GRATITUDE

So much has happened since the last post! We were busy enjoying idyllic Spring days and reveling in daffodils. After 2 Life Flights, we still appreciate the daffodils but we also appreciate health.

Our son was riding, sitting down, on the front of a long board. It collided with a pickup and he bore the brunt of the impact. Everything that happened to him has had the best possible outcome. Skull fracture? Healing itself. Bleeding from the ear? Fractured eardrum which is healing itself. Needs a skin graft? Outstanding plastic surgeons ready, willing, and able. His prognosis is for a complete recovery with no losses anywhere. He will receive a ticket for failing to wear a helmet. That is as it should be.

We are extremely grateful for all the prayers in behalf of our family. We feel much-loved and that is very comforting.

Fakeout

We did have a couple of days of Spring but, alas, it was all a trick. Since last posting, we've had: snow, (waking up to 3 inches), wind, cold, rain... Where are those balmy Spring days that I love? The poor daffodils were faked out that it was time to awaken and many of their stems have broken from the weight of the snow.

A lot is bandied about on the topic of global warming. Perhaps we should refer to it as "Climate change" because it sure ain't warmer here!

Spring Has, Indeed, Sprung!

We had our first daffodil yesterday. At 4,100 feet in elevation, we're a little behind many places. We had a contest going to see who would spy the first one and the winner was (Tah-Dah) Rachell. They seem to be very late this year but the snow is almost completely gone. This is good. We had a big bonfire after cleanup yesterday. We roasted hot dogs while the fire was hot, giving us Char-dogs. Still tasty. I have some blackberry plants to put in this next week - hope springs eternal that I will one day reap a harvest.

This is my favorite time of year. All the plants yawn, stretch, and reach for the sun. They put on such a glorious show that it's very easy to be joyful. Hooray for Spring!

Sunrise

Getting up in the middle of the night (before 6 a.m.) has its advantages. OK, it has ONE advantage: I have seen some spectacular sunrises. My early rising, coupled with the fact that I live in the mountains on the west side of the valley, have given me some panoramas. This morning, and for the last several, the sun has looked like molten gold as it spills over the hills in the east. First comes a pinkish glow. After that, it starts turning reddish-gold. Just before it pops out over the tops of its barriers, the rich red comes. It can be blinding. I suppose if that were the last thing I saw in this life I'd count it a full life. That, and grandbaby smiles.

Spring Break Travel

We had such fun visiting far-away family during Spring Break. Coming home is never fun, but it is a necessity.

We had planned to go to church and leave directly from church. Ah, the "best-laid plans..." A couple of hours before church, it began to snow, heavily. It's almost April for pity's sake! We decided to forego church (truly a tough decision) and head out. This would add 4 hours to our traveling window. We spent 2 hours getting from SLC to Tremonton at 40 miles per hour with the 4-wheel drive one. I thought about putting the posi-track on, but that might have been overkill. At Tremonton we spotted blue in the sky and headed for it. Cool. Alas, Wind can be blue. We had wind, heavy wind, from Snowvilled to Boise. Filling up at Burley was nasty as we had to get out of the car. We averaged 15 mpg for that leg of the trip.

After we arrived in Boise and visited family we headed out again. Arriving in our valley we saw a calm and beautiful evening with the sun shining brightly. Oregon rocks!

Changing the clock

For starters, we have "early" church, at 9:00 a.m. This is always difficult during the Spring time change, more so with children. But, we usually manage. I dutifully set my alarm an hour ahead last night, which was 5:45 a.m., the time I usually get up on weekdays. When it went off, I groaned and moaned but finally got up. I went into the bathroom and next to my bleary-eyed face was a clock saying that it was shortly after 5:00 a.m. I had forgotten that my clock can "think" and resets itself automatically. Dare I admit it, but I think I got up at 4:45 a.m. for church?

The children are VERY lucky I figured it out before I woke them.

Sharing

Each of us shares the space where we live. I'm told that cats who aren't yours are not a blessing. This is true. I love my cats and will put up with a lot from them as we share space.

Interestingly, David does not share my sentiments. The cats will sleep on my bed when he is not there but won't come near it when he is. I think that is due, in large measure, to the fact that he will launch them from the bed. They don't like that.

Right now I have a cat in front of my monitor and I have to peer around her as I post. I could move her, but we share. On her terms.