loving and realizes when my anxiety is shooting through the roof- he always has!

Stockton had a great game Friday night although the team lost.  I loved watching him play as I thought it may never happen again.  His ankle is getting stronger and the cortisone shot is helping.  Thank heavens for Dr. Reber and good coaches.  Coach Miller has been great with him! He had fun at Homecoming with his pals- horse riding, 4 wheeling, and dinner at Rusty's ( I got off easy on this one).  Last night was the kick off for Mission Prep for parents and seniors.  I think a few things are starting to resonate with him. I pray that he will have a desire to serve a mission!

Daddy returned home from the Colorado hunting trip sick- BAD cold.  It is an awful one- I have had it twice.  Although the hunt was unsuccessful, he seemed to enjoy his time with grandpa and Madsen.  He actually has taken two days off and today he is playing "catch up and clean up" and then tomorrow he will finish up the job he is helping Bishop Heath with at his powder coating business.

Grandma Rigby's surgery last week was a hard one and the recover excruciatingly painful. Grandma and Grandpa Weaver are on a cruise in Canada and down the coast of Maine and onto Boston.  They are celebrating their 54th wedding anniversary- so glad they went!

I am so glad you are enjoying Elder Adams- he sounds and looks like a lot of fun.  What's the progress with your contacts last week- Perla, Noe and Norma, Juan and Maria, and Rafael?

I will wait patiently for your letter this morning- or try to.  My goals for today are as follows: make gluten free banana bread (if it turns out, I will put a loaf in the mail to you), homemade bread, get the laundry going and put away, have lunch ready for the brothers at 11:30, sneak a little visiting teaching in with Sister Wright this morning, get dinner going, finish the temple newsletter (I will send you a copy), catch up on Young Women stuff, and run with my little Cross Country team at 2:30- wish me luck!

I love you mi hijo- keep up the good work, enjoy this journey... laugh along the way, and always remember we pray for you morning, noon, night, and all the minutes in between.

God Speed,

XO, love always, mama

Labor Day at Lake Powell

 So I really never thought we would be a Lake Family, but we  may just have the bug.  This was only my 3rd time to Lake Powell, but I think I could get used to lake life- no worries about wardrobe, hair, or makeup.  It's so hot you eat very little, and the scenery is unimaginable. A perfect place for memory making. 

 The funny thing is... I am really pretty scared of water.  Okay, terrified may be the more appropriate word.  That being said, how did I end up at Lake Powell?  This is a good question. The answer-  Our "Fab Five" they absolutely love it.  They give me courage!

 This trip I actually jumped off a pretty high cliff and tried a little knee boarding.  I hate that my fear of water as trapped me for so many years- that it has stolen so much joy from me.  Thankfully, I haven't let the cycle continue- our kids don't share my fear- yay mom!  But that is all because of Rigby.  At an early age, he introduced water to them as FUN!  So glad he is the brave parent.

 Our weekend was fantastic!  We had plenty of boat fun, hiked to Rainbow Bridge and visited hole in the rock- loved them both!

 What a great way to enjoy the last days of summer! Maleck is already asking when we are going again- love him! Next year, we get to take Seleck with us- HURRAH!

A Rainbow Turned to Stone

Rainbow Bridge is one of the world's largest known natural bridges. The span has undoubtedly inspired people throughout time--from the neighboring American Indian tribes who consider Rainbow Bridge sacred, to the 85,000 people from around the world who visit it each year.

From Wiki

Hole in the Rock is a narrow and steep crevice in the western rim of Glen Canyon, in southern Utah in the western United States. Together with another canyon on the eastern side of the Colorado River, it provided a route through what would otherwise be a large area of impassable terrain.

In the fall of 1879, the Mormon San Juan Expedition was seeking a route from south-central Utah to their proposed colony in the far southeastern corner of the state. Rejecting two longer routes, they chose a more direct path that initially took them along the relatively benign terrain beneath the Straight Cliffs of the Kaiparowits Plateau. However, when this led them to the 1200-foot (400 m) sandstone cliffs that surround Glen Canyon, they needed a way to cross to the eastern rim. They found (and named) Hole in the Rock, a narrow, steep, and rocky crevice and sandy slope that led down to the river. Directly across the river was Cottonwood Canyon, a tempting route up to Wilson Mesa on the other side.

They worked for months to prepare the road, using blasting powder to widen the upper section and hand chisels to carve anchor points directly into the sandstone. On January 26, 1880 the expedition (250 people, 83 full-sized wagons, and over 1000 head of livestock) began their descent to the river. Wagons were heavily roped, and teams of men and oxen used to lower them through the upper crevice, which has slopes approaching 45°. Further down, a wooden track had been constructed along a slickrock sandstone slope. Posts in drilled holes supported horizontal beams to allow passage of the wagons.^[2]

After an even more difficult journey on the east side of the river, the expedition founded the community of Bluff in southeastern Utah. They used the Hole in the Rock route as a supply road for only a year before replacing it with an easier route to the north, at Hall's Crossing. Decades later, miners of the Hoskaninni Mining Company carved steps onto the same path used by the Mormon pioneers. The blasting holes, anchor points, and gouges from the hubs of the expedition's wagons are still visible in the walls of the crevice.

Hole in the Rock can be reached today via two routes. The primitive Hole in the Rock Trail, which closely follows the path of the 1879 expedition, runs southeast from near the town of Escalante to a parking area just above the crevice. Alternatively, the bottom of the route can be accessed by boat, at buoy 66 on Lake Powell in the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area.

The Hole in the Rock was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1975.^[1]

We visited Hole in the Rock from the other side when Maleck was a baby (LOVED IT!)- it was amazing to see it from the lake as well

Football Friday

Rigby and I are putting Stockton on the field this year with literally a $10,000 ankle--- the rest of the story is yet to be told.

Stockton take down his man 

 You won't find #19 at quarterback this year.  In Fact, you won't find #19 on the field for the Falcons this fall.  Stockton opted to take the jersey of his older brother Seleck, #35 this season.  Lots of changes this season for Stockton. 

Seleck was never the athlete Stockton is, but he embodied dedication, passion, and hard work.  I think Stockton has grown to understand and appreciate Seleck on a whole new level since he entered the mission field for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints!

 In addition, Stockton is not playing Quarterback where he has been for the past two seasons.  

 Why?  In January, Stockton had a fibrous coalition removed from his left ankle (a birth defect).  Essentially, Dr. Reber chiseled and sawed a bone out our son's foot- Yuck.  Nope, this injury wasn't caused by football but the symptoms were accelerated by it. 

 Hoping to give Stockton his senior year as an athlete, he went under the knife.  It has been a HARD 8 months since the surgery and the 11/2 years prior to it were filled with chronic pain (due to an ankle fracture during his Sophomore year). Stockton doesn't not have the lateral movement back in his feet yet to play quarterback.  He can't cut and  it wasn't until August 1st that we dared put pads on him. But he took the field and as Stockton describes it, "he lit up a few guys.  In that moment I felt so much joy for our Stockton. 

 He takes the field at Strong Safety.  He plays for his team. These were not the conditions he hoped he would be experiencing as a senior, but you know what he is just happy to be on the field. 

As the CVHS Student body president Seleck led the way to put the CV on the hill

For years, I followed numbers 55, 44, and 41 (the numbers of my older brothers).  We breathed football deep into our bones. I am probably one of very few wives who after a few months of marriage asked her husband to turn on football on after getting home from church- it just made me feel at home.

But  I never planned on having football players.  I assumed they would be runners like their dad.  But in 2nd grade Seleck demanded to play football and his brother followed suit.  

I love the palpable feeling of competition.  I grew up a competitor.  It is in my "blood" as they say. The Friday night lights will always call me home- the boys of fall.  I will forever look for numbers 22, 19 and always 35 on the field they are my boys- my two boys born on April 22nd just two years apart.

Stockton- we are so proud of you.  Thanks for letting me join the sideline with my camera over the years- I love the sound of football and it will forever remind me of you. You are THE embodiment of a BIG TOUGH FALCON