My Dad

I love my dad! During the past few weeks my love for him has grown deeper and has reached new meaning after unfortunate circumstances found us spending 2 weeks together in Providence Hospital in Anchorage, Alaska. Dad was diagnosed with lung cancer at the end of September. He had his entire left lung removed on October 1st. He is now home recuperating. Doctors are recommending that he start chemo in about a month (after his body heals from surgery).

Although the time we spent together was spent under duress, there were also some very tender & spiritual moments that we shared. I won't go into these on this blog, as they are private & very special to me. However, I do want to share with you this message-do not let a day go by without telling (and showing) the people you love that YOU DO LOVE THEM. Life is short, and can change very quickly!

My message to my dad---I love you and am proud of you for the way in which you handled yourself during the past few weeks. You are a strong, patient, kind, loving man. God loves you and is proud of you. He knows of your struggles and is helping you get through this time. Keep praying and know that he is listening. I LOVE YOU! My dad and I in Soldotna, Alaska probably in 1970! Notice the red hair (actually a little orange).

My dad and I in Anchorage, Alaska on October 9th, 2008, one week after having his left lung removed.

18 Years & Still Looking the Same (Yeah, Right!)

Today is our 18th wedding anniversary. Man, are we getting old! I don't feel like I have been married for 18 years, and in my mind I don't think that I look like I have been married for 18 years, but the pictures don't lie!

We are off to a really exciting celebration! Darren is looking through the Happenings Book as I type, searching for the perfect 2 for 1 coupon to celebrate our 18 years together. Will we ever get to the point where we aren't basing our dinners out on whether or not we have a coupon!

Darren-I love you and am always grateful to spend time with you (and spending time with you at a bargain price is even better). Happy Anniversary, Buddy!

The Fire Pit

I have been pestering Darren for the past couple of summers to make me a fire pit. My dad has a fire pit that he made out of an old washing machine tub, and I have always loved "hanging out" around it. With the help of our friend Terry (who donated an old 50 gallon barrel) and the expertise of Roy (our peach friend), Darren and the girls made a great fire pit. We christened it last week with smores, good friends, and family.

The pit cracked a little with the first fire. Darren thinks this happened because I didn't let him "cure" the cement long enough, as I was anxious to get a fire going!

Addy can't eat smores without getting something on her face!

Delaney and her friends, Kai & Shelby, had a great time roasting marshmallows.

Darren and his "masterpiece"!

Roy & Irene

Our friends, Roy & Irene, visited us at the end of August. We met them many years ago in Alaska when Delaney was a baby and Addy was yet to be! They like to come to see us (probably more to see the girls instead of Darren and I) and bottle peaches while they are here. This year their visit was cut short due to Irene's health. They didn't get to bottle any peaches, so in their honor I am making Irene's "Peach Dump Cake" for dessert today! Irene & Roy-We love you and are happy we were able to visit with you once again this year!

Back to School

Here we go again-early mornings, backpacks, homework, French Horn practice, carpools, and more! Is it just me, or did this summer go by too fast???

Delaney's first day of 8th grade-Ask her about her new French teacher!

Addy's first day of 6th grade-Ask her what her teacher is going to do with her class that I will never do with my class!

If You Prepare the Corn He (Uncle Jack) Will Come

My Uncle Jack loves corn. I remember as a kid living in Alaska how my Grandma would make Jack and my Grandpa "Hungry Man" dinners in the oven. Jack's favorite parts were always the corn and mashed potatoes. On his previous trips to visit us in Utah, he has always wanted me to cook a good steak dinner with corn on the cob. Well, finding good, fresh corn on the cob in October is not an easy thing to do!

We also love love corn. Especially the yummy, sweet corn that comes on during the month of August. We love to eat it fresh from the fields, and we also love to freeze it for use during the remainder of the year when we can't get fresh corn. So---This past week found us putting up corn a few different times. If you have ever done any type of canning or freezing of vegetables, corn is quite easy. The most time consuming part is shucking all of the corn. Since we have kids, and the kids have friends who are always over, this corn process has been quite easy as we just use the girls and their friends as child laborers!

Well, Jack, the corn is in the freezer. It is waiting for you, just as two young ladies are waiting for you to come and visit. They want to play basketball with you, learn more card tricks from you, and hang out with you on the deck.

"Please come for the corn, Jack!"

Off to Camp

Delaney and her friend Shelby-off to camp!

Delaney went to Girls Camp yesterday. The camp leaders asked parents to write letters to their girls telling them how much they love them. Here are some of the things that I love about Delaney:

• She is a reading maniac. She devours every book-some books over and over again.
• She is patient and playful with little kids. Her cousins Jonah, Mason, and Jack are in love with her.
• She is incredibly musical. She plays the piano, French horn, and cello. She can teach herself to play just about any instrument.
• She is super smart. We are not quite sure where these brains come from!
• She is beautiful on the inside. There are no grey areas-she sees either "black or white" and usually chooses the right.
• She is beautiful on the outside. Having red hair and being 5"10' (when you are only 13) doesn't seem like such a great thing to her now, but I keep telling her that these things will be to her advantage in a few years!
• She is an animal lover. She is kind and gentle with animals, and all animals that we encounter seem to flock to her.

I don't want to paint a perfect picture of Delaney----she is a teen-ager! Like the rest of us, she does have her flaws. However, the good outweighs the bad and I love her very much!