The Big Day

Tomorrow is the Big Day - the day our missionary returns from the Paraguay Asuncion North Mission after completing 18 months of service!

Meranda has had an incredible experience. She has learned a new language, lived in a new country, taught a variety of people, eaten strange food, served with companions from Peru, Ecuador, Argentina, Arizona. She has see people accept the gospel and change their lives. She has grown to love the people. Her testimony of the gospel has been strengthened. She has learned to be a leader and example to the other missionaries serving in her mission. She has been able to travel the mission and return to prior areas and visit with the people she taught. I'm thinking that her beautiful red hair and blue eyes and wonderful spirit will be missed in Paraguay.

Monday's have been a day to look forward to because of the opportunity to hear from her and the experiences of the week. I know it is hard to leave all of that beind. So much work yet to do. So many people yet to teach.

But as she said this week in her email...

"I will miss the mission, but I know there is another phase of my life waiting to begin. At every end there is another beginning."

I am so proud of her. I am so excited for her to return to us. I am anxious to see her continue to grow and start the next phase of her life!

Weekend in the Mile High City

Evan has always been a Denver Bronco Fan. I am a football fan. We are both Alex Smith fans. So a few months ago, in celebration of Evan's birthday this month, I bought tickets to the Broncos/Chiefs game - with the thought that it could be a really big game. It did not disappoint. It was a huge game. Third largest crowd in Bronco History - over 77,000 people.

We had great seats - on the 50 yard line.
The weather was cold - but no snow or rain.
There was a lot of alcohol consumption (not by us).
We got a pass to get on the field after the game (which is a whole other story).
Peyton Manning and Knowshawn Marino walked by us.
I caught site of John Elway walking about 10 feet in front of us.

The day after the game, we took a tour of Mile High Stadium. Again getting on the field - seeing the press box (that holds 400 people) - going in the visitors locker room - seeing the "keg" room, the luxury suites, etc. etc.

Halloween 2013



I think this picture says it all......



It was like hitting a brick wall.......

Life is full of surprises. The days go by quickly and usually uneventful. We get caught up with the same routine. Sometimes something good will happen that is out of the ordinary and sometimes something bad will happen...but the good things definitely out number the bad. Thursday night was one of those bad times.

I don't know how many times I have driven I-15 - probably hundreds. I have never felt in danger. Well that all changed on Thursday night. The day had been a good one. We went to the funeral of Evan's Uncle Emmett Clark in Torrey, Utah. The funeral was a wonderful tribute to him. Relationships were rekindled with Evan's cousins, aunts and uncles. The Wood Family is a great family. They might not have always seen eye to eye, but they have always treated me (and Evan) with nothing but kindness and love. Aunt Veola and her children invited us to the dinner at the church. It was important for us to go and I'm glad we did.

We stopped in Lyman to load up with the final things from Grandma and Grandpa Wood's house and then headed for West Valley. Evan drove from Lyman to Scipio - there were tons of dear on the road - and then I took over in Scipio. It is always a relief when you finally reach the freeway - no more deer to be worried about. We stopped at the Flying J - refilled our Diet Cokes - and headed for the final leg home. Evan was busy checking his emails/texts and just as we got on the freeway he said "Oh I better put on my seat belt".

Two miles north of Scipio, going the speed limit of 80 mph, the Elk was suddenly in front of us. No time to react...we hit the animal...it was like hitting a brick wall. The Durango came to a stop - we couldn't see out the window - didn't know where the animal was - but we were physically okay. Evan got out of the car and realized we were still part way on the freeway. Somehow the car started and we "lurched" forward and pulled off and called 911.

Events continued to happen - cars hitting the elk - debris flying all over - it seemed like an eternity until the Highway patrol came.

In the end, we realized how blessed we were. The Elk did not come through the windshield. The airbags did not deploy. There were no cars behind us when it happened. I had tears in my eyes all the way home and for most of the weekend as I thought about what could have happened. I thought about the phone call that could have been made to my children. I thought about Meranda on her mission. I thought about my Dad. I thought about my Mom. I thought about my sisters and brothers.

Yes life is full of surprises.We were being watched over. It kind of put life in perspective!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO PSW.....

Today is Parker's birthday - 17 years old - my how the time has flown.

He is a great young man.
He has a kind heart.
He is a good friend.
He makes me crazy sometimes...but makes me happy most of the time.
He has so much ahead of him...good times...not so good times...tough decisions...a great future!

Thank you Parker for letting me be your crazy Mom. Letting me embarrass you occasionally. Letting me be there for you.

A room full of CPA's

Sitting in the last session of a CPE seminar....the room is full of mainly men....with a few women.

I attend this seminar every year. It reminds me how women are still a minority in my profession and how most of them still dress like they did in the 80's...I hope I don't!

Two sessions were on the affordable care act...aka Obamacare...it gave me a headache and stressed me out.  I'm not sure that anyone fully understands all that is involved..I know I had a few questions answered but that evolved into additional questions!

Another session was about dashboards and KPI'S (key performance indicators) taught by a guy I went to the U with.  He thought he was pretty cool and he looked a lot older than me!

It's a long day but they provide plenty of diet coke...

Another 8 hours earned towards the required 80 hours of CPE....

Grandma Wood

Sunday, September 1, 2013, Grandma Wood passed away. It was a hard few days. She had been down before and had always bounced back. But looking back over the last few months, she had really started to slow down. She no longer wanted to crochet and she had stopped reading.

Saturday night we knew her time was short. As I said goodbye I thanked her for raising such a good son and told her to give my Mom a hug when she saw her.

The viewing in Richfield on Friday night was well attended - a pretty steady crowd - a lot of relatives and family friends.

Saturday's funeral was a tribute to her and her life. Her grandchildren all participated in some way and their talks/tributes were "spot on". They loved their grandma and she had an effect on each of their lives.

The flowers were pretty, the weather was perfect, the valley was as green as I have ever seen it.

I have some wonderful pictures - but for some reason can't get them to post.....maybe later.