Scott and Deb's Family, Fun, and Adventures

2010-09-05T18:38:00.000-07:00

2010-08-16T14:43:00.000-07:00

2009-04-17T09:46:00.000-07:00

EASTER AT FORT BUENAVENTURA

2009-04-16T15:04:00.000-07:00

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!

2009-04-15T15:26:00.000-07:00

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 !!

2009-03-25T19:56:00.001-07:00

HAPPY BIRTHDAY REAGAN

2009-03-25T17:33:00.000-07:00

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 !!!!

2009-03-25T17:32:00.001-07:00

2009-03-25T14:29:00.001-07:00

OUR TRIP TO ARIZONA

2009-03-12T18:38:00.000-07:00

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 !!!!

2009-02-19T10:13:00.000-08:00

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 !

2009-02-16T14:09:00.001-08:00

OUR VALENTINE WEEKEND

2009-02-16T11:57:00.000-08:00

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 !!!

2009-01-21T17:09:00.001-08:00

SHYANNES BAPTISM

2009-01-21T14:35:00.000-08:00

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!

2009-01-21T14:34:00.001-08:00

CHRISTMAS WITH THE BODELLS

2009-01-21T13:29:00.000-08:00

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 !

2009-01-21T12:25:00.000-08:00

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 !

2008-10-22T16:07:00.001-07:00

OUR TRIP TO YELLOWSTONE

2008-10-22T14:22:00.000-07:00

Scott and I had a wonderful trip to Yellowstone in September. We were invited by our friends Sam and Peggy to join them in their 41 foot toy hauler and to take our bikes with us. The toy hauler was a motel on wheels, all decked out with a kitchen, living room, two bathrooms, master bedroom, loft with beds for kids, large screen T.V. DVD, the works ! It also has a garage to haul our three bikes in. After the bikes were unloaded the bed pulls down and turned into our bedroom ! We stayed at their house in Huntsville Wed. night Sept 17th so that we could get an early start Thurs. morning. From their house we headed up over Monte Cristo, it seemed as if the canyon was on fire. The leaves were at their peak, and the beauty of the mountains surrounded us. We had a great time traveling, the two guys up front and Peg and I in the back watching movies. We stopped in Jackson for lunch. Peg and I had hoped to do some shopping, but the guys didn't seem to think it was as important as we did and manuevering and parking a 41 foot trailer was not an easy task , so we just were able to go into a little shop right next to where we had lunch. We arrived late at Fishing Bridge campground. We had taked the wrong turn earlier so it had delayed our arrival. We unloaded the bikes and settled in for the night. Friday morn we grabbed breakfast at the little restaurant inside the gift shop ( yeah shopping !) a short distance from the campground and made our travel plans for the day. As a young girl I had camped almost every year in Yellowstone with my mom and dad and various members of our family. Memories came flooding back to me each place that we went to on that day. For years I have had a memory in my head about a time that mom and dad and I had stayed in a cabin. There were no bathrooms in the cabin so you had to go outside, just a few feet across a dirt road to the bathroom shared by all the campers. I remember the color of the bathroom being a khaki green. I was about 7 or 8years old and my dad had taken me in my pajamas to the potty. We were on our way back, me riding piggyback, when we saw mom in the doorway of the cabin frantickly motioning to us and yelling to us to hurry there was a bear behind us. As I looked around, sure enough there was a bear and it chased us right up to the cabin door, dad running as fast as he could ! I have looked off and on over the last few years when Scott and I have traveled thru the park trying to remember where this incident had taked place. As the four of us took off on our bikes after breakfast Sam turned onto a road that he knew from his teen years where he had been a junior scoutmaster working on his eagle scout award. Then it hit me ! This was the place, this was my memory ! There was the row of cabins, the cabin we stayed in and the horrible green bathroom ! We left before I could get a picture, but now that I know where it is I can return to it. From there we did the lower loop, stopping at all the hot pots, and geysers. We of course ended up at Old Faithful and walked around and ate in the Old Faithful Lodge. Again more memories ! I can't tell you what it was like to see the park on the back of a bike ! Everything is magnified and seems so much closer and clearer. Of course when you come to a herd of bison you really don't want to be that up close and personal, but what a thrill ! We saw lots of wildlife on our way. Many herds of bison, elk, a wolf, a coyote, moose and 1 bear. Remember the days when the bears were everywhere? My mom would feed them bread from the car window at the entrance of the park. They would be in your garbage cans in the campgrounds. You would always see them, now they are scarcely seen, so sad. Our butts were tired by the time we made it back to our camp, we watched a movie, then called a night. Rain dampened our plans on Sat. We decided to ride in the truck for awhile and then come back and get the bikes if it cleared up. It didn't quit so we spent the day touring the upper loop in the warmth of the truck. We were really glad when we got to Mammoth Hot Springs where it hailed on us ! There was a large herd of elk at Mammoth, we watched them and ate lunch there and headed back. We had discussed the possibility of staying another day, returning on Mon. but the weather wasn't going to cooperate at all with us so we took our time driving back home on Sun. Although we only got one day riding thru the park on our bikes, it was still an awesome trip one that we hope to repeat next year.

2008-10-10T14:05:00.001-07:00

PATRIOT GAURD MISSION

2008-10-10T12:32:00.000-07:00

Scott and I belong to an organization called The Patriot Gaurd Riders. Their mission statement is " TO STAND FOR THOSE WHO STOOD FOR US". Basicly we all join together on our bikes and ride to a given destination to welcome home soldiers returning from war. Most of the time it is at the airport or gaurd base. There we stand with smiles and flags waving to give our support to these honorable soldiers. Sadly there are times when one of these soldiers has given his life for our country and is returning home for the last time. Scott and I had the privledge and opportunity to stand gaurd for one of these soldiers. Jordan P. Thibeault was killed in Irag on Sept 5 2008 serving his country. We were given the alert that the Patriot Gaurd was needed to meet his body at the Salt Lake Air Gaurd Base. There were approximatley 30 of us that were there and it amazed me to see how these wonderful people show up to give of their time to honor a fallen soldier ! We met at a restaurant parking lot in Salt Lake and from there traveled to the airport, were we where told that there had been a change in plans and the plane was to arrive at the gaurd base. Our troop then made their way to the tarmack at the base and parked our bikes. We were each given a flag and we all proceeded to the edge of the tarmack forming two lines. The slight breeze in the air made the flags stand up and wave proud, what a glorious sight to behold ! We only had to wait for a short time when the plane carrying the soldier landed and pulled to a stop. At that point we followed in the pallbearers dressed sharply in uniforms to form two lines on either side of the door of the plane. As we stood at attention the casket was lowered out of the plane to the awaiting family members. To watch the mother caress the casket with her hands and gently lay across the casket to give her son a hug, hit home for me. I knew the heartache and pain that mother was suffering and the tears flowed down my face, later that day at the mortuary I was able to speak with her and we shared a few tears. The pall bearers and family then walked slowly behind the casket as it was taken to the awaiting hearse, and then the Patriot Gaurd members followed behind them. After the casket and family were settled in their cars, we mounted our bikes . Four of our gaurd members were to be in front of the hearse and the rest of us followed in behind, with police escorts bringing in the rear. The procession was inspiring. We traveled out of the base to the freeway briefly, then onto Rewood Road to the South Jordan area approximatley 90th South, at each of the intersections there had been police officers blocking traffic so our procession would not be interrupted, there we turned east to drive the soldier one last time by his house were the procession paused. The streets were lined with flags and people that had turned out to pay their respects, it was truly an emotional, reverent, experience. From his home we the proceeded on to Jenkins and Soffe Mortuary where the procession ended. We parked our bikes, stood by them until the casket had made its way into the building and then went in to the mortuary to give our condolences to the family. They were so grateful to us for escorting them and their son and thanked us so very much. Of course it was our honor and privilege to be able to participate in this homecoming. It is a memory that Scott and I will not soon forget.

Happy Birthday Dustin

2008-09-23T12:12:00.000-07:00

Dusty would have been 37 years old on September 22 this year. He lost his courageous battle against melenoma cancer 5 years ands 1 month ago. He fought hard for his life trying traditional as well as alternative medicines, nothing worked.
Even when he was soo ill he would still warm your heart, and light up the room with his smile and his laughter.

During his time here Dusty had a passion for life, especially for the outdoors. It was his to explore and enjoy all aspects of it! From the time he was a little boy until his death, he loved being in the mountains. In the summer he loved camping, fishing, hiking, biking and horseback riding on his favorite horse Harley. The winter brought skiing, snowboarding, tubing, and snowmobiling. Dusty started golfing at a young age and announced to us he was going to be a golf pro when he grew up.

When he lived and worked at Pack Rat Pawn in Montana he played hard with his cousins the Reisbeck boys They had boats, His was a speed boat, the Shady Lady, They rode Harleys, his was a sportster, they all had snowmoblies and they torn up the slopes.

As a brother he looked out for his little sisters. He loved his little sisters, Gentry, Reagan, and Summer. Mostly he loved to tease them. They all played and laughed together, they did everything together. We did many things as a family, camping in the Uintahs where he caught his first fish, swimming at pineview, Lagoon, the Zoo and many vacations.

Dusty loved going to Rendezvous. He loved to shoot his black powder rifle, throw his tomahawk. He participated in all the activities and games. At night sitting around the campfire in his buckskins singing and listening to tall tales was his favorite part. He had many Rendezvous friends and when we are at Rendezvous now we all have a get together to toast and remember the ones we have lost.

Dustys nieces and nephews adored him. He would play and tease and tickle. He was there when each of them were born and came to every birthday party.
He had many friends growing up, the Shiffletts, Rigbys, Beaker, Hulls, Eric, Todd, and George and many more. Each had a special place in his heart and wonderful memories of many good times.

When Dusty was little he loved Cherry Hill. We swam and plyed miniature golf almost everyday. Dusty, the Shifflett boys, and the Rigby boys, were the first ones to go down the blue waterslide to test it out.

Growing up in the mobile home park Als Apple Acres Dusty spent alot of time "helping" his grandpa. You would see them walking hand in hand or riding the tractor together.

He loved the holidays, Halloween he would always dress up. Thanksgiving he could put more food away than humanly possible. Christmas was always magical for him. He loved being withh his family more than anything.
When we moved to Erda and bought horses he spent alot of time here. He loved being around the horses and riding. We went on many rides together, often with George, and Todd.

Dusty and Scott had a wonderful relationship. They would have heart to heart talks, and they shared their thoughts and intrests. They were truly the best of friends and loved each other.

He was a beautiful baby often mistaken for a little girl, a precocius toddler, mischeivious toddler, imp as a child, funloving (sometimes too much so !) teenager, aspiring young man and a wonderful father to his then two daughters.
The girls were the joy of his life, Jossi and Savannah. He was so caring and kind with them and enjoyed every minute with them. And the thought of having twin boys thrilled him, although he knew in his heart he wouldn't be raising them. I'm sure he was able to meet and love them in heaven and is their gaurdian angel now.

I'm so proud of Dustin, for the man he had become. As his Mom we had a very special and loving relationship, many tears and hugs, scrapes and bumps. And I loved him so very much.

He was a wonderful, caring son, loving brother and uncle, special sweetheart, and doting father. We were all blessed to have him in our lives and we love him and miss him every day.

I would love for all of you to write something (more than one if you want) about your time with Dusty. What you remember, something you did , anything you want.

Happy Birthday my son, We love you !!!!

2008-09-16T10:14:00.000-07:00

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SHAKAYE !!!!

2008-09-15T18:59:00.000-07:00

Shakaye is my oldest granddaughter and much to my dismay just turned 15 years old. Holy cow, that makes me ancient ! She has been such a joy in our lives. She has always been a beauty since the day she was born. With her sweet smile she has charmed us and won our hearts over and over again. When she was first born I had the privlege of having her and her mom Gentry live with me. Such a tiny little blessing brought such love into our home. As a little girl she talked early like her mom did, in complete full sentences. She was always dancing and singing and making us laugh. At the age of eight we started her on horseback riding lessons. She has been showing our Missourri Foxtrotters ever since and is a natural ! She has won countless ribbons and was the Youth Grand Champion. Now she is fifteen going on twenty-five, and charming the boys. Time certainly does fly, it seems only yesterday she was wrapped in a little pink blanket. We all love her dearly and wish her a very Happy Birthday !!!!

2008-08-22T09:48:00.001-07:00

A Letter To Dusty

2008-08-22T08:31:00.000-07:00

It's been 5 years since you left this earth, August 22,2003, it doesn't seem possible.
I wonder how you are, what heaven is like where you are, what things you can do.
Is there fishing, snowmobiling, boating, horseback riding, golfing, camping, skiing, all the things that you loved to do here ? Can you see the fireworks ?
I think of you everyday, I miss you everyday, I ask God why everyday.
At times I feel your presence, I feel when you are with me and I close my eye's to feel your arms hug me. I know when you send me messages through the songs - Cheeseburger in Paradise, Skydiving, When I get where I'm going, I believe. My heart smiles.
I am sure that you watch over, and visit your sisters and dads too.
I think of you everyday, I miss you everyday, I ask God why everyday.
Something that bothered you the most when you knew that you were leaving this earth was that you wouldn't be here to raise your children. I know that you watch over them now, and are their guardian angel.
All of the kids' look like you. Jossie is so beautiful. She looks just like you and she has so many mannerisms that are yours. She has your laugh, your smile, the way she shrugs and tosses her head.
Savannah, what a doll, she is a joy ! All girly girl and such an imp. She has the gleam in her eyes and the sassy way about her. The twins, I'm sure you got to meet them before we did. What a pair - what one doesn't think of the other one does. They are handsome little guy's with the same boyish charm you did. It tugs at my heart that you cannot be here with them, that they call some one else daddy. We all are making sure that they know who you are, we tell them all about you.
I think of you everyday, I miss you every day, I ask God why everyday.
We all miss you, your children, dads, sisters, family and friends. We miss your smile, your laugh, your walk, the fun that we all shared ! I often wonder and hope that you know how much we love you.
Did we do all that we could to keep you here ? Were we too late in fighting desperately for your life ? Was there something else we could have done ?
You are a wonderful, loving, kind, fun person, who was a friend to all. You touched so many peoples lives and we were blessed to have you for the time that we did.
I think of you everyday, I miss you everyday, I ask God why everyday.
Love, Mom

My First Attempt at Blogging !!

2008-08-20T20:06:00.000-07:00

Well Sue this is all your fault ! Sue and I are old friends. Wow ! How many years has it been ? We started double dating way back when I was very first dating Paul. Woody, Sues' husband and Paul are cousins. We had some good times, although the guy's were grouchy most of the time. We raised our kid's together, spent countless hours at Cherry Hill before it was all the rage. Celebrated the kid's birthdays together, we even had themes for our party's. All of the holidays together. Halloween, making carmeled apples, and trick or treating. The 4th and the 24th of July watching fireworks. Christmas partys. Our children were each other's best friends, and so were we. We had a harrowing day trying to find two of our children, Matt and Gentry. We spent hours looking for them throughout the neighborhoods, Cherry Hill campground, and holding each other's hands, tearfully walking towards the pond, hoping that they were not floating in it. We were certain they had drowned or had been kidnapped !! They had been gone for around 7 hours, we had called the police when finally they showed up being carried by friends that had joined in the search. They had been found in the telephone booth around the back of the store at Cherry Hill. After getting in, they were too small to open it back up and they had spent the entire day in the booth. Their account was that they had cried, slept, wet their pants, and according to Gentry " They didn't even have a dime !!"
When Woody and Sue moved away we drifted apart, life happens. Some of the kid's have stayed in touch here and there. But recently Sue and I have reconnected. She and some of her family came to visit when Reagan had her open heart surgery. We have visited at a couple of event's, birthday's and car shows. I'm so glad we had the chance to rekindle our friendship and I'm looking forward to having activities where all the kid's can get together again. Sue told me about her blog and when I looked at it was when I decided that I would give it a try. May take some time to get it as good as her's, well maybe never ! So here's to you Sioux !!!

2008-08-20T16:21:00.001-07:00