EASTER AT FORT BUENAVENTURA

IT HAS BEEN FOR MANY, MANY YEARS OUR EASTER TRADITION TO CAMP AT FORT BUENAVENTURA IN OGDEN FOR THE ANNUAL EASTER RENDEZVOUS, AND WAIT FOR THE EASTER BUNNY.IT'S OUR FIRST OPPORTUNITY TO BREAK THE CABIN FEVER AND START OUR RENDEZVOUSING FOR THE YEAR. IT'S ALWAYS GREAT FUN TO SEE AND CAMP WITH ALL OF OUR FRIENDS. SOME WE SEE OFTEN, OTHERS WE HAVEN'T SEEN FOR THE WINTER OR MAYBE LONGER. TRADERS COME FROM NEAR AND FAR TO SET UP AND SELL THEIR WARES. CANVAS STRUCTURES ARE SET UP FROM ONE END OF THE PARK TO THE OTHER AND WE ARE PRETTY JAMMED IN TOGETHER. DUTCH OVENS AND CAMPFIRES FILL THE AIR, JOINED WITH THE WOODSY SMELLS AND THE LOCAL DUMP AND TRAIN STATION ADD THEIR AROMA AS WELL. AT TIMES YOU DON'T EVEN REALIZE THAT YOU ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF OGDEN, UNTIL YOU HERE THE TRAINS CONNECTING TOGETHER. WE CAMP RIGHT ON THE POND WHERE THE KIDS PLAY, THROW ROCKS, AND CANOE. ONE OF THE HIGHLIGHTS IS THE CANOE RACES ON SUNDAY AFTERNOON,IT'S INEVITABLE THAT SOMEONE WILL GET DUMPED ! THIS YEAR COLLEN AND HIS TEAM MATE HAD THE BEST TIME AND WON THE RACE ! GOOD JOB COLLEN ! AND OF COURSE THE EASTER BUNNY DELIVERS HIS GOODS TO OUR CAMP AND HIDES BRIGHTLY COLORED EGGS. HE ALSO MANAGES TO HIDE HUNDREDS OF EGGS ON THE GUN RANGE FOR ALL OF THE KIDS THAT ARE CAMPING TO FIND. ITS FUN TO WATCH THESE LITTLE PEOPLE DRESSED IN 1840 ATTIRE RUNNING WITH BASKETS IN HAND TO SEE HOW MANY THEY CAN GET ! OF COURSE THE VERY BEST THING WE DO AT RENDEZVOUS IS EAT ! SUMMER COOKED BREAKFAST BURRITOS SATURDAY MORNING, THEY WORK WELL AS YOU CAN EAT THEM ON THE RUN, EVERYONE IS TRYING TO GET TO THEIR INDIVIDUAL ACTIVITIES SUCH AS KNIFE AND TOMAHAWK THROWS, ARCHERY SHOOTS, BLACK POWDER RIFLE SHOOTS, FRYING PAN TOSS, AND OF COURSE SHOPPING TO NAME A FEW. WE HAD A POT LUCK EASTER DINNER ON SATURDAY. SUMMER, DARRICK AND HER FAMILY WERE CAMPED SO OF COURSE THEY WERE THERE, HER FRIEND JUSTIN FROM HIGH SCHOOL AND HIS FAMILY AND , OUR FRIENDS CHRIS, BECKY AND BROOKE BROUGHT THEIR WONDERFUL PASTA SALAD. BRANDI ( AN ADOPTED DAUGHTER ) SUMMERS FRIEND AND HER TWO CHILDREN CAME. BOTH GENTRY AND REAGAN WEREN'T FEELING WELL SO THEY AND THEIR FAMILIES MISSED OUT. ROBYN,JOSIE AND THEIR FRIENDS CAMPED FRIDAY NIGHT AND JOINED US FOR AWHILE. SCOTT FIXED A WONDERFUL BREAKFAST SUNDAY MORNING, CHILI CHEESE OMELETS AND TURKEY, CRANBERRY AND CREAM CHEESE OMELETS(MY FAVORITE), BACON AND HASH BROWNS. SITTING AROUND THE CAMPFIRES AT NIGHT, SINGING AND LISTENING TO THE GUITAR PLAYERS IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE THINGS. LOTS OF LAUGHING, TALKING, REMINISCING, AND CATCHING UP GOES ON AS WELL. WE WERE CAMPED RIGHT NEXT TO OUR VERY GOOD FRIENDS JOHN AND MANDY, AND ALL OF THE HOOTIN CLAN. SATURDAY MANDY GATHERED UP THE CHILDREN IN OUR CAMPS AND DID ARTS AND CRAFTS WITH THEM. SHE HAD BROUGHT CUTE BIRDHOUSES, AND TRAINS FOR THEM TO PAINT. WE WISH HER LUCK WITH HER PREGNANCY, SHE IS GOING TO BE AN AWESOME MOM. THE WORST PART IS WHEN YOU HAVE TO TEAR DOWN CAMP, LOAD UP THE TRAILER AND GO HOME. EVERYONE PITCHED IN TO HELP SO IT WASN'T TOO BAD. WE LOOK FORWARD TO NEXT RENDEZVOUS ON MEMORIAL WEEKEND, IN CACHE VALLEY, EAST OF HYRUM. WE SET UP THE WEEKEND BEFORE AND STAY FOR THE WHOLE TIME, USUALLY ABOUT 10 DAYS. WE LOVE TO HAVE COMPANY, SO JOIN US IF YOU CAN WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE YOU. WHO KNOWS THE BUG JUST MIGHT BITE YOU TOO !!!

SWEET SIXTEEN AND NEVER BEEN KISSED HA! HA!

WATCHING OUT THE WINDOW THIS MORNING AS SNOW WAS FLUTTERING THROUGH THE AIR, I WAS REMINDED OF A BIRTHDAY 40 YEARS AGO APRIL 15TH 1969 WHEN I TURNED 16 YEARS OLD. AT FIVE O'CLOCK A.M. MY GIRLFRIENDS PAM, CINDY, VAL AND ANN, STILL DRESSED IN THEIR PAJAMAS CAME BURSTING INTO MY BEDROOM SINGING "HAPPY BIRTHDAY". GRUMBLING AT THE EARLY TIME, I WAS THEN DRAGGED OUT OF BED, STILL IN MY P.J.'S AND CURLERS IN MY HAIR (YOU REMEMBER THE PINK FOAM ROLLERS)? KIDNAPPED AND BLINDFOLDED I WAS SHOVED INTO THE CAR WAITING OUTSIDE. WE LAUGHED AND SANG TO THE RADIO AS WE DROVE. I DIDN'T HAVE A CLUE AS TO WERE THEY WERE TAKING ME BUT I KNEW THAT WE WERE GETTING ON THE FREEWAY. WE DROVE ABOUT 30 MINUTES OR SO WHEN THE CAR PULLED TO A STOP. THE CAR DOOR OPENED, MY BLINDFOLD UNDONE AND TO MY SURPRISE WE WERE IN MEMORY GROVE IN SALT LAKE LAKE. A BREAKFAST PICNIC HAD BEEN PREPARED OF CANNED PEACHES AND CINNAMON ROLLS. THERE WAS STILL A LAYER OF SNOW ON THE GROUND, BUT WE SPREAD THE TABLECLOTH ON THE TABLE, BRUSHED THE SNOW OFF THE BENCHES AND SAT DOWN TO BREAKFAST AND OPENED BIRTHDAY PRESENTS. I REMEMBER THAT I WAS GIVEN THINGS TO PUT IN MY HOPE CHEST (WHAT WAS I HOPING FOR ?) SUCH AS A SET OF GREEN GOBLETS. IT WAS SHORT AND SWEET BEING SCANTILY CLAD WE DIDN'T SPEND ALOT OF TIME EATING. WE HURRIED BACK TO THE CAR FOR WARMTH AND DROVE BACK TO BOUNTIFUL TO GET READY FOR SCHOOL. FOR ANN'S' BIRTHDAY WE BLINDFOLDED AND KIDNAPPED HER AND TOOK HER TO THE AIRPORT WHERE WE HAD A BREAKFAST PICNIC IN OUR JAMMIE'S ON THE WORLD IN THE FLOOR. I'M SURE PEOPLE THOUGHT WE WERE CRAZY, AND YOU CERTAINLY COULDN'T DO THAT IN THIS DAY AN AGE OF SECURITY ! ON CINDY'S' 16TH WE TOILET PAPERED HER HOUSE WITH 16 ROLLS OF TOILET PAPER DRAPED BETWEEN THE TWO LARGE TREES IN HER FRONT YARD. SOMEONE HAD CALLED THE NEWSPAPER AND THERE ON THE FRONT PAGE OF THE DAVIS COUNTY CLIPPER THE NEXT MORNING WAS A PICTURE OF OUR MASTERPIECE ! OF COURSE CINDY'S' PARENTS MADE US CLEAN IT ALL UP, BUT WE HAD A GREAT TIME HAVING TOILET PAPER FIGHTS AS WE CLEANED.
AS A GROUP WE SANG TOGETHER AND WE PERFORMED AT CHURCH AND SCHOOL FUNCTIONS. THERE WAS ONE TIME WE SANG "THE IMPOSSIBLE DREAM", AND "FEELIN GROOVY" AT B.Y.U. AT A GIRLS CONFERENCE IN FRONT OF A HUGE AUDIENCE. THESE WERE GREAT TIMES AND THIS BIRTHDAY WILL BE CHALKED UP AS ONE OF MY FAVORITES, EVEN IF IT DID SNOW !!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY REAGAN

REAGAN IS MY HERO AND THIS WEEK SHE TURNS 30 YEARS OLD. AS A CHILD SHE WAS AN ABSOLUTE JOY ! ALWAYS THE CLOWN, MAKING US LAUGH, NEVER WITHOUT A SMILE ON HER FACE. FROM DAY ONE SHE HAS ALWAYS BEEN A KIND, COMPASSIONATE GIRL. A LOVER OF LIFE AND A WILLING PARTICIPANT IN ANYTHING. A TRICKSTER AND JOKER, TO HER FRIENDS AND FAMILY. LOVED BY ALL SHE HAS HAD MANY FRIENDS OVER THE YEARS. AS AN ADULT REAGAN HAS ENDURED MORE PAIN, SUFFERING, AND TRIALS, THAN IS HER FAIR SHARE. 10 YEARS AGO SHE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A VERY RARE AUTO IMMUNE DISEASE CALLED CHURGG STRAUSS SYNDROME WHICH HAS ATTACKED ALMOST EVERY ORGAN IN HER BODY. THERE HAVE BEEN SO MANY TIMES IN THE LAST 10 YEARS THAT WE HAD THOUGHT THAT WE WERE GOING TO LOSE HER. THREE DIFFERENT NIGHTS WE WERE TOLD TO GATHER THE FAMILY BECAUSE SHE PROBABLY WOULDN'T MAKE IT THROUGH THE NIGHT. SHE IS THE STRONGEST GIRL I KNOW AND I AM PROUD TO BE HER MOTHER. IN THESE LAST 10 YEARS SHE HAS HAD 12 SURGERIES, INCLUDING LUNG BIOPSIES, LOSING MOST OF HER BOWELL, HAVING TWO ILLEOSTOMIES AND TWO TAKE DOWNS, GALL BLADDER, AND OPEN HEART SURGERY TO NAME JUST A FEW. SHE HAS SPENT COUNTLESS DAYS IN INTENSIVE CARE, HIGH OBSERVATION, CARDIAC UNITS, AND EVERY FLOOR IN THE HOSPITAL, I BELIEVE THE LAST COUNT WAS OVER 300 DAYS. WE ARE ON FIRST NAME BASIS WITH MANY DOCTORS AND NURSES. WE HAVE SPENT A NUMBER OF HOLIDAYS WITH HER IN A HOSPITAL BED, WITH HER ROOM DECORATED WITH CHRISTMAS TREES, ANGELS, ETC. REAGAN LIVES IN KAYSVILLE WITH HER SON CALEB, THAT IS 10, AND CALEB'S DAD AARON. THEY TOO HAVE HAD TO BE VERY STRONG AND SUPPORTIVE, IT'S BEEN A TOUGH ROAD FOR US ALL. THERE WERE TIMES THAT REAGAN WAS IN THE HOSPITAL IN OGDEN AND DUSTY WAS IN THE UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL IN SALT LAKE AT THE SAME TIME. RIGHT NOW THE DISEASE ITSELF IS IN REMISSION BUT THE SIDE EFFECTS, MEDICATIONS, SCAR TISSUE, EVERYDAY PAIN, COMPROMISED IMMUNE SYSTEM AND HORRENDOUS ASTHMA CONTINUES TO PLAGUE HER CONSTANTLY. STILL SHE COMES THOUGH IT SMILING, WITH HER SENSE OF HUMOR AND STRONGER WILLED THAN BEFORE. WE LOVE YOU VERY MUCH REAGAN, YOUR STRENGTH KEEPS US STRONG, YOUR ATTITUDE KEEPS US UPLIFTED, YOUR OUTLOOK KEEPS US GOING, YOUR SENSE OF HUMOR KEEPS US LAUGHING, YOUR SMILE BRIGHTENS OUR DAY. HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY HERO !!!!

OUR TRIP TO ARIZONA

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 21 WE SET OUT WITH OUR FRIENDS SAM AND PEGGY CLARK FOR A TRIP TO ARIZONA. OUR GOAL WAS TO RIDE OUR HARLEY'S IN THE WARM DESERT SUN AND SEE TOMBSTONE, NONE OF US HAD BEEN THERE, SO WE WERE REALLY EXCITED ! SAM AND PEG HAVE A 41 FT. TOY HAULER THAT WE CAN FIT ALL THREE OF OUR BIKES IN, AND WHEN THE BIKES ARE OUT, THE GARAGE BECOMES MINE AND SCOTTS BEDROOM. IT IS A MOTEL ON WHEELS. LAST SEPT. WE ALSO HAD A GREAT TRIP WITH THEM TO YELLOWSTONE.
WE LEFT AROUND NOON SO THAT NIGHT WE STAYED IN MESQUITE, WE WERE ALREADY WELCOMING BEING WARM FOR A CHANGE. WE LEFT EARLY MON. MORNING AND MADE IT AS FAR AS THE OUTSKIRTS OF TUCSON. IT SEEMED LIKE WE WERE NEVER GOING TO GET TO OUR DESTINATION, I HADN'T REALIZED HOW LONG OF A DRIVE IT WAS GOING TO BE ! PEG AND I WATCHED MOVIES, WHILE THE GUYS CHATTED AWAY. OF COURSE WE WERE ALWAYS ON THE LOOKOUT FOR A SERVICE STATION, THE GUYS WERE FRUSTRATED WITH US, WITH OUR NEED TO STOP, STRETCH, AND PEE ! I SWEAR GUYS HAVE A HOLLOW LEG OR SOMETHING !!! PEG AND I ONLY HAD A BENCH SEAT IN THE BACK WHICH DIDN'T ACCOMODATE US VERY WELL WITH OUR BUTS HANGING OFF THE SEAT AND NO LEG ROOM WE WERE A LITTLE CRAMPED ! PEG HAD AN INJURED KNEE AND IT WAS DIFFICULT FOR HER TO GET COMFORTABLE.
TUESDAY WE ARRIVED IN BENSON MID MORNING, PULLED IN THE KOA, PARKED THE TOY HAULER, UNLOADED THE BIKES AND OFF WE WENT TO ENJOY THE ARIZONA SUN. WE WERE ABOUT 30 MILES FROM TOMBSTONE SO WE HEADED THERE TO SEE THE SIGHTS. IT SEEMS AS THOUGH YOU HAVE GONE BACK IN TIME WHILE IN TOMBSTONE. THERE WERE GUNFIGHTS, BOARDWALKS AND DUSTY STREETS. THE SHOPPING WAS DELIGHTFUL. ALL THE SHOPS ARE SO QUAINT AND FILLED WITH TREASURES. I THINK SCOTT WAS QUITE GREATFULL THAT WE WERE ON THE BIKES SO THAT I COULDN'T BUY EVERYTHING THAT I WANTED ! PEOPLE WALKING THE STREETS IN 1800 ATTIRE, ANTIQUES, AND REPLICAS OF THE OLD WEST WERE EVERYWHERE. WE WENT TO THE GUNFIGHT AT THE O.K. CORRAL AND WATCHED AS WYATT AND THE OTHER EARPS GUNNED DOWN THE CLANTONS AND MCLAURYS. THERE ARE SEVERAL WEB SITES THAT YOU CAN VISIT ABOUT TOMBSTONE AND O.K. CORRAL IF YOU JUST DO A SEARCH. WE VISITED BOOT HILL WERE THEY WERE BURIED. WE HAD HEARD ABOUT A BEAUTIFUL RIDE THRU THE MOUNTAINS TO BISBEE, SO WE JUMPED ON THE BIKES AND MADE THE SHORT TRIP . BISBEE REMINDED US OF DEADWOOD SO. DAKOTA, AND A LITTLE LIKE A PARK CITY TOWN, BEING AN OLD MINING TOWN IT WAS BUILT IN A CANYON ON THE SIDE OF THE MOUNTAIN. FROM THERE WE HEADED ANOTHER 30 MIN. TO DOUGLAS WHICH IS ON THE MEXICAN BORDER. THERE WAS BORDER PATROL EVERYWHERE WE LOOKED (KINDA SCARY). WHILE IN DOUGLAS, OUR FRIEND SAM DECIDED IT WOULD BE AWESOME TO DRIVE ACROSS THE BORDER INTO MEXICO, JUST SO WE COULD SAY "WE RODE OUR BIKES IN MEXICO"! WE TALKED TO A GENTLEMAN AT THE SERVICE STATION THAT SEEMED TO KNOW WHAT HE WAS TALKING ABOUT, AND HE ASSURED US THAT WE DIDN'T NEED A PASSPORT UNTIL JUNE. AS SOON AS WE RODE IN PEG AND I WERE READY TO RIDE BACK OUT !!!! FILTHY STREETS, BARS ON THE WINDOWS, CRYING DIRTY CHILDREN WITH SAD EYES, DISGUSTING TOOTHLESS MEN TRY TO WASH YOUR WINDSHEILD OR SELL YOU SOMETHING, UNNERVING GANGS HANGING OUT ON STREET CORNERS STARRING AT US AND OUR BIKES, WE WERE SURE WE WERE GOING TO GET MUGGED, RAPED, AND WORST OF ALL OUR BIKES STOLEN ! TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE WE HAD TO DRIVE AROUND TO TRY AND FIND THE RIGHT ROAD TO GET BACK OUT ! THEN THERE WAS THE LADY AT THE GATE CHECKING OUR PASSPORTS, THAT WE OF COURSE WE DIDN'T HAVE, TO GET BACK TO U.S. SOIL ! GRIMMLY SHE ASKED WHY WE WOULD DEPEND ON A STRANGER AT A SERVICE STATION FOR OUR INFORMATION AS WE ASSURED HER THAT WE WERE U.S. CITIZENS ALTHOUGH THE ONLY PROOF WE HAD WAS OUR DRIVERS LICENSE. THEN I HAD AN AH HA MOMENT AND REMEMBERED THAT I HAD A SMALL CARD SIZED BIRTH CERTIFICATE IN MY WALLET, WHEW ! SHE PROBABLY WOULD HAVE LET US THROUGH ANYWAY BUT SHE GOT A REAL CHARGE OUT OF GIVING US A ROUGH TIME. WHY IS IT THEY DON'T ASK YOU WHEN YOU ENTER MEXICO IF YOU HAVE PROOF OF CITIZENSHIP ? WE WERE SO GREATFUL TO GET BACK ON U.S. GROUND !!!! WHOS' IDEA WAS THIS ANYWAY !!!
WEDNESDAY WE RODE OUT TO KARTHCNER CAVERNS, AGAIN DO A SEARCH TO FIND OUT MORE DETAILS ABOUT THESE CAVERNS. I HAVE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING SO AMAZING ! THE FORMATIONS WERE INCREDIBLE, AND AWE INSPIRING. CAN YOU TELL I LIKED THEM ?! THEY ARE THE 10TH LARGEST CAVERNS IN THE WORLD. TWO COLLEGE CAVERS FOUND THEM IN 1974, KEPT THEM A SECRET FOR FOURTEEN YEARS, OTHER THAN TELLING THE PROPERTY OWNERS. THEN IT WAS SOLD TO THE STATE OF ARIZONA SO IT COULD BE PROTECTED AND DEVELOPED INTO A PARK SO THAT OTHERS COULD ENJOY THE BEAUTY WHICH TOOK ANOTHER 10 YEARS. WE WERE ONLY ABLE TO GO INTO ONE OF THE ENORMOUS AREAS OF THE CAVE, BECAUSE YOU COULDN'T GET SAME DAY RESERVATIONS INTO THE OTHER, WHAT WE SAW WAS AMAZING, SO I CAN'T EVEN BEGIN TO IMAGINE WHAT HE OTHER WAS LIKE. WE HOPE TO GO BACK IN OCT. FOR THE FESTIVAL IN TOMBSTONE AND TO SEE THE OTHER PORTION OF THE CAVE. WE ENJOYED DINNER THAT NIGHT IN ONE OF THE BEAUTIFUL BARS IN TOMBSTONE, EVERYTHING ELSE WAS CLOSED, DARN NO MORE SHOPPING,AND WE ALSO WENT TO THE BAR BIG NOSE KATES, NAMED AFTER DOC HOLLIDAYS GIRLFRIEND AND LOCAL PROSTITUTE. WE OFTEN HAD THE PLEASURE OF GOING THROUGH BORDER PATROL, THEY DON'T STOP US ( WHERE CAN YOU HIDE SOMEONE ON A BIKE ?). THIS PARTICULAR NIGHT SOMETHING MUST HAVE BEEN GOING ON, THE GAURDS HAD THEIR M-16'S OUT, SO CLOSE WE COULD HAVE REACHED OUT AND TOUCHED THEM ! THAT KIND OF SHAKES YOU UP A BIT !
THURSDAY WE WERE AGAIN SURPRISED AT THE WONDERS THIS AREA HELD AS WE RODE TO CHIRICHAUEA CANYON. AS THE SCENERY CHANGED FROM DESERT TO MOUNTAINS, THERE WAS SUCH BEAUTY. THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF CACTUS, THE GNARLY TREE FORMATIONS, AND THE TALL PINNACLES, HUGE ROCKS, AND FORMATIONS OF THIS CANYON WERE BREATHTAKING. IT AMAZED ME TO SEE CACTUS GROWING RIGHT NEXT TO A PINE TREE ! WE HATED TO LEAVE BUT WE KNEW OUR TIME WAS SHORT LIVED THERE AS WE HEADED BACK TO OUR KOA CAMP, LOADED THE BIKES AND STARTED OUR LONG JOURNEY BACK HOME. WE MADE IT TO WICKENBERG ARIZONA THURS. NIGHT AND BEGAN EARLY FRIDAY MORN.AGAIN ON THE ROAD. SCOTT AND I HAD DECIDED TO RIDE IN THE BACK OF THE TOY HAULER WHERE WE COULD STRETCH OUT,WRAP UP IN BLANKETS, AND WATCH MOVIES. IT CERTAINLY MADE IT MORE COMFY FOR EVERYONE, WHY WE DIDN'T TRY THIS EARLIER WAS BEYOND ME. WE MADE SHORT STOP AT HOOVER DAM WHERE THERE IS CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW ROAD AND A HUGE NEW BRIDGE. HOW THEY CAN WORK ON THIS BRIDGE AND POUR CEMENT THAT FAR UP IN THE AIR IS BEYOND ME, IT IS SOMETHING YOU HAVE TO SEE TO BELIEVE. WE MET SOME FRIENDS OF PEG AND SAMS IN LAS VEGAS FOR DINNER. ANOTHER THING TO SCRATCH OFF OUR LIST WAS TO RIDE THE BIKES DOWN THE STRIP, NOT AS MUCH FUN AS WE THOUGHT, THE TRAFFIC KEPT US AT A STOP AND MOVE FIVE FEET ALL THE WAY. DINNER WAS GREAT, THEIR FRIENDS WERE CHARMING. THEN OFF AGAIN TO MAKE IT TO MESQUITE FOR THE NIGHT. SCOTT AND I ENJOY DANCING AT CASA BLANCA, THEY USUALLY HAVE A FUN BAND IN THE CASINO BAR, AND I WON A LIITLE MONEY ON THE MACHINES. SATURDAY MORN WE HAD AGREAT BREAKFAST AND AGIN WE WERE ON THE ROAD, SCOTT AND I IN THE TOY HAULER, SAM AND PEG UP FRONT. OUR TRIP ENDED THAT EVENING WITH THE TOY HAULER STUCK IN THE TREES IN OUR DRIVEWAY. AFTER CUTTING DOWN SOME TREES AND BRANCHES WE WERE ABLE TO GET SAM AND PEG OUT OF OUR DRIVEWAY AND ON THEIR WAY TO HUNSTVILLE WHERE THEY LIVE. AS I MENTIONED BEFORE WE WOULD LIKE TO GO BACK SOMETIME IN OCTOBER FOR THE FESTIVAL IN TOMBSTONE, BUT I THINK WE LEARNED OUR LESSON IN TAKING MORE THAN 7 DAYS TO DO IT IN !

BAD HAIR DAY !!!!

MY FRIEND DANA AND I GET TOGETHER ABOUT ONCE A MONTH FOR A BEAUTY SHOP DAY TO CUT, COLOR, FROST OR WHATEVER ELSE WE NEED IN THE WAY OF MAINTENENCE. FOR ALONG TIME I HAVE USED THE EXACT SAME COLOR COMBINATION ON MY HAIR, BROWN MIXED WITH A COPPER RED. LAST MONTH WE HAD OUR NORMAL DAY, MIXED THE COLOR, APPLIED IT, AND KEPT IT ON THE ALLOTED TIME. I THEN PROCEDED TO WASH IT OUT AND TOWEL DRY IT. AS I LOOKED AT DANAS' HORRIFIED EXPRESSION I IMMEDIATLEY KNEW SOMETHING WAS WRONG. " ITS PURPLE !" SHE EXCLAIMED. AT FIRST I THOUGHT IT WAS A CRUEL JOKE THAT SHE WAS TRYING TO PLAY UNTIL I CHECKED THE MIRROR FOR MYSELF. NOT ONLY PURPLE BUT FLORESENT PURPLE ! MY GRANDDAUGHTERS WOULD HAVE THOUGHT IT COOL ! WE HEADED OVER TO THE BEAUTY SUPPLY SHOP TO GET SOME HELP AND ADVICE. AFTER THE GIRL HAD QUIT LAUGHING HYSTERICALLY SHE SUGGESTED THAT WE APPLY A DARK BROWN AND THEN FROST IT, SO THATS WHAT WE DID AND I LOOKED HUMAN AGAIN. NOT THE EXACT COLOR I WAS USED TO BUT BETTER THAN PURPLE. WELL THE SAGA CONTINUES. TUESDAY IT WAS TIME TO TOUCH UP THE ROOTS, THIS TIME I WENT TO DANAS' HOUSE BECAUSE SHE WAS TENDING HER TWO YEAR OLD GRANDSON CREW. AFTER MUCH DELIBERAION WE DECIDED TO USE THE SAME FORMULA AS I HAD ALWAYS USED THINKING PERHAPS IT WAS A FLUKE SINCE IT HAD ALWAYS WORKED BEFORE. YEP, YOU GUESSED IT MY ROOTS TURNED OUT FLORESENT PURPLE ! SOOOO WE AGAIN APPLIED THE DARK BROWN TO MY ENTIER HEAD AND LO AND BEHOLD IT TURNED BLACK ! WELL I'M NOT A BLACK KIND OF GIRL, ALTHOUGH I HAVE HEARD ONCE YOU GO BLACK YOU NEVER GO BACK. I WAS ABOUT TO HURRY AND LEAVE TO SEEK HELP WITH THIS DILEMMA, WHEN WE NOTICED THAT ONE OF DANAS' HORSES WAS LAYING DOWN IN THE PASTURE. SHE WAS LAYING ON A HILL WITH HER FEET ON THE UPSIDE AND HER HEAD DOWNHILL, SHE WAS STUGGLING AND WE HAD NO IDEA HOW LONG SHE HAD BEEN THERE. I RAN OUT TOWARDS SATIEN AND AS I GOT CLOSER I COULD SEE THAT SHE HAD GOTTEN HER FEET CAUGHT IN THE FENCE AND THE WIRE WAS WRAPPED AROUND BOTH OF HER BACK FEET, AND THEY WERE IN THE AIR ! DANA RAN DOWN TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE PROPERTY TO THE BARN TO GET WIRE CUTTERS, CREW WAS LEFT WITH ME. ALL OF US WERE IN A PANIC INCLUDING THE OTHER HORSE IN THE PASTURE, ROBIN, WHO WAS RUNNING AND BUCKING AND KICKING AT US, ( SHE WAS PROTECTING SATIEN ) WHICH UPSET CREW EVEN MORE SO HE WAS SCREAMING ! THE DOGS ADDED TO THE COMMOTION WITH NON STOP BARKING ! WE GOT THE WIRE CUT FROM SATIENS LEGS AND FEET, EXCEPT FOR A PIECE THAT WAS STUCK IN HER HOOF, COVERED HER WITH A BLANKET AS SHE WAS EXAUSTED AND VIOLENTLY SHAKING WITH SHOCK AND WAITED FOR THE VET, AND THE MEN FOLK WE HAD CALLED FOR HELP TO MOVE HER AROUND. SATIEN DECIDED NOT TOO WAIT AND AFTER A FEW TRIES NOW THAT SHE WAS FREE OF THE WIRE, WAS ABLE TO GET UP. THE VET ARRIVED, REMOVED THE EMBEDDED WIRE, GAVE HER SOME PAIN MEDS AND SOMETHING FOR SHOCK. DANAS' SONS AND HUSBAND MARK ARRIVED TO HELP WITH CREW AND SATIEN. FOR SOME REASON THEY ALL KEPT GIVING ME STRANGE LOOKS. I HAD FORGOTTEN I WAS BLACK !!! HOW EMBARRASING !!! I NOW HAD TO WAIT UNTIL WEDNESDAY TO GET SOME HELP. SCOTT DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO SAY, SO IT WAS BEST HE SAY NOTHING ! WEDNESDAY I FOUND A COLOR CORRECTION SPECIALIST AND SPENT 5 HOURS WITH HER STRIPPING, RECOLORING AND FROSTING AND $170.00 WITH TIP LATER BACK TO A NORMAL COLOR. SO MUCH FOR SAVING MONEY BY DOING IT AT HOME. THE ONLY THING THE SPECIALIST COULD COME UP WITH WAS THAT THE COMPANY MAY HAVE REFORMULATED THEIR COLORS, NEEDLESS TO SAY I'M NOT USING THAT BRAND AGAIN ! MY MOTHER ALWAYS USED TO SAY TO ME AS SHE WAS BRUSHING MY LONG SNARLED HAIR "YOU'VE GOT TO SUFFER TO BE BEAUTIFUL" !! OH THE THINGS WE DO TO HANG ON TO YOUTH AND BEAUTY ! AND IF YOU THINK I'M POSTING PICTURES OF PURPLE HAIR, NOT A CHANCE !

OUR VALENTINE WEEKEND

WE HAD SUCH A GREAT WEEKEND ! SATURDAY MORNING SCOTT AND I EXCHANGED GIFTS. MY FRIEND DANA AND I HAD BEEN WORKING THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS ON A COLLAGE OF PICTURES FROM OUR HEBER CITY COWBOY POETRY TRIP FOR OUR HUSBANDS. THE SLIDE SHOW IS OF THE PICTURES I USED. WE LOVE COWBOY POETRY AND HAVE MADE GOOD FRIENDS OF MANY OF THE ENTERTAINERS. OUR GOOD FRIENDS MARK AND DANA HAVE GONE WITH US THE LAST FEW YEARS. WE RECENTLY, THE LAST OF JANUARY, FIRST OF FEBRUARY WENT TO THE NATIONAL COWBOY POETRY GATHERING IN ELKO, NEVADA. FOR SOME REASON WE CANNOT RETRIEVE THE PICTURES WE TOOK THERE OFF OF SCOTTS LAPTOP SO AS OF YET I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO POST OUR FUN TRIP THERE. SCOTT WAS VERY PLEASED WITH THE COLLAGE AND ALSO THE COUPON FOR A 1 HOUR MASSAGE AND COLOGNE. SCOTT SURPRISED ME WITH A BEAUTIFUL SET OF DIED PEARLS. SOMEHOW HE ALWAYS SEEMS TO GO OVER OUR BUDGET, THEY ARE BEAUTIFUL AND I'VE NEVER HAD A SET OF PEARLS. WE THEN WENT INTO THE BIG CITY TO OUR FAVORITE BREAKFAST PLACE, THE ORIGINAL PANCAKE HOUSE. THE HAVE A HUGE BAKED APPLE PANCAKE THAT IS TO DIE FOR. THEY SERVE WONDERFUL THINGS LIKE WHITE CHOCOLATE CHIP MACADAMIA NUT PANCAKES. THEN WE DID SOME SHOPPING AT COSTCO. WHEN YOU ONLY HAVE A WALMART TO SHOP IN, IT IS A TREAT TO SHOP ANYWHERE ELSE ! WE THEN WENT TO THE MOVIE TAKEN, IT WAS A GOOD SUSPENSE MOVIE. WE ARE LEAVING SUNDAY TO GO TO TOMBSTONE, ARIZONA SO WE DID A LITTLE MORE SHOPPING TO FIND SWIMSUITS AND STUFF FOR OUR TRIP... THINGS YOU CAN'T FIND AT WALMART. SUNDAY WE HAD SUMMER, HER KIDS AND HER BOYFRIEND DERRICK, REAGAN, AARON AND CALEB, AND GENTRYS TWO GIRLS SHAKAYE AND SHYANNE OUT FOR A VALENTINE PRIME RIB DINNER. HENCE THE TRIP TO COSTCO. I DECORATED THE TABLES WITH HEARTS, BALLOONS AND THE BOXES OF CHOCOLATES AND SMALL GIFTS I HAD FOR THE KIDS. AFTER WE PLAYED CARDS AND HAD A REALLY GOOD TIME. THIS WILL GO DOWN AS ONE OF MY FAVORITE VALENTINES.

HOPE YOU ALL HAD A NICE VALENTINES DAY HUGS AND KISSES TO ALL MY FRIENDS AND FAMILY !!!

SHYANNES BAPTISM

WE RECIEVED THE BEST CHRISTMAS PRESENT EVER THIS YEAR, OUR 11 YEAR OLD GRANDDAUGHTER SHYANNE WAS BAPTISED ! SHYANNE IS GENTRYS SECOND DAUGHTER. BEFORE CHRISTMAS SHE SURPRISED US WITH HER NEWS, AND WAS BAPTIZED THE SATURDAY AFTER CHRISTMAS. WE ARE TRULY GRATEFUL FOR THE MISSIONARIES WHO SPENT THE TIME TO TEACH HER THE LESSONS. SHE HAS BEEN ATTENDING HER WARD AND HAS MADE SOME NEW FRIENDS. SHYANNES GRANDPA SCOTT HAD THE HONOR OF PERFORMING THE BAPTISM. HER GRANDPA PAUL, GRANDPA SCOTT, HER BISHOP, THE MISSIONARIES, OUR GOOD FRIEND MARK WERE JOINED IN THE CIRCLE TO CONFIRM HER A MEMBER. THERE WERE MANY FRIENDS AND FAMILY THAT ATTENDED, IT WAS SO WONDERFUL TO HAVE THEIR SUPPORT, LOVE AND FRIENDSHIP. MY FRIEND DANA WOOLEY, AND ROBYN (DUSTINS EX-WIFE) BOTH GAVE A TALK. SHYANNES COUSIN JOSYLYNN (DUSTINS OLDEST GIRL) AND OUR FRIEND MARK WOOLEY BOTH SAID THE PRAYERS. THEIR LOVE AND DEVOTION FOR SHYANNE AND FOR THEIR HEAVENLY FATHER CAME SHINING THRU. WE SO MUCH APPRECIATED THEIR COMMENTS AND WE ARE GRATEFUL THAT THEY TOOK THEIR TIME TO BE THERE FOR SHYANNE AT THIS BUSY TIME OF YEAR. IT WAS ALSO SO NICE TO HAVE MY OLD FRIEND SUE THERE. IT HAS BEEN WONDERFUL TO BE ABLE TO SHARE SPECIAL FAMILY EVENTS AGAIN WITH HER. THANKS SUE !! THERE WAS SUCH AN AMAZING SPIRIT THAT DAY AT THE CHURCH, A TERRIFIC DAY FILLED WITH PEOPLE THAT WE LOVE THE MOST TO SHARE IT WITH. AFTER THE BAPTISM SEVERAL OF US WENT TO A RESTAURANT IN KAYSVILLE TO CELEBRATE. SHYANNE YOU HAVE GROWN UP TO BE A BEAUTIFUL YOUNG LADY WITH A BEAUTIFUL SPIRIT ! WE LOVE YOU SO MUCH AND ARE SOOOO VERY PROUD OF YOUR CHOICE TO BE BAPTIZED A MEMBER OF THE CHURCH. WE HOPE THAT YOU STAY TRUE TO YOURSELF AND YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER, AND CONTINUE TO MAKE THE RIGHT CHOICES. I CAN PROMISE YOU THAT IF YOU DO YOU WILL HAVE GREAT BLESSINGS COME TO YOU THROUGHOUT YOUR LIFE. KEEP LEARNING ALL THAT YOU CAN ABOUT YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER, ATTEND YOUR MEETINGS, AND SAY YOUR DAILY PRAYERS. THESE THINGS WILL BRING YOU JOY AND HAPPINESS!

CHRISTMAS WITH THE BODELLS

CHRISTMAS FOR US IS ALWAY A HECTIC, BUT A FUN TIME OF YEAR FOR US. THERE ARE THE USUAL CHRISTMAS PARTIES, MY FAVORITE IS OUR FAMILY CHRISTMAS PARTY WHICH WAS HELD THE SUNDAY BEFORE CHRISTMAS. THERE IS LOTS OF GOOD FOOD, KATHY AND MIKE SEE TO IT THAT I HAVE MY OWN STACHE OF HOMEMADE BAKLAVA. CATCHING UP WITH EVERYONE'S NEWS AND GOSSIP. SANTA SOMEHOW ALWAYS SHOWS UP TO DELIGHT THE YOUNG AND OLD. IT IS SUCH A JOY TO WATCH THE LITTLE ONES, THE WONDER IN THEIR EYES AND THEIR EXCITEMENT ! WE SING CAROLS WITH SANTA, AND A COUPLE OF THE KIDS SANG THEIR OWN SONGS FOR A CAPTIVE AUDIENCE. GRANDCHILDRENS' PLAYS AND PROGRAMS ARE ALWAYS FUN TO ATTEND, SQUIRMING LITTLE PEOPLE ON A STAGE SINGING THEIR HEARTS OUT. AND OF COURSE THERE IS THE SHOPPING, SHOPPING AND MORE SHOPPING. I REMEMBER WHEN MY CHILDREN WERE YOUNG, MY PARENTS WOULD SAY, "CHRISTMAS BAH HUMBUG, LETS JUST FORGET IT THIS YEAR ! THEY WOULD GIVE ME MONEY TO SPEND ON ME AND THE KIDS,I WOULD WRAP IT AND PUT IT UNDER THEIR TREE FROM THEM. NOW I UNDERSTAND, THE OLDER YOU GET, THE HARDER IT IS ! WE HAVE 8 CHILDREN TO BUY FOR, THEIR HUSBANDS AND BOYFRIENDS, 17 (WITH ANOTHER ON THE WAY) GRANDCHILDREN, AND SEVERAL THAT CALL US GRANDPA AND GRANDMA, PLUS WE USUALLY TRY TO HELP A FAMILY IN NEED. BELIVE ME THATS ALOT OF SHOPPING ! I ALWAYS SAY I'M GOING TO GET IT DONE SOONER NEXT YEAR, BUT THAT NEVER SEEMS TO HAPPEN ! MAYBE NEXT YEAR WE WILL GO ON A CRUISE !!! NEVER THE LESS WE ALL HAVE A GOOD TIME. THE TRADITION AT OUR HOUSE IS TO HAVE MY KIDS COME FOR CHRISTMAS EVE. THEN WE HAVE SCOTTS KIDS THE DAY AFTER CHRISTMAS. CHRISTMAS DAY IS SPENT VISITING GRANDCHILDREN TO SEE WHAT SANTA BROUGHT AND ALSO STOPPING AT MY SISTER PEGS. WE ALSO VISITED A FRIEND IN THE HOSPITAL. THIS YEAR GENTRY AND HER FAMILY, AND SUMMER AND HER FAMILY STAYED OVER NIGHT SO THEY COULD BE HERE CHRISTMAS MORNING. WE HAD 11 PEOPLE CHRISTMAS MORNING OPENING GIFTS, WHAT A RIOT ! SANTA WAS VERY GOOD TO US THIS YEAR. DID I MENTION THAT NEXT YEAR I HOPE TO BE ON A CRUISE ! OF COURSE WE MISS DUSTIN TERRIBLY THIS TIME OF YEAR. WISHING HE COULD BE WITH US AND HIS CHILDREN, TO SEE TIER WIDE EYES AND EXCITEMENT, HOPEFULLY HE CAN. HOPE YOU ALL HAD A MERRY CHRISTMAS AND THAT YOUR NEW YEAR WILL BE AWESOME.
P.S. YOUR WELCOME TO JOIN US ON OUR CRUISE !!!

HERE GOES, I'M GOING TO TRY TO BRING MY BLOG UP TO DATE !

I KNOW, I KNOW, IT'S BEEN SINCE SEPT. THAT I HAVE ACTUALLY HAD TIME TO SIT DOWN AND UPDATE MY BLOG. IT'S BEEN INCREDIBLY BUSY BETWEEN BEING GONE, THE HOLIDAYS, REAGAN IN THE HOSPITAL, AND THE CHORES ETC. I THINK I WILL GO BACKWARDS STARTING WITH BRINGING IN THE NEW YEAR.

FOR THE PAST 6 YEARS OR SO SCOTT AND I HAVE SPENT NEW YEARS IN LAVA HOT SPRINGS, IDAHO. THIS YEAR WAS NO EXCEPTION. WE LOVE TO SOAK IN THE HOT POOLS, SHOP THE QUAINT LITTLE SHOPS, HAVE OUR PALM READ, AND JUST PLAIN RELAX. WE LOVE THE SLOW PACE, AND HAVE MADE MANY GOOD FRIENDS OF THE LOCALS. WE VISIT LAVA ABOUT 5 TIMES A YEAR, ITS CLOSE ENOUGH ( ABOUT 3 HOURS ) THAT WE CAN THROW OUR CLOTHES IS A BAG AHEAD AND BE THERE FOR A WEEKEND GETAWAY OR A SHORT VACATION OVER JULY 24TH. SOMETIMES IT'S JUST THE TWO OF US, BUT MANY TIMES WE ARE JOINED BY FAMILY AND FRIENDS. THIS PAST NEW YEARS OUR GOOD FRIENDS JOHN AND MANDY GARCIA JOINED US. THEY STAYED WITH US THE WHOLE TIME WED. THRU SUN. AND THE GIRLS, GENTRY, REAGAN AND SUMMER, WITH THEIR HUSBANDS AND BOYFRIEND AND FRIENDS STEPHANIE AND LISA, CAME UP TO RING IN THE NEW YEAR WITH US. THERE ARE TWO BARS IN TOWN WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE OF EACH OTHER AND WE SPENT THE NIGHT GOING FROM ONE TO THE OTHER LISTENING TO THE MUSIC AND DANCING THE NIGHT AWAY. SCOTT SPENT ALOT OF TIME DANCING WITH THE GIRLS, MY FROZEN SHOULDER IS BETTER BUT CAN'T QUITE MAKE ALL THE TWISTS AND TURNS THAT IS REQUIRED WHEN WE WESTERN SWING. WE ALL HAD A GREAT TIME AND CHEERED AS THE CLOCK STRUCK MIDNIGHT. RESOLUTIONS ? ALWAYS MAKE EM NEVER KEEP EM. MY HOPES FOR THE NEW YEAR ARE THAT WE ALL HAVE GOOD HEALTH, THAT THE GRANDCHILDREN DO WELL IN SCHOOL, THAT MY CHILDREN AND GRANCHILDREN VISIT ME OFTEN, THAT THEY FIND A CURE FOR CANCER, AND THAT REAGAN STAYS OUT OF THE HOSPITAL ! I HOPE THAT ALL OF MY FRIENDS AND FAMILY REALIZE THEIR DREAMS AND KEEP THEIR RESOLUTIONS !