Sisters

One of the most fun things about having a sister is dressing alike and playing photo shoot. It makes you happy just to look at them, doesn't it?!?!

Summer Miscelaneous

Here's a random sampler of summer photos. We had a delightful summer. We had lots of family time, reconnected with friends we haven't seen for too long, even burying my sweet friend brought some great healing, a new understanding that my diseased body is no more me than Wendy's. Her body simply wore out but her spirit is the Wendy I've always known and loved. It's helped my be more patient...most days.


A summer was filled one activity after another, home just in time to shower and off again. It's been wonderful to spend time as a family, celebrating, grieving, remembering.


Claire went to Martin's Cove for Youth Conference. It was a marvelous experience to walk the path that so many of our ancestors, all sides of our family came across the plains. There's great strength knowing what they did and therefore, what we can do.

Omar

Most of you know I'm not especially fond of animals, primarily because I'm allergic to so many. BUT, when there's a farm down the road and the farmer tells you that Omar, the llama, is very friendly and if he really likes you he'll give you kisses, OF COURSE you take Lucy to visit. She loves animals. She likes them to get really close, within about an inch of her - and no closer! The whole thing is quite comical. I would like to know, with all of us there, why Omar likes to kiss me the most?!?!? The hot air out of those huge nostrils is beyond description! As luck would have it, I've become quite attached to the guy. So, how many of you have been kissed by a llama? He's dirty, needs a bath, his teeth are HUGE and he's the most tender llama around. (I'm not willing to test that, by the way!)

Bear Lake

Three years ago we went to Bear Lake the week before school started, our last vacation before the inevitable routine began. We'd never been there. Lane was too busy to take much time off work, so we settled for three days. We had a wonderful time, decided to make it a family tradition and promised we'd go for a week! Well, last year I waited too long to make reservations and the campground of choice was full, we didn't go. I was NOT going to let that happen again! I think it was still early February when I made reservations this year. In hopes that some of our extended family would join us, I reserved two spaces.
My parents were ecstatic when I told them. That word is really too mild to properly express their exuberance. There is something magical about anticipation. They started trying out cots and chairs and even made a trial run to spend a few nights in Smithfield at Nielsen's for their annual Logan Opera trip. Emily's yard is the most glorious yard of the face of this earth. A perfect spot to try out their new equipment. All went well until a thunder storm hit. (If you don't know about my mom and thunder storms....we'll have to fill you in later.)
So, August 13th found us driving north loaded to the top! Emily and the boys joined us for a couple of days. Thomas was at BYU (in finals) but he and his roommate, Zach, joined us on Friday. The week was more than wonderful, more than perfect, so good that we're already making plans for next year. What a grand way to spend the last of summer vacation, in God's beautiful creations, enjoying one another's company, eating peaches, shucking corn, reading a good book, making ice cream, walking, hiking, playing in the water, just being together, making memories. My mom's comment as we started packing up to head back to Provo, said it all. "It's a shame to leave just when we're getting so good at it! Don't worry mom, we'll give you lots more opportunities to use your new camping skills.

Our new arrival

It's no secret that we would have liked to have more children. There have been a few times when we had the opportunity to adopt. Each time we felt the answer was no, this was someone else's child. Remember the blog on "other mothers?" I feel very blessed to be such to many of my young women, kids friends, etc.
This August we were given partial guardianship of Jordan Ostler. Her dad recently gained custody of her and her two brothers and lives in Salt Lake. Jordan really wanted to stay at Provo High for her senior year. She approached us with the idea of her living here. We all prayed about it and all felt the decision was up to her and her dad. We really haven't known Jordan for very long but immediately fell in love with her! She's a welcome addition to our family. I know it's only legal temporarily, but she'll always and forever be one of ours!

Living in a whirlwind

Of the greatest kind! As I review the pictures taken this summer I feel an incredible gratitude for the life I am living.
After the Ferrin reunion, we buried my dearest friend, Wendy, after a rough battle with breast cancer. Lane and Claire sang at her funeral and Stephen and Thomas were pall bearers. I confess, I feel a bit jealous that she's with Amelia and rid of her diseased body.

Claire visited the trail of our ancestors at Martin's Cove with our Stake Youth Conference. Abbie turned ten! Thomas moved into his apartment at BYU. Claire and I spent a week at Girl's Camp. We had a visit from Pitchers :-) We took lots of walks, got lots of llama kisses (the things I do for Lucy!) We welcomed two new babies into our family. Henry Pratt is Will's fourth son. Hannah Louie is Amy's second daughter. A glorious 4th-of-July at Emily's house in Smithfield. (Sorry, no pictures...we also lost two hard drives!) Thomas was ordained an Elder. Thomas and his roommate Zach, stayed with us for ten days between semesters. Jodie and Angie spent the (same) week with us while they attended Education Week at BYU. (How many people can you fit in your house?!?) We spent a week camping near Bear Lake, with my parents! We gained a daughter...and a parrot, more on that in another blog. We squeezed in a few swimming trips at my parents pool. And all too soon, school started and the routine changes. Abbie's in fifth grade, Claire's a sophomore and Jordan's a senior. A blessed whirlwind it is!

Family Reunion

Shortly after WWII Lane's grandfather, Ray Ferrin, built a cabin on Graham Mountain using materials that were once army barracks. Lane's parents celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in June and wanted us all together for the celebration. We've been planning this trip for a couple of years and when Lane was released as our ward bishop the end of April we decided to add a few days to our vacation! When you tell people you're going camping in June in Arizona, they immediately think of Phoenix heat and think you're crazy. But, Graham Mountain, accessed from Pima, is nearly 10,000 feet.
After driving for fifteen hours through barren desert you make the climb and indulge in God's creations for as long as you can. We stayed for most of a week with Kevin, Mazza and the kids, Tony, Francelle and kids, Karna and kids, Doug, Rayna, Amanda and Hayden, and of course, Grandma and Grandpa. Doug and Neldon spent an incredible amount of time, money and energy to give the cabin a face lift.
There are no words to properly describe the setting. Wow, wow and wow. The cousin time was priceless, the hikes were glorious, the caterpillars were plentiful, the weather was perfect. I'm hoping that all of my arm twisting has convinced Lane's parents to do this again, soon.

The trip up is bad, the trip down is bearable only because being up there is worth the trip. I could stay all summer, especially if it meant I didn't have to come down! Life was meant to be made of such memories. Realizing that this is likely the last summer we'll be together as a family made it all the sweeter. Even the loooonnnnggg desert drive made good memories...ask Thomas sometime about playing absconding uno.