A Weeks Worth

Well, hello! I kind of fell off the blog wagon for over a week. I was doing so good, keeping things updated. Anyhow, I am back. I love blogging, but it does take time, and sometimes I have to pick and choose how I use my time. The thing is, I actually feel better when I blog and keep a record of life, so there is something to this writing things down that makes life sweeter. 

So, this will be random... 

This is a piece of meat. Tyson brought it to us in honor of Charles, on Father's day. Charles was a fan of meat on special occasions. He was particularly fond of steak. I do not often eat real heavy-duty meat; I use ground turkey meat, chicken, and other lighter options most of the time. I tried some and oh man, I had forgotten how good meat can taste. Well done, Tyson. Well done. Or should I say rare? 

 Daniel wanted to make a treat. And just to clarify, his Patronus is a Trumpet, not a Trump.

I was out running, and I came across this rock. I noticed the rock was moving. I leaned down and I  saw that it was no rock, but an egg that had fallen from the nest. It was cracked and opening.

It was so, so, tiny. There was no sign of the nest. I picked it up and the little bird hatched in my hand. It was amazing and sad, because it was clearly too small to survive.

 Poor thing. I had to keep on running, and so I just put it down in the bushes.

 I have been on some beautiful runs. (Slow jogging.) I am so grateful to be able to get out and breathe and move freely again. I mean, I am SO GRATEFUL!!!!! 

 The path is lined with beautiful cottonwood. (Gross.) When Zoie licked it, I wanted to yack.

 The river is trying to return to normal.

 I am so blessed to live by such lovely places to run.

 I have to take breaks for Zoie's sake sometimes. I try to take her out in the morning, because she cannot be in the heat, it is not safe. She is so much more calm and good when she is well-exercised. That is true for everyone in this house.

 I helped Daniel prepare for Scout camp. We went all over town to get the items he needed. He is working up at camp this year, so he will be there for 6 weeks. I do not like the fact that my children are growing so fast, and leaving my nest a little too early for my comfort.

While Dan and I were out, we stopped at Michaels, and discovered an entire row devoted to cupcake decorating. This is something we were excited to find! You will see why in the very near future.

 We stopped at Cabela's to pick up a cot and some hiking shoes, and so Daniel could look at the fish.

 We had not been there in a long time. Charles used to love that store.

 I keep adding more layers to our tree... we found some fun lanterns.

 If you have been coughing and crusty, this might have something to do with it...

 I take the kids out with me to run...

 I love to see them sweat and work hard.

 Wee!

 These kiddos... I love them.

 They were sweating buckets. (We bring loads of water, don't worry.)

 Sammi has still got it.

Sammi was just a little excited for a certain BIG event... 

 A beautiful night sky.

 Sometimes I like to sit out and watch the sky, and this guy likes to join me.

 Here we are ready to go... somewhere.

 Sammi loved the name of this song.

 Getting closer...

 Eek! We made it! I took Sammi and Daniel to watch The Phantom of the Opera. It was amazing.

 It was just so impressive.

 This girl loves the music, she was so excited she could hardly stand it.

We went with a group of friends, to make the night even more special. We almost filled the whole row.

 When this thing fell, it was super exciting.

Sammi cried through a lot of the show. She has loved this musical for most of her life. And I mean she LOVES it. It was the Phantom music that made her want to learn how to play the piano, so she taught herself using the Phantom piano book.

One of the songs in the show was particularly moving. It was the song that Christine sings, while walking through a graveyard, mourning her father's death: "Wishing you were somehow here again." During the performance, some of the lyrics were changed from what we normally hear. It is normally: Passing bells, and sculpted angels, cold and monumental. Seem for you the wrong companions, you were warm and gentle. During our show it was changed to: Three long years, I knelt in silence, held your memory near me. Three long years, of murmured sorrow, willing you to hear me. The change was subtle to most, but to us... it was like an emotional dagger! 3 years? Really? (That is how long Charles has been gone.)

I sucked in the pain as much as I could, because it would have been ugly! But Sammi -- the wiser one -- let the tears fly freely. She sang that song a lot after Charles died, and it has been an important way to release her feelings. Hearing the words changed was quite shocking, and apparently, the alternate "3 years" lyrics are not often used. I did pray ahead of time, that the song would be special for us, but whoa... I was not ready for that!

For an idea of why the song was so touching click to listen: (Though it is not the "3 years" version that we heard.) HERE 

 Lots of tears, she was still crying after the show. She was just overwhelmed by the whole experience.

 After the show gathering.

 Sammi found another friend of hers, she was so excited to see her!

  A lady gathered the kids...

 For a picture...

This is the picture. 

 
It was an exciting time!

 The Harlins brought over Dutch oven food, and we enjoyed talking late into the night, by the light of the tiki lamps.

 It was kind of a send-off for the boys before Scout camp.

 Yummy!

 The next morning, Daniel was off!

He said goodbye to all of us. It was hard to have him go, but we know he will have so much fun, and learn so much. He really wanted to go, and the choice was totally up to him. I was good with the plan of him never growing up, ever. Looks like my plan has been thwarted.

 Saying goodbye... not a favorite thing to do.

 We all gathered to send off the boys.

 Sammi is going to have the hardest time, they are best friends.

 She loves him so much.

We miss him, but it's all good. At least that is what I keep repeating to myself. You know what gives me peace and comfort? Praying for him. And praying for us, without him.

 I keep pushing my running times to earlier morning, before the heat starts.

This puppy... she can be a real handful when jogging. Sometimes she will see a bird, or a fast car, and veer off in front of my feet. I have almost died a few times. She does well, for the most part, but a lot of the time she makes me nutty. I especially love stopping to pick up her poop, that is the best. Patience, I am learning that virtue, for sure. I hold onto hope for her to get down the routine, as she gets older and more mature.

My dear friend, Melinda, came to visit from Arizona. Her family was heading up to a big family reunion, and they stopped in to see us. It was so fun! We grew up together as neighbors in Arizona, until I was four, when I moved to Alaska. We got together a few times after that, because our parents are close friends, and they would visit each other, with us in tow. During those visits, we were just instant friends. I have not spent a lot of time with Melinda over our lifetimes -- because of the space between Arizona and Alaska -- but we have always been kindred spirits. We used to email each other almost daily when I was dating Charles, and she was dating her husband, Jace. There is something about their family, that connects us like family.

Melinda is an amazing woman. She has 7 children, which I think is just fantastic, and I admire so much. All of her children are just adorable and precious. We all gathered around the piano and the kiddos entertained us with their musical talents. Her family is very musical, too. When we were little, our parents would make us perform for each other, and now we "encouraged" our children to do the same.

 I wish Daniel would have been a part of the fun, he would have LOVED it.

 Such cuties!

Sammi and I had a good conversation about how adorable their oldest son, Trae, is. He is a very handsome 16 year old boy, who sings and plays the piano, and he is super fun and nice... ummm, yeah, Sammi was impressed! (To say the least!) She even suggested we should move to Arizona. ;) And if Daniel were here, I know right where he would be standing in this picture. (Not next to Sammi.)

 So much fun!

Love this girl!

Melinda's husband is such a cool guy, his easy-going nature reminded me a lot of Charles. I remember Charles really enjoyed talking with him, last time they visited.

There is never enough time. They had to leave, but we were all still mid-conversation, just getting started really.

 A storm blew in and out within 10 minutes.

 We went to chase the storm, but it disappeared. This song came on the 40's Junction station, and we were cracking up. It was a new one for me, and good for some giggles. You know who the Andrews sisters are, right? Does "Little Toot" ring a bell? Their voices are so recognizable.