Friday, May 29, 2009

SCOUTING IS COOL!

CAMP #1 - Amazing Girl Scouts...





Jantzen's girl scout troop recently spent 3 days camping together. As one of her leaders, I was able to accompany them. None of the girls but Jantzen had any camping experience, and I was a bit apprehensive when the girls asked if we could order pizza during our meal planning session...but it turned out great! We enjoyed hiking, ranger led activities teaching us about the Ute Indian culture, great camp food and a swim. The rangers warned us to keep all food and SMELLS out of our camp - as the bears were just coming out of hibernation and would be really hungry! GREAT! 8 young girls & 2 women in camp with no scented lotion! But we had no mishaps. We finished up our year with the camp-out and a horse ride across the mesas. It really was a blast!

CAMP #2 - MESA VERDE...
Jorin needed to have a couple of camping trips for his scouting activities, and his troop has been unable to go, so Devery, Jantzen and I became his temporary patrol and we took a 3 day camping trip to Mesa Verde. What a great experience! We learned so much about the ancient ancestral puebloans (anasazi), took incredible hikes into cliff dwelling and pit dwellings, ate large quantities of yummy food and enjoyed out time in the outdoors. It really is an amazing national park! And, once again, we were strongly warned about bears!



"About 1,400 years ago, long before Europeans explored North America, a group of people living in the 4 corners region chose Mesa Verde for their home. For more than 700 years they lived and flourished here, eventually building elaborate stone communities in the sheltered alcoves of canyon walls. They built their dwellings beneath the overhanging cliffs, hundreds of feet up from the canyon floor, using brick and mortar Then, in the late 1200's, in the span of 1 generation, they left their homes and all moved away."

You might wonder how we got into these cliff dwellings...well, to reach the Cliff Palace, the largest of the cliff dwellings, you climbed 5 10' ladders for a total of 100 foot vertical ascent The Balcony house was even more adventurous - It involved climbing a 32 foot ladder, a 12-foot long x 18" (inch - no kidding) wide tunnel crawled thru on hands and knees, and a 60 foot vertical climb along an open rock face using ladders. It was so cool!




This is a kiva - a spiritual center, and probably a family dwelling during the winter - a bit more protected from the wind and elements.







This is NEWSPAPER ROCK - near Moab, Utah. Pretty cool! We stopped here on our way home. We spent quite a bit of time trying to interpret the symbols... the one at the top could be either a stretched out skin, a turtle or a flying squirrel, depending on which one of us you asked...

CAMP #3....

Well, Jorin needed another camp out- so he and I went to Ridgway for a couple of days - and Dev and Jantzen did the sister thing at home. We had so much fun!



I'll go camping with Jorin anytime! He cooked some great meals - we had 7 layer dip & chips for lunch, dutch oven potato casserole & corn on the cob for dinner - and pancakes (with strawberry syrup) and hashbrowns for breakfast! We ate good!


Jorin made kindling, built the fires, cooked the meals and supervised the tent set up and general camping. We hiked, did service, went swimming, read, identified native plants and animals, and really enjoyed our time camping together!


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We've seen some spectacular scenery in Colorado & Utah in the past 10 days, - we've enjoyed the great outdoors & learned so much. I would do it all again in a minute, but I AM excited to shower tonight with hot water and sleep in my own bed - without worrying about bears!

Saturday, May 16, 2009

BEGINNER FELTERS...

A FUN LITTLE HAT...


MY FIRST HOT PAD AND OVEN MITT...



SLIPPERS FOR JANTZEN...




DEV'S 1ST FELTING PROJECT...A SCRIPTURE COVER = COOL!



MY FIRST ATTEMPT AT A PICTURE -


NEEDLE FELTING - JANTZEN FELTED THE FLOWER - JORIN FELTED THE DRAGON - I DID THE BUTTERFLY



P.S. The colors here are not accurate

Saturday, May 9, 2009

On this Mother's Day

Flowers (Well?)?
A nice card (Not really very original.)?
A phone call (Of course, but that doesn’t count.)?
Yes but……well….how about a Mother’s Day……………………
…POST!


This is the first time I have given a post to anyone, and especially on Mother’s Day. I may be considered “dumb as a post” for attempting such an activity. Good thing we are talking about a virtual post, or blog on a website, for you, on Mother’s Day.
The activity the enables someone to be called a mother is in the giving birth. But it is what goes on after the birth that should be celebrated the most. It is a job that is never finished. Once you sign up for the job of motherhood you generally cannot stop. It is like the gift that, by design, just keeps on giving, because others just keep on asking. We have great kids and they are by no means demanding or burdensome. This element of the job of motherhood is what is so great to others. Mothers are always there, they are dependable, they are wise, and they know lots of things.

They are beautiful on the inside and on the outside. They are able to support others. They bake cookies, they fix things, they are plumbers, they have a little auto mechanic in them, they know a lot about taxes, they listen well, they know where to get the greatest bargains, they hear things that many don’t and they certainly feel things that others totally miss. They are physically strong, mentally awake and morally straight, and because of this they are able to help little boy and girl scouts.

They get degrees, they love learning, and they just seem to be able to keep on going. They have been found in the woods, up on roofs, taking tests, giving tests, giving blood (even if only theoretically), stopping blood, giving hope, giving comfort, giving love, never giving up, giving life, giving others a lift, giving great care, giving a hand to others and frequently to their children. They give violin lessons, piano lessons, they give advice, they endure advice from time to time, they know when to listen and not speak and they know when to speak up. They are able to leap tall buildings in a single bound (or at least it seems like it).

They give direction, they give counsel, they give comfort, they give a darn, they felt, they cook, and yes they sometimes sew, and clean and do dishes and sweep the floor, they clean the house over and over and over, they pack and unpack, they pack and unpack, (did I mention they pack and unpack?) they help others pack and unpack, they are really movers and shakers in every sense of the word.


They make things beautiful. They make children beautiful, yards beautiful, homes beautiful, themselves beautiful, front rooms beautiful, tv rooms beautiful. They make their friends feel beautiful, husbands feel handsome around them, children feel loved around them, and husbands feel loved around them. They are sometimes frustrated but seldom show it, they are sometimes hurt but are good at swallowing it back and showing selflessness. They teach, they cry, they talk on the phone to friends and family, they remember things, they work and work and keep going until they are really tired and then they go a lot longer. They think of others constantly and do for others and help others.

The family rallies around them, they are the spark that ignites a flame of love in a family and keeps it burning bright and constantly. They seem to have an endless source of energy and wisdom and caring and this world would be a pretty boring and dull place without them. They give prayers, they hear prayers, they read scriptures, they give family home evening lessons, they give and give and give and give and give and then someone comes along and asks them to give some more. They give caring, they give kindness, they give tenderness, they give sweetness, they ride bikes, they drive go carts, they drive the car everywhere and then drive some more. They go for walks, they sometimes go crazy but this is usually never seen.


They have it together, they have it with a cherry on top, they have it with several types of toppings, they have it with gravy and mashed potatoes and without meat and with rice. They make salads, they make beds, and they do laundry………once, twice and three times a day sometimes, most times. They fold clothes, they have their husbands (when they are there) clean toilets, they work on computers, they work on marriages, they work on family relationships, family reunions, family pictures, family web sites, family home evenings, family scripture study, family prayer, family councils and family group sheets. They work in gardens, they preserve, they store, they shop, and they go without so that their children can have what they need. But mostly I think they are great. This is all about you and what you do Denise as a mother, and there is so much more that you do that goes unnoticed and unrecognized. And for that, thank you. Denise, have a wonderful Mother’s Day……….you deserve it.

With all my love (from a distance). Rance



I have said over and over again that If I could be at least a quarter the woman my mother is I would be doing really well in life! She's pretty much Super-mom. She is alway reading and learning, taking classes... she has learned to knit, garden, taken photography classes, scrapbook, she bikes, she's a landscaper, and she's and INCREDIBLE cook and has studied health and nutrition and put them into practice to benefit not only herself but her family, and the list goes on and on. Not to mention her gospel knowledge. She is an inspiration as I watch her study the scriptures and other books to further her understanding of the gospel truths- and then put them into practice. She is not content to settle for less then excellence, always looking to improve and move forward. I have watched her go through trial after trial with incredible strength, grace and humility. Always putting the Lord first in her decisions no matter what the situation, she looks to the scriptures as she decides how to handle whatever life has given her. Lets also remember her six kids that she has put first in her life, sacrificing every bit of time that she has for herself to better our lives. Her life seems to revolve around us and I don't know how she can give so much day after day. She has created not just a house but a home where the spirit resides, learning is prevalent and we feel loved and accepted. It is a haven. As if all that isn't enough, she is my best friend. I talk to her multiple times a week... sometimes multiple times a day. I turn to her when something exciting happens, or when something devastating happens. I can't tell you the number of times I have cried on the phone and in person. I turn to her when I have an important decision to make and when I just want to talk. I wish I knew how to fully express how much I love an appreciate you Mom. I appreciate your friendship and your example, your prayers in my behalf. So on this day that is for honoring mothers I have a lot to honor... Happy Mothers Day Mom!!

Kiely




On this mothers day, I wish that I could describe how much my mom means to me, in this post. How do you sum up 20+ years of ceaseless love, service, kindness, and friendship? I won't make a list of everything my mom has done and does; one, because the list is too long, and two, because its already been done a few times. I will say, however, how much my life has been greatly benefited by my mother. There hasn't been a single thing (problem, celebration, pain, joy) in my life that I have not been able to share with her. No matter what the situation or occasion, I can always go to her, and she always knows what the best thing to do is.
Over the years, and especially since I was the oldest child living at home, our relationship has grown from simply mother-daughter to friends. This has been very special to me; its a relationship that I cherish and without it, I would not be who I am today.
If I could make this post as long as it should be to truly demonstrate a fraction of how much I appreciate and love my mom, it would go on for pages. I just want her to know on this special day, I love you mom! Thank you so much for all you do! I hope you know that I try every day to be more like you; and, as I have heard many women say, (but I said it first!) "When I grow up, I want to be just like Denise!"

Dev

To read Haley's go to her blog, http://haleyandjon.blogspot.com/



We love you Mom!!

Tuesday, May 5, 2009

Discipline

So where does it come from, discipline? Are we born with it? Does it ebb and flow? How do we obtain it? Discipline! I can’t buy it. But if I could I would go right out and purchase some because it because it has such a great value. With it I can accomplish almost anything. I can go to the moon. I can bake a loaf of bread. I can persist and chip away at tasks that are so large and intimidating that most would never even try. With it, tasks are whittled away to something manageable and doable. It is the coming back, the patience, the persistence, the belief in the process and the organization of mental capacity in the attainment of a worthwhile goal. Not all at once. Not in one night, not in three days, but over years. This is true discipline.






Devery has just graduated from college. With perfect grades. As the valedictorian of her college. She did it all herself. She saw the task and believed in the process and set out to accomplish it and accomplish it well, and she showed true discipline in the process. By the time it was all over, she had patiently and persistently worked her way through a bachelor’s degree and in so doing had done it nearly perfectly. You did a great job, Devery. We are very proud of you. Thanks for teaching us in the process how having a little discipline (well probably a lot of discipline) can make the significant task manageable. The daunting, attainable; the practically out of reach, reachable-- all by coming back every day and giving it your very best, and sticking to it all the way to the rugged end. CONGRATULATIONS!