Tuesday, September 17, 2013

All 50 by age 58

He did it!  He traveled to all 50 states and did it by age 58.  Rick entered his last state...the state of Vermont on Wednesday, September 11, 2013.  We went to Sharon, Vermont to see the birth place of the LDS prophet Joseph Smith, Jr. Rick only had three more New England states to visit to reach his goal and on our last trip, he polished them all off, adding Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont. After flying into Boston, we rented a car and drove about 1,000 miles seeing the breath taking beauty of New England.  Rick has traveled from coast to coast, from east to west, from north to south.  A person can't help but have a feeling of pride and of love for this great land of ours.  I love the USA, sweet land of liberty!!  I have five more mid-western states to visit and then I'll be all done too.  Hopefully next year I can reach my goal. Yeah for visiting all 50 states!  It was a fun, interesting and worthwhile goal to accomplish!

Here he is at the last state sign.  We had to stop on
 the freeway to get this shot, but it was worth it.
This is the original foundation of the birthday place
of the prophet Joseph Smith.  There was a very
 sweet spirit at this place. The surrounding farm
 and wooded areas were absolutely peaceful and serene.

A large granite statue was erected in 1905
 in recognition of the Prophet's birthplace.
  It's a wonderful memorial to a great man.

A small visitors center is on the grounds and
 we learned a lot more about the Smith family and their history.
Welcome to Sharon, Vermont.
The grounds were beautifully maintained and it was
 a wonderful day to visit this important place in Vermont.


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 or check out ourCalifornia travel guide

Thursday, September 5, 2013

(Un) Labor Day

There was no laboring going on this past Monday of any kind.  Rick and I, along with his mother Pat and Andy and Chelsea had a total adventure day, going from 9:00 am-6:30 pm.  It went like this:
First stop


for some delicious French toast


Second stop

Thanksgiving Point gardens

Yeah, that's right.  It's a 40 acre garden of Eden in the desert of Utah.

There was no end to the summer flowers
blooming all over the place.

There was some smooching involved
at the urging of the photographer.

The newlyweds just looking their adorable selves.
Group shop with the guys who had N*E*V*E*R been
to the Thanksgiving Point gardens.  They see
now what we've been talking about all these
 years and what they've been missing.
 They were very impressed.
Driving around in a golf cart was also a plus.
Amazing blossoms in every possible color
 of the rainbow, yes, even including blue flowers.



A new very touching and meaningful sculpture
display, in the middle of the gardens, depicting the life
of Jesus Christ at various points in his ministry on earth.

Third stop
for some mall shopping and end of summer savings
 in the men's and women's departments.
  Everyone left happy...
oh except for the poor service experiences.
Forth stop

for a bucket of this summer-time treat
and an A&W root beer float of course


Fifth and final stop
for a picnic and a stroll through this natural water
springs...Cascade Springs in American Fork canyon

The cool air, babbling brook and great
company made for a wonderful adventure.

Goodbye summer of 2013...you were a good one!

Thursday, August 29, 2013

Summer recap

I'm always just a little melancholy when school starts in the fall.  On the one hand it's great to see the little kids march back to school and to remember when our little kids stood tall on our front porch in their new school clothes for their "back to school" picture with new backpacks, clean shoes and smiles on their faces.   I can still picture them in my mind's eye.  Now those little kids are sending their own little kids out the door.  I don't miss the expense of school fees, new clothes/shoes expenses, lunch tickets and such, but I do miss the ritual of ending summer and starting fall with a change in family activities. Time.  It travels, that's for sure.
This summer has been on hyper drive. Days...weeks...months...gone. 
Here's a recap of what kept us hopping:

April and May included trips to Arizona and North Carolina to visit our kids, and:
  • Rick's annual conference in St. George
  • meeting with my Rupert girl friends
  • attending Republican meetings representing my precinct as chair
  • being assigned a new CASA child and getting to know her
  • visiting Dr. Mortensen and deciding that something had to be done about my left knee
  • hosting a bridal shower for Chelsea
  • attending Les Miz at Pioneer
  • doing my Young Women activities/calling
  • taking a serger class
  • going to the Provo temple with Chelsea to receive her endowment
  • Jake Jensen's farewell and delicious lunch hosted by his family afterwards
  • end of the season Cleofon garden party
  • Memorial weekend in Logan with extended family
  • Rick performing lots of marriages
June
  • attending the temple with our niece Kate when she receive her endowment
  • going to California for Andy and Chelsea's wedding, dinner and reception (we are still basking in the memory of how wonderful everything turned out and how happy we are for this outstanding couple) so happy Mom could travel with us
  • a restful stop over in St. George at the Philipps' home, attending Mary Poppins at Tuachan with Jord and girls, Claire and Lizzie, Courtney, Mom 
  • enjoyed some time with our kids and grands in town doing lots of fun activities including Trafalga, Provo Rec Center, riding Front runner, 7 Peaks, going to the church history museum, going to Sheels and riding the Ferris wheel, making maxi skirts, etc.
  • Pat and Vern hosting a family breakfast for the newly weds
  • the wedding celebration we hosted at Mt. Timpanogos lodge in Provo canyon...we LOVED seeing family and friends and appreciate all who came and all who help us
  • June 24 - Rick's birthday celebration with family
  • tending our three little grand girls for four days while their parents went home for a break
  • Rick hiking to the Y on the mountain every Saturday with a friend
July
  •  Our annual 4th of July celebration!  So happy Jordan, Jake & girls, Claire and children, and Chelsea could be with us along with most of Rick's family and most of the Coil family.  We love our traditions
  • Stadium of Fire with lots of family, including Carol, Madi and Taylor.  Love that show.
  • my 40th high school reunion and seminary reunion (which I loved attending!)
  • stopped by "the ranch" on my way back to Utah to visit cousin Scott and have a good visit
  • mammogram check...all is well!!!
  • hired cleaning girls to help me get my home deep cleaned along with the help of a hired professional cleaning lady
  • shopped for the food for girls camp and helped get them on their way 
  • visited Vern at the VA hospital in SLC as his health was failing
  • July 13, 2013 my dear father-in-law Vern passed away
  • all our kids came back to town for the funeral on July 20
  • helped with the funeral preparations.  Rick wrote a press release and I got it out to be published in many, many newspapers, including the New York Times
  • Courtney and Charlie spend four more days with us and we loved every minute of it
  • darling niece Kate's mission farewell to Peru
  • visited my 2 CASA girls throughout the summer.. I'm getting really attached to them and hope I can help them
  • Rick played tennis every Thursday with a friend and every Friday morning with a doubles group
August
  •  finally we celebrated our 34th wedding anniversary at the ROOF restaurant in SLC with a sleep over and activities in the city
  • Find an enormous wasp nest in our window well.  Sick.  Called in help
  • 7th of August - knee scope surgery of my left knee.  No fun.  Last attempt before replacement
  • recuperate in Logan visiting Mom.  Go to Bear Lake and spend some time with Deborah and Pat.  Attend Spencer's baptism. Visit family in Logan.
  • get back to work and help with my 35th graduation at BYU
  • teach Young Women lessons/activities
  • went to the temple, watched the new temple film and enjoyed it
  • August 14th.  Receive my LAST dose of Herceptin at the Central Utah Cancer Clinic.  I'm done!  It's 13 months and 12 days since diagnosis and all looks great!  Say goodbye to the clinic nurses who I've come to know...go to my car...cry my eyes out for JOY!
  • start physical therapy for the knee.  Ouch!
  • get my first hair (trim really) cut in one year from my stylist Kirby.  Turn on the blow dryer again...it works!
  • spent four days at home by myself while Rick was out of town at a conference
  • got the port removed from my neck...the last thing to happen with chemo/infusion treatment
  • enjoy a visit from my great friend Sue Bowen
  • friend Marcy comes to town
  • attend meetings for the start of a new school year, get all ready at BYU
  • attend my Uncle Val's viewing and see my great cousins and wonderful Aunt Lorna...love that family
Goodbye summer 2013!  It's been one for the books.

Tuesday, August 6, 2013

An amazing discovery

A few weeks ago I was doing a search for some information and I put my dad's name in a Google search.  It brought up some interesting family history.  Among the amazing things I discovered was this link to a blog from a distant cousin.  I found out that we are related through our father's line to the little girl Emilie Parker who was killed in the Sandy Hook tragedy.  My heart goes out to the Parker family even more, knowing that we are distantly related. Be sure to read down several entries in her
blog to read some fascinating stories about Thomas Griffin and mention of our grandfather and our father as missionaries for the LDS church.  Good, good reading about family on my dad's fraternal side of the family.

I also found this interesting link to more family history on my dad's maternal side of the family.   Did you know that Andrew S. Heggie donated many of his pictures and journals/writings to the library at Utah State University?  I'm interested to go visit the library at USU very soon and see what is there.  Here is a link to some of the information that is contained in the collection. Here is a tickler of what is available:

Scope and Content:

This collection consists of the personal photographs and books of remembrance of Andrew L. Heggie and his wife Corinne Godfrey Heggie spanning from the late nineteenth century through the 1990s. A photographic record of LDS missions, LDS church activity, family, and friends are also included. Because of the nature of the books, many documents such as Birth certificates, school certificates, greeting cards, weddings announcements, and personal reminiscences are also included.

Biographical Note:

Andrew Loosle Heggie (1905 - 2001) and Corinne Godfrey Heggie (1911 - ) were lifelong residents of Clarkston, Utah. Both were born to prominent families in the area. Andrew Heggie was the oldest son and fifth of eight chidren born to Andrew Stewart and Mary Loosle Heggie. Corinne Godfrey Heggie was the second daughter and fifth of eight children born to Thomas Henry and Lucy Ellen Barson Godfrey. Andrew and Corinne Heggie were married on May 23, 1938, in the Salt Lake Temple. Their only son, Don, died as an infant. Andrew and Corinne both attended Utah State Agricultural College. Andrew graduating with a bachelors in 1933 and Corinne with a teaching certificate in English in 1932. Andrew Heggie also attended the General Motors Institute Auto Mechanics Training Program for teachers in Flint, Michigan, in 1938. Heggie farmed and taught a driver's education and automotive maintenance course at Bear River High School for seven years. In 1947, he served as mayor of Clarkston. Corinne Godfrey Heggie worked as a teacher for several years and also ran the Clarkston post office after her sister-in-law Mayme Heggie Griffin retired in 1973. Both Andrew and Corinne Heggie served in several LDS Church positions. Corinne Heggie spent many years as a teacher in the Sunday School. Andrew Heggie served as the bishop of his ward for seven years, as well as the Sunday School Superintendant. From 1927 to 1930, Heggie served a missionary in the LDS Swiss-German mission. From 1953 to 1955, Andrew and Corinne Heggie served full time in the East German Mission. They were also avid genealogists and this collection is an accumulation of their work.

Arrangement Note:

The collection has been kept in the original order as compiled by Andrew and Corinne Heggie. Boxes 1, 1a, and 3 are for the most part arranged chronologically by topic. The majority of the photos are identified and some are accompanied by descriptive reminiscences. Box 2 contains three tin-types from the late nineteenth century. Boxes 4 & 5 are arranged more sporadically. While the photos are identified, they do not appear to be in any particular order. The photographs are principally snapshots taken by Andrew and Corinne. Some professional photographs are included, usually in the form of missionary and engagement portraits. All descriptions entered in full quotations (" ") are taken directly from the albums. The photos are maintained in their original order and mounting. Andrew Heggie's book of remembrance has been removed from its cover with the original pages (in the original sleeves) in acid-free folders.

I had the thought while I was reading about these histories, that our ancestors blazed the trail for us to follow and it is our DUTY and PRIVILEGE to follow in their footsteps.  I'm so proud of my courageous and faith-filled ancestors and hope that I will always remain a strong link in the chain that connects the generations.  

Monday, August 5, 2013

It's never too late...

...to celebrate a special occasion! Our 34th wedding anniversary came along on June 16.  It was two days after Andy and Chelsea's wedding and also on Father's day.  Rick and I wished each other a happy anniversary and decided to celebrate it another day.  That day arrived last Friday, August 2.  We headed up to Salt Lake City and enjoyed some wonderful R & R time with just the two of us.  We've been going nonstop for months now and finally things are quieting down.  We found a great deal on Expedia at this wonderful hotel - the Hilton Garden Inn that had fabulous reviews.  It did not disappoint.  We finally went to The Roof restaurant to enjoy the $100 gift certificate that I receive from BYU with my award last year.  I've been waiting to enjoy it when my appetite was fully recovered and the time finally came.  The Roof buffet received the best buffet award in Salt Lake City for 2013.  No wonder.  It is fabulous.  Of course we over ate, but we seldom let ourselves indulge like that eating fabulous food.  The restaurant sets a 90 minute limit on the time you can stay, and we ended up staying almost the entire time.  My sweetheart wrote me a list of 34 items that he loved about me (and I also shared some things I love about him) and we just talked about our journey together.  It was a time to recharge, to appreciate our blessings and to celebrate our happy marriage realizing that the past year has brought us even closer. Happy 34th anniversary my dear, sweet husband!