Another Trip to Kolob

With the summer temps increasing, we hikers increasingly hike in higher elevations to escape the heat.

We began our early hour schedule this week as well.

from yesterday's sunrise on Barrel Roll

Rock formations and plant life appear softer in the dawning hours of the desert. There are cooler hues of purples, pinks and corals.  And the fragrance....unable to be bottled by any perfumery on the planet.

The first hike of the new season took place today in Kolob Canyon...part of the Zion National Park system of trails.  During the 5 mile jaunt, we forded Taylor's Creek over 50 times.  The first few times I took special care in placing my feet well and assured on rocks in the creek, as to avoid wet shoes.  But within the first hour, I abandoned all care.  The water is actually invigorating and by the time I reached each crossing, I looked forward to a foot soak.

At the end of the trail are the rock formations known as Double Arch Alcove, which are indescribable and certainly pictures of do not do justice.  And further up off the beaten path is a hidden waterfall that provides the perfect shower for nature.

Sometimes I wonder if I should even bother photographing what I see.

"Heaven isn't too far away"...so says Warrant.  And it's true...I can be in Kolob in half an hour.

She got what she wanted

A chocolate cheese cake.

Hunter requested one for her 18th birthday.

I've never made a cheesecake before, until yesterday.

And she may have suspected something was happening but I think we managed to surprise her with a birthday party....her first in 18 years.  I have never thrown a party and invited her friends over for the real deal...ever. Streamers, cupcakes, music, games and a house full of kids....check, check,check and check.

So she got a chocolate cheesecake, a birthday party....and a Facebook account.

And then, as if to show evidence of beginning life as an adult...a hair makeover.

I think she's pretty pleased with turning 18.

I'm pretty pleased to be her Momma.  I'd say I got what I wanted too....a healthy, happy, beautiful 18-year-old, birthday girl.

What day is it?

Yesterday felt like a Saturday, today feels like Wednesday.  I'm not even sure anymore.

I've heard it said that there is no beginning and no end to eternity.

Yesterday I felt that, as time stood still for 60 minutes and we glimpsed eternity.

We "hie'd to Kolob" in a twinkling of an eye.

I had the blessed experience of feeling the impression that I had sons, who were being prepared for me.  I know the right men/boys are out there for my daughters and one day I will consider the 3 of them my sons.  And I felt comfort, knowing that I will love these men as my own children.  I will have sons.

My darling sister married the perfect man for her.

And then this morning....as surreal as typing that sounds to me as I sit in my office in Dixie, I hiked the "Y" in Provo.

It's hard to believe that I've never been up there....in my 20+ years of to and fro-ing in Provo.

By about the 3rd switchback, I was beginning to wonder why I wanted to reach the top.

I'm happy to say that no 100 lb, Victoria Beckam-ish, coeds or Zoobies passed me by.  And this old original Cougar...managed to not only conquer the mountain but a few of those college young'ens too.  It was chilly....55 degrees and not even the scrub oak has begun to bloom.  And now I sit in my air-conditioned house while 93 degrees rages on outside.

The view from the top is always worth the climb.

And it doesn't really matter what day it is anyway....right?

The Shoe

I think I have found THE shoe.  Love my Toms...now I'll love them even more...when I can get these babies in every color!!

What do you bet Chloe will wear these when she gets married....some day.

I'll Always Remember...Her Senior Year

I know we did the right thing...moving here for her Senior Year.

Best graduation I've ever witnessed, by far.

I'm exhausted as my graduate walked in the door from her Grad Party at 6:00 am this morning.  But I'm so grateful, so proud, and relieved.

I will have to splurge for the picture package.

And now its time to load up the car and head north for a wedding.

Basking...and always remembering....

Anasazi Re-visited

We spent some time re-visiting the windy, basalt playground of the Anasazi yesterday with the Grandparents of the Graduate.

Graduate will be graduating this evening.

I can see your halo

Lola got a halo today...it's a rapturous blue one...

Because she won't stop licking her recently surgically repaired foot, we had to make her a cone head.

In other news, the house is good to go for the Grad and her guests....

Seminary graduation tomorrow
Hike on Monday/school
Last day of school/graduation rehearsal on Tuesday
Graduation Tuesday night
Drive to SLC on Wednesday/Wedding rehearsal dinner Wednesday night
Wedding/be in the Bountiful Temple at 8:15 am Thursday
Wedding luncheon Thursday afternoon
Wedding reception Thursday evening
Return home to Dixie for the Graduate's 18th birthday on Sunday, with a surprise up my sleeve.
Leave the following Wednesday thru Saturday for Pioneer Trek

And find some time to breathe and enjoy the moments along the way.

I think I'll start with removing the chipped blue fingernail polish from my nails.

No halo for me.

The Miracle for me today

I received a link to this movie trailer today in my inbox.

A movie about pioneer handcart companies.


The timing couldn't be more perfect. Literally.  This movie will be released during our own Trek.

I can do hard things.

Remnants of Spring

"How fiercely, devoutly wild is Nature in the midst of her beauty-loving tenderness! --painting lilies, watering them, caressing them with gentle hand, going from flower to flower like a gardener while building rock mountains and cloud mountains full of lightning and rain."
John Muir, The Yosemite, Chapter 5. 1911

Today's 6.8 mile jaunt took us through the last blooms of spring.  I've been waiting for a long time to see the Yuccas flower.  It's the last hurrah of the season before the heat waves come and obliterate all living fragrant and fragile flora.  Soon we will be seeking reprieve in higher elevations and cool water creeks and setting out as the sun rises.

Me thinks I shall not miss the rain though.  That I could have done without today.

Fair weather

Boyd and I have been asked to be a Pa & Ma for a youth Trek going on the first week of June here.  There will be 355 youth and adults on this trip and we will hike...in the mountains...(where it is still snowing as I type)...pulling and pushing handcarts in pioneer vintage clothing for 20 miles.  We'll ascend 2,500 feet into the 7,000-8,000 foot elevation range. We'll sleep under the stars on tarps....in places with names like, "Cougar Springs", where real cougars drink from.  We'll all be limited to 17 lbs of personal items that must fit in a 5 gallon bucket. We'll drink from tin cans that we keep tied to our aprons or belts all day.  We'll square dance. We'll have one change of clothes for four days.  We'll eat from dutch ovens.  We will have charge over 10 youth.  We will be dispensing band aids and blister patches. We'll play weather roulette.

We've been asked to pray for the "right" weather for the right experience.

What's wrong with praying for fair weather...huh?  I really believe I can have a spiritual/physical/memorable experience with sunshine and a cool breeze.

I've been thinking a lot about prayer lately.  It seems that I have gotten a lot of prayers answered the "fair" way.  And I'm wondering if it's fair of me to ask for what I want, which maybe isn't the "right" answer for my "right" experience. Can't the "right" experience or answer be one that I want?  Isn't it alright to pray for things to run smoothly and for everyone to have an enjoyable time? I'm getting a bit confused by the whole process.

Do we pray for righteous DESIRES?  Or do we just pray for the Lord's will to be done and accept that as the final answer?  Is there a middle ground here or am I only thinking in terms of black or white or wrong or right?

Is this making any sense?

I'm starting to flounder a bit in my prayers, in other words.

I need to get right in the head over all of this.

We are to be "Latter-day Trail Blazers" with our motto of:  "I can do hard things".

I think the original Trail Blazers will tell you, they appreciated the fair weather days too.

I can do hard things....can I just ask for  a bit of fair weather to lighten the load? Isn't that "right" too?

Hi, I'm Oscar the Grouch...and I'm a fair-weather Trekker.

It'll all be fine.  I'm sure it will work out "right" in the end.