The People of the Blue-green Waters.

Havasupai certainly left it's mark. Not just on my feet, but on my heart as well. I guess that is what the Grand Canyon does.
Rock, Mayflower and I returned from our little adventure over a week ago and I have struggled to not only find the time to post on my blog, but to also come up with any descriptive superlatives that really do it justice. So, instead, I am just going to fall back on my list of "favorites".
1. Watching my daughter, nieces and nephews do SO WELL! I was amazed!
2. Not only is Havasu Creek beautiful, but the canyon is as well.
3. The pleasant realization when we got to the village that there were only 2 miles more to go and I didn't feel all that bad!
4. The incredible blue-green water.
5. Sleeping on top of my sleeping bag, under the stars.
6. Grandpa Bob playing his harmonica.
7. Did I mention the incredible blue-green water?
8. Marveling at the searing heat of about 105*.
9. Being pleasantly surprised at the composting facilities:)
10. Laughing at myself and Cowboy Bob trying to have a conversation near the roar of Mooney Falls. He without his hearing aids, and me without a voice. Hilarious!
11. Napping in the shade at Havasu Falls.
12. Tossing my Tevas to the bank of Havasu Creek after they both lost their souls (there might be some kind of metaphor here) and watching one land on shore and the other float on down the stream, imagining it forever caught in the tumbling turbulence of Mooney Falls. This was also my biggest disappointment. Wardrobe failure. It kept me from hiking below Mooney and hiking back up to the New Falls where everyone was jumping and playing. Hmmm...guess I'll just have to go back!
13. Watching the kids accomplish hard things! Yea! Like making the descent to Mooney Falls!
14. Oh, and the beautiful blue-green water!
15. Getting a lukewarm hamburger and hot dog at trail's end back on Hualapai Hilltop from native villager "April".


We "slept" at the trailhead the night before hiking in. "Slept" is really a rather broad description of laying in the back of the car (for Mayflower, it was sitting in the front seat) listening to the wind and the loud boy scouts for most of the night. We started hiking before 6 am.

Bethany, Mitchell & Parker reach the bottom of the switchbacks and take a break and take in the view.



Kassidy!



8 miles down. 2 to go!




New waterfall created by the flood of 2008



Bright blue-green water of Havasu Creek right by our campsite.


JT enjoying the soak.




Cindy, Joe, Tristano, Nicoletta, Desertbound, and Rock @ Havasu Falls (photo by Lil' T).


The Emster playing in the falls!



Mayflower @ Havasu Falls




Hanging out at camp!


This is what a vacation is all about.



Some of the crew heading to Mooney Falls.


One of our favorite things to see on a hike! Warning signs!



Breathtaking Mooney Falls!








Mayflower, Emily & Kassidy posing just below Mooney Falls.


Early morning At Havasu Falls.


The hammock @ Havasu.





Aunt Carol & Uncle Kevin taking the plunge near the new falls!


Blue-green water I tell ya...






Last night in camp. Mayflower loved sleeping in her hammock! We got up at 4 am the next morning and hiked the 10+ miles back out.

1.5 miles to go!


Back to Hualapai Hilltop in 4 hours 40 minutes! Thanks to those who offered "mule space" and lightened our loads!

15. But the absolute best part of this adventure was, of course, sharing it with my family, the new people of the blue-green waters.

Special thanks to Tristano for all the coordinating efforts!
....OK .....Now. When can I go back?

Class of 2010

Our amazing, sweet, intelligent, talented, beautiful Michex is movin' on up. She graduated May 25, 2010. We enjoyed throwing her a little BBQ celebration that evening and loved having the support and company of friends and family there.
She is planning on continuing her education at WSU in the fall and is currently "pounding the pavement" in search of gainful employment! GO MICHEX!

April 28, 1998

Yes. The day my sweet, wonderful little Mayflower was born!
8 lbs 15.5 oz.


Trial Lake 1998


October 1998













Pink Cliffs 2002


Below: Kindergarten
















Left: Coyote Gulch 2002
Below: Climbing @ the Gap 2004







Disneyland 2006
















Far Left: Lake Powell 2007
Left: Antelope Island 2008
Below: Fall 2009












And these are just some of her friends...the ones that made it to her birthday party. We had lots of fun making necklaces, playing games, having ice cream sundaes and playing DODGEBALL!!

Love you, Mayflower!

Errand of Angels/ May Kaleidescope Message

Once again it was my turn to write the ward RS message for our monthly newsletter.



As April showers indeed start turning into May flowers, I can’t help thinking about the beautiful blooms that always seem to come around Mother’s Day. Gardening in my flower beds always reminds me of my own amazing mother whom my girls call Grandma Judy! She truly is blessed with a green thumb. Houseplants eventually wither and die from neglect if they are left in my care, but under her watchful, loving touch, they bloom and flourish.
Unlike houseplants, we have a choice as to whether or not to remain under the watchful, loving care of our Gardener. We can also provide that same care to others in need, spiritually and temporally, as we become tools in the Gardener’s hands.
The errand of angels is given to women;
And this is a gift that, as sisters, we claim:
To do whatsoever is gentle and human,
To cheer and to bless in humanity’s name.
“You sisters do not know the full extent of your influence. You sisters enrich all of humanity. All human life begins with you. Each woman brings her own separate, unique strengths to the family and the Church. Being a daughter of God means that if you seek it, you can find your true identity. You will know who you are. This will make you free—not free from restraints, but free from doubts, anxieties, or peer pressure. You will not need to worry, “Do I look all right?” “Do I sound OK?” “What do people think of me?” A conviction that you are a daughter of God gives you a feeling of comfort in your self-worth. It means that you can find strength in the balm of Christ. It will help you meet the heartaches and challenges with faith and serenity.
James E. Faust, “What It Means to Be a Daughter of God,” Ensign, Nov 1999, 100
All our love and prayers are with you on this errand of angels!

Tagged by Kassidy

I was tagged by Kassidy to post a link and/or video of a song that I like.
Here it is.
A Jon Schmidt arrangement of Taylor Swift's Love Story and Coldplay's Viva La Vida.
I tag Shematite, Scout, Dreampacker, Panguitch Joe and The Rock:)

" It's spring back at the farm!"

I know, I know. It's been weeks since the play ended, I'm way behind on my blogging and that line I'm sure has been taken already. But I love it!
Gideon goes up to the hunting cabin and tries to convince Adam to come back to the farm.
But unlike Adam, I am perfectly willing to go where ever spring is! And by the looks of things lately, and the number of times the lawn has had to be mowed, it's actually here to stay:)
What an absolute joy it was to watch Shematite and the rest of the cast of 7 Brides perform each night and truly get better and better every time! I ended up only missing 2 1/2 shows and I wish I could have seen those, too. Thanks to the WONDERFUL, TALENTED directors Maud'Dib and Sayyadina who brought out the best in everyone. And a truly deep down thank you to all of those who made time in your schedule to come support and cheer on Shematite. Some of you came from very far away and it is greatly appreciated. I love you all.
And now what is Shematite up to? Summer semester @ WSU! Yea!

Time for a change.

I have a confession to make.
I loooove Daylight Savings Time!
Yes. I love "losing" an hour! I will gladly give up that hour over and over again in order to have more daylight in the evenings.
I remember as a kid, growing up in Morgan, on summer evenings running from one end of the backyard to the other just as the sun was setting, feeling the warmth on my face, smelling the fresh cut grass and feeling sheer JOY. We would play No Bears Are Out Tonight and have hoppity horse races. All this after 9:00 pm! Sigh...
Next confession.
I love the smell of sunshine. You know what I mean. When the kids come in from playing outside on the first warm day of Spring, you give them a big hug, take a deep breath in, and....Heaven!
So for me - DST must come in order for the smelling of a little bit of Heaven.
It's been a long cold winter. I'm looking forward to puttering around in my yard, playing in the dirt and planting flowers after working at a computer for 10 hours a day. And with the time change, it will actually be light enough after dinner to do just that! Oh! And go for a trail run, too!

But, enough of that. Here's what's going on around here.
Rock - School, Driver's Ed, Master's class, gave up daily Dr. Peppers in exchange for green tea.
Shematite - Has gotten proposed to 9 times, married 18 times and has not even been courted! Go see the play! She's amazing!
Scout - Dixie State college RA, show choir is going to CHINA in May and she will be a summer camp counselor at KAMP KOHUT in Maine starting June 8th as a rock climbing instructor and art instructor.
Michex - performed in AIDA @ WHS - simply AMAZING! Recruiting and practicing for the Youth Spectacular in July, looking forward to Graduation May 25th.
Mayflower - Youth Council at school. Planning her 12th Birthday party, tumbling, voice lessons, piano lessons and READING like crazy.

Here are some photos of Michex going to the Sweetheart's Dance in February, which was girl's choice, and the Junior Prom last night. Fun stuff.