Constant Flow

I took one of 'my' young women home from church

yesterday.  She lives in a neighboring town.  On my

drive back into Turlock I turned down a road that

I actually frequent fairly often.  Not every day,

but often enough.  This 'ordinary' patch of

poppies caught my eye and I had to stop

the car just to look upon them for a moment.

This thought came to my mind:

The burning bushes, the smoking mountains,...
the Cumorahs, and the Kirtlands were realities;
but they were exceptions.  The great volume of
revelation comes in the less spectacular way---that
of deep impressions, without spectacle
or glamour or dramatic events.

Always expecting the spectacular, many will miss

entirely the constant flow of revealed communication.

~Spencer W. Kimball~

Ordinary Miracles

I went to the grocery store today.

When I was checking out, the clerk asked me how

my day was.  I responded by saying:

 "Good. How's your day?"

He said:

"All days are good. They are just different."

My daughter lives in Boston.  Last year she went

to the Marathon.  She planned to go this year, but decided

at the last minute not to go.  There's more to the story,

but this is enough.  Our phone rang and buzzed

with texts until late last evening with friends reaching

out to make sure she was safe.

Very touching. 

Been thinking about what that clerk said all day today.
And, all of the people in Boston.

For a meaningful and reverent  
walk down Boylston, go here.

Seasonal Allure

Spring, with its refreshing renewal never ceases

to please me.  From orchards, to flowers,

to nesting birds...it's lovely to watch unfold.

From laden boughs, from hands,
from sweet fellowship in the bins,
comes nectar at the roadside, succulent
peaches we devour, dusty skin and all,
comes the familiar dust of summer, dust we eat.

(Photo by Kris)

O, to take what we love inside,
to carry within us an orchard, to eat
not only the skin, but the shade,
not only the sugar, but the days, to hold
the fruit in our hands, adore it, then bite into
the round jubilance of peach.

~Li-Young Lee~

My doves have returned after a four year absence.

I "bird-sit" when I can...to shoo cats,

blue jays and other possible signs of danger away.

It's wonderful to hear the 'cooing' slip in from the 

outside vents once again. 

The epitome of "live music."

UPDATE:  A few hours after I posted this blog, the

two little baby birds we had been watching decided

their time to leave the nest had come.  Ty was home,

opened the front door to leave, and here they were.  

This was the last we saw of them.

So tickled that in my absence he captured that moment!

Pray you, love, remember.

And there is pansies, that's for thoughts.

~Shakespeare~

Camellia's my mother brought to me from

her yard.  Floating near Caramel's little grave.

My yard isn't large.

But, I enjoy every inch of it.

A tulip we purchased in Holland five

 years ago.  Still blooms...

A few of my children accuse me of being unable

to pass by a weed without yanking at it.

Perhaps this may explain...

Ty participated last month in an elaborate program at the 

High School entitled "Every 15 Minutes."It is designed

to impress upon the students the realities and 

consequences of drunk driving.  Ty didn't know he would

be participating.  It is a highly guarded secret from
the Student Body...designed to have maximum impact.
  Because he is well-known and well-liked on campus
 the school asked our permission for him to be involved.

This was his "obituary" displayed on campus.

The day of the program...multiple students were taken from their

classrooms by the 'grim reaper.'  Their phones were taken from

them and they had no contact until the next morning with

anybody except those involved.  An elaborate drunk driving

car accident was presented to the students on campus, including

ambulances, helicopters, trips to hospitals, jails,

and even the morgue.  Parents were also involved.  It was very 

effective, dramatic and well done.

Ty spent the night away from home without any contact

with us, or anyone. He stayed with other students and

 Policemen, Firemen, and school officials at the local

 Holiday Inn.  Then, a 'funeral' was

held the next morning with letters  written by both participating

 students and parents read during the assembly.  Videos were

shown highlighting the 'dead,' prison sentences were handed

down to those students playing the part of those under

the influence...and more videos were shown of those students

who were pronounced dead at the hospital etc.  An actual

pastor from the city came to our home to relay the message

about our sons 'death' by a drunk driver.  Emotions

ran high for many of the participants.  The program 

is very costly...but has been proven to be an 

effective tool in getting kids to "designate a driver."

Our HighSchool does this every two years just

prior to prom and graduation.  

It was a busy month!  Ty and Hunter Mangrum

enjoyed a sweet Eagle Court of Honor.

Friends for a long time!

Supportive friends and family came.

Spring break and a trip to Cambria with 

a few of Ty's close friends.

Spotting several whale pretty close up.

Hunter, Hunter, Hunter...

"The Grill"

Easter Morning

Oh yeah...time for church!

Risk!

Kris and I enjoyed a 'hike' to the top of the ranch.

The boys at sunset.

Little bird...

Taking Photos...

And, last but not least...Kris fulfilled a lifetime wish of 

sailing on a sailboat for a few days.  Invited by his brother-in-law,

Ric Huntington, they joined a friend who was sailing in

order to be certified to navigate the seas!

Ric and Kris. 

Sailed to Catalina and Santa Barbara Islands,

sleeping both in the boat and on land.

"Captain Kris"

Dolphin came to play...

He absolutely LOVED this!!!

Holiday Memories

I swing between procrastination and being

really thorough so either way things aren't

getting done quickly.

~Freema Agyeman~

This is my Christmas offering.  True, Christmas

all ready seems a long time ago.  However,

perhaps some family members will enjoy the

"virtual visit home" and be reminded even now,

why it is we make the effort each and every year.

As I recall...Emily "only" decorated 21 cookies

this year.  We had a much smaller group compared

to other years, so that worked in her favor!

Spending time with the ones who are dear to

you is like being in a dream, is it not?

~Sakura Tsukuba~

I feel this way sometimes.  The time for gathering

comes and then 'poof!'  It's gone.

What a beautiful noise...

~Neil Diamond~

Steve is pretending to be Rick as a little boy.

An old family joke...

More beautiful noise...

Christmas Eve was at Matt and Molly's this year.

Michelle and Scott's Nathan

vs.

Matt and Molly's Emily

Call vs. Whitney

I 'overdid' on the videos on purpose...

Sometimes when you are far away from family

it helps to hear the sounds of those

who love you most. 

Emily made each and every person a personal gift.

Her spirit this Christmas really touched me.

Until last week, I had my little gift taped to my 

bathroom mirror just to remind me of the

power of giving from the heart.

Doug plays the piano.  He is amazing.

He is practicing and participating in multiple

competitions.  Wonderful to hear him play.

Ty received "small pipes" for Christmas/Bday

this year.  This is one of his first attempts at 

playing them...with an arm still recovering

from surgery and not very much "practice

time."  He said "Don't Judge!"  

They have a beautiful tone and are 

much quieter in the house!!

Singing Away in the Manger

Scott and Michelle's Nathan "performs!"
We've all "been here" before.
What you don't hear is Scott shouting
"You should see him throw a football."

Aunt Bev shares.

My parents continue to 'gift' each and every

grandchild a present.  Pretty amazing.  

Pretty fun.

Ty and Doug exchanged High School Sweatshirts.

'The Three Musketeers' continue to exchange

'cousin gifts' even though technically, they

are "too old" for the exchange anymore.  

Pretty fun.

Our hearts grow tender with childhood memories and

love of kindred, and we are better throughout

the year for having, in spirit, become a

child again at Christmas time.

~Laura Ingalls Wilder~

Aunt Molly 'highlights' Ty...who will be

serving a mission next Christmas.

Grandma recalls the Christmas morning

Ty was born. 

Grandpa and girls with the glass pendants

he made for each of them.

Traditional Christmas Eve Jammies

(Sanuks for the boys this year.)

Ty is planning on going into law enforcement

someday.  Here, he receives handcuffs and

the "Chips" DVD's.

Handcuffing Call.  It's a daily routine around 

our home now.  He watches so many episodes

of "Cops" I'm thinking he'll be able

to just skip the Academy.

If you ever start feeling like you have the goofiest,

craziest, most dysfunctional family in the world,

all you have to do is go to a state fair.  Because five

minutes at the fair, you'll be going, 'you know,

we're alright.  We are dang near royalty.'

~Jeff Foxworthy~

Whitney and Call

We went on a whale watching excursion on 

January 1, 2013 to welcome in the new year.

We saw several pods of whales.

When something is missing in your life,

it usually turns out to be someone.

~Robert Brault~

These two photos made me laugh.  Hard to

believe they are not blood sisters.

Before you were conceived, I wanted you.

Before you were born, I loved you.

Before you were an hour old, I would die for you.

This is the miracle of love.

~Unknown~

No relationship is perfect, which is why

it is so important to be loving.

~Robert Brault~

Spotting the International Space Station.

All kinds of things are more enjoyable

when doing them by the sea.

Our last sunset before heading home.
For an interesting peek into
Anne Marie's work go Here.