Friends

A friend is one of the nicest things you can have, and one of the best things you can be. ~Douglas Pagels

Thursday night I had the pleasure of spending the evening with two of my oldest (not in age) and dearest friends, Marianne & Joan. We have been friends for nearly forty years. I met these two when I moved to the little community of Erda, Utah in 1973. After graduating high shcool we went seperate ways -- I moved out of state, they went to Utah State and stayed close over the years. I would run into them occasionally when I would be back visiting Utah, and though we had good intentions to get together regularly, it never happened. In 2010 we decided we needed to make it a regular event and get together every couple of months. When we are together there is always fun and laughter. Just like the good ol' days.

Winner! Winner!

One of the local radio stations has a DJ that always uses the phrase "Winner winner chicken dinner." We,or I should say Sterling, is however, NOT the winner of a chicken dinner. Let me start at the beginning -- last Saturday we went to Price, Utah, a 3 hour drive from our home to visit our neice and her family. While we were there we met them at a car/trailer/ATV sale which was being sponsored by a friend of theirs. There was a drawing to be held at 5:00 for several prizes and you had to be present to win. Long story short, we entered and returned at 5:00. There were 5 gift certificates to Wingers (chicken dinner), 2 season passes to Lagoon (an amusement park in SLC), 1 Rhino spray-in liner, 1 8'x8' storage shed (assembled), and a Honda 4 wheeler. We are now the proud owners of an 8'x8' storage shed. Thanks goes to Tanya and Brian who are keeping it for us until we get our house (hopefully in the next 2-3 months). We then get the pleasure of finding a way to haul it 3 hours back to Tooele. Gotta love it!

A Precious Gift

Twenty years ago, with my husband deployed in Operation Deseret Storm, and my mother by my side, I received the most precious gift -- Richard Earl Ray, II. Rich was born weighing in at 8lbs 13ozs. He had strawberry red hair and was so alert and inquisitive from the very start. He held his little head up trying to see everything on his way to the nursery. He crawled at 3 months and walked at 9 months. For almost a year he was all mine! I loved every second with him. I would rock him every night until he fell asleep, and later it became our story time.

Rich has been not only my son, but my buddy. For 11 years of his life it was just the two of us. We've shared a lot of good times and interesting conversations. I've watched him grow and mature from the independent little guy he was to the independent young adult he is today.

I am constantly amazed and surprised by him. Among other things, he is outgoing (didn't get that from me)and artistic (runs in the family). He is a deep thinker and I'm surprised by the things he says, writes and thinks. He is a wonderful and unique artist, capturing a lot with his photography. I'm so thankful for this gift. Happy Birthday, Rich!

A Hero's Return

As I write this, I have been crying for the past 20-30 minutes. Yes, I am a "boob" and Yes, I am patriotic. It's always hard to hear of a fallen soldier, but today this fallen soldier is one of our own.

I knew it was today, but somehow I forgot -- I remembered as I went in to town today to retrieve the mail. Flags at half-mast, people and flags lining the streets, fire trucks out, and intersections blocked off. To look at the scene you would think there was a parade. However, instead of the usual festive atmosphere there is a somber and quiet presence. I guess in a sense there is a parade -- a fallen soldier/Hero has come home.

The soldier -- Jordan Byrd, a 19-year old who had only been deployed for three weeks, who left behind a wife and young son, born only three and 1/2 weeks ago. The nephew of a friend, the husband of one of my son's classmates. Jordan was a medic who was shot in Afghanistan while helping a fellow soldier. His unit was ambushed. Jordan paid the ultimate sacrifice and he will not be forgotten.

On this day I shed tears along with his family, friends and strangers. I couldn't be there physically to give him a hero's welcome, but I was there in spirit. Thank you Jordan for your sacrifice! Thank you to all our men and women in the armed forces and especially their families, who also make great sacrifices.

Wrong or Right?

Do you feel sometimes like everything is going wrong? I know I have felt this way too many times. I have a friend, Dee, who's husband is an inspirational author (best known for "Chicken Soup for the Soul")and from whom I receive daily thoughts. This one came across my desk not too long ago and really hit me. I loved it and thought I would share.

"Sometimes when things seem to be going wrong, they are going right for reasons you are yet to understand."

-- Alan Cohen

Woo Hoo -- it's Fall!

My favorite time of year. I LOVE the sights, the colors, and the smells. Fall brings with it lots of wonderful things -- crisp air, apple cider, pumpkins, corn mazes, spices (cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg), and of course leaves in all their glorious colors, just to name a few. Fall also brings a son's birthday and an anniverary! Best of all, Fall begins the countdown -- Halloween, Thanksgiving, and right around the corner -- Christmas!

You Are Loved . . .

or so I was told today at the Church Employment Center. Since February Sterling has been unemployed and today I was fired. Our Bishop's wife is the manager at the center and after being in there yesteday, I felt I needed to stop to talk to her. She told me that she had heard that when God loves us, he humbles us. She said we must really be loved! My reply, I dont' want him to love me so much.