Boutonnière Time

Mauri was assigned to pin boutonniere's on all the pall bearers, sons and grandsons for Mom's funeral. Hunter helped by holding the box of red roses waiting to be assigned to the men. Julie made them in the wee hours of the morning, when she couldn't sleep. They are lovely.

Final Resting Place and Good Bye

Family gathered around while the pall bearers placed their roses on Mom's casket. Little ones knelt together to say the last goodbyes and look down into the grave not quite knowing what was going to happen. Be careful, don't get too close.

A tender moment of contemplation and see the closure of a loved one's life. Jim dedicated the grave to be free of the elements and a final resting place for our parents. May they rest in peace.

A Moment in Time to Contemplate

Here are a few photos you don't often see, but took place these past few weeks. A beautiful flower arrangement arrived from my employer. Holding hands with Mom, one of the few things that she could still do while being cared for in the hospital in the coma. Seldom was her fanny pack or watch not on her person. They look lost without her. The family is still getting used to the changes that will last a lifetime. Time to reflect and remember a great lady.

Road Rally on the New Road

11400 South is finally opened for traffic. A few weeks ago I walked down the highway while in the final stages of completion. Landscaping, rock sound barrier walls and state of the art design went into the construction of this new highway.

1st photo is looking east towards the bridge from the new intersection at 9th West.
2nd photo is looking west from the Jordan River Bridge,
3rd photo is from the trail below the bridge over the Jordan River,
4th photo is looking west on 11400 from 1300 West.

When you come, we will have to have a road rally on the new road. What fun it will be.

Being @ BYU Basketball

Beautiful day it is when you get to a college basketball game early, void of traffic jams, find the perfect parking place and have tickets in hand. Scalpers are selling $5 tickets, I paid $15 for. I was happy to meet a stranger at the Freeway Maverick to guarantee my seats, courtesy of KSL Want Ads. $25-$200 were my other choices.

Just the opposite happened four weeks ago when we walked up to the entrance of the 30,000 seat Marriott Center 20 minutes after the game had started, having hiked from the opposite end of campus, late; due to traffic congestion and asked where to buy tickets. 'Sold Out' was the answer as they went for $1 in the end, unbeknownst to us. No Jimmer Fredette was to be in our sites that day. Plan 2 was immediately implemented.

The hoopla creates energy, as the teams are introduced and run on. The announcer points out facts as four huge 40x60 foot banners are lowered to watch past achievements. Hearing the anthem and watching the spotlights swirl their beams throughout the center thrilled us, as we chanted "Jimmer, Jimmer" over and over. Lost, late comers arrive, looking for their seats. Our roomy benches get tighter as more people crowd in.

Before you know it the tip is made and the game begins. If your white and blue T-shirt doesn't have a '32' on it, you run out to buy one. Through binoculars I watch our players zip up and down the court like skeeters on water. Making baskets looks as easy as popping chips in your mouth. Soon we lead UNLV by four, seven then ten points, which is maintained the remainder of the game.

The star guard, 'Jimmer Fredette' '32', dribbles smoother than a fly fisherman's line running back and forth with ease. If there's a snag, its against him. Every foul shot hits dead center racking up the points.

We shout and stamp with the best of the crowd. Why not, this may be our one and only college BBall game and then again maybe not. It was spectacularly, super fun!! Having Jory & Sarah there made the difference.

journaling prompt #3

Did you have a nickname as a child? What were your other family members' nicknames?

Everyone called me Leash, like as in dog leash. I particularly remember Jenn calling me by this nickname. Occasionally, I was referred to as Licia. Other notable nicknames that I recall for family members include Jenn, Big J, and Little J. Perhaps there were other ones, and I just don't recall them. I don't remember us being really big on using nicknames like our cousins usually were. Remember Care Bear, Shelle Pie, and Lolly? In college, friends and roommates referred to me as Schmidt, and later after I married David and worked in the schools, many people simply referred to me as Vawdrey. In fact, this name was so commonly used that some people thought it was actually my first name. I have always been hesitant to use nicknames for friends and other people around me although I am unsure why this is. I usually stick with the name they are introduced to me by with a few exceptions. Even when I have known them for years. For example, one of my closest friends, Kristin, is called Kris by many people. I have never been able to call her this. To me, she will always be Kristin. When it comes to my own kids, however, they have loads of nicknames that I use: Zachie, Zachers, Zacharoni, Z-man, Big Guy, Dude, Stinker, Little Pill, Sis, Sarah Bug, etc.

journaling prompt #2

What is your favorite season and why?

I confess that I couldn't pick just one and have to go with two seasons. I truly enjoy spring and fall so much more than the other seasons. Just when you think you can't stand winter for another minute, spring arrives in all of it's glory. The crocuses and daffodils and other bulbs peek out of the ground and bring hope that there are warm days to come. The sun starts to shine just a little bit brighter. I love when the trees begin to bud It's amazing how one day the branches appear stick-like and the next they are spilling forth with a bright captivating green. You vow to watch and discover as the spring unfolds, and yet you find yourself wondering how it could have sprung overnight while you were sleeping, causing you to miss the moment of rebirth. Before you know it the branches are filled with mesmerizing blossoms, and you think you could positively eat them up. The grass slowly greens and you find yourself wanting to be outside every moment lest you miss something that nature has to share. The birds are gloriously arrayed and singing all the day. The world, it seems, begins to awake, and you find that you have survived yet another cold and dreary winter. The days are warmer, and you can venture outside in only a jacket or (gasp!) even without one. Spring in the city is a beautiful sight. There's nothing quite like the awakening of spring.

Likewise, I also love the fall. The days are warm and pleasant, and the evenings are just a touch cooler inviting you to pull on a cozy sweater or warm up under a blanket. The colors of the leaves are breathtaking, and the whole world seems to hold still as they float lazily down from the trees to blanket the ground with their gloriousness. Fall is a season of hearty breads and soups and stews. It's the season of welcoming out your sweaters while still wearing flip flops during the day. It's a season of waking up to crisp mornings and crunching the leaves under your feet. It's piles of leaves and pumpkins. It's the start of hot chocolate and apple cider and feeling comfortable again just when you thought you might melt from the relentless heat of summer. It's a season of beautiful glowing sunsets and dusks that seem to go on forever. There's just something about autumn that gets me every year.