Garden 2009 Week 9

Most of us either don't think about how fresh vegetables get to the stores or assume it is a simple task of sticking a seed in the ground and adding a little water when it's convenient, and then after a few weeks enjoying the harvest in the shade of a big oak tree. I know I thought that, until I tried to raise a half decent vegetable garden. So given that, I decided to include a picture of the healthy crop of weeds that I need to harvest each week so I can find the plants I want to keep. It's about this time of the growing season each year that I wonder if the battle with the weeds is worth it. You can see that most everything looks good despite the deer eating some pumpkins, and Marsha and Michael lurking around in the corn.

Gee Thanks Deer

Last year I was tracking my garden each week with new posts. It was fun and I had a record of how the garden matured week by week. I have taken pictures weekly this year also, but I haven't posted them like last year. I spent the better part of the past two days weeding in 95 degree heat and to reward my efforts I wanted to post a stunning picture of a healthy green garden and show the amazing progress of what Mother Nature can do when she is at her best. Well, Mother Nature called that's for sure. A 3 point buck kind of loses it's majesty and mystique when he gets caught pooping in my garden. Gee, thanks deer. By the way, you eat another one of my treasured pumpkins, or poop in my garden again and you will be a decoration in my man cave after hunting season.

Managed Fire, hmmm

We are quickly moving into wildfire season in Utah and I have watched a fire the past couple of weeks called the Lake Fork Fire. I know BLM and other fire teams are monitoring the progress, but anytime I hear about a managed fire I think back to the "mother" of all managed fires.

Elder Ah Loo

Elder Ah Loo (on the left) is one my, and my family's, favorite people. He now is known by his real name Afa Richard Ah Loo:) He has great stories about growing up in Samoa and adventures at BYU Hawaii and even more from his mission here in Salt Lake City. Last week one of his most excellent stories was published in the Church News and in my mind is a classic missionary story. It follows:

"I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith." — 2 Timothy 4:7

"A little over a year ago, I was in the Provo MTC and struggling really hard with everything. I was very homesick and to complicate the matter, I had caught pneumonia and had been very sick. I was really struggling. It seemed to me that suddenly my world was compacted into a small black hole.

Waking up every day at 6 a.m. and sitting in a classroom all day learning about the scriptures was not my idea of fun. This was something that I had never done in my life. To top everything off, I did not like the snow. Coming from Samoa, where there is warm weather all the time, this was a huge adjustment for me. I was used to wearing sandals or going barefoot every day. I was not used to the cold winter weather of Utah and was cold most of the time because my body had not yet adjusted.

That same week, I wrote my mom and told her about my feelings and how I was struggling. Her reply came the very next week and I was very excited to hear what she had to say. I was sure she would encourage me and understand my feelings. I opened it and saw that the reply was only two short lines, which read: "My dearest son, We don't miss you. Love, Mom."

Needless to say, this was not what I expected! My heart just sank! I felt very emotional, to say the least.

Later on that week, I read 2 Timothy 4:7 and it really touched my heart. I thought to myself that someday I would return home and would hope to say those exact same words from that scripture and mean it.

The day I received the short letter from my mom was a very emotional day for me. It took me some time, but I realized I must press on and do the work I came to do. My Mom's words of tough love were just what I needed, even though I couldn't see that at the moment. I knew in my heart she loved me and wanted what was best for me.

I am grateful to Heavenly Father for the opportunity to serve a mission. I have had life-changing experiences and have met some wonderful people. I don't know who changed more, me or the people I have been able to teach. Some will be lifelong friends. I know this Church is true and I am so glad to be a part of it. I would never give up what I have grown to love missionary work and bringing souls to Christ. I would encourage any young person to seriously consider going on a mission."

—Elder A Loo, Utah Salt Lake City South Mission

Beth Brock's Birthday

I have been alone for a week since Marsha and Kylie are in Europe and Michael is somewhere between West Yellowstone and California, so I drive up and down the streets in the neighborhood looking for dinner. Luckily Beth decided to be born on July 12th and then convinced her beautiful sisters to celebrate this event down the street from me 20 years to the day later. I got a great meal (one of only 3 I've had the past week haha) and equally good pictures. Beth is a total babe just like her sisters Andrea, Leslee and Carrie. Next time I will cook; mac and cheese and hot dogs anyone? Beth looks pretty buff for someone of her advanced age and I'm a little jealous of her "guns" but I really wish my elbows would bend in strange and unusual ways like Leslee's. Carrie's (and my friend) Candace is one of the smartest people I know. She's headed back east to work for the FASB and if you don't know what that is don't worry, I had to pass the CPA exam before I knew. It's a brain trust for all things accounting and one of the biggest issues facing them is how to bring together international accounting standards and US GAAP. Good luck Candace, I can barely spell it let alone solve it.

Fly Overs

Lake Fork Fire

On the way to Manti the Lake Fork fire towered above Birdseye in south Utah County and I remembered hearing on the news the other day that BLM is calling this a controlled burn. I wonder what the people in the cabin think of this so-called controlled burn.

Nearly a Full Moon

Just before we started the fireworks show the moon came up over the mountains and I grabbed the tripod and clicked away.

Happy 4th of July

Our neighbors, the Engh's, invited us to the fireworks show on their street and it turned into a real party. We had both sides of the street full of spectators. The longer John Engh lives in this neighborhood the more fun and lively he is becoming. Think the Tin Man from the Wizard of Oz with a case of lubricating oil.

Garden 2009 Week 5

Week 5 and things are growing despite the lack of sunshine. I had to move three tomato plants because they were getting waterlogged and were looking a little rough. But the beans, potatoes and the tomatoes in the pictures are all doing great. I knew my tractor would put my garden on the map.

Toys For The Rich And Famous

Calvin and Olivia have the coolest toys and I want to be the first to ride in Cal's ZR1 when his dad buys it for him on his 16th birthday. My kids got string and nails and boxes for toys.

Mormon Miracle Pageant Manti UT

This is the 43rd year of the Mormon Miracle Pageant in Manti and I think it has only been rained out 2 nights in the entire run. This year we have had rain every day except 3 since Memorial Day. To say that is unusual would be the understatement of the year. I took this picture around 5:00 pm and now as I post this there isn't a cloud in the sky. Luck? I don't think so.

Oquirrh Mountain Temple

We went to the temple open house today and sure enough Angel Moroni had been hit by lightening last Saturday. Boy will the "anti's" have fun with that one. We decided since the temple hasn't been dedicated yet it isn't entirely protected from evil. It was well worth the time we spent and after spending time in other temples this one seems very small.

Laughlins in Sulpher, LA

We count the Laughlins as our friends even though Sulpher, LA is a long distance from Utah. They have been very kind to Michael while he was on his mission to Texas Houston East and when he took his wild hare road trip with a buddy. Vickie took the sunset picture and all the individual ones. D&C 62:3 is courtesy of someone else we count as a friend :)

Girls Camp in Park City

The first photo is our Young Women's Presidency, Nicole, Roslyn, Jill, Molly and Leslie (kneeling). Charlie's Angels wished they looked this good. Girls camp is one of the best times of summer and I need to come up with new ways to get invited. Having an extra sweet camera helps. Thanks to our Presidency for dinner and a great time.

The next photo is the entire Young Women "leaping for joy". It was no easy task getting a picture of all of them off the ground at the same time. If you think 1, 2, 3, ... jump works, then you need to try it with 15 people.

Garden 2009 Week 3

If you live anywhere between central Utah and the Idaho border then you know exactly how crazy our weather has been. Rain every day, highs in the 60's and lows in the 40's and you could find more sunshine in Seattle. So given that reality I broke down and filled the waterwalls to protect the pumpkins and give them a chance to get established. Week 3 is only slightly different than week 2 and the carrot seeds refuse to germinate.

Garden 2009 Week 2

I've been slow getting this first post of the garden up and in the mean time things have popped. Tomatoes look good, corn is up a couple inches and the potatoes are huge. Well, at least the volunteer's left in the ground from last year are huge. Now if the weather cooperates and things don't freeze ...

Fast Movers

Everyone knows that the United States Marine Corps totally rules, but I have to admit that these "fast movers" are pretty sweet. Good job USAF!

Missions

We have received Kirsten's official release date from her mission and in the letter it stated "... please do not discuss this date with your missionary so he/she can stay focused on their mission." There will be a thousand things that I will miss about all three of their times serving missions when it's all said and done, but one thing I won't miss is giving up my parental rights to talk to my children when, where, how and about what, I want. Small gripe I know when you consider the blessings we have received but it will be good to get back to having more at home than are gone. I know, I know, I need help with obedience and patience.

Don't You Love Spring!

I love the fall and winter and when temperatures rise above 90 I get cranky, but we don't get out of our houses to party when it's cold outside so spring time has charm like no other season.