Escaping AZ heat for cool Utah fall weather...

Yikes!
I can't believe it's been so long since I've last updated my blog...So much has happened since then...

Our kids go to year round school and we thought we'd take advantage of one of their breaks and escaped the horrid heat of Arizona. It was gorgeous weather in Utah and visiting with family was a huge plus!

Selflessness...

As I entered the Honda dealership waiting area, I felt a bit annoyed since I had been in the same waiting area the day before to get my vehicle worked on.

"Good thing I have my headphones, phone, and a 440z cup of Coke with crushed ice"...were my thoughts. I wasted about an hour checking my Facebook, emails, and Googling stuff on my phone. I paused for a moment to check out my surroundings. I must admit, I enjoy people watching.

Across from me sat an elderly couple in their seventies. The wife sat staring at a blank wall...it seemed as if she were in a different world. "What must she be thinking.." were my thoughts. Her lips would curve into a smile, then she would proceed to go into her blank stare mode. Her expressions were mesmerizing...one moment she was happy, the next she off someplace else.

I glanced over at her husband to see what he was doing. He was reading the paper, but would often look down at his watch. He would occasionally look over at his wife, say a few words, get out a handkerchief and tenderly dab the corners of her mouth and chin. The way he watched her and cared for her made me feel emotional. I felt as if I was witnessing something special, something sacred.

I turned away and felt tears escape my eyes...

At one point, the husband got up and told his wife that he would be back and not to move. I gathered that that was what he was telling her in Spanish mixed in with some other language. I felt a need to watch her...to keep safe until her husband returned. She looked over at me and smiled...I smiled back. Her husband arrived a few minutes later and had a cup of coffee. He spoke to her in their native tongue then gently put the cup to her lips.... He was so careful and gentle whenever they interacted... She made a sudden movement and some coffee spilled onto her lap. He seemed to panic, our eyes made contact, and off I went to look for napkins. I quickly brought them to him and he thanked me numerous times.

I finally had the nerve to talk to him...the nagging feeling kept telling to do so...as I spoke to the gentleman, the wife would smile at me each time we'd make eye contact. I cannot express in words the experience or feelings I was having....I felt as if she were thanking me for talking to her companion.

He told me that his wife suffered from Dementia and Alzheimer's. My heart sank.

"Oh." was all my mind could come up with at the time.

We spoke for about 20 minutes, then my Service advisor came to tell me my vehicle was ready. I said my goodbyes and off I went to get my car.

When I got into my vehicle a wave emotion came over me. I was grateful that I was able to witness the pure love of Christ being administered to this wife...a daughter of God....This husband never seemed frustrated nor did he ever seem upset with her....

We never imagine that these bodies we have been given, can become soo ill that we would be unable to care for ourselves. This man took his marriage covenant seriously...in sickness and in health...til death do us part....

This made me think of the covenants I made when I got married....I'm not married for just this time I have here on earth...I'm married for time and all eternity...death cannot tear me from my husband nor my family...

I feel a sense of gratitude for having the opportunity to witness this sacred, yet humbling experience. I will forever remember this....

Mr. Joseph's Webelos

Mr. Joseph earned his Webelos award back in July and we're super proud of him. My little cubby has moved up to 11 year old scouting and no longer has to join me to pack meetings. :( We had a very busy summer having him work on his awards and he's happy to finally be done...Uh...so am I!

Foster Parents....

It's official!
Brent and I are licensed foster parents!
We finished up our training, passed the background check, passed the home study, and I'm sure I'm missing a gazillion more things...but we're official! Our age groups are 0-3 years old. We want to "baby step" our way through this whole process. Our kids are excited and we've "tried" to prepare them for what's to come.

We'll be having a baby placed in our care for a couple of weeks, while a different foster family leaves for vacation. It will be strange having a "little one" in our home...let's just say...it's been a while since we've had to change diapers. HaHa!

Well...that's the latest news from our little family!

Summer camping in Arizona

I know...I know...
There are many in the Smith family that KNOW how much I dislike camping. I'm super proud of myself for tent camping for 3 whole nights! It's definitely a record for me! I must admit that the day we were getting ready was extremely stressful for me. All I could think of was dirt, bugs, tent camping, cooking, wild beasts in the forest, and dirt (again). It was 115 degrees here in the valley, so the thought of going to 75 degree coolness was somewhat inviting.

We ended up camping in Big Lake (near Greer..I think) and it was beautiful and super cool. I got to wear my hoodie! The evenings got down to the 40s, so we had plenty of campfires to keep us warm...oh how I miss winters....

Brent took us horseback riding one day and we all had a blast. Miss Alycia was riding like a pro and her horse BJ was a very well behaved animal. Joseph and I were first time riders and we really enjoyed the experience. Mr. Joseph had a smile on his face the whole time. Brent had fun also, but was sore by the end of it. I was sore too...

I was so sad to get back to the valley...back to the heat....Will this heat ever end??? When we finally arrived home, I needed to wash Copper's bedding and discovered that our brand new 3 week old washer died while we were camping. I must admit...I had very ill feelings towards the maker of my washer, Maytag. I had 9 loads of laundry to do! Evil...

Tent camping wasn't so bad this time. I bought Brent a super duper camping stove a couple of months ago and it was great to have and sleeping on an air mattress was heavenly. Don't get me wrong....I still dislike camping, but spending family time up the mountains was so worth it!

To be a young mom....

As I entered the woman's restroom stall, I couldn't help but burst out laughing.

In the stall next to me I heard a woman singing...the song was what had me in tears...

"Come on poopoo! Don't be scared...you want to swim in the potty...It's pooping time!"

Yes... a grown woman was singing this to her toddler! She said this several times, and I'm sure she was embarrassed when we met at the sink. Tears were streaming from my eyes and I couldn't make eye contact with her.

This reminded me of when I was a young mom...

As I was shopping at JC Penny's with my 2 year old and 5 month old children, my eldest needed to "go potty." I loaded that little two year old into the double stroller and raced to the nearest restroom. An elderly woman arrived ahead of us and so we used the handicap stall, since it could fit the monsterous double stroller.

"Yes...we made it in time.." I told my little one.

The person in the stall next us lets a huge one rip.

"Mommy! Someone is going poopoo in the big girl potty!" she yells. "What a big girl! Does she get candy for going potty, mommy?"

I wanted to hurry and get out of there before I saw the lady. The stall seemed to be getting smaller by the minute and was dying of embarrassment.

As we were washing our hands, out comes the poor woman. It looked as if she had been in a battle of some sorts.

"You're a big girl!!! You went poopoo in the potty!" My two year old then starts clapping...as the woman's face turns beet red.

All I could say was..."uh-huh"...avoid all eye contact...place my two year old in the stroller then BOLT to the nearest exit!

Ah...the memories of being a young mother.....

Fish Story

A week ago Anna wouldn't let me bare my testimony in church on Fast Sunday. We both thought it would be a little strange to shre how my faith in Jesus is increased by fishing. I thought I would do it here instead. Let me just say that it is a true story, every bit.

(For those of you who are not Mormon, on the first Sunday of each month church members will go to the pulpit and share their personal knowledge of how Jesus is their Savior and other aspects of their faith. They typically share a story from their personal lives of how their faith was strengthened. Sometimes you get some real weirdos up there talking about some off the wall subjects. Anna didn't want me to be included in that crowd.)

Since this isn't an official church meeting, I'm going to go ahead and tell this story as I would have liked to have heard it told if I were in a Testimony meeting. I hope this doesn't offend anyone, but you have to admit to yourself that you've already heard worse at a real testimony meeting.

Brothers and Sisters, I want to tell you how the Lord helped me catch 5 fish with my bare hands yesterday.

Now, I'm the Scoutmaster for the Young Men in our Ward, and I was asked to teach the Fish and Wildlife Management merit badge up at Scout camp this next week. One of them requirements was to either get the stomach contents of 3 fish or some scales from 5 different fish. Well, seein' as there weren't gona be no fishing ponds up at the camp, I figured I needs to get these fish guts or scales for the boys before camp and bring them up with me.

I went to the local fishin hole over at Desert Oasis park and tried to catch me some fish. I brought the wife and kids, figurin I'd have better luck with 4 pairs a hands rather than just one. But we had no luck. All I caught me was a sunburn.

I went back a few more times, but no luck. I even got to the point where I figured I would just ask folks if I could take a few of them fish scales from their fishes, but no body else caught none neither. Exceptin some catfish, but them don't got no scales (and I wasn't gonna ask if I could take their guts).

I was getting desperate. I had been prayin each time that I would be able to get me some fish, then that I might just get some scales. I wanted these Scouts to be able to have a good experience and to be able to learn about their fish. I thought the Lord would want them to be successful as well.

The final Saturday before camp had come. We left before dawn on Monday, and I wasn't gonna do no fishin on a Sunday. So this was it. It was well over 100 that day. My daughter and I went to the park and walked around askin folks about their fish. I found one guy who had caught a small Bass and was able to get a few of his scales. I was very greatful, but I prayed even harder- because 1 fish is not 5 fish, no matter how many of its scales you take.

That evenin I took my wife out to celebrate our 15th anniversary early, see'n as I would be up at camp the next week. After our date, around 10 pm, I asked if she wouldn't mind goin' to the park one last time to beg for some more fish scales. She was a good sport and was willing to give it a try.

As we were walking up the path, she tells me she don't want to bother folks for their fish scales. I told here I was right there with her, but what else can you do?

"Well," she says, "why don't you just use those fish?"

"What fish are you talking about, wife?"

"Those fish, right there!"

I turned and looked, and there were 5 fish lying right there on the shore that we walked up to. Now, I don't know if some fisherman caught them earlier in the day and threw them back or if the Lord commanded those fishes to come up and wait for me right there. I knowed He did it with His friend Peter, so maybe He'd done it for me too. Either way, they were fish and they had scales! I picked them up with my bare hands and got me my scales.

I went home rejoicing and amazed that the Lord would provide so miraculously just so his little deacons could finish their fish class.

All kidding aside, I do want to acknowledge the Lord and give him the credit for this. It really was an answer to prayer.

Brothers and Sisters, I also learned from this that the Lord has a good sense of humor. Because when I was pullin' scales off of one of them fish, I felt some water drip on my toes. (I was wearin my flip-flops.) It wasn't until I got home that I realized it wasn't water that dripped on me it was actually a giant fish turd that by now had run down all over my foot. Whoooweee - if you think fish by them selves can smell funny, just try a fish turd. Now that's a powerful stink!