Friday, October 31, 2008

Tree Happy

Winter 2008 showed us its stuff. Now Autumn 2008 is doing the same. This month, I've felt that we're living in a painting. No rain, nor wind to speak of, (which is not the norm for October,) with the result of leaves staying on the trees, basking in the sunshine. Their changing beauty inspires us to smile, live, breathe, be thankful to the One who made them.





I think that I shall never see
A poem lovely as a tree.
A tree whose hungry mouth is prest
Against the earth's sweet flowing breast;
A tree that looks at God all day,
And lifts her leafy arms to pray;
A tree that may in summer wear
A nest of robins in her hair;
Upon whose bosom snow has lain;
Who intimately lives with rain.
Poems are made by fools like me,
But only God can make a tree.
Joyce Kilmer






Happy Reformation Day!

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

The 2nd Eleven Days of October

As you might have imagined after looking at all the pictures, we were a bit "done in" after our trip. But, oh, so thankful! When we were walking off the plane of our last flight home, Erin remarked, "This feels like the first vacation we've had since our England trip." And indeed it had.

At the doctor's visit, Brady was examined first. He walked back into the waiting room with a grin on his face. For the first time ever, he had held his adjustment from the last visit. Erin was called next. In a few minutes, she slipped out of the examination room, while I walked towards it, having just been called. I had to turn and look at her after she passed to verify that she was going back to the waiting room, not the quiet room (where you go for 20 minutes after getting adjusted, so that you don't immediately go out shopping, for instance, and have an accident bumping into someone who is reaching for the same pair of shoes on the sales rack). Erin was "in" as well. (Even after falling head and arm first onto cement this summer.) So it looked like I might be the one to spoil the party. I couldn't believe it when the doctor told me I was fine. All the office staff were so happy for us.

Usually, if we've been treated, we return to the doctor for two or three check-ups. And we have to "lie low" the first day or two and not do too much. But none of that this time. Since we had planned a day in Los Angeles and a special stop in Salt Lake City, we didn't change our airplane tickets. Brent's family (aunt, cousin and her husband,) helped us with a little cooking and grocery shopping so we could have some fun. It humbles me to think of the kindness they, Brent, my parents, and all of our Salt Lake family members showed in their labor for us, so we could use what energy we had to enjoy ourselves. Many thanks to those who prayed for our trip, too.

We had "paybacks" when we came home. But I've seen worse. Besides feeling really sick and tired, the freezer and refrigerator were empty (our food came with us on the trip.) But we're always glad to be back in our own beds and to eventually get back to the rest routine that we need during the day.

We're very thankful for the times of fun and fellowship with loved ones that we've been given this year. We need those times. They feed and encourage us.

So who wants to visit at Thanksgiving or Christmas? We'll be here!

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Monday, October 27, 2008

First 11 days of October

1 visit to the doctor in Tustin, CA. Just ONE. For the first time ever, none of us needed a treatment!
2 excursions to the beach in Carlsbad, CA. The kids and Brent tried boogie boarding on our second visit.
3 hours aboard the USS Midway (aircraft carrier) at the harbor in San Diego. Amazing!
4 author (two of them illustrators, as well) readings/visits in Irvine, CA, at my sister's house(!) in South Jordan, UT, and Bountiful, UT. Erin's favorite author showed up at my sister's house one morning *squee*; a surprise arranged by an on-line friends of E's when she realized that my sister and Shannon Hale, are practically neighbors.
5 table treats for Miss Lexington (aka Lexie, a pug dog,) at Aunt Dorothy's house. I know, I never do that, but I had just had to give in because she looked up at me with such sad eyes.
6 hours spent in the Denver airport. Four going, two back. We have our special table, near the bookstore, where we're able to unpack and eat our "gourmet" lunch during the layover. I think the girls at the cookie shop close to our table have started to recognize us and, of course, we've befriended the bookseller girl - the one that has read almost every book in the shop.
7 movie billboards spotted in Hollywood, CA. One was several stories tall.
8 instruments (at least) we tried playing at the Museum of Making Music in Carlsbad.
9 holes of golf for Brady, Brent, and Ken in South Jordan, UT.
10 of "our gang" enjoyed watching Pixar's "Wall-E" together at a dollar theater in Sandy, UT.
11 days without baking! My baked goods held out for the whole trip, thanks to my mom's preparations before the trip, along with pancakes waiting for me in Salt Lake that she had prepared during their visit there the week before, plus a nice big batch of cookies that Brent surprised us with when joining us on the fifth day.

Good times in Salt Lake City


















































































































Thursday, October 16, 2008

Fall Appreciation

We're home from our California/Utah trip. We had a wonderful time. Tomorrow, (or soon after,) I'll give you the scoop, along with some pictures. This week, we've been resting and recuperating while watching the leaves out our windows put on a show. We planted these maple and oak trees, in our backyard, last year after they'd already lost their leaves, so their fall colors were yet a mystery. I couldn't resist catching the sun setting on them tonight. (Click on pic for a nice, large image.)

Today, for several minutes, we had several kinds of birds in our backyard all at once. A couple of Magpies (they're always hanging out,) a young Starling, a couple of young Robins, a few Northern Flickers, several Chickadees, and another woodpecker that may have been a Nuttall Woodpecker -black and white with spotted "underpants" and a little red on the back of his head. He was gorgeous. The Chickadees and Northern Flickers only visit rarely, but we've never been visited by a Nuttell. I wish he could have stayed longer, but he flew away first and then the whole bunch of them disappeared a couple of minutes later. Not one bird stuck around (even the Magpies!)

I love the fact that nature, before the death of winter, is full of surprises and extra glow. It's exactly how I want to be before I die and travel to a new place.