Ward Party from H. E. double toothpicks

Friday we had a Cinco de Mayo party with our ward full with pulled pork burritos topped with cilantro sauce.  Entertainment-pinata!  Great turn out.  Lots of fun.

Saturday night I went to bed after vomiting and feeling very sick.  Dan slept in another bed so he wouldn't get sick but he woke up in the middle of the night with the same symptoms.  John also woke in the middle of the night.  Same thing.

Sunday morning we got a call from the Relief Society president. She and her husband had the same problems.  We got another call from one of the Sacrament meeting speakers.  Same thing.  Primary president and her family?  Same.  We were suspicious.  As we called around, a lot of the ward was sick.

Dan decided to cancel the auxiliaries that day so people wouldn't feel pressured to come to church with responsibilities if they were not feeling well.

Sacrament meeting attendance which is usually 180 was 100.

Scary business.  What was it?  The pork? The cilantro sauce?  The rice (yes, the extension office in Logan thinks it's the rice) The beans?  The tomatoes?  The lettuce?  Who knows? 

Symptoms seem to last less than 24 hours but for some, longer.  I hope everyone recovers okay.

I'm 52 and have been to a lot of ward parties in my day.  This is the first problem.  Should I think twice when eating at a ward party from now on?  I don't know.

Good bye snow shoes

This winter has been so much fun for me and a lot of that has been because of snow shoeing with my friends.  So many people complain about winter.  I love it!

On this day is was a freezing cold inversion in Logan but we were enjoying blue sky and enough warmth to take our coats off.

We always find beautiful snowy places in the canyon.

We play and laugh which is therapy for all.

These women inspire me.  The mountains inspire me. 

 I think that Spring is finally here and, while I'm looking forward to a fabulous Spring, Summer and Fall with these ladies in the mountains, I am really going to miss the winter.  My snow shoes are put away but they'll be ready to go with a happy me come next winter.

Cousin Jessica

My brother's daughter, Jessica, and her husband live in Moab.  Jessi took us on a hike (on her birthday) that is a little secret for the locals.  We felt special.

Not many people see this arch.

I climbed the rope but was more than a little nervous.

The arch taken from above after we climbed the scary rope.

The rope was nothing for Jessi,  an experienced rock climber.

John went up and down the  rope with ease.

Jess showed us this interesting petroglyph.  I think she called it the child birth petroglyph.

I missed Dan and the rest of the family on this little trip but was so glad to have this time  with John.  I love making memories.

Porcupine Rim

John nick  named this trail "Angels Landing on a bike."  If you've ever hiked Angels Landing in Zion NP you'll get the picture.  It was scary in places because of the cliff exposure.  It was very difficult for me and my ability but I loved it and especially loved being with John.

 

 

We're alive so it was a success.

One more Moab post to come.

Moab with my bud

John and I took off on a last minute trip to Moab for his Spring break.  Dan couldn't come because of work and the risk mountain biking would be to his shoulder. 

First we rode the Slick Rock Trail.

The next sequence is of John riding up a hill on the trail and then waiting, as he often did, for me to catch up.

The trail was too technical for me but I still had a great time.  John was very patient and waited. 

More to come...

Temples

A fortress in the rising storm

I love this building.  Today in General Conference Pres. Monson talked about temples.  He said that 85% of the membership of the church lives with in 200 miles of a temple.  Amazing. 

I am so happy for my friends in Ft. Collins Colorado.  Yesterday they announced that a temple will be built there.  I lived there when the Denver Temple was built.  (In fact I was in that temple when I went into labor with Tom hehehehe.)  It was an hour and a half drive.  We were so happy and felt so blessed to have one in Denver.  Now, all my Ft. Collins friends get one of their very own.  

Blessings.  Blessings.

Junior Prom

I'm so glad I have my baby in the house.  He keeps me young.  I was 35 when  he was born and most of my friends my age had children that were all in school.  John has been a blessing in my life and has kept me young.  He's growing and will be out of the house before I know it so  I'm trying to enjoy every minute with him. 

Last night was Junior Prom.  He chose a white tux.  I have no idea where he got the confidence to wear it.  He didn't get it from me.

The group had dinner at the Lesters house.

 After the dance they came to our house to play games.  One of the games was a white elephant exchange.  He wanted some ideas for a gift so I asked my face book friends.  One of the ideas, from my daughter Mindy, was to give an 8X10 framed photo, signed, of himself.  He loved that idea.  Below is the photo he found, printed, signed and framed.  I giggle every time I think of him giving it as a white elephant.

I love having John in my house.