The End

Wes's aunt passed away a couple of weeks ago. She was 81 and had lived a good, active life. I found myself crying at her funeral.  We weren't that close, but I know that death comes in 3's or more. I have many elderly friends and family. I couldn't help but wonder who would be next. 

My sweet friend Dixie passed away one night this week. She was 91. She has been in assisted living for a few years and very lonely since her jysband, Ken, passed away. It's hard to be sad when she didn't suffer and is with her eternal family. 

She was am amazingly talented woman. She was my quilting buddy and could out quilt anyone. She could sing and play the piano and paint.

She told me she didn't like to paint oceans but she relented and painted this for me from a picture my friend Liz took of the Northern California coast. 

I will muss her but am so thankful that she took me under her care when I moved here. 

End of Summer

I like to end Summer with my favorite memory.  The goal was to see more beauty in the Earth. 

So here are some of my favorites. 

This Itty bitty pine cone from this forest.

The drive from Cardston to Waterton was breathtaking.  I have no pictures but this stormy sky created an absolute beautiful backdrop to the mountains. 

And whether or not I like Southern California, it was beautiful there.

Back to work. 

Disneyland

I'm not a big fan of Southern California.  Too many people and cars. But the Canadian's asked us to come with them. This is supposed to be there once in a lifetime trip.

 We took our kids once. It was fun. It was enough for me. Some of them have been back with High School groups, but this is the first family trip. 

It was expensive and it was hot, but I made it. 

The girls had a great time. 

I got them matching shirts.

And the Grandma's had matching shirts.

There were lots of smiles

Plenty of rides

And pool time, because it was hot.

So my last walk of the year was pretty, civilized and fun. And we, by far, walked the furthest we walked all Summer.

Now Summer is not over, just my vacation. Back to work tomorrow.  I plan to hike in the Sawtooths in September, but for now, we stay home. 

Across the country

I love to drive across the country but not so much in a U-haul.

We started in Provo. First time since 2005 that we have not had a child living there. 

 

We made one hour avalible in Kansas to see these sweet people. 

And finally made it to Wake Forest in North Carolina. 

Rich starts Law School in a couple of weeks. 

We left them there. Three more years of kids living in North Carolina.  

It is hard but I would never tell my kids not to do something because it is hard. 

We can do hard things!

Grandma Camp

We had our granddaughters from Canada for 5 days while their parents took a little trip. The girls call it Grandma Camp. I call it 5 days with our their parents telling me no. 

In truth, its kind boring.  

Shppoing

Petting cows and horses

Swimming

Baking

Lots of ice cream

And we ended it on The Squirts birthday.

They haven't been to visit for 3 years due to the Pandemic. I just pray that we can do it again. Life as a grandma is the best. 

Waterton Canada

We meet Keith and his family in Waterton Canada. Callie and Speencer came too. I felt blessed to be in this beautiful place that God created. 

The Glacier lakes were stunning.

The hikes were perfect. 

Warm

Good company 

With wildflowers 

Colored river rocks 

And waterfalls 

Not to mention the butterflies.

It's hard not to be grateful for the beauty of this world. I think of the words to How Great Thou Art:

When through the woods and forest glades I wonder, And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees, When I look down from lofty mountain grandeur and hear the book and feel the gentle breeze, Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to thee, How Great thou art!   

                   How Great Thou Art!