Ranch Again...

We headed to the ranch again the next weekend.

Just how the schedule works.

We are happy with whatever dates we get.

Riley's favorite place.

I don't think that kid sleeps at school.

Sam brought his new bike that he loves.

He gave it a good washing.

The boys get the toys ready

Sam and Mike have their drinks all ready...

It was a gorgeous day.

The umbrella was broken.

They fixed it!  Woo Hoo.

The boys getting prepped to head out for a ride.

Safety first... they do wear helmets!

It was a full moon.

We gathered around the old kitchen table for some cards.

Five Crowns was the game of choice today.

Sometimes they question my rules...

this time I think I had to pull the "support your wife rank".

It was all fun!

We have been playing cards at this table for years!

The next morning was a bit hazy.

Mike and I had a peaceful, beautiful walk to the gate.

Saw a Cute little Pot Gut...

The boys got in a quick early morning ride.

Crazy Boys..

Sam had some friends come up for the day.

They headed off in the Rhino's.

They found some mud..

loved the mud,

and they did clean everything up!

Love the night skies.

Another great weekend of fun and family.

Welcome to Holland!

Welcome to Holland 

by Emily Perl Kingsley

When you are going to have a baby, it's like planning a fabulous vacation to Italy.  You buy a bunch of guide books and make all your wonderful plans: the Coliseum, Michelangelo's David, the gondolas in Venice.  You may even learn some handy phrases in Italian.  It's all very exciting.

After months of eager anticipation, the day finally arrives.  You pack your bags and off you go.  Several hours later, the plane lands.  The stewardess comes in and says, "Welcome to Holland."

"Holland ?!?"  you say.  "What do you mean Holland?  I signed up for Italy!  I'm supposed to be in Italy.  All my life I've dreamed of going to Italy"

But there has been a change in the flight plan.  They've landed in Holland and there you must stay.

The important thing is that they haven't taken you to a horrible, disgusting, filthy place, full of pestilence, famine and disease.  It's just a different place.

So you go out and buy new guide books.  And you learn a whole new language.  And you meet a whole group of people you would never have met.

It's just a different place. It's slower-paced than Italy, less flashy than Italy.  But after you've been there awhile and you catch your breath, you look around and begin to notice Holland has windmills- and Holland has tulips.  Holland even has Rembrandts.

But everyone one you know is busy coming and going from Italy...and they are all bragging about what a wonderful time they had there.  And for the rest of your life, you will say, "Yes, that's where I was supposed to go.  That's what I had planned."

And the pain of that will never, ever go away, because the loss of that dream is a very significant loss.

But if you spend your life mourning the fact that you didn't get to Italy, you may never be free to enjoy the very special, and very lovely things about Holland.

Last weekend at the ranch we were chatting about my health.  

I was talking about my "new normal", that I have finally realized I will never have the energy or ability to do everything I once could.  

My niece said "Welcome to Holland".  

She told me about the poem and I had to come home and google it. 

I loved it.  

It is like so many things in life -

that are not like we planned or thought it would be.

Just a reminder that Plan B or C can be okay.

There are many ways to do things.

Life is still good in fact it is better than good!

4th of July Weekend

We headed to the ranch for the 4th of July Weekend.

We fly the flag and are grateful for our Freedom!

We truly are blessed.

Then we play...

The boys loaded up the bikes and went to ride up some mountain.

I enjoyed a quiet morning on the deck and read.

I took a nap and then I read some more.

I had a great view.  

There is a tiny bird nest in the rafters of the deck.

I listened to the baby birds squawk and watched the mother bird bring them food.

I thought of Mothers and how we care for and nurture our children.

All my babies are now adult, but I still  mother them.

I am grateful to be their mother.

My children are my life and I sure love them.

The boys had to shoot, they set up their targets.

We love toys!

Riley went back to Provo that night.

 He came back with a load of friends.

They went to explore Wildcat in the Rhino's

 That was exhausting.

They went to "watch some World Cup"

They had a nice nap.

 Then we had to get the guns out again...

Checking to see if they were good shots..

Good fun group of friends

The love of my life! 

Always fun to be with family!

 Getting ready for another rhino ride...

 It was a bit dusty.

At the ranch we always seem to be feeding the masses.

We haul a lot of food and drinks out.

But a fabulous place for us to be together.

To be with Friends and family.

We are grateful to Moroni Alma for homesteading the land.

FamilySearch indexing: Worldwide Indexing Event

50,000 indexers and arbitrators. 24 hours. One history-making event. All that is needed is YOU!

On July 2, 2012, a total of 49,025 FamilySearch indexers and arbitrators joined together to set the all-time record for the most indexing participants in a single day. That lofty record is about to be broken-by you! 

Join volunteers from around the world on July 20 and 21 for an international history-making event! The goal? For 50,000 indexers and arbitrators to submit at least one batch in a 24-hour period! Do more if you would like, but one batch is all that is required to be counted in the record!  

This remarkable goal will require help from every current indexer and arbitrator, plus many new volunteers,* but it can be achieved if generous volunteers like you commit to participate. So mark your calendar, and spread the word! Invite friends and family to join you. Organize an indexing party; create a fun family challenge or ward service project. Everyone is needed. Everyone can make a difference! 

Need more motivation? No matter where you live or what language you speak, you can lift where you stand and add to this historic worldwide achievement. You may choose to work on any project you prefer. However, we suggest that you work on the following projects in your native language:

• US-Obituaries, 1980-2014
• US-Passport Applications, 1795-1925
• US, New Orleans-Passenger Lists, 1820-1902
• UK, Manchester-Parish Registers, 1787-1999

The record-setting begins at which is 6:00 p.m. mountain daylight time (MDT or Utah time) on Sunday, July 20. It ends 24 hours later 5:59 p.m. MDT on Monday, July 21. Check the FamilySearch Facebook event page for your local start time and status updates. 

Through the selfless efforts of worldwide volunteers like you, millions of people have found their ancestors and received temple ordinances on their behalf. At the end of this exciting 24-hour event, millions more records will be available and ancestors will be found! 

One batch is all it takes. Don’t miss your chance on July 20 and 21 to be part of this history-making event! Plan now to get involved and add your name to the record-setting legacy! 

Thank you for helping to hasten the work of salvation!

*New indexers can visit https://familysearch.org/indexing/ to learn more about how to join the FamilySearch indexing effort. 

I will be doing a batch on Sunday July 20th.

In fact we are having a "DI" party at our house.

"Dessert and Indexing"

Join the fun where ever you are!

Index a batch in the 24 hour period.

Make a difference to Hasten the Work of Salvation!