More journeys...

Today another journey alone.

Family Reunion!

I was surrounded by so many loved ones

Hugs, smiles & concern...

But once again... a special event

without my sweetheart.

I've been told time and time again...

The first year...

with all the firsts 

will be the hardest.

I took this picture on my way up the road to the cemetery.

(Through the windshield splattered in bugs!)

It is so peaceful there

and I visited with mixed emotions.

Again I say to myself,

"Why did he have to be so wonderful?"

Thankfully I know where he is and in the blink of an eye

(unless I live to be 97 1/2 of course...)

we'll be together again!

These are my two uncles and two aunts who I love and adore.

We go way back of course!

They are my mothers brothers and sisters.

I'm so proud of my heritage

and wish we all could have been there today!

Grandpa Alfred and Grandma Lucile looked down with pride today!

The Rogers Family always knew how to put on a feast.

Today was no exception.

(I did miss my mother's pies!)

This reunion was held in a little sleepy town called Bloomington, Idaho!

I think it is the best kept secret ...

an ideal place

for raising a family,

breathing fresh air

and feeling the wide open spaces.

These horses and barn say "Hello... welcome to the past!"

1918 to be exact!

What in the world would I do without my big sis!

When we had to choose a sister, I know a lot of people
were standing in her line...
...and I won!

Families Are Forever!

...on a brighter note!

  More summer photo's I love....

Little Noema...    creative "Corn on the Cob" eating!

One of many group lunches... eat and then hose them off!

My grandsons wanted to make scarey spiders to scare the girls when they arrived.  I threw "caution to the wind" and let them hide these "frightening creatures" all over the house.

Getting ready to make frozen Raspberry Jam. ( Carter ready to give Nana a "pucker kiss!")

My sweet daughter- in-law Amanda and my four precious (silly, loud, energetic, adorable) grandchildren! We made a quick trip to Mesa Falls.  It was simply gorgeous! Wish their daddy could have been with us!

These kids had a chance to go to the world famous "Rexburg Rapids"... but just wanted to hang with a $12 slip and slid in the backyard.  (and a big black garbage bag extended it even further...)

Isaiah thought there were too many "bees" and so he went and found a pair of Papa's gloves to pick his raspberries. 

Joshua's 8th Birthday! 

Eight is great and so is our sweet Joshua.

The next day it was Carter's birthday.  Number Uno! 

Yum.... strawberry shortcake for all!

Huge ice cream cones... after stuffing themselves at Big Jud's!

(Seriously... Big Jud's has the best french fries in the WORLD!)

Aunt Amanda and nephew Carter on his birthday!

Father and son...   Aaron and Carter the boy!

Feeding  the ducks at the Rexburg Nature Park!

Feeding the trout at Warm River!

I have the best family in the world.  We have made some awesome memories.  I appreciated all of the help I received from each family that visited this summer.  Alain would be so very proud of the way they have all stepped up to help me.  We miss Alain and Papa, and want to carry on our traditions and never forget what a wonderful, supportive, helpful, kind, caring person he was, who would drop anything to help you out in any way he could. We are all better people just for knowing and loving him!  

Uninvited Guest

(where today finds me...)

Uninvited Guest

In the middle of much grief,

an uninvited guest appears,

unannounced, unwanted and unappreciated.

(In every sense of the word)

This guest goes straight to the

heart and mind,

giving unrelenting and unsolicited advice.

No matter how much pushing or pleading

or trying to ignore...

he stays

until he has delivered

increased doubt and fear and pain.

Leaving behind so much

collateral damage.

Spiritual bulldozers are called in daily

working to pick up and clear away

debris of shattered dreams,

pieces of my broken heart,

and mounds of misguided thoughts

delivered so freely by this

uninvited guest.

Part of mortality.

Part of being human.

Part of the plan.

That's what friends are for....

I was supposed to be in San Antonio, Texas right now

visiting my baby Michelle.

Flying standby just wasn't in the cards this weekend.

So I spent an extra day with my "bestest" childhood friend Kelly!

 We go way back....

.... back to Mrs. Little's preschool in Bountiful, Utah.

 We were both little "pipsqueaks." 

Whatever Kelly did.... I did.

But...she was more positive peer pressure

than the opposite

(except for the time she wanted to test drive my mother's car...

a 1967 Mustang...

We were 15, not licensed and yes she crashed!

We fessed up years later and were forgiven.  I think?)

We were both cheerleaders

and class officers together.

We were both a little boy crazy...

(me a little worse I fear!)

We loved belonging to the same ward 

and going to girls camp every summer.

We laughed this weekend remembering 

so many crazy memories.

Kellys cute mom is 90 years young!

She took the picture of Kelly and I 

when we visited her in her home.

(Just a tad blurry but she did it just the same!)

 The picture below that one is of Kelly and her mom!

Kelly gets much of her optimism and love for life

from her dear mom Edie.

I believe Edie was still tap dancing into her eighties!

So fun and full of life that gal!

Kelly drug me to Lagoon Saturday night.

I couldn't believe as I was standing

50 feet in the air,

ready to go down some "water log ride thingy"

and that I was still giving in to "peer pressure."

(How many years later... oh my!)

But...

you need to know that

Kelly and her husband Danny are gems.

Alain and I loved to visit their "bed and breakfast!"

(usually on our way out of town)

They are always involved in "good works,"

welcoming anyone and everyone into their home.

They spent three years in Africa...

Danny serving as mission president.

I have been touched by such a wonderful friend

and my life is better because she is one of many

who encourage me and tell me that

I can do this, and say to me....

"Good job, good job!"

We went to the Gateway Plaza in Salt Lake City for movie and lunch!

Me & Kelly

Kelly and Edie

Danny & Kelly

Thanks for the memories!

Backyard Bliss... I do love flowers!

The house is quiet now......but the flowers are sure being noisy!

Special Delivery...

Today marks six months since Alain passed away.

I'm not really a counter like this,

but six months seems like a milestone of sorts.

I'm proud of the things I've accomplished so far.

Most of all just surviving such a huge loss.

Holly hocks are one of my favorite summer flowers.

When we moved here six years ago

my jaw dropped as I walked around the yard

and it was filled with beautiful, 

red, pink and white holly hock plants.

This summer I watched these grow up right next to my front door.

I didn't plant any seeds here...
I think they were heaven sent!

What a blessed summer I've had.
I've been able to see and spend
time with each one of my
grandchildren.  

All 10 of them!

They missed Papa very much and I was worried,
but they seemed to have done really well here
and we're just not ever going to "forget" 
how blessed they were to know him and to love him!
 


Isaiah... hard worker, really loud, great helper, full of love!
Ellie.. creatively busy, always willing to help, sensitive heart!
Joshua... turned eight at Nana's, sweet and loving, loves to draw.
Anna... full of energy, loud, creative (very), loves to snuggle.
Paige... fun, funny, full of spunk and funny faces, loves everyone!
Brooklyn... loves nature, flowers, bugs, feathers, rocks and is so darling and sweet!
Jason... fearsome four, energy, courage.  When leaving he ran back
     and said, "Can I give you a kiss?"  Melt...melt!
Emma... cute as a button, talking like crazy, follows the big kids everywhere!
Noema... Sweet, sneaky, cutest big smile, loves her big brothers when they are not
     being too rough!
Carter... turned one and is the cutest little boy I've ever seen.  Happy, smiling, laughing!