It's SAD when Christmas is over...

I love the days between Christmas and New Years Eve - mostly because all of my family is around me and we can really relax and enjoy one another. Christmas was wonderful again this year. My sweet husband never ceases to amaze me with the thoughtful gifts he gives me. And my children are so generous and thoughtful, too. How lucky and blessed I am to have such a great family.

We're looking forward to a better and happier 2010. This past year has been very hard for us in several ways and now we're looking for the silver lining in the dark clouds. So grateful for the gospel and the Savior's atoning sacrifice in our lives.

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Not done with our shopping yet, not done with all the gingerbread boys yet, not done with all the decorating yet, but loving every minute of it! Can't wait for Jenny, Shawn and the kids to come.

Balloon Regatta!

We had such a great time at the Balloon Regatta in Page this weekend. We watched the balloons launch and fly each morning and on Saturday night they were all lined up on Lake Powell Blvd. Thanks, Wilsons, for a really fun weekend!

The Princess is Sleeping

A big snow storm is coming in today, so I got to work early before it hit and parked in the underground parking. Good thinking, huh?!

Today Greg Mortensen is coming to BYU for our Forum. He wrote "Three Cups of Tea" - should be a very good turnout in the Marriott Center.

The Story of My Life

2006-11-17

Click here to view these pictures larger

Saturday Afternoon Trail Ride

We had such a good time on our trail ride with the Deweys this afternoon. The weather was cool and perfect for horse back riding. We rode for about 2 hours up South Fork in Provo Canyon - the leaves were gorgeous. We saw an elk on the mountain and I got to pet a tame deer. What a great afternoon - thanks, Steve & Emily!

Fall is Here!

There's supposed to be a big change in the weather. 85 degrees today, strong winds this afternoon, and a temperature drop to the 40's tomorrow. I'm looking forward to the cooler weather, but I'M NOT READY FOR SNOW YET.

Elder Enzio Busche

Pat & Kat's Wedding

We are so thrilled that Pat married Kat Mays on Saturday September 5th. Our yard looked great and the reception was so much fun! We had a cotton candy machine and a photo booth, and, except for hurricane-force winds and downpour for the first 15 minutes of the reception, everything went exceptionally well. Chelsea and Jenny made the chocolate wedding cake.

We are so happy to have Kat and Tayla in our family now - they are darling and wonderful and they fit right in!

Scofield Cabin

Just got home from a fun weekend at Chelsea & Skyler's cabin at Scofield Reservoir.
Saturday was bright and sunny, but a little breezy. We took the boat out and Den did some fancy skiing.

No one else was brave enough to face the water which was 19 degrees colder than our August trip to Lake Powell. Two month old Baby Ty was happy as long as the engine was running and he was all bundled up in his hoodie and blankets.











Wesley really liked being on the boat, but we couldn't coax
him into the water. I don't blame him!














Early this morning everyone except Jessie, Kadence and I went fishing - they just about froze to death, but Skyler caught a fish. So the outing was a great success!!




Later we took a hike along the Lower Fish Creek and saw some beautiful scenery - Wes and Kadence saw a deer and a fox running across the trail. Thanks, Chelsea & Skyler, for a wonderful weekend!

I Love VT

I visit the most wonderful sisters: Anna Poulsen and Dolly Scharf. My fabulous partner is Rachel Beckstrand, who is darling. My own Visiting Teachers NEVER MISS A VISIT and I love them to death: Bunnie German and Susan Self. They give me the lesson and then we spend the rest of the time talking about guns and preparedness!!

As in the Days of Noah

Fabulous Lake Powell vacation

Just got home from another wonderful week at Lake Powell. Wesley tore up the water on his kneeboard.


Just about everyone climbed through the "crack".

Three week old Baby Ty loved being on our new 22' open bow Cobalt as long as the motor was

running and the wind blew on him. He did pretty well for his first time at Lake Powell on the Leisure Princess.

Dennis, Jake and Megan climbed up and down the Moki Steps.



Our party consisted of
Dennis & Joyce
Chelsea & Ty
Justin, Jessie, Wesley, Kadence
Uncle Christopher, Nick, Jake and Megan





Looking forward to another week next year. Great weather, great food, great skiing/boarding, great company. Anyone wanna come?!!

Need a good laugh today?

We Have a Baby!!

Ty Danford Evans was born this morning at 5:27 am, after a 13 hour labor. Poor Chels! He weighs 7 lbs 1 oz and is 19.5 inches long. He is, of course, beautiful! I got to hold him this morning when he was only 2 hours old.

Grateful for Pioneer Ancestry

President David O. McKay told of the experience of some of those early saints in the Martin handcart company. Many of these early converts had emigrated from Europe and were too poor to buy oxen or horses and a wagon. They were forced by their poverty to pull handcarts containing all of their belongings across the plains by their own brute strength. President McKay related an occurrence which took place some years after the heroic exodus:

“A teacher, conducting a class, said it was unwise ever to attempt, even to permit them [the Martin handcart company] to come across the plains under such conditions.”

Then President McKay quoted an observer who was present in that class: “Some sharp criticism of the Church and its leaders was being indulged in for permitting any company of converts to venture across the plains with no more supplies or protection than a handcart caravan afforded.

An old man in the corner … sat silent and listened as long as he could stand it, then he arose and said things that no person who heard him will ever forget. His face was white with emotion, yet he spoke calmly, deliberately, but with great earnestness and sincerity.

“In substance he said, ‘I ask you to stop this criticism. You are discussing a matter you know nothing about. Cold historic facts mean nothing here, for they give no proper interpretation of the questions involved. Mistake to send the Handcart Company out so late in the season? Yes. But I was in that company and my wife was in it and Sister Nellie Unthank whom you have cited was there, too. We suffered beyond anything you can imagine and many died of exposure and starvation, but did you ever hear a survivor of that company utter a word of criticism? …

“ ‘I have pulled my handcart when I was so weak and weary from illness and lack of food that I could hardly put one foot ahead of the other. I have looked ahead and seen a patch of sand or a hill slope and I have said, I can go only that far and there I must give up, for I cannot pull the load through it.’ ”

He continues: “ ‘I have gone on to that sand and when I reached it, the cart began pushing me. I have looked back many times to see who was pushing my cart, but my eyes saw no one. I knew then that the angels of God were there.“ ‘Was I sorry that I chose to come by handcart? No. Neither then nor any minute of my life since. The price we paid to become acquainted with God was a privilege to pay, and I am thankful that I was privileged to come in the Martin Handcart Company.’ ”

Makes you proud to be an American

Hoorah for Den - he did it again - winning first place in his age group in Provo's Freedom Festival's 5K. He runs less than a 7 minute mile.

And the winners are...

Wesley: 2nd place in his age group
Dennis: 1st place in his age group
Joyce: 1st place in her age group (can you BELIEVE it???)

We ran the CUCIL this morning in Provo along with Justin, Jessie, and Lori. Kadence rode in the stroller when she wasn't running - the wrong way sometimes. We all won prizes, too:

Dennis: lube job
Joyce: dinner for two at Applebee's
Lori: lube job
Justin: family pass to Boondock's
Jessie: Marie Calendar's pie
Wesley: Hogle Zoo pass for two adults and four kids
Kadence: family pass to Jumping Jacks

We made out like bandits!

Oh yes, a hot tub in my room...

I'm staying at the Landmark Inn in Park City, right up the street from the outlet mall. I do have to spend some of the time working, and the rest of the time I can play.

Den came up with me yesterday and had to leave early this morning for work. I'm waiting for him to come back up today and we'll go to dinner.

We Thank Thee, O God, for a Prophet

Den's Antelope-athlon

As some of you probably already know, my husband, Dennis, foolishly joined an animal rescue group last year and has been assigned to protect the African Antelope. This type of work is rather tiring for a man of his age, but it is most rewarding. But even so, one rescue a day is all he can handle right now. Well, last week was his first real action, and fortunately his efforts were captured on the attached video. I hope you enjoy it.

The American Revolutionary War - We Must Remember Them

New Prophet and Apostles Song

First Car Made in Detroit after the Bailout

Kirkmount

Join the group "Fans of Kirkmount" on Facebook!

Instructional Leadership in the 21st Century Conference

It's the end of the first full day of the CITES Instructional Leadership in the 21st Century Conference in the Salt Palace Convention Center. We heard Erik Weihenmayer last night as the keynote speaker. He's a blind climber that has summited the highest peak in each of the seven continents. He was funny and really inspirational. Den came to hear him and we saw Mike and Leslie Dicou there, too.

I'm tired today - preparing these national conferences is a lot of work, but very exciting to see them happen according to plan.

Lake Powell

Today we're off to Lone Rock Beach for a picnic. We spent yesterday boating with Shawn and Jenny and the kids. Wes came with us and we're all having a great time. In fact, we're staying one day longer than we had planned, so we have to get substitutes for Den's lesson and my music leading in Relief Society tomorrow.

Kirkmount - My Favorite Celtic Group!

Video Courtesy of KSL.com

Lake Powell Here We Come!

We're excited to go see Jenny, Shawn and the Grandkids this week in Page, Arizona. We haven't seen them since Christmas time and I'm sure they've all grown a FOOT! We have a little surprise we're bringing them...

It's Already March!

Tonight's the night to turn the clocks FORWARD one hour before we go to bed - I love, love, love having more daylight in the evenings.

Den is remodeling our storage room and adding more shelves. It will be so nice to be able to organize all the stuff down there so that I know what I've got and can see what I need. Better beef up the storage - our stocks really took a nose-dive last week.

25 Random Things About Me

1. I love baked potatoes.
2. Dennis is my best friend.
3. I was an Athlete Driver during the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics.
4. I don't like cilantro.
5. I don't like people who are two-faced.
6. I love to organize things.
7. My favorite hobby is doing anything crafty.
8. I have a hard time driving in the snow.
9. I get ready for Christmas all year long.
10. I have a hard time with people who use apostrophe's where they're not supposed to in sentence's. Or people that use too many exclamation points!!!!!!! For every sentence!!!!!! They write!!!!!
11. I am a Mormon.
12. I like anything better than Primary - or the nursery.
13. I love to travel - anywhere - especially on cruises.
14. I enjoy cooking.
15. I love teaching, but sometimes I wish I'd gone into business instead of education.
16. I don't like people who don't know the purpose of a turn signal.
17. I wish all of my family lived closer to me.
18. I have two handsome, strong sons and two gorgeous, creative daughters. And two fabulous sons-in-law, a beautiful, talented daughter-in-law, and a fun, darling daughter-in-law to be! And don't even let me get started on my fantastic grandchildren...
19. I like to plan things out and need lots of preparation time.
20. I love spending time with family - they are the most important people in the world to me.
21. I love shopping great sales - it's like a game to see how much I can save.
22. I miss Mom, Dad, Carol, and Danny. I just know they're up there having a fabulous time without me and Moo...
23. I love being with my grandchildren.
24. I wish I were more athletic.
25. I have a fear of snakes, speaking in General Conference, and going to prison.

Don't Buy Anything!!

Boat Show

We went to the Boat Show tonight - our annual trip. Wesley went with us - he picked out his favorite engine ($50,000) and his favorite chopper. That kid has expensive tastes!!

FedEx

That was GREAT!

Last night 4-year-old Kadence and I were eating dinner. I asked her what she had learned in Primary on Sunday. "We learned all about Joseth Sniff," she answered.

Den, Kat, Tayla and I went to the Draper Temple Open House yesterday. It was a gorgeous day - sunny and warm with the snow glistening on the ground. We drove to a chapel near the temple where we watched a video on the importance of temples to members of the Church. Then we boarded a bus which took us up the hill to the temple. It's smaller than other temples, which is the way the Church is building them now so that they can build more temples and accommodate more people. There is no cafeteria or clothing rental there.

The tour was a silent one with a brochure and signs to follow. I was so impressed with the beautiful chandeliers - I've never seen ones that picked up all the colors like those. Of course the spirit was so strong there. I need to attend the temple more often - good goal for this year.

Afterwards we met Pat at The Outback for an early dinner. Gotta remember not to order the Chicken Fetuccini again - dry and tasteless!

I Got My CCP!

Becky Poulter and I went to Rangemasters in Springville Thursday evening and completed the Concealed Carry Permit class. Mike S., the instructor, spoke really fast, was really funny, and taught us more than we really wanted to know! When Mike was drawing pictures on the chalkboard showing us where to aim on a person, or where to cut with a knife, I couldn't believe we were learning this stuff - it was against everything I'd ever been taught or brought up with.

We got fingerprinted and photographed and I sent all the paperwork into the Criminal Bureau of Investigation the next morning. After a background check by the FBI, I'll receive my card in about two months. This is my second background check - the first one was when I was a volunteer for the Salt Lake 2002 Winter Olympics - so maybe this one will go a little faster.

Schow Family Portrait

Family photos from Dave & Von's photo booth.

Dave & Von's Wedding

Jessie & I flew to California this weekend for Dave & Von's wedding - it was so beautiful! We attended the rehearsal on Friday and then the wedding and reception/dinner. It was so good to see Robert and Patricia there, as well as Katie and Rob (their new baby, Giovanni, is absolutely darling!).

Dave & Von had a white candle imprinted with the names of the family members who have passed away - a special touch.

They rented a "photo booth" where we could have our pictures taken - so we all scrunched in for a Schow Family portrait. There was lots of dancing (see Robert's moves above) with great 80's music and an over-the-top DJ.

I was feeling a little bit sorry for Jessie at the wedding because she didn't know very many people - until I realized I didn't know any more than she did!

We stayed at Mary's house and between wedding-doings we went to the Winchester Mystery House, spent a couple of hours (not really, but we COULD have) at DSW shoe shopping, went to Valley Fair Mall, and made a last-minute run to Le Boulanger for wonderful sourdough bread and Dutch Crunch rolls to take home in our carry-ons and a couple of sandwiches for us to eat on the plane.

Be Your Own Kind of Beautiful

We celebrated Kat's birthday at Tepanyaki's with a great show as well as good food. Wesley even enjoyed his eel - eek! - he said it tasted like chicken. We're so glad we could get together to celebrate Kat's special day. Happy Birthday, Kat! (and birthday or not - DON'T go with PACO!!!)

Target Practice

Den and I had our first "target practice" date Friday night at Rangemasters in Springville. I shot 75 rounds on my new .38 special - my Christmas gift from Den. We spent most of the evening trying to adjust the laser sighting - it needs a little more work but we'll save that for our next date. I need to go buy some more ammo - 105s this time - the 130s have too much of a kick for me right now.

2008 in Review