Today we went into Yellowstone Park...for probably what will turn out to be, our last, if not nearly our last visit, before the park closes and we head back to Salt Lake. It was a cold...almost numbing cold and dreary and it was wonderful. There were hardly any people at all. Who could blame them...and the one's who were there were mostly fishing, and mostly Montana license plates....so pretty much the locals.

Sometimes....most of the time....Steve and I get going so fast that we forget to take time to enjoy our surroundings and each other. We forget, in our day to day projects, why we love this area so much...and we forget to stop for a moment, take deep breaths, and look around at the wonders that surround us. Today we took the time. We laughed at silly jokes and each other. We held hands and remembered why we're together and why we love each other.

I thought that being retired, we would have so much time for all the things we normally don't have time to do. We both need to remember that projects can always wait. The carpet doesn't necessarily need to be vacummed today....the boats can wait one more day to be put away for the winter. A tv show can be seen when it's a rerun. Tomorrow, we can cover up the mattresses for the winter and pack away the blankets and the sheets. Today, we can and should, sit in front of a cozy, crackling fire....while it rains and snows outside...we should talk about our kids, our grandkids and each other. We have been given the gift of another day, with each other, in this beautiful area that we love so much. We need to stop and remember how grateful we are for being able to have this beautiful experience.

Family, Friends and This and That

Today we found out that Lisa and Jenny have swine flu....and in a call from Erin, in California, it appears that Spence is pretty sick, too. I guess it's the time. So far, things seem mild and hopefully they will stay that way.

I've recently had the opportunity to reconnect with some old friends through Face Book. It's been enlightening and wonderful. At first, I was just curious about how the person is doing (I haven't seen them in years, usually)...so there's lots of catching up. After awhile, I ran out of things to say...how many times can I ask what the weather is like where they live. How many times can I "like" what they are cooking for dinner. This is the friendship without the commitment.....and then.....once or twice something miraculous happens. For some mysterious reason...there is a connection....a real, honest to God, beautiful connection. It's like throwing away all the wrapping paper at Christmas...and finding in among the disgarded paper and ribbons, the gift that I had waited my entire life for. This connection is with a woman friend...and I also think that's what makes it so incredibly special. Especially reconnecting with someone who has known me since I can remember. We both have a class picture of ourselves in Brownie uniforms. We went through loosing teeth together. We were both the same age when puberty visited....We shared a lot, even if we were not "best friends." We knew each other, we respected each other, without knowing at the time what that meant, and we went on to become different people. It is a comforting, warm blanket feeling...to have someone in my life who "knows" me. Someone who had grown up with me...whether we were a near and dear friends or not...this person KNEW me. Not like my parents or sister...but different. My husband didn't know me when I was a little girl....he didn't see me in high school with all of the insecurities that teenagers haul around...he found the girl who came afterward. This friend, when we had reconnected, has looked beyond the insecurities, the labels we put on each other and ourselves when we're in high school...and we have each discovered and are in the process of celebrating the women whom we became. Talking to each other and each saying the words, "I wish I had known you, really known you back then" makes us smile with a little sadness at the years that were wasted not being able to embrace each other whether face to face or from afar. The cheerleader and the shy girl...who would have known. Spiritually...we "think" alike, even if we haven't verbalized those thoughts in so many words. But reconnecting with this most special woman, makes me know with all my heart, that I knew her when I was a little girl....and more importantly, with all my heart...I believe our spirits knew each other...and were friends...long before we came to earth. She has been the most special gift I've had in a long, long time.

Flu, Friends and Whatever

A Sunday at the cabin

I love Sunday's. It's always a laid back day where we attend church and then come home and don't feel guilty about taking naps. It was nice at church today...most of the crowds are gone, so it's pretty quiet. In gospel doctrine, Bishop Burke taught, and we talked about the Proclamation. It was very good. I know Eri has done what she's supposed to, and yet is still going through a divorce. So hard...and so hard to be away from her where we can offer more support. She seems to have a great Bishop and has gone in to talk to him. I am so grateful for that.

Today was Stephen's birthday. Seems like just yesterday that he was born. The night before (the 17th) we were having halibut for dinner, and suddenly my water broke. It was my first baby, so I didn't know what to expect. Went to the hospital, which was just about a block away. Dr Johnson examined me and said that I could sleep at home through the night if I wanted...I wanted. I actually did sleep and went back to the hospital about 9 in the morning. I was starting to have pretty good contractions. I was in the labor room (back then, no one could be in there with you) and being a small hospital, there were only two beds. Those filled quickly and I was moved to a room outside labor and delivery and down the hall. I continued to go through labor...just felt like cramps to me..and heard these women screaming. It scared me...and I wondered when I would reach that point. The doctor came in to examine me one more time and said that I had hours to go...so to be patient. All of a sudden,about 20 minutes after he left, the pain increased terribly (I still had been given nothing because I didn't need it) and I had this great desire to push...even being a first time mother, I knew that I was about to have a baby. Dale wasn't there...he had gone somewhere...so I yelled as loud as I could that my baby was coming. There was a cleaning lady out in the hall...I remember her dropping her mop and running into the room and grabbing the bed and pushing me back down the hall and into the labor room and through the doors to the delivery room. Another lady was just delivering her baby. Her baby was born, and Dr Johnson reached over and delivered Stephen. It was that quick. He told me later that I should be a brood mare (was that a compliment??) because I was built to have babies. Stephen had turned, anb boom..he was born. I guess I did natural childbirth because it happened so quickly. It was an exciting time. I remember afterwards, and the feelings were incredible...something I had never experienced before. And this beautiful little boy...that God and I had brought into the world. I will treasure that memory forever.

Random thoughts

I heard from a dear friend today and she told me about the craziness that's going on in her life. It really got me thinking. First of all, I believe that she is incredibly strong...and I think Heavenly Father knows that because He wouldn't give her more than she could handle. I would hope that I would react...or maybe the word is "act" in such a manner if I found myself in a similar situation. I guess the old saying is true, about everyone putting their problems out there and then being allowed to choose which ones we want....we would always take our own back. I think sometimes we look at others and think that they are living the perfect life....and there is no such thing. Sometimes our problems are visable to others and sometimes they are not.

On a totally unrelated subject. Steve and I went to a Preparedness presentation the other day that was for the community of West Yellowstone. It had nothing to do with the LDS church but had speakers from all different aspects and venues. The fire chief, the red cross, a preparedness expert, etc. It was very informative and inspired me, once again, to at least have the basics. I did find out that West Yellowstone would not be a bad place to be if a disaster stuck (even an earthquake) because water is readily available, along with wood for fires, game for food, etc. I have always had in the back of my mind that our home could be a place of refuge for our family.

No one spoke of preparedness with any religious undertones....until the end and I thought this was VERY interesting. A lot of these people had worked in major disasters and a common thread to get people through the situation was a belief in something....it didn't matter what....just that you had a belief and faith. The other thing they each spoke about was, when it came right down to it, the main thing was to listen to the little voice, the spirit...or whatever you want to call it. One even called it gut instinct...each said....listen to that voice...it will never lead you wrong. You may be told to go to a certain area, or some other thing...but that voice will get you through.

The other important thing is to have a plan! The scariest part of something happening is that you'll be separated from your family...have a plan of where to meet, whom to call. They each said that your kids will roll their eyes when you talk to them about this...but they will remember what you said if something happens. I need to remind each of my kids...about having a plan! And Erin's phone numbers in their cell phones...and for her and the kids to have each of our numbers in their phones.

I was also alarmed when each said that they never bring politics or religion into these presentations...but that we need to know that the news we are getting is being very filtered and that our country is falling apart around us. The government WILL NOT be there to rescue you...nor will the Red Cross. The Red Cross said that they go where they can save the most lives..in one area....that's not going to be in a small town or in your city if downtown LA is hit by something. They said that the reason they are bringing this up is not to alarm people, but to let them know that we are spiraling out of control and we need to be ready.

They are also very concerned about the h1n1 flu...and said that we're not getting all the information on that. Behind the scenes, the talk is that we could be quarantined in our homes for a minimum of 3 weeks. That means no going to the grocery stores, work, school....anywhere. We need to stock up on water..that's the main thing. Use the empty liter bottles and tie a rope between two of them. Even the youngest child can put that around their neck and carry it. Have at the minimum, some extra peanut butter and crackers around. Things you can eat without having to cook. It's expensive...but buying one extra thing and putting it in the cupboard could actually keep you and your family from starving.

I know that we've heard about this for as long as I can remember....but everything going on has a "different feel" to it now. I think it boils down to knowing that you cannot depend on anyone to help you...you will be on your own....but you will have the spirit to guide you. It frightens me...not so much for me....but for my children and grandchildren. I guess we prepare for the worst and hope for the best.

Learning the new way of journaling

My sweet granddaughter, Kaity, is an avid and passionate joural keeper. She puts everything into them...tickets, menus, all kinds of mementos. Someday in the great beyond...I hope she will let me glimpse into her journaling world. I have envied her carrying this out so easily and wished, desperately, that I could do the same. I've even gotten some cute journals over the years...and written a page here and there, but typing is so much easier. Then my darling hair stylist, Jennifer, put me onto this. She even, kindly, permitted me to view and read what she's written. She and Kaity have inspired me. Of course, my life isn't one exciting thing after another...but Jennifer told me an interesting thing the other day. She said, isn't it better for your family to see and read what you're thinking now....because maybe somehow it will help a little...and it will surely give insight into my heart. So, I'm up for it...typos and all. I'm not sure what I'm doing, but maybe as I go along I will learn (who says you can't teach an old dog, new tricks)