Race for the Cure 2003

I decided to finally update my blog and as I was to the point of this year's Race for the Cure I decided to post all the races for which I had picture.  It certainly seems like I have done more of these Races for the Cure, but like they say, "If you don't write it down it never happened."  This is doubly true for me as it pertains to pictures.  I only have pictures of four races, so I guess I only did four. 

Tulips on Temple Square & the Church Plaza

There is no time on Temple Square and the Church Plaza as beautiful as when the

tulips are blooming. It is so fun for me to be there three days a week when
everything is so beautiful. We have had a terrible spring, but the tulips are still gorgeous.

Easter Sunday, Mom's Birthday, Spencer's Birthday

I have not kept up.  I could either forget some events and move on, or try to catch up a bit.  If I want to remember some of the important things that happened this year, I decided to attempt to catch up.

Nice party.                    Thanks, Julie.

Elsie the Cow

Elsie the Cow

was always on Grandma Turner's counter, filled with delicious homemade cookies.

My Aunt Claudia now owns this heirloom, but it brings warm memories to me when I see it. 

Funny how some small thing reminds me of the warmth and love I felt in Grandma's kitchen. She always had a dress and an apron on. She would put a fresh, clean apron on if she had to go to the post office or the store, but always an apron. She also wore black shoes with the sides cut out by her little toes so her corns wouldn't hurt. When she went to Church she just had to let them hurt. 

I have great memories of watching Grandma make pies in her kitchen. I remember the wood-burning stove, the flour bin, and the enamel cup that made water taste especially good. There were times when she would have us help her clean the eggs that had been gathered. I'm sure we were more trouble than help. I remember how scared I was of the chickens when I was sent out to gather their eggs from under them. They weren't any too happy about us taking their potential babies. Other memories were the coolness of the cellar which had shelves filled with bottles of homemade fruit, vegetables, jams and jellies; watching Grandma kill a chicken for dinner and seeing the headless chicken running around the yard spurting blood everywhere; seeing Grandma make lye soap which was used for laundry and other cleaning needs. It was quite a process.   

At the kitchen table I remember Grandpa relishing a bowl of homemade bread and milk, sometimes with jam, sometimes with radishes or green onions. I still love bread and milk, but it has to be with homemade bread or it isn't good.  I also remember Uncle Scott eating a bowl of Kellogg's Cornflakes before he would leave for a date in the evenings.  I am amused at the memory of Uncle Scott and Uncle Mark spurting water through their front teeth at us kids and I always marveled at what a great aim they had and at what amazing distances they could spurt us. 

I thought Uncle Scott was about the cutest thing ever and as a young girl I wanted to grow up and marry him because he was so cute and so nice and so fun.  He was single longer than most and that kept my hope alive for quite some time.  But alas, he did marry -- and I learned you can't marry your relatives.  But I still thought he was cute and had a great laugh.  

The picture on the left is of Uncle Mark during his service in World War II. The one on the right was taken in 2006.  He was just younger than Mom and as great as Mom and Mark were, they did have their spats.

Most of these memories are from the 1950's.

I was glad to see Elsie the Cow once again.

Windy Day on Antelope Island - Mid-May 2011

We saw one lonely antelope on Antelope Island and he was not playing.

We went there to see Buffalo, but after driving all over the Island, even out to the ranch and over to the corrals, these on the skyline were all we found.

We took our traditional annual trip to Antelope Island with our traditional Kentucky Fried Chicken, now known as KFC.

The chicken was delicious, but I have never been on any picnic with that much wind. Not a good thing.

The best part was being with Cherie, Kari and their family. We always love being with them.

After we ate the chicken, I walked out to the water line with Hayden, Katelyn, Paige and Spencer. We thought we would die before we got there because we were all barefoot and didn't realize, until it was too late, that the rocks on the beach were really sharp and they went on and on forever. Next time we will wear shoes.

As soon as we got to the water's edge, the boys entertained themselves

and us by skipping rocks. Well there certainly were plenty of rocks to skip.

There was still a lot of snow on the mountains in Davis County. 

Other than the wind, it was a beautiful day.

Spring on Temple Square & the Plaza

We wondered if spring would ever come this year, but it did, 

in fits and starts, 

between snow storms. 

But when it was here, it was spectacular.

It is so rewarding to be serving as a Church-service Missionary (CSM) in the Church Office Building. When I started on January 24th, I thought I would have a routine, no-responsibility clerical job two days a week. It did become boring by the end of February, too routine, but I didn't say anything. On  March 7th Elder Parry and Joel moved me to be the CSM Communications and Training Coordinator and asked me to work three days a week so I am there Monday, Wednesday and Friday. It is much more interesting work, but also very demanding and beyond my expertise. I hope I can learn to do all they want me to do and to do it well. It is wonderful to be a CSM. It gives me purpose and direction; it challenges me; it provides an avenue for meaningful service, and it brings me many spiritual experiences, often in unexpected ways.  I certainly recognize the hand of the Lord in my life as I do this work. 

Austin's Lacrosse Game