When she was born, the doctor said, "It's a GIRL!"
Oh, I had so badly wanted another girl and so I said, "Are you SURE?"
The doctor assured me it was so.
That little baby girl has brought me so much JOY and happiness over the ensuing years. Because you see, she's almost perfect!
From her earliest years, she was so strong-willed and independent.
She knew what she wanted, and one thing she didn't want was to be dressed all frilly and girly. (I love how now she loves to put on spiky red or black or whatever color shoes with her toenails painted red and be all feminine!)
So, here's to Kristi D....Happy Birthday.. to a very beautiful, talented, smart, thoughtful, good, kind, happy, intelligent, hard-working, nature-loving, fish-catching, bike-riding, scooter-riding, great-cook daughter!
6.05.2010
From the Past - June 5, 1976
It was a spectacular Saturday morning in June in the little communities of southeastern Idaho:
moms were hanging out the laundry,
dads were putting in the garden,
kids were out bike riding or mowing the lawn....
because it was a perfect MORNING.
A radio station owner/operator from Rexburg decided to take a look at the newly completed Teton Dam built in Fremont County, Idaho. What he saw as he stood atop the dam, terrified him...
he saw a leak, and as he watched, the leak continued to get bigger.
And somehow, with no cell phones, texting, IM, word spread rapidly that morning the old-fashioned way - neighbor to neighbor or phone calls - and the word was simply,
"Get to higher ground - NOW!"
Sometimes I think back on that day all those years ago, and I am so grateful to Heavenly Father that the event happened in the MORNING, not during the middle of the night, as it is highly likely many, many more lives would have been lost.
I know that many disasters occur and lives are lost, and disasters happen at inconvenient times, but in this case, because of the timing of the flood, people were able to be warned and get to safety. (Three of our four children would have been sleeping downstairs and possibly would have been swept away or drowned, as our basement was totally destroyed.)
That this happened in the daytime, I will be eternally grateful.
During that summer of 1976, most residents in that little corner of the world, spent their days mucking out mud and debris.
Thank you to the many, many, many people who came by the busloads (mainly from Utah, but other areas also), to lighten our loads and to give us hope, as they stood beside us shoveling, cleaning, dumping, hauling, helping.
(If you would like to read an accurate account of that day's events, you can go to Wikipedia, or look at this first-person account here:)
The dam flood happened many years ago, and I certainly don't think of it often, but when I do, I am filled with gratitude for the many little blessings that we each felt.
moms were hanging out the laundry,
dads were putting in the garden,
kids were out bike riding or mowing the lawn....
because it was a perfect MORNING.
A radio station owner/operator from Rexburg decided to take a look at the newly completed Teton Dam built in Fremont County, Idaho. What he saw as he stood atop the dam, terrified him...
he saw a leak, and as he watched, the leak continued to get bigger.
And somehow, with no cell phones, texting, IM, word spread rapidly that morning the old-fashioned way - neighbor to neighbor or phone calls - and the word was simply,
"Get to higher ground - NOW!"
Sometimes I think back on that day all those years ago, and I am so grateful to Heavenly Father that the event happened in the MORNING, not during the middle of the night, as it is highly likely many, many more lives would have been lost.
I know that many disasters occur and lives are lost, and disasters happen at inconvenient times, but in this case, because of the timing of the flood, people were able to be warned and get to safety. (Three of our four children would have been sleeping downstairs and possibly would have been swept away or drowned, as our basement was totally destroyed.)
That this happened in the daytime, I will be eternally grateful.
During that summer of 1976, most residents in that little corner of the world, spent their days mucking out mud and debris.
Thank you to the many, many, many people who came by the busloads (mainly from Utah, but other areas also), to lighten our loads and to give us hope, as they stood beside us shoveling, cleaning, dumping, hauling, helping.
(If you would like to read an accurate account of that day's events, you can go to Wikipedia, or look at this first-person account here:)
The dam flood happened many years ago, and I certainly don't think of it often, but when I do, I am filled with gratitude for the many little blessings that we each felt.
6.04.2010
6.03.2010
Wasilla - It's Not Just the Home of Sarah Palin
It's a beautiful small town; it totally reminded me of Island Park, or West Yellowstone...
But, unlike those towns in the lower 48, Wasilla has several claims to fame:
Wasilla, Alaska is the official home of the Iditarod. Not that the race is held there, but all the official paperwork, a museum, movie, and a place to ride on a sleigh with the famous dogs is located in Wasilla.
It's also the Duct tape capital of the world...here's a girl we met who showed us this picture taken on her wedding day. Her dress is made from blue plastic and her niece's dress is plastic with a nice duct tape accent; the groom was also dressed quite similarly.
And, how does a city get to be the duct tape capital...you use more duct tape than any other city!
America, I love your diversity, your landscapes, your peoples, your opportunities. And, I am grateful to visit places that I have only heard of, but never dreamed I would actually get to see.
But, unlike those towns in the lower 48, Wasilla has several claims to fame:
Wasilla, Alaska is the official home of the Iditarod. Not that the race is held there, but all the official paperwork, a museum, movie, and a place to ride on a sleigh with the famous dogs is located in Wasilla.
It's also the Duct tape capital of the world...here's a girl we met who showed us this picture taken on her wedding day. Her dress is made from blue plastic and her niece's dress is plastic with a nice duct tape accent; the groom was also dressed quite similarly.And, how does a city get to be the duct tape capital...you use more duct tape than any other city!
But, of course, right now, perhaps Wasilla is most known for its famous resident: Sarah Palin.
So, naturally we wanted to know where she lived; here is a picture of her home with her new, famous 16 foot wall to keep out peeping reporters. She lives in a very secluded location with a view of the lake out her front door. We are as close as people are allowed to get, so here's the home of the almost-vice-president of the united states of america....which I love (America...not necesssarily this home!)
America, I love your diversity, your landscapes, your peoples, your opportunities. And, I am grateful to visit places that I have only heard of, but never dreamed I would actually get to see.
Randy
He loves this little obscure eating place that came highly recommended to us.
To me, Randy encapsulates the people of Alaska; hardy, friendly, and they love it here!
6.02.2010
Now, This Is Really Weird!
It's ten p.m.
It's light outside....more like seven than ten.
It's gotta be hard on parents trying to put little kids to bed...goodness, I don't even see how I can go to bed, and I'm a ten o'clock go-to-bed-person.
I tried to sit outside and enjoy the incredibly gorgeous evening, but the mosquitoes nailed me big time. My ankles right now are the size of Texas, and the mosquitoes always go for my ankles, which meant there was plenty for those moquitoes to feast on. I hadn't put on my Avon lotion given to me by Dorothy...who knew mosquitoes could make it all the way to Alaska?
So, I came inside...
to write this blog about my first day in Anchorage, and to say that I am thankful for America, the beautiful world, good books, good friends, great family, health, eyesight, food, and sunlight.
And, to say....here's to light....even if it is ten o'clock at night!
It's light outside....more like seven than ten.
It's gotta be hard on parents trying to put little kids to bed...goodness, I don't even see how I can go to bed, and I'm a ten o'clock go-to-bed-person.
I tried to sit outside and enjoy the incredibly gorgeous evening, but the mosquitoes nailed me big time. My ankles right now are the size of Texas, and the mosquitoes always go for my ankles, which meant there was plenty for those moquitoes to feast on. I hadn't put on my Avon lotion given to me by Dorothy...who knew mosquitoes could make it all the way to Alaska?
So, I came inside...
to write this blog about my first day in Anchorage, and to say that I am thankful for America, the beautiful world, good books, good friends, great family, health, eyesight, food, and sunlight.
And, to say....here's to light....even if it is ten o'clock at night!
"WHY....
did he get old?" the young child asked.
Why indeed...why does everything get old?
the smell of a new car is so fleeting,
the feel of a new baby's soft hair gives way to just hair,
the breath-taking rosebush fades all too quickly,
the new furniture becomes worn and faded,
the carpet is threadbare,
the face shows the ravages of time with wrinkles and age spots...
It just happens....it's the way of life....everything creeps slowly towards OLD.
And, so young child, you must learn to not worry about the "WHY" of getting old, but be concerned with the living of each glorious day as it unfolds.
Why indeed...why does everything get old?
the smell of a new car is so fleeting,
the feel of a new baby's soft hair gives way to just hair,
the breath-taking rosebush fades all too quickly,
the new furniture becomes worn and faded,
the carpet is threadbare,
the face shows the ravages of time with wrinkles and age spots...
It just happens....it's the way of life....everything creeps slowly towards OLD.
And, so young child, you must learn to not worry about the "WHY" of getting old, but be concerned with the living of each glorious day as it unfolds.
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