Even more of the same Summer

Sijing and her mother left and we packed our bags and headed for Moab. Courtland planned a family reunion for our family in July in Moab!? What was he thinking? Yes it was hot but it was so much fun that I think in the long run no one cared. All but Beckett and his family had access

to a jeep and they have their 4X4 truck so we all went on the trails. If you read my blog you know that we bought a new Jeep on Memorial Day and by the end of the family reunion we had the necessary "Rocky Mountain Pin stripping" to prove that this Jeep isn't just a pretty face. It is tough to know that our new Jeep is all scratched but such is life.

We went to Gemini Bridges on Friday and on Sat we took the LaSal Mountain Pass. Friday we cooked and Sat by the time we got to the top it was 61 degrees and the kids were all freezing. We had them wrapped in blankets and sweatshirts and finally put them in the car with the windows rolled up. The adults were cold as well. I even went places I never imagined I would go. I drove up Baby Lions Back. I had Courtland with me and he was a wonderful co-pilot. My husband wouldn't drive it so I felt obligated to do it to show I am a "real" woman. It worked. Joseph said he could now brag that he sat and watched his wife drive it.

Thank you Courtland for all the time and effort you put into making this family reunion one that we will remember forever. Don't ever think that your family didn't invest in the activity.

More of the Summer

I came home from Wasnington DC to find my husband standing at the airport with a 16 year old Chinese girl and her mother. My flight had been delayed so Joseph picked up Sijing and her mother Yangyang and then waited for me. Sijng is our little girl who was coming to compete in the Gina Bachauer Piano Competition. (For those of you who don't know about the piano competition you are missing out on a lot. ) These young kids know how to play the piano. The following week turned out to one of the highlights of my life. Sitting everyday listening to the kind of music I love most played by someone live in my house was a blessing I will never forget. They were the perfect house guests. They don't smoke or drink. they didn't even drink tea. They were very respectful and very appreciative of everything that was done for them. They liked my cooking and preferred to eat at home rather than go out. They loved watching the birds in the back yard and loved walking in the rose garden.

The fact that Sijing won the whole competition was the grand payoff. To see her face and her mothers reaction was priceless. Sijing plays with such passion that you can't help but feel the music. I would keep her if it was possible.

Here is Sijing with one of the other competitors.

Summer!!!

This summer for me has been one for the record books. It started the middle of June when my mother, sisters and I donned our trusty tiara's and headed for our nations capitol. Imagine 3 middle aged women and 1 elderly Gran wearing tiara's all over Washington DC. We went to places like the capitol building, Arlington, Mt Vernon, and government briefings wearing our goofy little crowns. We have learned that the 4 of us together wearing them is OK. People think we are a little strange but we get a lot of funny reactions. But one person alone just looks out of the sanitarium crazy. (like when you have to go to the restroom and you have to go alone) One thing that has become a standard for our retreats is the picture of nothing but our feet. So here we are standing in the absolute middle of Washington DC and our feet prove it. (can you imagine if you were there that day watching 4 old ladies standing in the middle of the rotunda wearing tiara's and taking a picture of their feet what you would think?)