Surviving the Storms

On our way home from Fish Lake a few weeks ago we took a detour and spent the day at beautiful Bryce Canyon. The sky was bright blue spotted with white cotton ball clouds and the eroded mountains were in stark contrast in shades of red, orange, and pink hues. The show was definitely viewing the hoodoos and canyons from the look out points.

But this weathered tree with roots exposed caught my attention and respect. Some might comment about it's lack of life but it was alive with leaves on it's limbs. It stood happily and bravely up on the ridge forever looking over the canyons below. I wondered how many times it's been struck by lightening and yet it still stands and lives.

I had to go to Bryce Canyon to get a picture in my mind of how Heavenly Father expects us to endure, weather, and survive the storms in our lives.

These past few months have been troubling and difficult for me dealing with post cancer issues, even though Peter is cancer free. Every month Peter has to go in for lab work where a blood test is ordered that lets us know if the cancer has come back or if he is still cancer free. The first two or three months of this new routine didn't bother me so much. But with each passing month I find myself dreading to call for the results. When I finally make myself call I wait on hold while the nurse types his name in the computer. I try to have faith that the results will be in his favor and remain cancer free. But at the same time I brace myself for the bad news because I don't know what Heavenly Father has in store for us. Not that I believe He is wanting us to go through such difficult trials or that He's punishing us for something. This is life. I know we have to have the hard, trying times to become the people that we need to be... But, I just don't want Peter go through that again.

I'm just trying to figure out how to live from month to month and lab results to lab results. I want to be that happy, brave tree enjoying life day to day with my beautiful life and stop worrying about the return of cancer that may never come back. Fear is a terrible state of mind. Hope is better.

And I do know what Heavenly Father has in store for us. Everlasting life and joy if we but endure.


on the way to Mossy Cave & the waterfall

Sunset point

Navajo Loop. We're doing this next year.

We finally caught up with Peter. He loved it there.

A bunch of hoodoos.

It's Calling My Name

We're roasting in the hot Inland Empire sun. We've made our rounds to grandma's pool to cool off. We hardly turn on the stove or oven any more and still the digits don't get below 80 degrees on our thermostat. Indoor hot is not a good thing. So hot!

Once more to the beach. How could we pass it up? Sand between the toes. Moist ocean air. Cool breeze laced with warmth. Sounds of waves crashing on the shore. And delighted children playing in the overcast sun and doused in sunblock.

I think the first time I played in the ocean was a couple of weeks after John & I were married. {being an Arizona girl the only waves I had experienced were the man made waves at Big Surf in Tempe, Arizona} We drove down to a nice beach home in Mexico with John's family for a weekend. That's when I feel in love...with playing in the waves.

And every time we returned to sunny California I begged John to make time on the summer vacation itinerary for a trip to the beach and time to play in the waves. He taught me how to body surf and boogie board. So fun.

Then time went by and the babies came and I remained under the beach umbrella, happily watching the waves and people playing in them with baby in my arms.

As I sat under the beach umbrella this time, with a camera in hand to replace the baby and snapping away at my children trying to capture the sand crabs I noticed something out in the waves. No, not a dorsal fin. A father and son playing together in the waves. And then the look on Peter's face...So I put down the camera and returned to the water. First, I dug for those ever elusive sand crabs. Then, I became obsessed with Addie in collecting the broken shells.

Next, I heard it...Meagan out in the waves and wanting {needing} some company.

Thanks to the stranger who played with his son in the waves. He reminded me how fun life can be, especially while playing with your children.

No more of just sitting and watching. So long beach chair, umbrella, and presentable hair do.

I'll be out in the waves from now on.

Oh, What Do {WE} Do in the Summertime?

When all the world is green...

I love the color green. It's such a peaceful color. And that's exactly why I love summertime at Fish Lake. No phones, computers, cable, but plenty of family, free time, good food, and fresh air.

Daily activities: picking wildflowers and climbing over rocks on the shore. This is one of my all time favorite places on earth. Sometimes I sit on the park bench that is so perfectly and thoughtfully placed there and watch the children play at the shore of the lake.

A rainy hike/walk with the dads on a newly discovered trail.

I'm guessing this will be the photo that will grace the front of Grandma & Grandpa's 2009 Christmas card.
We love the matching Utah Red sweatshirts.
Thanks Grandma
Grandma giving little Harrison {Laura & Rob's baby} a bath while cousins look on.

Another Fish Lake tradition getting a tubby in the kitchen sink.

New tradition: Hallabucks and shopping at the Hallen Store.

After attending church at the Fish Lake Lodge.

Hope to be back soon Fish Lake.