Dear Monday

Dear Monday,

I'm sorely tempted to say that I hate you, but it isn't really your fault. I guess I'm just used to the slow pace of weekends and then you come along and all of the sudden I have to get a move on. It just seems to be getting worse now that we're almost to the end of the school year.

I'll try to remember that its not entirely your fault, you could have landed anywhere during the week. But that doesn't mean I like you.

Cordially,

Me.

Nana

Whenever life seems heavy,

Too cumbersome to bear.

Remember that you have a friend,

Just call me I'll be there.

I may not send you flowers,

Or bake a fancy dish.

But you may have my shoulder,

To dampen if you wish.

So hurry and feel better,

I'll miss your happy face.

In all the world's creations,

No one can take your place

-B. J. M. H. (aka Nana)

July 1916- April 2010

We love you Nana, and we'll see you again.

Spring Break Thoughts: Moab Utah

For my birthday this year, my wonderful hubby suggested we spend a night in Moab, Ut and take some time to visit a few National parks. Honey, this was just the adventure I needed!

We drove there Friday afternoon, checked into our B&B (which was AMAZING), and went to Dead Horse Point State Park to watch the sunset.

Incised meanders of the Colorado River- the things you learn as a geology teacher- look it up

A-mazing views. It was gorgeous people!

Making good use of our long evening shadows!
Loverly sunset- it was nice and warm and pretty! It just never seems to translate well into digital photos...

The next morning we woke up and had breakfast at the B&B (there was a bird feeder outside the window, and the birds ate breakfast with us!), just as we finished ours, another couple sat down at our table, and we started talking and just couldn't leave! They lived in Englad, he was from Ireland, and she was from Turkey. They were both professors (in their very early 30's it looked like) and they were so interesting! He was a theoretical astronomer studying dark matter... how cool is that! Anyway, we talked for about an hour before we finally got on the road to start the day.

We grabbed some Subway in town, then headed off to Arches National Park. What a fun adventure! The drive itself was gorgeous, and the hikes were awesome too. They weren't too steep, so we ended up doing the hikes to both the Delicate Arch- on the Utah lisence plates- and the Double O Arch, seeing the Landscape Arch and a few others along the way. The sign that is at the trailhead for the Double O arch was a little ominous- it said it was not for severe acrophobics. I don't consider myself extremely afraid of heights, but I had to stare at hubby's feet for part of the journey. Just look at some pictures...

View of the Delicate Arch from inside some blessedly cool (in both ways) arch on the way- notice how HUGE the bowl is, as well as all the other proportions. Those are people by the arch!

Cute hubby framed by Delicate Arch- we're across the bowl from it at this point.

Up-the-nose shot from under the Arch

Up close with lots of random people

Landscape Arch- possibly the longest span. Its on the way to the Double O Arches.

After Landscape Arch, the way got a little sticky. This is hubby part way up one of the fins we had to ascend. This one wasn't bad at all. It got worse. Much worse.
Looking down on random hikers from above. This part was steep.

Me being all brave on another steep part. This wasn't the worst though- we had to go up and over this fin that was totally exposed with a 50 ft drop on one side, and a 100+ ft drop on the other. Thats where I stared at Alex's shoes and tried not to see how much things were moving in my peripheral vision. It would have made a great picture, but then I would have had to stop. And I may never have moved again.

Jackpot. Double O Arches.

Little ol' me in the bottom arch. Some nut was climbing on top of them. I would never ever do that.

Darling, thanks for taking me on this adventure. It was great to get out of town, and just the adventure I needed! You're wonderful.

Spring Break Thoughts: Music

Have I mentioned before that I was in marching band in high school? Well, I played the oboe for for about 8 years, and I played the sousaphone for 3 seasons of marching band (The sousaphone thing was hilarious. It was so big I literally was blown away if there was a stiff wind outside). I've always loved music and nothing seems to be more inspiring to me than a good hymn or some gospel music. Whenever else I look for inspiration- through scripture or modern talks from church leaders- I find myself analyzing what is being said in terms of history or context and I get lost in my analytical thinking instead of looking for spiritual inspiration. This happens alot if I know much background information on a subject; rather than looking for the moral per se, I analyze in my logical, methodical fashion.

This is a weakness of mine, because I really believe that a persons spirit- or soul if you will- needs to be nourished just like a physical body. The easiest and most immediate way for me to nourish my own spirit is through song. For some reason it is different for me and I don't get so logical about music as I do about other things. It immediately softens my (occasionally prickly or protected) heart and allows me to be nourished by the good spirit of God.

So I've been thinking recently about how I missed singing. My roommate played the piano beautifully, and we would go find a piano in a practice room or lounge area in our apartment complex, and she would play, and I would sing for hours. Sometimes hymns (especially on Sundays) and sometimes other music (Phantom of the Opera was a favorite- though my range is no match!).

So before spring break, the Bishop at my church asked if I would be willing to accept a calling at church as our ward choir director. I was incredibly overwhelmed at first, especially given that I have never directed a choir, or even been a part of one before. All of my music experience has been with band- not voices! But as I though about it, I started to warm up to the idea of having a weekly chance to sing hymns and feed my spirit through music.

I'm still plenty nervous, but in our church, members all fulfill a specific duty as designated by the bishop of the ward. We believe that each designation is a call to duty from God, and respond as if Father in Heaven himself were asking each person to do this duty. Sometimes they are a stretch (like I feel about directing choir) but these stretches are opportunities to grow.

Wish me luck!

Spring Break Thoughts: Garden

My garden is (mostly) coming along already, and I'm very excited. Though I do have an uninvited guest. Morning Glory might be the bane of my existence right now. There are some very pretty "domesticated"varieties that are sold in seed packets, but my nemesis is not pretty, is not an annual, and refuses to die from anything short of napalm (which I'm sure my brothers would obligingly concoct, but I want my house to stay standing). They are coming up because the main root system was never pulled out last year (thanks)...

Aside from this infestation, things are going well. I salvaged my strawberries from last year from the last house along with a Hosta, Jacob's ladder, and some Coral bells (I forgot the exact variety). These perennials are all doing well, and the strawberries have even flowered! mmm...

As far as seeds go I planted some California poppies that are coming up nicely, and just recently lettuce and carrots. The only things not coming up well are the sugar snap peas. Not sure if they're being strangled by morning glories or eaten by slugs. Maybe I'll start some indoors and see how they fair.

Dear Luna

Dear Luna,

You are a pretty good dog. I want you to know that. You don't bark, you don't run past me out the door, you sit when I ask and you even wait for me to tell you its ok to eat your dinner though you have drool running down your face. You're always happy to see me when I come home, hopping happy we call it cuz you can jump up and lick my nose without a worry. You're also a pretty good indicator of when its time for bed because you go curl up on your little brown bed (you+ your bed = peanut butter blossom look-a-like), and you're also a pretty good indicator of when its time to wake up.

Take this morning for example. You knew that we had slept in past our normal alarm time (you didn't know I was on spring break) so you came and woke Alex up with a friendly wet nose in the face. You're always so punctual . You're also good at reminding us when we forget something like lunch. All it took was a poke with the nose at my knees today, and I remembered I hadn't fed you yet.

You're also good at reminding us not to take life too seriously. Like when you get excited for dinner, or a run, or a trip to the park, or even if you just need to go outside- you chase your tail. Its a very strange, but very endearing habit. Just not when you chase your tail under the kitchen table while we're sitting at it. It makes us spill our food. You would like that, wouldn't you puppy?

And you're so funny sometimes when I call you over; instead of coming, you hide under the chair. I'm sorry that your brush scares you so badly. I'm glad you can find comfort by hiding your head behind my knees, but I promise. Its not as scary as it seems.

Good girl.

Love,

Me & Alex

ps- Thanks for running with me in the snow tonight. You do a great impression of a dalmation.

Mother Nature

Mother Nature: "Hey guys, its spring time! Full of beautiful flowers and beautiful weather. I hope you get to enjoy the day outside, go for a walk, or maybe a picnic. That would be nice, huh?

April Fools! Have some snow. "