Planting Flowers

Today as I was leaving work I was asked if I would like to take home some pansies that had been removed from one of the hospital's flower beds by the landscape crew.  Knowing that I had promised myself that this year I would actually put some effort into our yard I accepted the request.  I was than given a large garbage bag full of flowers. 
When I got home and decided on where I wanted to transplant the flowers I went in search of our shovel.  I couldn't find it anywhere.  Nathan has been gone all week on his bear hunt and all I can conclude is that he took the shovel along with him.  I knew that these flowers would not last long if left in the trash bag waiting for Nathan to return from his hunt so I called our sweet neighbor and was able to borrow theirs.

 After a little hard work and some elbow grease I had the soil loose enough to plant.  We had two different colors of pansies in the bag dark purple and light purple so I was able to arranged them in a pattern.
It is such a nice day, felt so good to work outside in the shade.  (I burn so easily and I don't tan.  Just alternate from white to red and back to white.)

Listening to Shania Twain and Brad Paisley while I work.

 

Finished product.  They should perk up in the next few days as I water them and they get use to their new home.  Jasper doesn't even seem to mind them.  He had a great time sun bathing in the front yard beside me.

 

Funny moment of the week:  My sister txt me this picture of one of my parent's cats riding in my brother's work truck.  This cat is notorious for sneaking along on car rides or even neighbors camping trips (true story, she jumped on them in the middle of the night!) Evidently she found her way into the cab of his work truck when he made a quick stop by the house.  He made it all the way to the freeway before she made her appearance! Whinnie is a crazy cat.

 

Happy Friday!!!

This touched my heart today

The other side of adoption.  Tamra beautifully shares her experience placing her little boy with another couple.  I hope that someday we will be part of a similar experience.

 

 

 

Thank you Tamra.

 

Thoughtful Wednesday

Visiting Elder and Sister Hendrickson



At Legacy Lake

This last weekend Heber Valley Girls Camp where my parents are serving as missionaries had their spring open-house.  All the wards and stakes that will be camping there as well as the missionaries families were invited to come up and visit the camp. 
Sam, Caleb, and I were one of the first cars to arrive and because Nathan and I had just bought a new car that I drove up, my dad who was one of the greeters at the gate was surprised when he waved us forward to welcome us and give us a map.  He gave us directions to where our mom was and we drove in to find her.

Many of our family and ward family came up to visit.



My parents had many immediate family and ward family members drive up just for the opportunity to visit with them.  My parents have adopted many ward families into our family.  They have numerous ward grandchildren, and now their first ward great-grandchild. 

It was so fun to get together with these special families.

All the kids had a great time running around and looking for animals and animal tracks.



Teeter-totter on the log.



Lily pointing out the moose tracks.





My dad holding his first ward great-grandchild.





My turn.



Family picture.  (Nate had to work)



Happy Birthday Donuts!



Four of our five family members have birthdays coming up this next week and so we celebrated a little early because we were together. 

We were able to see lots of wildlife while we were visiting the camp.  After most of the visitors left the deer started to come out to feed and came with in 20 yards of where we were standing.  As we drove home we counted how many deer from our parents trailer until we hit the bottom of the mountain the camp is located (about 10miles)  and we got up to 26 deer before we hit the main part of Heber city.   My parents are in Heaven!  I believe that the hardest part of their mission is going to be in 2 years when they tell them that they have to move back home.    If you would like to read more about their adventures you can check out their blog at

 http://travelingthroughtheunknownblogspot.com/ .

Deer in the sunset.

Happy Monday!!!

Birth-Mother's Day

A little known holiday is celebrated the day before Mother's Day is observed, that is Birth-Mother's Day.  It is not well known, publicly recognized, noted on the calender, or even marketed.  You will not see commercials revering it, see banners commemorating it, special sales in stores, or a large section in your local Hallmark card shop.  It is celebrated quietly and reverently in the lives of those who have been impacted by the miracle of adoption.
Today is that day, dedicated to the women who selflessly sacrifice to share the gift of motherhood with another. 
We first learned of this special day a year ago while Nathan and I were completing the steps necessary to become certified to adopt.  Now even though we are still awaiting the day that we are selected by one of these amazing women to be the parents of her child; we are celebrating this day.
We do not know her name, we do not know where she is at this time, or her life story.  But we do know that we look forward to embracing her into our lives.  She is special to us.  She is part of us, and we think of her daily.  We hope and we pray for her.  We love her.  This day is for HER.

Happy Birth-Mother's Day!

Sibling Dinner

With our parents gone for the next two years on a mission at the Heber Valley Girls camp, my brother and sister and I have decided to make it a goal to get together at least once a month for a dinner.   Tonight was the first one of many.  And we had a great time. 
Because Nathan and I hosted dinner at our house we were in charge of the main dish.  I tried a new recipe that I had seen posted on facebook for 'Crock-pot Chicken and Dumplings.'  I think that it turned out pretty good.  Caleb made 'asparagus and new potato's in white sauce' and Sam brought a cake for dessert.   Other than a slight accident with a spilt drink everything went wonderfully.  

Living an hour away from each other makes it difficult for us to get together very frequently so it is so fun when we actually can make our schedules mesh.

 

After dinner we all went outside and enjoyed the nice weather.  Nathan and Caleb went in search of a few arrows that had gone astray and then took up shooting at the target themselves.  After a few rounds of each of them shooting Sam and I decided to give the bow a try while they were retrieving the arrows from the target block.  (Don't worry no arrows were involved in our bow testing.)

 

Caleb makes it look easy.

Its harder than it looks.

Neither of us seem to have the upper arm strength to pull the string back.



Even Jasper had a great time.  He loves it when Sam and
Caleb come over and play.



Happy Sunday!!!!