Gratitude

If you have to save yourself in 90* weather,

be grateful when you can do it under the shade of a tree.

(Had my flat fixed in under 7 minutes.)

This evening I donated blood for the first time in a while.

I used to be a regular, but years ago I got turned away after traveling to Roatan.

And more recently (December 2020) was turned away because it hadn't been long enough since I'd had Covid. Today everything worked out and they were happy to have my donation.

Meanwhile, Dan cooked up a shrimp boil before he dashed off to help 

a family move. (And took these pics especially for my blog!)

Nick's boating day was smooth sailing,
Chris was adept at maneuvering the boat and trailer 

(admitting it was more challenging than it seemed),

but had a scare when a storm caught them by surprise,

worried that the big waves might submerge them and blowing too hard to safely tie up at the dock,

they found a protected cove and then the storm blew over.

(Man it sounds so much like my book!)

Glad they're safe and had the experience of thinking through a challenging situation.

This evening Dan and I went for a drive with the top down

to get a treat at Nielsens then to check out the Millcreek properties.

Millcreek put in an outdoor rollerskating rink! 

Have I said I love summer?

Pool Day

I read out at the pool all afternoon 

(The Lincoln Highway, highly recommend.)

Also sporting a red belly stripe from my swim suit crop top exposing white white skin.

Tonight after Dan got home from boating with Nick--

an instructional in how to back the boat into the lake and get it back on the trailer 
as well as all the checklist of things to remember (The Plug!),

we finished A Million Little Things (also highly recommend)

at the pool, finishing the night with a late night swim.

I love summer!

 

Tomorrow morning Nick takes the boat by himself with friends. 

In the afternoon he's handing off to Chris who's also getting an instructional from 

Dan before his friends join him. 

I'm kind of a stickler for wanting Dan to be with them the first run-through,

and both boys were pretty patient about that.

Of course I imagined in my head several run-throughs before setting them loose.

Just because I worry. But I'm letting that go. Dan says they're ready.

Bloom Where You Are Planted

Three or four years ago Marge got this 6" lily for easter or Mother's Day.

She gave it to me to plant in the yard.

Back then it had only one bloom, but look at it now!

 

Our Village

Got up early for a last day walk around the loop before we left.

An elk was bugling a few times. Thinking about how that's a normal sound for people who live up here.

Nick had a blast at high adventure in Bear Lake.

They rented a cabin that slept all 40 in beds.

His leaders all love him for his steady nature,

willingness to jump in and help, always responsible and kind.
The Priests were in charge of one dinner and the bishop said he didn't even have to help.

Nick and the others did all the chopping, prepping and cooking.

Bishop also bought chicken drumsticks in addition to the other main meal and had not a clue how to fix them. Nick had it all figured out and took over. Turned out delicious.

Baptisms the first afternoon and Nick was in charge of a devotional.

They said his testimony was sincere and strong.

Boating all day on day two on Gary G's boat. He let Nick drive.

Workouts at a small gym with Ryan and John F.

Gun shooting and a hike to a glacier lake on day three.

So grateful for the men who take vacation time to spend teaching our boys new things 

and for their examples of faith and commitment, their love of life and wisdom.
How they like to have fun and and laugh and through their care and love, hobbies and interests

our kids have a broad showcasing of good influences for who they can become.

Aligned

I couldn't sleep at all last night so by 4:00 a.m when the dog barked I'd been awake for an hour.

We don't know why he gets up so early here, but it's like having a toddler again.

I took him out to the living room with me to see if I could sleep better on the couch

and just as I was closing my eyes, a bright star was perfectly aligned in the window.

Too bright.

Because it wasn't a star, but a planet. One of the five you could see lined up just before dawn this week.

I dismissed it for exactly 2.5 seconds then hopped up and ran outside.

Even without glasses or contacts I could see them.

I dashed to my bedroom for my glasses, then hauled the telescope outside. 

Can you see them? Venus on the horizon, then the moon.

Mars is next, then Jupiter. Saturn was farther outside of the picture and not quite as bright,

but in the same row. 

I couldn't get the telescope focused on the moon, but soon Dan was outside too.

I ran inside to put in my contacts and heard him yell he'd gotten it.

We could see the craters and everything!

We couldn't see anything at Venus, but then focused on Jupiter and 

I'm not even kidding, I could see stripes and was pretty sure it was Jupiter.

AND several of its moons!

The telescope is probably my favorite present ever

(maybe second to the Redline Proline bike in 8th grade)

and seeing the craters and Jupiter's stripes and moons 

made all my summer dreams come true.

I'm just sorry I never took my kids to the observatory at the U on Wednesdays in the summer like I had planned on doing for so many summers. 

(To my credit, several times it was cloudy when we'd intended to go.)

I'm really more science-y than my love of reading suggests.

After, we went back to bed for a couple of hours with Kershaw, the toddler.

As we were falling back to sleep Dan asked if Mars was the biggest planet

and I suddenly understood why Marty laughed so hard when I asked if 

now that Pluto wasn't a planet, was it a star?

Hike to the bridge in the Box. 

It's hard to see, but the Williams Creek was clear and flowed into the muddy Piedra with a distinct line where they met.  

Trip to town to take the ATV to get fixed and buy some supplies at ACE to hang our porch swing.

Plus a stop at an Art Gallery in town and a little furniture store.

Bought an entry table that's too small for the entry but looks pretty good as a game table.

We've got our own outdoor art gallery just walking around the property.

Leaving early tomorrow. But coming back in a week for the 4th!

Adventures

Landscapers, stone layers, and Ron & Bob who do a little bit of everything

are all here getting projects done. So its not quiet around here until after 4:00 p.m.

but we're glad people are here working, we just think of next year when everything will be done.

(Knock on wood, fingers crossed, wish upon a star and a dandelion and an eyelash etc.)

Rain isn't predicted until afternoon so we tried a new hike up the Middle Fork.

That trail head ends abruptly at the rushing river,

so we walked up the road a bit to a snowmobile path. 

Not well-travelled but we traversed over trees and through bushes until we came back to the river.

I probably wouldn't recommend this trail, especially because Kershaw had to show us the way home. 

(Go Lassie!)

But Dan spotted this tree, putting the icing on this adventure cake.

(Promise, cross my heart we did not harm the tree ourselves.)

I read for a while then was ready for a project and got the porch swing out to build.

Dan did not want to build anything on this trip, but I thought it would be fun to try myself

until I discovered I needed a second pair of hands.

Pretty soon he was by my side doing the work while I assisted. 

He's pretty great that way.

Before dinner we took an ATV ride to the top of the hill then to the Balls to get rid of trash.

I need the practice -- mostly in remembering how to start 'em up.

Good thing we love our kids back at home

because it's pretty hard to say goodbye to this place.

We tried to align the telescope tonight but it was a little cloudy and at the end of the multi-step process, it said alignment failed. The moon wasn't out yet tonight. 

Back on the Ranch

We're Back!

I've seriously been counting down the days to get to Pagosa again.

Christopher was ready to be home a while so Dan and I came alone while Nick is at High Adventure.

We arrived with a plane full of rugs (that I accidentally ordered to Haven rather than Pagosa), pillows, blankets and more mattress pads. (I've bought out Walmart and TJ Maxx twin size numerous times over.)

The San Juans are finally getting the rain they've desperately needed so when we arrived at the ranch in a deluge, we decided to make the trip to Durango to get the Ranger fixed and also check out some furniture stores. We found a desk for Dan at our first stop, and a few cool pieces at Artesanos.

This is going to perfect in New York!

Some finds at the antique store (including a plate from my Grandma's china),

then another stop at TJ Maxx for a couple more twin size mattress pads.

(I'm not kidding! We needed 18!)

Back in Pagosa, we stopped for Thai food and saw the missionaries 

playing mini golf with a youth group across the street. 

It was still pouring and cold once we were back home

so we turned on the fire and got cozy until 9:30 when I couldn't keep my eyes open 

Mexico Mission Visit

 A week ago Chris called to ask if we wanted to visit his mission with him. Of course!

Dan started making arrangements and we considered dates, then asked Chris if he wanted to go with just us or if we could include Nick too. He paused then replied, 

"My mission wasn't really touristy and not a great place for families to travel." 

We knew that -- we were just excited to meet the people he loved and see his areas.

But he continued, "I was thinking it would just be me and dad because we're two men who both speak Spanish. We'll be inconspicuous." Oh, got it. His areas weren't safe for families.

So he and Dan made a quick three-day trip visiting 

Nogales, Pesqueira, Hermosillo, Guymas and San Carlos.

Dan reported Chris was beloved by his wards, the families he taught and the other missionaries, 

as well as his President and his wife. Of course he was.

Dan said his reception was every bit a happy reunion as when we were with Marty in Japan.

I'll cherish those memories of the joy from the members and friends when they saw Marty again.

I'm so glad Dan got to see that on behalf of Chris too!

The Moreno family in Nogales feeds the missionaries every week because the dad was fed on his mission and they want to return the favor. When the Elders come, they do the chopping. 

The Moreno Family. Sister Moreno made a cake especially for Chris' visit.

Pesqueira:

The Agapito family in Pesqueira were Christopher's landlords and lived next door.

Brother Agapito was the branch president for 20 years!

The Pesqueira church was getting expanded!

But the outdoor font where Chris had a night baptism is gone.

Hermosillo:

Chris got this couple married and baptized one of their sons.

They had very little, but always insisted on feeding the missionaries.

They fed Dan and Chris again, letting them sit in their two chairs while the rest of the family stood and continued bringing them more and more food.

Guaymas:

Beautiful sunsets in San Carlos (a short drive from Guymas).

A tourist town on the ocean, the missionaries didn't go there to proselyte,

but Chris did get special permission to go a few times to work with a family.

Back in Hermosillo, the AP had kept Chris' visit a surprise for the President and his wife.

He's being released next week, so Chris made it just in time.

The President had a huge smile the whole time talked to them and loved telling Dan

that Chris was such a GREAT missionary!

Dan got to tell them how much we appreciated his love and care for Christopher.

Their love was so apparent.

Last, but not least, Sonoran Dogos before heading home.

Together Time

 Dan and Christopher are in Mexico visiting his mission.

Nick and I had a chill afternoon after church together watching F-1 while I worked on my blog.

A simple dinner (but too cold to eat outside -- such a weird weather summer so far!)

and a few shows on our own.

 I asked Nick if he wanted to join me on an e-bike ride --
get outside together. He didn't even hesitate when he said yes!
Made me want to cry with joy that he isn't too cool to hang with his mom.

We rode up to the old neighborhood, around Wander Lane and per Nick's request, 

past Flamingo pool so he could remember where that was. 

Memories. 

I suspect this may be an emotional year as our youngest gets ready to finish high school 

and we reflect over and over how fast the time has gone.

Mom and Marge came over this afternoon.

(Do you think my mom wanted to cry with joy too when I asked if she wanted to hang out?)

First we went through all the Pagosa pics so they could see the progress

and then we caught up on all the projects in the works for their properties

and I gave my two cents on floorplans.

Then we worked together putting the bunkroom back in order -- we bought new bunkbeds.

Marge even made the climb up two flights of stairs!

She laid on one of the beds while my mom and I put all the books and toys back on the shelves.

The theme of the day is its always more fun to work together.

(And have dinner afterward!)

The Juggler

If you're going to be an investment banker and a dad, you need to know how to juggle.

From the very beginning, Dan prioritized finding a work/home balance, and he was really good at it.

When Courtney was only a few months old, I took a weekly Spanish class to prepare for moving to Argentina. Dan was totally willing to take the baby those nights.

Yes, she was his child and that's what he should do. 

But, learning how to care for a baby is scary, and there were plenty of guys who weren't willing to try. 

But Dan said yes, and because he was willing to learn, he got confident fast and 

soon taking care of her on his own was no big deal.

He worked a lot, but when he was home, he was all-in.

Five years later when his boss said he was spending too much time away from work and Dan needed to choose his family or his career, well, it wasn't even a question. 

His family always came first.

At this part I have to give a shout out to Marty Sr.

Because of the love and support he always showed his son, 

and the example he set of getting back up after all the bumps in the business road,

Dan was never afraid of starting over in his own career. 

His dad had done it, and with him cheering him on, Dan knew he could do it too.

Dan dreams big, is not only smart, but wise, works hard, is willing to take risks and is great with people. 

With those skills and his talent and a great partner (Chad!) they built an amazing new company.

Again, he was on the road a lot, and there were a couple of times when kid vs. mom tensions were brewing high and the home pot about to boil over and I'd say "the boys need their dad this week." 

He'd cancel his trip so he could be home more. Give us all a reset and the reprieve we needed.

We've had many a long walk figuring out kid concerns -- some big, some small, but always important.

We love long walks for problem-solving because they give us lots of time to talk through the issues and discuss potential answers and solutions. 

His hobbies have always involved something he can do with the kids.

Baseball, skiing, boating, racing cars, traveling, Pagosa, eating out, trips with kids' friends, Cowboys' Football, Dodger's Baseball. It's all about the four people he loves the most and who he'd do anything for.

Courtney, Marty, Christopher, Nicholas. And now that number has grown to six with Michael and Lizzie.

And pretty soon seven, with baby girl Shaeffer coming in September.

And I make eight. 

So glad I married the man I did. 

We weren't very old back then, but I just knew he was the best there was.

Happy Father's Day, Dan!

Race Day

Nick had his first race today and said it was awesome!

He needs four "clean" races--no accidents, bumps or contact--to earn his race license.

One down, three to go.

A bunch of his friends and Chris went out to watch and support.

Thanks to his friend, Beckam, who took these awesome photos!