*Dear Nate... I mean Dear John

Tonight I finally saw the movie Dear John. Every one had told me what a great movie it was, and that I would cry... so I was ready for all that. What I wasn't ready for was how much it made me think of and miss my Nate.

The story is a of a young solider who meets a girl on leave. Channing Tatum plays the solider. He reminded me so much of Nate. His size and physical features for one thing, but also his mannerisms. It really was a little uncanny!

I cried! I cried in the sad parts of the movie like every emotional person does, but I cried really hard when he was shot in Iraq. That is where my soldier's story ended. He came home in a box.

I really like the part when he is taking about coins. How coins are made at the mint. He says "I am a coin in the United States Army. I was minted in the year 1980. I have been punched from sheet metal. I have been stamped and cleaned. My ridges have been rimmed and beveled. Each and every batch of coins are personally examined just in case any have slipped through with the slightest imperfection. But now I have two small holes in me. I am no longer in perfect condition."

It made me think of several things. It made me think again of Nate. He to was a coin in the US Army. He was stamped and cleaned. His ridges were rimmed and beveled and he because a man! The army was good and bad for Nate. It made him even stronger than he already was, both physically and mentally. But it also broke him.

The monologue also made me think of the gospel. It made me think of the Plan of Salvation. We are all coins in God's plan. We have been punched from sheet metal. We have been stamped and cleaned. Our ridges have been rimmed and beveled. Each of us was personally examined before coming here and NONE of us had the slightest of imperfections.

Now we are here. Life has given each of us experiences. Some have been easy and others are not. Each experience wears on our sheet metal a little. Some of these experiences just roughs us up, dulling our shine. Some leave scratches, nicks or dings. Some experiences we feel could crush us all together! No matter what those experiences does to our sheet metal....we have a way of returning to that perfect state.

It does not matter that we are no longer in perfect condition. The Lord does not want us to return to him in perfect condition. We need these experiences, trials and lessons to show US just how strong our metal is. And then when we have passed our test....HE will make us perfect again!

How I love the gospel. How grateful I am for prayer. When I feel like a train is rolling over my coin and trying to flatten me I can turn to the Lord. I KNOW He is there! He lightens my burden and helps me carry my load. How grateful I am for that.

On another note....Brice sold the Jeep tonight. He actually sold it last night, but the deal was made final today and they drove it away. This comes with mixed emotions. It's great that he sold the Jeep. Brice inherited the Jeep and it was a good project for him. He made A LOT of improvements on it and it really looked amazing from where he started. Also, the Jeep had a reclaimed title because it had been in a wreck. Brice sold it for a really great price seeing as what the banks would loan on it and that we paid nothing for it. So excited for that aspect, but sad to see it go to! It was a fun little Jeep to drive around in.

Since March we have been trying to sell the Honda. We had to many cars and to many payments and with the way things are right now we just needed to unload. This past weekend we decided that we would take the Honda and Acura and trade them both in since we hadn't had any bites on the Honda, but that turned out to be a not very good option so we still have all these cars!

I have always wanted a Jeep, however now that I have a baby I just don't feel real safe driving her around in it. So while I like it, it isn't my first choice of cars to drive. Brice recently has really needed a truck for doing automotive work. Jeeps just don't have a lot of trunk space - shocking I know - so when picking up parts it hasn't been his first car of choice either. Brice put the Jeep online Sunday night and now it is gone. I guess that was the car to go! We are still hopeful to sell the Honda (would really like to sell it by the end of the month seeing as it needs to be registered!), but until we do at least all cars fit back into the garage.

*Swings and trampolines

Tonight when I got home from work I decided to take Madison and Sadie for a walk over to the park. Brice was talking to a guy about selling the jeep so off we went. Madi was, of course, had to pushing her stroller instead of riding in it until she got tired. We got on the other side of the street when I think she got hot her little legs got tired. It was hot out there. Anyway she had condesended to sit in the stroller and let me push. I got to the edge of the park when she noticed the playground. She immediately got up and started running towards the playground. She kept looking back at me and doing her little arm circle the "come on" move. Sadie took off after her. It was cute. As soon as she got over to the playground she was up and onto the slide. She sat down at the top of the slide and said - before even going down - "weee". SO CUTE!!!

She was loving it! She even wanted to go on the swing. She has never wanted to do this before, in fact when I have tried before she has always put up a fuss. Tonight however she was just laughing and having a great time.

Today while at work I got a call from my friend Jodi. They live just a couple of streets north of us. Their swamp cooler still isn't working despite her husbands best efforts to get it working. Anyway, she called and asked if Brice would be able to come over and look at it. I don't know how they have lived this long. Today it was in the 90's again. She called while Madi and I were still at the park to tell me that I should come over when Brice comes to fix the sprinklers. Her girls had their swimsuits on and were playing in the water. I thought that was a great idea. We headed home to get Madi's swimsuit and get Brice.

We got over there and they have their trampoline over the rotating sprinkler. Madi had never been on a trampoline, so she was a little hesitent. It didn't take her long to get the hang of it. She was having a great time! Jodi's youngest, Gracie, is just four months older than Madi so it was fun for Madi to go over and play. Need to do some more of this friend thing! Oh how I need more time in my life.. and not to be working full-time!

After jumping on the tramp Jodi got them some chips and water. I guess I should have done dinner before going to the park. However I really feel that I need to do some fun things with Madi when I can. Brice and I work so much and poor little Madi has just had to learn to entertain herself. Not that that is a bad thing. I just wish I had a little more time to do some fun things with her. It was really fun to see Madi just being her little self making friends and playing. I really hope that she will have an easy time making friends.

Anyway.. it didn't take Brice very long to get things blowing for them. They were all quite happy when he said he was done. We stood around talking for a bit before we left and you could already feel the difference in their house. I really like the Starr's. They have really been so helpful to us the past couple of years. Brice was glad to have the opportunity to help them.

*Excitement of Friday nights

I remember when I was younger how exciting Friday night were! What were you going to do? Who were you going to hang out with? Did you have a date? Plans would be made days in advance!!!

Now..I'm just old! And to me Friday nights mean I can sit on my couch and I don't have to worry about what has to be accomplished before I go to work the next day. I have been so tired recently (could be the 4-hours a night sleep schedule I have going on!) that all I wanted to do tonight was come home and sit! Didn't care what was for dinner.. just wanted to sit.

Mom had been down today to watch Madison and I knew that she and Brice wanted to go out to dinner. I didn't. Brice and I had gone and looked at a car last night and I really wanted to go see what kind of a deal we could work out. Brice was suppose to go pick his parents up from the airport earlier this afternoon, but they got pushed back on their flight and wouldn't be in until after 7 so car shopping was out! I conceded to dinner.

Brice left the restaurant for the airport. Mom and I came home. She loaded up her stuff and was on her way. So it was up to Madi and I to do the daily inspection! I am really enjoying my garden and chickens. I didn't think I would enjoy the chickens as much as I am, but that is among one of the first things I do when I get home from work is go out and inspect/let out the chickens.

The Monday before we left for Yellowstone I fertilized my garden. WOW has it grown! My tomatoes plants have shot up and gotten so large. Even the plants that were touched by the frost at the beginning of June! My squash plants are taking off as well. I love to watch it grow! Here are some pictures.

Madison is a LOVER of strawberries. In fact every night as we are inspecting the garden she is looking for strawberries to eat. She doesn't care if they are red or green! She wants them! I don't think anyone else is going to get any this year.. well any whole ones. I have eaten a few "left overs" and they are pretty tasty!

I love this picture! Such a cute face!

Sadie spends much of this yard investigation time watching/chasing the chickens. She just wants to play. In fact she really acts like a puppy with them. She just doesn't understand why they run away from her. She just wants to be one of the "chicks!" Poor dog....

Feeling quite left out of the group!


The past week or so as I have let the chickens roam the yard in the evenings after I get home from work. My white ones, Lily and Ivy, have started to become really friendly. Ivy (whom I was worried was a rooster) has taken to coming over to me. Even Brice commented on this the other day. If I am in the garden she will come over to the garden or where ever I am. She then will crouch down and let me pet her. Madi was running around the yard tonight and Ivy started following her running right behind. Poor Sadie.. she gets so jealous!

Anyway, Ivy was following Madi around and so Madi went to pet her. Ivy crouched to let her pet her and so Madi went in for the kiss! To cute! When I got close to Ivy again I noticed the feathers on her back were pink - from Madi's strawberry hands. Good clean loving!!!

Madi does the FUNNIEST little trick. If we are in the back yard and there is something in the house that she wants she will climb in the dog door. It is hilarious. One of these days I am actually going to get it on video or photos... she is so fast. By the time I notice she is doing it I can't get over to capture it, but this was as close as I got tonight. That is her little bum as she has fallen into the house.

The funny part comes in that once she is in the house she isn't sure how to get back out! She stands at the window and cries for me. Funny kid.

When Brice got home Madison was begging for a 4-wheeler ride. Brice drives around our back yard with her on. She says "wee" the whole time she is on it! She was just a giggling. She hates to have to get off it. Sadie once again just follows them around wanting to be in on the action.

Can you tell she is having a good time?
As I was finishing my nightly inspection I turned my attention to the chicken coop. I opened the hatch to check the food and water and I looked into the nesting box and guess what?

My first egg!!!!

I was so excited!! I really didn't think I would have any eggs til the middle to end of July. Usually around 20 weeks is when chickens start producing eggs. My chicks are only about 17 to 18 weeks, so I guess it is time, but still I was quite surprised and excited. I had to call mom and tell her! Brice took a couple of pictures of me with my egg. Let me just throw this out as a disclaimer... .the other picture was worse! :)
The egg is quite small right now. My egg is the egg on the right, but they will continue to grow in size. I am so excited! Can't wait to taste it. Everyone tells me the taste of a home grown egg is so much better than a store bought one! I'll keep you informed!

*Running

I want to be a runner. I don't know why. I don't really particularly like running, but last week it hit me that I want to be a runner. I have many friends that are runners. People have given me advise on how to start running. This is my major problem, besides motivation, TIME.

I don't really have the time to do it. I need to be exercising. I keep gaining back weight because I sit at a desk for 8 hours a day and I am not a good eater! So tell me, when I am only getting an average of 4 hours of sleep at night, how to convince my tired, old, worn-out body out of bed an hour earlier so that I can run!

But I want to do it!

I am going to have to somehow find a way to add this to my life. It makes me feel bad whenever I leave the house to walk, run or ride my bike. Sadie just barks and barks and barks because she so badly wants to come. If she had better hips and knees, and an attention span for more than just the next blade of grass it might be different.

Anyway.. I will keep you posted on this! If you have any suggestions on getting started, you know how to get past the "I hate this!" part.. let me know.

*First crush

Tonight after dinner my lovely assistant Madison and I went to do our nightly inspection of the yard and the chickens. We went out and let the chickie's out. They love to walk around the yard and do their own inspection. The chicks are hilarious! The run and flap their wings. So cute. Tonight I had to finally put Sadie in the house because she kept chasing them. Poor chickens!

We then went in the front. I was pulling weeds out of my flower beds when I saw the most AMAZING rose. I had to take a double take to see it. It is a pink and red rose on my red rose bush. I couldn't believe the symmetry!

I looked up from my amazing flower to see this.....

Madison loves, okay she likes, the boy next door! His name is Alex and I believe that he is about 20ish. Every time she sees him pull in or out if the garage she waves to him. She will often walk over to their garage door and knock on it. Well tonight she went straight for the front door. By the time I had gotten over to her she had already knocked on the door. Alex came to the door. He said he was wondering what was making the small knocking sound on his door. He was quite surprised to see Madi. I told him that Madi has a crush on him. He just laughed! It was really funny. Brice doesn't like the fact that I am calling it a crush, but what else do you call it? To funny.

*LIttle Miss Independent

Tonight when I got home from work there were 7 cars in my front yard. Only two of which belong to us. I guess by the time I pulled up that put the number up to 8, but anyway....



With Brice being out of work he has been doing quite a bit of what I call "driveway mechanic's" trying to make some money. Brice has been a mechanice a good part of his life, but had grown tired of "twisting wrentches". Luckily for us he has this talent/skill especially at this time. With doing all of this work he needs a few new tools every now and again. Tonight he needed a grease gun. So off to Sears we went.




While Brice was looking at tools Madi was searching the isles! Of course she spotted the shopping carts as we walked in the door. I got past the ones right at the door, but there was an empty one sitting at the end of an isle and that was it! Do you think I could help stear though? You are right...NO WAY MAN!!! Everytime I would even touch the cart to straighten it out or guide it she would push my hand away! Little miss independent! Yes, I know that I am in so much trouble! The funny part was she would stop when something caught her eye and would put it in the shopping cart. Crazy little kiddo! I do love her though!

*Splish splash

Today while at work I kept thinking about taking Madi to the pool. I got home and got busy getting stuff done and dinner and all that needed to be done. The time goes so quickly. Well it was 7:30pm and I thought "so much for the pool!" I then decided that we were going so I called to see what time the pool closed. We had til 9. I grabbed Madi and ran upstairs to get us changed and get our stuff together. We were out the door 20 mins later.

Madi LOVES the pool! I took her floaty's so that we could go in the lazy river, but I should have known better! She was not having ANY of that. I was lucky if she would even hold my hand while walking in the deeper end. She was loving walking in the water even though she kept falling down and under the water. I would pull her up and she was at it again. They have an indoor and outdoor kiddie play area. We went to both and she was really having fun outside, but it was a really chilly outside. Both areas were chilly to me, but at least the inside was a little warmer. She was loving it! She was up and down the stairs, down the slide, playing with all the fun things. They even have fountains that shoot up to just about her chin and higher. She went over to them and put her face right in them. She was having such a great time. I wish that I would have had a waterproof camera to catch the look on her face.

A little before 9 I told her it was time to go. She shook her head no, but when I wrapped her in a warm towel she didn't complain any further. I took her in and gave her a shower and put her in her jammies! She had so much fun. It is such a process taking a baby swimming, but I am really glad that I did it! I wish I had more time right now to do stuff like that with her. She is such a fun age!

Tonight she said "ot oh" (ought oh - not sure how to spell it!). She is starting to say words and I am loving it! Anyway, so glad that I went even with all that I need to do... it can wait. Madi needs to get to do some kid things instead of just watching her mommy and daddy work all the time! :)

*Family vacation June 17-20, 2010 - West Yellowstone

Day One - June 17th


I can't believe that it's this time of year again. It seems like we just started talking about this trip and now we are taking it! This year Melissa, Patrick, Brice and I were in charge of planning the family trip. Melissa really did all the work. I just nodded my head and said.. that sounds good. We really wanted to go to Jackson Hole, but it is really expensive and so we decided on West Yellowstone. Miss found a great cabin for us to stay at in Island Park, ID., so it was perfect.



I was a little worried for this trip because I knew it would be A LOT of car time, and Madison is not such a fan of the car. We started out leaving the house at 8:30am. We dropped Sadie off at mom's along the way. We then met up with Brice's family in Brigham City to caravan up to the cabin. We stopped just outside of Rexburg, ID. for lunch and to go to a place I didn't even knew existed. It's called Bear World. It was really amazing. The have a lot of wildlife from West Yellowstone Park and you get to drive among them and watch them. It was a little pricey, but was a really good experience! They of course have a gift shop, but on the other side of the gift shop they have a petting zoo and some carnival rides. It was really neat!


Melissa, Brice and Madison outside the gift shop.

These little bear cubs were adorable! I almost wanted to take them home.

This picture looks like the one bear is trying to kick the other - typical kids playing!

Grandpa and Madi posing for a picture...

This Moose was huge! It was so fun to have my new AWESOME camera for pictures!

Grandpa, Grandma and Madi...

Madi loved the petting zoo. She went right up to all the animals. Wasn't afraid of any of them! Some would tease that she felt right at home!!!

Poking the pig to make sure it's alive...

She even tried to give this one a kiss!

This fawn was 10 days old...

This one was only 5 days old...

Taking in all the sights!

These ducks ALMOST made me wish we had a little stream in our backyard!

My sweet babe...

Dad helping out...

Grandma and the piggy...

just hanging...

After the petting zoo it was time to turn our attention to the carnival rides. You had to be at least 35 inches to ride the rides and Madi is only 27. Do you think she would let one of the cousins take her...NO! So of course I went along for the ride! (Literally)

Jordan, Amber, Brooke and Hannah on the sky coaster...

Brice and Patrick looking so enthused!

The first of my rides... the roller coaster - me trying to fold my long legs in the kiddie ride...

Madi loved this ride cause it was a car and had a steering wheel! She really did giggle on this one. She even put her hands in the air like her cousins in front of her!

Brooke and Mia...

Next was the train. Again Madi loved it. It was really difficult for me. The space in between seats was not very wide at all. I got in and put Madi next to me and she pushed my legs over. I was so cramped. The things we do for our kids!

Cute Little Amber waving to her family...

This ride I was least excited about. I already had a bit of a headache and though this might make it worse. Madi loved it. She kept laughing and didn't want me to hold onto her. I just tried my best to give her a little help to keep her from banging into the back of the seat!

Time for Bear World.... It was amazing. This is a very rare white elk.

A herd of buffalo....

This was the first bear we saw.

It was amazing to just watch them walk down the street...

Playing in the sunshine

I can't believe I caught this guy with his tongue out!

This is what I wanted to be doing...

This guy just looked mean!

It really was a cool place and I am glad that we went. Shortly after leaving Bear World we passed by the Rexburg Temple. I love to see the temples scattered across the country side.

The next stop (besides gas and potty breaks) was the cabin. It was really amazing. It was just a stones throw from where my family had a cabin when I was a child before my dad died.

The kitchen...

eating area...
Madi snacking on an apple.

They had these cute little kid leather chairs. Girls loved them.

There was a sign asking that shoes not be worn in the cabin. Madi LOVED it because there were 30 pairs of shoes for her to try on at any given time. Kept finding shoes all over the cabin!!!

Day 2 - June 18th
We set out to go see the Park today. I knew that Madison was going to have a hard time with a whole day in the car. I got Madi some fun things to play with in the car. These shades and necklace were a HUGE hit and she looked really cute!

Old Faithful was the first stop of the day, but we had to look at the wild life along the way. I think these are wolves, but they coul dbe coyotes as well. Who can be sure from this far away!

Old Faithful blew her top, as usual!

After watching Old Faithful we had to visit the gift shop. This is my hottie and my sweet baby haveing a snack and a break! (I think that Brice looks a little like Toby Keith in this picture).

After lunch we set out to go on a hike, Fairy Tale Falls was the destination...

We started out...

We quickly fell behind....

However we saw some beautiful things along the way....

We tried all sorts of different approaches to make it all the way on the hike, but...

we were the first ones done... I think we made it about 500 feet when Madi decided she was more interested in playing in the gravel on the path than walking the path. She was tired.. it was nap time. So we headed back to the car.

Grandpa and Uncle Paul weren't to far behind us. Grandpa has bad kness and Uncle Paul has some health issues too. We heard the falls were beautiful though...

We headed back to the cabin. Madison took a nap on the way home. Brice took a nap when we got back to the cabin so that left me to wander around after Madi. Madison was so glad to be out of the car and able to roam around. Of course she was even more excited to play in the shoes left behind... crazy kiddo!

Day 3 - June 19th

Today we headed into the park again. The first stop was Artist Paintpots. It was a quick little hike and Madi did really well. Yellowstone is an amazing place. Where else can you see water boiling out of the earth?

This pool was really cool. It would be really still and then you could see the bubbles starting beneath the surface. All of a sudden it was rapidly boiling. AMAZING!

Madi was aking the easy way through the walk/hike

Madison was so amazed by what she saw... her concentration was intense! :)

She was watching mud boil. Who wouldn't be fascinated by that?

Madi had her moments of independence when she wanted to walk by herself!

But there was still time for loves and mooching a ride!

The whole gang waiting....again......

The next stop was Mammoth Hot Springs. I really like that place. Along the way we stopped here at Roaring Mountain. I wish I would have zoomed in a little more so you could see the steam rising out of the mountain....just squint and look in the middle.. the white puff.. that's it! :)

This is my cute Hannah posing....cheese!

Mammoth Hot Springs.

waiting once again for everyone to get ready to go....

Got time for a smooch?

It's all about the shades......

This buffalo was just in a field in Mammoth. He was just hanging... Austin actually smiled for a picture.

You see quite a bit of buffalo in Yellowstone.

This was another place I was grateful to have my awesome camera and lenses... BEAUTIFUL

I don't know if it's the boiling water or if this was burned by something else, but I was amazed to see that this stick was ash.

It was time to head home. We ate lunch and then packed up the cars. The wildlife we saw on the way home was AMAZING!! In all my years of going to West Yellowstone I have never seen a bear. As we were driving along the road people were stopped. Come to find out it was a black bear! It was amazing!

As long as he was headed up the mountain I was great. He then turned to come down the mountain towards our car. I told Brice I had seen enough and we could go!

Not much farther up the road people were pulling over on the side of the road and getting out of their cars. Of course I had to go look. When I found out it was a black bear I decided the picture wasn't good enought to risk my life. I snapped a quick one and headed back to the car.

Another buffulo....

Not being a wildlife expert I am not sure what this little dude is. But man he wouldn't break his concentration for anything. People were driving by snapping his picture and he was intent on what he was watching. Cool picts though....

This is what Madison thought of all the wildlife....

We decided to make one last stop. We stopped at lower falls. We were going to go to the upper falls, but people were pretty much done.

Madi playing with the big kids before going down to the falls....

Some pictures of me and my babe!!!!

I gave Madison some fruit snacks to eat along the way. She loved them. She even said "more" along with the sign. She is getting so big!!! Crazy stuff.

Grandpa and Grandma walking along the trail....

The guys... Jordan, Austin and Aarone.....

The Lower Falls

Uncle Paul and Aunt Wanda

On the way out of the park as we passed the Bald Eagle nest we saw there was a bird in it. Couldn't get the camera up quick enough.. but we got this...

Then a minute later I spotted him. Again...GREAT lens! Thanks babe!

See... that was a lot of wildlife.

Day 4 - June 20th....Happy Father's Day!!

We were in charge of breakfast today. We made Suasage egg casserole.. so eazy an yummy. Madi finally found Uncle Pauls boots. I couldn't resist helping her into them. She was funny as she was trying to walk around in them. Paul loved it!

Madi was ready to go home. Here she is ready to drive the truck. She was making her cute little car noses.. so cute!

So that was the trip for this year. I was in such a hurry to get home and Madi out of the car that I got a ticket! :( UGH! I think it was Friday that Madi kept lifting her arms in her "I don't know shrug" and she would say "Puppy?" I kept telling her that Sadie was at Grandma's. She really has become attached to Sadie. It was so cute that she just kept asking for her. We stopped at mom's on the way back to pick her up. Sadie was so excited to see us, and Madi was so happy to see her. She just kept clapping her hands and saying "puppy!" Madi went right up to Sadie and gave her a kiss and laid her head on Sadie. Love that my girls love each other so much.

It really was a fun trip...small amount of drama, but overall a great trip. I am really glad to be home though. Had to water the flowers and gardens. The chickens faired pretty well, still had food and water and were still alive. Now comes all the unpacking, laundary and putting things away..... I so need more time in my life!