4th of July 2013

We started our morning at 6:30 at the annual community breakfast.  The men behind the griddle are men that I grew up watching cook for our ward with one or two additions.  It's fun to see them, it's like a reminder of my childhood,

I think that was a portion of the pile that they fed everyone with.

I tell you there is something about a breakfast that is cooked outside and by men, it screams HOLIDAY!!

Then it was off to the parade.  I don't know that we would miss seeing the parade but we would miss being with everyone.  Dustin and his family came up to visit and we love it when that happens.  My kids count the days when they find out they are coming for a visit and it just doubles the fun when it happens to be on the 4th of July.

There are always a couple of flybys before the parade starts.  This just might be Troy and J.T.'s favorite "float".

The sirens started and this cutie wanted none of it, so mom and grandma saved the day by covering his ears. He was so still and didn't wiggle at all, adorable.

The parade always means running into good friends and Cambelle saw a friend from school.

Eldred Stephenson was the grand marshal of the parade and it was well deserved.  He turned 100 this year, we got to know this incredible individual before we moved last time.  He is kind, strong and such an example to everyone who knows him.  And he looked so handsome in his uniform.

The Veteran's float followed close behind Eldred.  This by far is always my favorite.  I watch these men and women who have served our country and I find myself a little in awe.  I wondered what they have seen, and experienced and how it has changed them.  I wonder about their families.  I find myself so grateful for these heroes who once a year (which I don't believe is enough) pass by me as I applaud.  Such a small gesture, but for certainly a sincere one.

Sara was in the parade for ballroom this year, she had a blast.

I love this picture of her.  She looks so happy.

I love this one of her too.  Notice the cute tongue, it comes out when she is concentrating and I think it is adorable.

Happy 4th of July

We had a wonderful 4th of July.  I am so very grateful to live in this country.  We have had a fantastic time with family.  I love that the weekend is just starting.  Definitely more fun to come.

Best Friends

These two sweeties are two of my favorite girls.  Cambelle is lucky enough to have her cousin as her best friend.  Their eyes light up when they see each other and they run off and are totally content to spend all their time in their own little world.  The last time she was up Sara did a "photo shoot"  I couldn't help but post some of my favorites.

The only thing that would make this friendship better is if they lived a little closer to each other.

Miles update-100

We reached 100 miles of our 500 mile goal.  Which was quite a feat considering we were gone to Utah two different times and Sara and J.T. were gone for a week.  So, yay us!!  

The first reward was to try sno cones at this place that said they had "Hawaiian shaved ice".....they lied.  We decided we needed to try all the little shacks in town and find the best one, because this one was not.  We did have a nice time just talking about summer plans and what they were excited for.

Bowling was also on one of these first cards we earned.  Just a quick game, with a lot of smiles and decent scores at the end.

Have I ever told you how much I like this guy?

Then we stopped by the frozen yogurt place that you can fill your own cup and choose your own toppings.  I should have taken a picture of J.T.'s after he had filled it up, gummie worms, nerds and hot fudge, hmmm?

One thing that I love about my kids is they ALWAYS say thank you.  I know they appreciate these little things because they are so quick to acknowledge their gratitude, and they always say "Mom and Dad", it makes me feel like they see us as a team.  Or maybe they are just smart enough to realize that when they show gratitude it is a lot easier for mom and dad to want to do things for them.  Either way I love it.

My Heart is Home

I heard a mother once say that to become a mother meant that pieces of your heart were walking around outside your body.  I kind of agree and this last week two of the pieces of my heart were far away from me at camp.  Sara was at girls camp and had a blast.  J.T. was at an Encampment for the scouting program and Cambelle and I spent some time together.  Honestly I was a bit of a mess at the beginning of the week.  Even though they can get on my nerves, leave wet towels on the bathroom floor, and not listen to me more often than I like, I love them and when they are not here I miss everything about them.

Cambelle was a lot of fun to be with this week, we went on a good long bike ride, got ice cream, watched Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, and went to lunch with Troy.  She was also a great sport as I dragged her to a number of places to make decisions on our bathroom remodel that we are in the middle of.  I love being with this little girl.  She has a great sense of humor and makes me smile.  I am so glad she was around this week because I don't know what I would have done without her.

J.T. spent a few days at this crazy big encampment that had 10,000 people there.  Yes, you read that right, 10,000.  I saw a picture of a portion of the group and all I could think was "my sweet J.T. is somewhere in that mess, he is going to get lost, I just know it."  But he didn't, and he had so much fun.  They had a BMX track, a climbing wall, zip line, archery, shooting range, and a lot of other things that make boys feel like men and men feel like boys.  He came home tired, dirty, and really dark from the neck up and shoulders down.

Just think 10,000 moms and wives welcomed dirty feet like these home.

I know right?  

I love that smile.

Sara was invited to go to the girls camp with the ward the Troy's parents just recently moved from.  They have welcomed her with open hearts and arms and my mothers heart loves each leader and young woman for what they shared with her this week.  She came home a little cleaner than J.T. but still not really wanting her picture taken.

I am so grateful they are home.  I love that they were able to spread their wings, find out a little about themselves, grow a little into who they are becoming.  And I love that they are back, and that I can hug them any time I want, even if it bugs them a little.

Mary Richards

 Mary Richards

• born 15 November 1835 in Merthyr-Tydfil, Glamorganshire, Wales
• died 2 July in Salt Lake City Utah
• came to America in 1853
• arrived in Salt Lake Valley 10 October 1853 with the Joseph W. Young Company

 Mary grew up in Merthry-Trydfil, Glamorganshire, Wales   When missionaries arrived in the city and began teaching, the William Richards family joined the church.  Mary was baptized in September of 1845.  William (the father) and four of his children—Mary, Elias, Martha and Eleazer—came to America together though the Perpetual Emigration Fund.  Their mother Harriet had died before this.  A company of 314 saints sailed from Liverpool 5 Feb. 1853.  After reaching New Orleans they sailed up the Mississippi River to Keokuk, then traveled on to the Valley.

Shortly after arriving in the Valley Mary, at age 18, met James James from the Parish of Pencarreg, Llangybi, Carmathenshire, Wales.  He was eleven years her senior.  They were married in Salt Lake City four months after she arrived.  Their first five children were born in Salt Lake City.

Then, in 1862 or 1863, the family moved to E.T., named for its founder Ezra Taft Benson (father of President Benson).  The name of this farming community was later changed to Lake Point in Tooele County. 

Seven more children were born to Mary and James at Lake Point.  Three of the James sons died young.  When Thomas, the seventh child, turned 14, Mary baked him a custard pie and told him he could eat it all by himself because he was the first son to live to the age of 14.

Mary confined her activates to her home and family.  When the youngest was five years old, the father died and Mary, at age 45, moved back to Salt Lake City.  At 135 South 5^th West she had a four room home built from adobes made by her two teenage sons, Tom and David.  Railroad track now run where this house once stood.  While living there Tom, and perhaps David, in their teens, walked to the Salt Lake Tabernacle to pump the bellows for the big organ.

We do not know how Mary supported her family after her husband’s death, nor do we know any of her church callings.  She died at the early age of 49.

A close bond remained with the siblings through the years.  At least four of the James children lived in Park Valley, Utah, at the same time. 

J.T. jammin'

So "jammin'" might be a stretch right now, but he is well on his way.  A few months ago he came to me and asked for a guitar and guitar lessons.  On the inside I was jumping up and down yelling "yes, Yes, YES!!", but the responsible mom was the voice he heard.  "You want to play the guitar?  Well, if you save enough to pay for half, dad and I will match that."  Again the voice inside, "please, please be committed enough to reach this goal."  Troy and I have always encouraged our kids to try new things but we have always wanted to know if it was something they really wanted versus a cool idea that won't last long.  To curb the ideas and really foster the true desires we place a little responsibility on them.  Usually that responsibility comes in the form of cash.  We offer extra ways that they can earn money around the house, (read, chores that I hate that they can do for me :)  This guy totally came through.  He worked like a mad man, he cleaned up the yard after Troy trimmed the side bushes/trees and that in itself was no small feat.  He worked really hard.  We stopped at the music store at the beginning of this little venture so he would know how much to save and in a little over two months he was there and we went and picked out this beautiful instrument.

A little side story on the reason the voice inside my head cheered so loudly is that I have always wanted a guitar.  In fourth and fifth grade it was nearly an obsession for me.  I saved my money and dragged my mom to the store so I could caress and ogle over the  guitar that I knew would soon be mine.  I had $75 dollars saved, I only needed $25 more and would own my dream.  Then my dad talked to me.  He asked about lessons and how I would pay for them, and if I knew anyone who would be able to teach me.  I didn't, my hopes fell a little.  Then he pointed out that if I had the guitar but didn't know how to play it then it would be a waste of all that hard earned money.  My hopes continued to fall.  By the end of the conversation that grown up responsible person that has lived inside me even when I was little took over and I had decided to buy a bike instead.  It made more sense, it was much more practical.  Some of you may think my dad was wrong to talk me out of a dream, but before you make a rash judgement let me just say he was right.  He knew something that I didn't, I don't even think he knew he knew.  But that bike became a symbol of my ability to take care of myself.  After my mom passed away the next year, and I didn't have someone readily available to drive me places, that blue 12 speed took me all over, I rode to piano lessons, friends houses, the store in the little town nearby, cheerleader practice and eventually to drivers ed every day until I got my license.  That bike gave me the ability to achieve many more dreams that I had, and it was MINE, I bought it, I had ownership in that thing and that meant the world to me.  So I thank my dad for the practical side that he blessed me with and now with all my 11 year old heart I am cheering on my cute son to make that guitar sing the way I always wished I could.  Because I know he worked for it and he wants to.  He goes into his room and practices when he is done with chores, not because I told him to but because he loves it.  Good job J.T.!!  I love you!!