Let's Have a Look-See

It should not be a big deal. I have a cough. Especially me. I tend to get a cough. But when in the midst of a global pandemic, having a cough is not normal. It was better today than yesterday. Should I get tested? Do I call my doctor? I know I have to stay home. I swear it is just a cough. Todd and his family are going to be here Wednesday so I need to make a plan. This is new territory for me. 

About 20 years ago we had a fun trip to Yellowstone with the kids.  On our way home, we drove through The Tetons.  We stopped at Jenny Lake and I  have wanted to go back and do that hike ever since.  The wild flowers were in bloom, so I thought I would share them with you. 0 I'm not going to lie. I am 20 years older than the first time I went here. I took ibuprofen for a coupe of days after that hike, but it was beautiful and reminded me of our Saviors love for us. Amist all this craziness,  there are corners of peace and beauty.  

I went outside a found these blooming. I hate that I have to go outside to see them.  Theses roses just keep getting prettier.   iI didn't plant these. I would never have put them together, but they do okay. They get along. We made a new reading spot and have finished maintenance on the deck. I am looking forward to spending some time on it with the family th it s summer. 

I live in a quiet neighborhood, in a quiet town, in a quiet state, in a noisy world. I have been quiet the last couple of weeks. But the world has not.  This. This is why I have been quiet. I can't say it. I can't say that only black lives matter. Apparently,  right now, if you say any thing else, you don't get it and you have hurt them - whoever 'them' is.  I don't want to hurt anybody. But I can't begin to pretend that they are the only ones who are treated poorly by the police. That they are the only ones who live in fear of being beat by a power bigger than them. Guess what? They are not alone. I am not one of those people. I live a life of white privilege. Any other statement would be ridiculous.  So here is my thought. All lives matter. People of all colors are equally loved by God.  Any other statement would be ridiculous.   What we need more if in this world is respect. We don't have to agree, we don't have to like it, we don'...

I have a thing with cemeteries.   They are peaceful.  Today we went to the cemetery.   We can never find my sister in laws grave.  But my mom gave us directions- very specific directions- and we found it. It's been 28 years, and I can still see my brother and his  brother in law,  sitting next to these graves, weeping.  Some deaths are harder than others. I am always surprised how many graves hold a veteran.  So many have and do serve. Then we found my father in laws headstone. As we look for it - and I we always have to look- we find names of people we have known.  There are so many good memories at a cemetery.    I'm grateful that I know that this is not the end.  That we can be together again. That the Savior can help us as we go through the grief of losing our loved ones.   It's all gonna work out.

This is us at 100 days of school. As we enter the last week of school I can't help but think what a strange year it was.  The first half I was  sick.  After phnomia,  I picked up all  their germs.  To end the year, we all stayed home so we wouldn't pick up each others germs.  They have worked hard. I love that their parents have tried to keep them on track.  As I call them weekly, they always ask how I am doing.  Such sweet bonds have been formed as a result of Covid 19.   I went for a walk yesterday and found these on a tree.  I have come to see this beautiful world as a tender mercy.  When I do my neck exercises I look at this wall. The picture is my family, together,  in North Carolina.  So grateful for their effort to be  there last year. It is a memory I think about often. Love them. Richard and Ashley came up this weekend.  We had Ashelys graduation ...

Our friend, Jeff Willis, passed away this week.  It broke my heart. Liz is a dear friend to me. She is doing really well right now. I know that it broke her heart as well.  A couple of years ago we went to visit them in California.  They were going to take us to lunch, but on the way, we stopped by Wes's school to visit the secretary.  We watched him go in and could see her jump up and give him a hug.  Jeff said, 'Oh,oh, she's coming.'  We watched as Patty came running out to the truck. I was desperately trying to figure out how to get out of the truck. Jeff was right there. He had my door opened and helped me slide right out into the biggest hug I have ever had.  I remember crying during that hug, and hoping no one had noticed,  but Jeff had.  He noticed everything.  It was what made him a great story teller.  Jeff was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer 4 weeks ago.   I admire the peace he had with this life and...