Sixteen Years

Today is my 16th wedding anniversary. You may think it strange that I refer to it in the present, but if we are going to be all correct about things that statement is true. Because I was married and sealed in the temple, our marriage is eternal. I'm not exactly excited about this inconvenient (wow, what an understatement) interruption in our wedded bliss, or the fact that we have to observe this occasion separately, however, I am still so grateful for the 13 years we were able to celebrate together.

The irony of it all is that our marriage was so great. I'm not just saying that because he is gone, but it truly was. Here is what you all would be jealous about:

*He did the laundry. Need I say more?

*He LOVED to cook. We benefitted greatly from his hours pouring over cook books.

*He spent so much time with the kids. He never let his work or hobbies interfere with his relationship with the kids. You would often find him pitching to them in the front yard, building lego, drawing with them, dancing in the living room with them, laying on their bed at night visiting with them, fishing with them, wrestling with them, and a myriad of other things. I can't think of another dad I know that spends as much time with his kids as he did with his. It was like he knew he needed to cram it in.

* He spent tons of time with me. We had so much in common that neither of us really found a need to spend a lot of recreational time with friends. We loved playing team sports together, hiking, camping, and playing crib after the kids went to bed.

*He is so kind and thoughtful. I would frequently find a little note tucked into my lunch, or a sticky note on the dash board. I got flowers for no reason and gifts just because.

One of our engagement picts. Haha!

* There were no man/woman tasks in our house. If the bathroom needed to be cleaned and he noticed first, he did it. If the lawn needed to be mowed, I often did it.

*He lived in the moment. I've never seen anyone who could live in the moment like he could. His mind was never preoccupied with the list of things he had to do, or things he was worrying about, he just enjoyed what he was doing, or who he was talking with.

*He showered me with compliments. I always felt loved and that I was someone important.


Because of all these wonderful things, a day like this is even harder than it would be otherwise. Although the sting of separation is a painful reality every day, he is MINE.

Always and forever!

The Last Hurrah!

After a 9 day camping trip we are finally home. Here is the break down of "The Last Hurrah" before school starts again.

Day One-

This was probably the most eventful day, but also the scariest. We had just been driving a half an hour when I looked in the rear view mirror and saw that Cooper was having a seizure. One of the worst moments of my life for sure. I quickly pulled over and tried to get him to come to. It went on for about a minute, but it felt like an eternity. When he finally snapped out of it he tried to speak but couldn't. We rushed to the hospital at Pincher Creek and were seen immediately. SO impressed with the staff there, especially the doctors. I have been around dozens and dozens of doctors over the last few years and these people were truly awesome and thorough. They ran a series of tests and after about two hours in the ER, deemed him completely normal and recovered from the seizure. They said that it is quite common for children around his age to have one unexplainable seizure. They checked with the Lethbridge pediatrician and he gave us the go ahead to keep traveling. 

We stayed the night near where my dad grew up, which was Yahk, B.C. In the morning we visited the old school where he attended and the original building and some of the old playground still stands, with some additions.

Day Two-

Travel to Coeur D'Alene. The drive from B.C. through Idaho into Coeur D'Alene is one of the prettiest drives. We got to the camp ground, set up, and did a bit of shopping. 

Day 3

Silverwood! This place is seriously so fun for adults as well as kids. We spent the whole day/evening there. It was perfect weather. 

 


Day 4

Church and Couer D'Alene City Park. They have this really awesome playground there which is castle themed. We also went for a bike ride around the lake.

Day 5-

Travel to St. Regis. Got to the campground. The kids swam in the pool and we just hung out and relaxed. Read the BEST book. It is called Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand. It has made it to my top ten. I'm kind of addicted to survival stories and stories of people rising above oppression, but this topped them all.

Day 6-

Hiawatha Bike trail. We did this trail last year and loved it so much we wanted to try it again. It is a 15 mile trail on an old railway line. It is very scenic, complete with tunnels (one is 2 miles long), and high level bridges. You also get a free Hiawatha Stripe, as featured on the back of Cooper shirt.

Day 7- 

Traveled to Missoula for school shopping. Uggghh. I HATE shopping. Weird, I know. So sue me. We camped at a KOA which the kids loved because it had a large pool and hot tubs and lots of other fun things to do. The down side--on route to the airport. Not so good for a light sleeper such as myself.

Day 8-

Shopping. My goal is to get it done in as little time as possible. I think this year I hit a new record spending only about 3 hours 'til I was done. 

Day 9- 

Traveled home, with a quick stop in Kalispell to Target and Sizzler. 

SO NOT READY FOR SCHOOL TO START!

There Shall be Eternal Summer in the Grateful Heart

I haven't really felt like blogging lately. This week I've decided that I have a pretty boring and unexciting life. Nothing to report that is really blogworthy without getting a teensy bit negative. The Relief Society lesson this week was on gratitude. It was what I needed because I haven't been feeling very grateful lately, and that is shameful considering all I have been given. So, to ward off those feelings, here are ten things that I am grateful for this week.




1. Warm Weather

2. Having so many awesome nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews. 31 in all ( I think). Yes, shocking I know. I have been a great aunt for almost 8 years.

3. The combination of Cooper's freckles and his evil grin.

4. Kids who have a sense of humor.

5. A daughter who can sense a bad mom mood coming on and then start cleaning ferociously to combat it.

6. A dear friend who recognized a tough moment for me at the parade and helped me through it.

7. Being able to watch fireworks in my bathrobe from my deck.

8. Being invited to a friend's house for dinner and having a great time.

9. Sleeping in.

10. No schedule.

Meal Made of Nostalgia

Today I was thinking about my Grandma Sheen as I was weeding my garden---my garden that I wish resembled hers, but doesn't really. Now that I am older and wiser I greatly admire the way she kept her neat and tidy garden. I have a lot of fond memories involving her, and her garden.

Many hot August afternoons were spent sitting in the shady spot by her garage shelling endless buckets of peas. Often I would enlist the help of my friend Mindy, who gladly obliged. We sat and visited with Grandma and my mom as we shelled and ate at least half of what we shelled.

When everything was up and the plants fairly mature she would make creamed vegetables and invite us up to her house for lunch. We would take everything out to picnic table in her back yard and eat the fruits of her labors. Back then, I thought I didn't really like creamed vegetables all that much, but as I sat admiring the fruits of my labors in my own little patch, I had this overwhelming urge to make creamed vegetables for my kids.

I sat with my daughter shelling peas, savoring the similarities of my own childhood. Gathering the ingredients, we headed to the kitchen to make the meal I knew so well.

There is something supremely satisfying about eating a meal consisting entirely of things you have grown and nurtured yourself. As I listened to the compliments of my children and watched that creamy goodness dribble down their chins, I realized this was the happiest lunch I have been a part of in a very long time.

Thank you Grandma!

A Few Days.....A Few Picts

We spent the last few days camping at Kalispell. Our first stop was Snappy's Sports Senter. If you haven't been there before you really need to go. It is one of the best kept secrets in Kalispell.

Along with their AMAZING sporting goods store, they have this incredible stocked fish pond in the back. It has a waterfall, a path winding around it, and even a viewing gallery where you can see the fish swimming under water. There are some monstrous fish in there. I'm talking 2-3 feet long!

On normal days you can go back there and put your quarter in a feed machine and feed the fish. They jump great distances out of the water in large groups to eat your treats. The kids are very impressed and absolutely love it. What is even better, is that on Saturdays in the summer, they let kids fish in the pond for free! No fees, no licenses to buy, no bait needed. You don't even have to have a pole, they have them right there for you to use.

Of course, being the serious fisherman we are (ha, ha) Reggie wanted his own pole. It was so fun to watch and be a part of. I saw this four year old kid pull in a fish that was probably 20 pounds or so. Wh We didn't luck out with one of the big guys but it was fun all the same.

Another cool place is that fun center just outside of Hungry Horse. I think I was a race car driver in my previous life. I LOVE go carting. Could do it all day. In addition to go carting, there was a maze, bumper boats, and mini golf. A nice get away from the every day!

 

Pondering

I am a very big C.S. Lewis fan.  I didn't really discover how amazing he was until about two years and and 9 months ago. Browsing through some of his quotes today a couple stuck out. Here they are:

"We are not necessarily doubting that God will do the best for us; we are wondering how painful the best will turn out to be."


"Everyone has noticed how hard it is to turn our thoughts to God when everything is going well with us. We  'have all we want' is a terrible saying when 'all' does not include God. We find God an interruption. As St. Augustine says somewhere, 'God wants to give us something, but cannot, because our hands are full---there's nowhere for Him to put it.' Or as a friend of mine said, 'We regard God as an airman regards his parachute; it's there for emergencies but he hopes he'll never have to use it.' Now God, who has made us. knows what we are and that our happiness lies in Him. Yet we will not seek it in Him as long as He leaves us any other resort where it can even plausibly be looked for. While what we call 'our own life' remains agreeable we will not surrender it to Him. What then can God do in our interest but make 'our own life' less agreeable to us, and take away the plausible source of false happiness?"

~~from The Problem With Pain

I'm not sure exactly why, but these quotes really hit home today. Yes, "my own life" is less agreeable than it was, and yes I am using the parachute and have been desperately for a few years now. I wonder when I will land on safe ground?

How Old Would You Be If You Didn't Know How Old You Were?

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The passage of time is often marked by birthdays. When I was young they were highly anticipated events. Now that I'm 30 something........not so much.

That being said, it still was a great day thanks to so many kind and important people in my life. It started with breakfast in bed. I really wish I would have taken a picture of the menu choices before it disappeared because it was about a mile long. Cooper took on the role of waiter, while Marin and Reg made the magic in the kitchen. After breakfast they informed me that I was not to come out of my room until I was told. They were going to clean the upstairs for me. Wow. Who are these people!?! Cooper stood guard at the door with a plastic shield and light saber to make sure I kept my promise. When I tried to sneak out he said, "Mom just get back in your room and eat some chocolate or something. All righty then.

At lunch my dear friend Patty came and we went out to eat at Dave's Drive In. MMmmmm onions rings. Then we took the kids to the park. Didn't get any pictures of this. Crap.

Then I mowed my lawn, did some painting, and went down to my parents for supper. He are some of the cool things that were presented to me. I'm so spoiled, I know.

This is my birthday present to myself. Since redoing my living room over a year ago I have been searching for THE PERFECT MIRROR. There has been this big gaping hole over my love seat that has been driving me crazy, but I knew my PERFECT MIRROR would be found some day. And wouldn't you know it, I waltzed into Pier One the day before my birthday and there it was. Love it. We were meant to be together.

Look at this cute pendant from the Vintage Pearl that my friend got me. So cute!

Every serious single mom needs power tools and my dad recognizes that. Thanks Dad!

Hand made gifts are always a hit. Featured here is the lovingly made pearler bead art compliments of Marin. Reggie did not fail to impress and apparently he knows me all to well.

Add in some visits and more thoughtful gifts from friends and family and it all adds up to a really sweet day!