Wordle

I was a little late to the Wordle craze

I intentionally didn't check it out because I know myself. 

I get addicted to games and didn't want the constant temptation to play.

Imagine my excitement to learn the game only allows you to play one a day!

Forced limits, I love it!

Practicing

Friday morning we dropped Nick off with the rugby team to travel

to St. George for the season opener tournament.

He was so excited to report he started varsity and played most of the game!

Last night Dan picked him up at 1:00 a.m. when they arrived back to SLC.

When he crawled back in bed, he reported Nick was totally trashed -- 

could hardly walk he was so exhausted and beat up. 

He played "Prop" and said the guy he was up against was 300 lbs. 

But he had fun! And was feeling MUCH better after a good night's sleep.

Dan captured me practicing for singing time this morning.

My partner knows sign and taught the kids "Keep the Commandments"

in sign language. I was watching the video I took of her to review so I was ready for today. 

The video is on my phone in my lap, 

so not sure what I'm looking at in this photo.

Guess I'm just really good at imagining I'm teaching to a cute room of kids.

Smile, Angela, Smile! 😂

Past and Future

Last night we drove down to Provo for Madi Wickham's wedding reception.

She met her now-husband at BYU and as it turned out, 

his dad was a missionary in Buenos Aires South with Dan and Kurt!

He was the AP who picked them up when they arrived in the mission.

Brad and Jenne were there too so we got a photo of the four BA missionaries together. 

(The dads look so much alike we thought they were brothers!)

So fun to celebrate Madi and Logan and to FINALLY meet Kurt & Tiffany's parents and siblings.

We've known each other so long it feels like we know their families, but we've never met.

After I introduced myself, Tiffany's mom even said, "Tell me about your kids! How is Marty?"

Wow! She has Tiffany's gift of remembering EVERYTHING.

Dan and I had a whole day Saturday in front of us with no set plans. 

While I was reading my scriptures, I had a little prompting to go to the temple. 

And surprisingly, there were two spots available. 

Dan was sweet to agree to go with when I sprung it on him during his workout.

It's not always -- ever -- great to think you have a whole day and then suddenly have your wife suggest something else instead. But he was willing.

Then Clara's helper called the minute we walked in the house and said Clara wanted a blessing.

So... off we went again.

But in the end, Dan and I still had plenty of time to do things we wanted to do

and even relax together in the evening.

So for that I am grateful.

Also grateful for these tulips on my counter foreshadowing Spring.

Pagosa Day Trip

The ranch is nearing completion. We're still holding our breath that everything gets done by May.

It should, but it was supposed to be done by last August "at the latest." 

And while we were there the heat in the bunk house kept popping a breaker and there were mouse droppings in the side table drawers. So even when its done, I'm anticipating issues. 

There always are in any new build. 

But these views make everything better! 

Bluebird day!

All frustrations aside, what is finished is stunning! 

Mike (our builder) designed the powder bathroom. 

I let him run with it and am so thrilled with how it turned out. 

He's very talented with design.

Locker room

The entry keeps getting more beautiful every time we come. 

First the rustic beams and headers, then the door details Mike added,

and now light fixture.

Living room/kitchen from the entry.

Kitchen from the fireplace.

Master seating nook and fireplace.

Master bath that we had to fight for all the inches we could get for the vanity.

Turned out wonderful!

Upstairs Spa bath with sauna, jacuzzi tub & steam shower

Lots of snow just asking for a pair of snowshoes or cross-country skis.

Cupping

Have you tried cupping? 

Here's what to expect:

The most painful part is the disappointment, 

having thought you were going in for a relaxing 90 minute massage.

Please and Thank You

 Nick just told me about a funny object lesson his Seminary teacher did in class today.
He called his wife from the iPhone of a kid in class so she didn't know it was him.

He said, "Hi Honey, thank you for all you do for our family and for the kids and thank you for the things you do for me. Please do my laundry and make me dinner and clean up the house. I'm calling you from an iPhone. Bye."

Nick said it was really funny, and what especially stood out to him was how he talked at his wife, not letting let her say a word at all, then simply hung up. 

What stood out to me was the way he asked for stuff more like a list of demands.

I think I'm a thoughtful asker, but I'm going to pay attention to that.

I'm terrible at listening after praying. 

I hit "Amen" then jump up like it's a contest to see who can be first off the floor (which I think it was when we were kids saying the family dinner prayer. I literally remember shouting "first!" Was that "first" to kneel or "first" to sit back in our chairs? Apparently I'm still having a race.)

 I expect God to reach me while I'm on the fly -- which he does most (all) of the time.

But that's probably not the best way. 

Although often I do say really long prayers so I'm listening as I'm praying 

and considering what to pray for -- so that's more like a conversation.

I'm definitely better at praying and listening than I was in high school. 

But there's always room for improvement.

Remind Me

 Would you believe I actually would have stayed to ski another day if I could?
Today was COLD, but fun. The snow was better yesterday, but today was better than Saturday.

Dan has a job I asked him to do.

Next year when I say, "I don't love to ski,"
I want him to remind me that I actually do like to ski. And I love our Deer Valley days.
I'm even craving a couple more big runs on Sultan or Empire, 

but with soft snow that we didn't get this year.
To go fast and get really tired out without the super sketchy sound of scraping across ice.

And work on the moguls. Which even Dan avoided for the most part because they were too hard.

As a last day send-off (and because we were out of cheese back home), 

we ate at the Stein Erikson buffet with Nick and the boys. 

They went back to SLC after lunch because Nick had rugby practice,

and Dan and I skied some more then relaxed in the condo 

for a few hours hot tubbing, napping and watching TV.

Deer Valley Memories

Yesterday we hung around the condo, watched church on TV, took a walk,

played games (Gnoming Around), Nick built Legos and we all ate lots of snacks. 

Marty taught us the card game, Karma which was really fun. 

Also, it's worth noting Lizzie and I won in Hearts. And Yahtzee.

Marty had a fantastic first week at work!

It was so fun to hear all the details in person.

Today we woke up to snow. Not a lot, but enough to soften the runs.

It was cold, but so fun doing lots of laps. We skied with Marty in the morning...

...and ran into Chris, Jake & Jay in the afternoon.

I'm so sad I didn't get photos of Nick, Luke and Will!

Panini lunch is the best -- not only a fun break, but a great time to catch up with the kids and their friends.

A very high energy hour (or two!) and so nice not having to fight the crowds at Snow Park.

(Although, those were fun days too meeting up with adult friends while the kids were in ski school.)

Marty & Lizzie had to leave at 3:00 so Marty could catch his flight back to Denver.

Chris and friends had to leave by 4:00 so they could get ready for the school week.

But Bekah, Jaxon and his friend were snowboarding in Park City, so they came up to the condo and joined us for dinner. While the boys played video games with Nick and friends,

Dan and I got to have Bekah time. So much fun.

 

Bluebird!

Bluebird Day! 

Good thing the sun was shining because 

It. Was. Icy! 

We explored different runs, found some good snow and I remembered 

I like to ski.

I love being outside in the mountains.

We love staying at Empire Pass where we can go back to the condo, 

take off our boots and eat paninis for lunch all together. 

Also just walk out the door and hit the slopes with no morning rush.

Look at all these cute skiers in line waiting for the lifts to open.

Frozen

President's Day Holiday getaway with the fam to Deer Valley.

To be honest, I've been dragging my feet over the prep required to shop and pack.

Mostly because we haven't had any snow, none at all, and I'm so nervous to ski on ice.

But I'm looking forward to spending time with everyone, 

including catching up with Marty and hearing about his first week at work!

I'm writing a winter frozen lake scene, so Dan and I made a stop at Jordanelle 

to admire the cold beautiful landscape. 

 

This and That

Annual "sip 'n soak" at Amy's today with a few friends.

She has an indoor pool so we ate brunch in the pool house then sat in her hot tub

telling stories -- mainly about ailments! 

You know you're getting old when that's the topic of conversation.

*****

Yesterday, for high school Spirit Week, the theme of the day was,

"Anything but a Backpack"

Nick took his books in a giant orange traffic cone.

Some of the other backpack alternatives kids brought were:

a kayak (rode down the stairs after school), full-size refrigerator/freezer (that one had to stay outside), 4 lawnmowers (also had to stay outside because of the gasoline)--but they used the grass catchers for their books, laundry basket with wheels, witch's cauldron, big trash can, American Girl Jeep, baby car seat, wheel barrel, Kiddie car, aerator, microwave, toaster oven, several ("borrowed") grocery carts, hotel valet suitcase roller, pots, pans, rocket box (top of car storage).

*****

My dad ALWAYS had this pen on him.

It was the epitome of technology and I thought it made him super classy and we LOVED using it.

 

Morning Study

I am REALLY enjoying both of these books 

by Patrick Q. Mason. 

Planted and Restoration

Planted talks about doubt and why it's imperative for a believer

to not equate doubt with sin. God welcomes questions.

(This week's CFM has Abraham questioning and pressing the Lord.)

I'm loving the chapter on prophets are not perfect. 

(God will never take away our free agency. Even the prophet's.)

Mason is a brilliant historian and scholar of religion at Utah State and has a great sense of humor too.

Description:

For all its advances, our secular age has also weakened ties to religious belief and affiliation, and Latter-day Saints have not been immune. In recent years, many faithful Church members have encountered challenging aspects of Church history, belief, or practice. Feeling isolated, alienated, or misled, some struggle to stay. Some simply leave. Many search for a reliable and faithful place to work through their questions. The abundance of information online can leave them frustrated. Planted offers those who struggle—and those who love them—practical ways to stay planted in the gospel of Jesus Christ.

"An entirely honest and entirely affirming treatment of the challenges facing LDS believer. Mason brings a historian's training and sophistication together with a disciple's compassion and sensitivity to bear on an urgent topic. The result is a provocative and inspiring framework for faith."
—Fiona and Terryl Givens, authors of The Crucible of Doubt: Reflections on the Quest for Faith

Description

The Restoration began in the spring of 1820, when Joseph Smith saw God the Father and Jesus Christ in a grove of trees in upstate New York. Joseph had questions, and Jesus had answers.

That was two hundred years ago. As the Restoration enters its third century, the world has new questions. A loving God has answers. In Restoration, scholar and author Patrick Mason reflects on what it means for members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to participate in the ongoing Restoration. Every generation must rediscover the gospel anew, and this book breathes new life into well-worn terms and phrases. What does it mean to restore Israel ? How can a church with less than one percent of the world's population be true ? What baggage have we picked up these past two centuries, and how do we move forward with confidence, relevance, and impact? The Restoration was intended to bless all of our Heavenly Parents children, especially the marginalized and vulnerable among us. This book will inspire and challenge you to rethink, recommit, and respond to God's call to the 21st-century world.

 

Ice Cream Endorphins

 Clara was pretty tired when I showed up today.
Her feet were sore and she let me massage them with lotion

(which she generally only lets the helpers do).

She asked if I'd remembered to get ice cream and said she was in the mood for one

if I had one too. (I had a peppermint patty instead because I'm trying to limit my sugar.)

And the most fascinating thing, 

when she started enjoying that ice cream, she talked more than she has in a long time and remembered stories I hadn't even heard before. Talk about endorphins!

I took a bunch of video, trying to capture her stories for her kids and grandkids.

These perky days are few and far between any more. 

Glad we could share one together.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Valentine's Dinner with some of my favorite people!

Dan made a delicious, gorgeous dinner!

💗💗💗💗💗

 

Doppelganger

Man sitting near me in Primary today.

This is NOT Dan!

Are you doing a double-take? Like me? All Primary long?

Even when you Zoom in, still looks like him, huh?

I know!!!

We're all dying here at home!

Scrapbooking Part 2

 Finished! 

Scrapbook Weekend

After spending all of 2021 slowly working on a scrapbook for 2015,

I decided I needed to make a more concerted effort to finish.

Calendared all day Friday and Saturday as scrapbook days.

Finished 2015 and started 2004 - 2006 today. 

(A bit easier to get through since we took fewer photos in those years.

100 in 2004, 200 in 2005, 500 in 2006 and 1000 in 2007!

Don't Listen to Us

Welp, went hiking with KT today and for some reason believed 

because there isn't snow in my yard or on Mt. Olympus (to the first river) 

there wouldn't be snow on the dry side of Millcreek Canyon at Grandeur Peak

so we didn't need spikes.

We were wrong. Very, very, wrong.

Very snowy and very, very icy.

But we persevered. 

Which could be an example of trudging along blindly listening to your very wrong self

which leads to no good.

Or, an example if you really want to do something, 

God will still walk with you even if you're being very stupid.

We hiked up for 50 minutes and got down safely.

Only a couple of slippery tumbles and close calls and one swear word.

And what I can say is we laughed and laughed a lot! A LOT!

Gold Medal

Finally, finally this year I remembered to watch some of the Olympics. 

Thanks to e-mail advertisements from Alexa and Peacock, I marked my calendar.

Usually a few weeks after they start I think, oh wait, did I miss it?

We've been following Nathan Chen (a SLC native!) and had sweaty palms waiting for his turn to

compete in the Men's Freestyle figure skating tonight.

He was amazing! His story of coming back from several falls and his disappointing performance

last year in the short skate to a redemptive freestyle a few days later to his 

incredible journey as the world champion and his confidence skating to a Gold Medal

is so inspiring!

Lunch with Jenny and Carol today at "The Crack Shack" (fried chicken on 9th and 9th)

was also inspiring as is often the case spending time with lifelong friends.

We saw these medals in a boutique for anyone who has a different level of success.

Second Chances

Sara C. was a girl my age in my ward growing up. 
She lived just a couple streets over, but had brain damage. A birth injury, we were told.
I'm fairly confident I was never not nice to her. But, we never included her either. 

Four years ago, when Clara and I started spending our Tuesdays together, 
Macey's grocery store was our last stop and I discovered Sara works there.
She has an amazing memory, and she remembered all of my sister's names.
I've seen her almost weekly since then. We chat, she asks about Clara and all of my sisters and mom.
I've learned about her family too. We've become friends and look forward to seeing each other each week.

So grateful for second chances to be friends.

Building Towers

For a list maker, rule-follower, to-do doer, and a recovering perfectionist,
the story of the people of Babel trying to build a tower to heaven struck me in a new light today.

Don't the bricks they stacked sound like the works we do in an effort to get to heaven?
When we stack and do and check off our lists are we simply "getting things done," 
or are we desiring to show love to others, ease their burdens and share our abundance?

In essence, are we keeping our eye single to the glory of God?
Or are we just trying to make sure God sees our works and hope he counts them for our good?

Sunny Days

We had the loveliest time talking and laughing around EC's table at brunch--

Mom, her four children and their spouses.

We took a few photos afterward in the backyard and at the park,

(Yay! Thanks, Erin. And thanks, Mom for coordinating. 

Looking forward to having an updated photo of all of us together.)

...then continued chatting outside by the pool enjoying wonderful Arizona sunshine.
In the works: plans for Thanksgiving in Phoenix this year,
and a Shaeffer family reunion in Pagosa 2024.
(Gram's suggestion was her 90th birthday in 2026, but we didn't want to wait that long!)