Friday, September 25, 2009

Remembering 2007

Treyson & Cam - 2 years, and 3 years old


Landon with C.J. & Manda

Cam played T-ball. It was so much fun to watch her, and see her have fun. Landon had just finished up his baseball, and this helped us with "withdrawals";)


Cam & Treyson supporting Uncle Landon

After a baseball game, up in Ontario.
Just think.........26 more days, and we'll be back together again :)

Thursday, September 24, 2009

Friday, September 18, 2009

My Camera broke :(

My Camera broke............... I'll show you why, but FIRST a few pics from the past month.

Trin and Darrin and girls are home !! Yeah !!


Chans and Jaden graduated and are off to college

Relay for Life was fun !!


Two Sisters, my mom and Aunt Dawna


Who ever heard of PEAS is August/September??


Oh, yeah. I guess when you plant THIS in June


This is what you get in August/September :)


Our corn had a small problem in one spot - strange.......


Roger fixed up an AWESOME watering system.
He is a great gardener.


Tagg on the swing, he loves it !


Rich family party at the property


The little boys loved the sandpile

Joni & Kerry will probably kill me for posting this,
but I thought it was a great picture !!


Tarzan........I mean Zac

Grab me dad !! Grab me !!

Gotcha !!


You know Tagg wants a turn now.........


Now he's happy :)


Some of my very best friends


Tagg and Treyson helping water the garden



Then it was time to play in the sand and water

Then.........Grandma's camera got wet..........and that's the REST of the story:) Time for a new camera - Yeah !

Saturday, September 12, 2009

Bucket Filler



"All of God's children encounter challenges and frustrations in life. That is part of our mortal experience. We also know that truly faithful people are produced not by fleeting flashes of exuberant effort, but by continuous consistency in keeping the commandments of God. As we follow Jesus Christ, pressing forward one step at a time, we can do all the the Lord would have us do" - Elder Russell M. Nelson

Friday, September 11, 2009

8 years later.............

What were YOU doing on 9/11 ?? I think everyone can remember exactly where and what they were doing that day. I bet MY day was more interesting than most. Here is what I wrote in my journal: Names are not used to protect the innocent :)

We got up early at 4 a.m. and traveled from St. George to Zion’s National Park to catch a shuttle (6 a.m.). It took us through the park and tunnels, and over a winding dirt road into the back country and dropped us off at Chamberlain Ranch (7:30 a.m). We began our hike here.

The first 2-3 miles was walking down a 4x4 trail, similar to what we have hiked before near Morgan. It was mostly a gradual downhill. Then we entered the Virgin River bed, and descended into the canyons. We didn’t hike in the water all the time, mainly crossing from side to side to stay out of it when possible. The hike for me, was great for the 1st half. The scenery was beautiful, and the canyons spectacular. I wasn’t tired or sore, and it was quite the adventure. On the map, it kept referring to “The First Narrows”, and as we got into “narrow” canyons, we thought this was it!! Except as we went further, they kept getting narrower and steeper, and so we didn’t know for sure where “The First Narrows” were exactly.

There was evidence of previous flash flooding, with huge boulders and trees strewn everywhere. We were taking pictures right and left. When we finally came to the “waterfall” we could then know for sure where we were on the “map”. We had gone approximately 7 miles and were into our hike about 4-5 hours. It was really spectacular, and in some parts, eerie, solemn, and almost oppressive. There were parts here in “The First Narrows” that no “high” ground could be found, but the sky was bright and sunny, and there were no worries.

About 1 mile after the waterfall, we came to a place where “Deep Creek” joined with the Virgin River. It joined from the north, and about doubled the size of the water that we were walking through. (It was just up to mid calf) From this point on, the hiking became more difficult for me. The bottom of the river and the sides between the river and the canyon walls were covered with bowling ball sized rocks, with NO space or flat ground in between. You basically stepped from rock to rock, and in the river it was very slippery. The walking sticks we brought were life savers, literally.

We started passing over-night campground spots for those who would be making it a 2-day hike, and then it started raining. To me, the rain was coming down quite a bit, and all I could picture in my mind, was mesas and canyons for miles around behind us, draining off the rain water, and filling up the canyons, joining together, until they made a mass of boiling flash flood waters which would come down behind us, and devour us in the Real Narrows up ahead. By the time we reached “Big Springs”, just before entering the “Real Narrows” I had myself worked up into quite a panic, which I kept inside of me, except for sharing my concerns with a few of the other hikers, which were not concerned at all.

I guess it was my Grandma Dickson coming out in me, but unfortunately, this panic, and feeling of dread and worry completely consumed me, and basically ruined the rest of the trip down the Narrows for me. I was sure we were about to be caught and bashed against the rocks and drowned by flash flood waters. I took off at a fast pace (for me) for a little while, just praying that we would get through the canyons before it over took us. After awhile I was quite exhausted, and resigned myself to dying. I thought a lot about my family, and how they would feel without me, and how sorry I was that I had ever come on this stupid trip.

The canyon walls were 1000’s of feet high on either side, but I had to keep my eyes directly in front of me, looking to where I would put my feet next, so I didn’t look up very much. There were a couple of places where we had to wade through pools that were waist and chest high, and these were actually enjoyable because the bottoms were sandy, and gave our feet a rest from those miserable “bowling ball” rocks.

We finally made it out of the canyons, which seemed to go on forever and ever. It had to be at least 20 miles of hiking in all. My feet and legs were killing me, and it was the most physically challenging, exhausting thing I have ever put my body through. When we finally made it to the last corner, there was a rock wall built into the side of the canyon, and I just about cried in relief.

We sat for a few minutes, and then walked very gingerly down a beautiful cement walkway that was flat and smooth, and just made you want to kneel down and kiss it. We walked another mile to the shuttle, and then collapsed into the shuttle chair. All in all it took us about 12 or 12 ½ hours. It was at this point in talking with other passengers on the shuttle, that we heard for the first time, of the horrible “Attack on America”.

We were shocked, and horrified at what we heard – Two planes striking the twin towers of the World Trade Center, another hitting the Pentagon, and another crashing into a field in Pennsylvania. At that time, they were estimating 50,000 were killed.

After we got back to our cars, we drove to the condo, ordered pizza, and watched the television coverage of this horrible event. It was hard to believe that the horrible pain and suffering and death had occurred to so many people, while we were enjoying?? ourselves in the Narrows of Zion Canyon. It made my worry and fear in the canyons seem like next to nothing. More than anything I just wanted to get home to my family in Morgan.

Friday, September 4, 2009

Hike to the "M"


I hiked to the "M" this morning with a friend. It took about 1 1/2 hours, and we went 2 miles. Going up is hard, but coming down is even harder because you have to be so careful not to slip and fall on the rocks. We passed a guy who had done the hike 4 weeks in a row, and I know of another woman in Morgan who hikes it daily. I need to get in shape for Machu Picchu, but I don't know if I'll try the "M" every week or not. Maybe I better switch to Hardscrabble, there are hills, but at least they are paved :) Sorry I don't have any pics, but my camera is broken. Check here for pics from last year.
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