A visit with old friends

We had some visitors last week.  

The Gray family was in Utah for vacation/reunion and managed to squeeze in a quick visit to Mapleton.

Summer and Sierra put on a little show for Lucy and Gavin.

Summer was playing a little Taylor Swift medley and Lucy and Gavin were singing right along.

Rick and Austin go way back...

Emily, Austin, Rick, Kelli

Austin and I don't go back quite as far as Austin and Rick, but here is the story...

(as I remember it)

I was an English major at BYU and Austin was in one of my classes fall semester of my junior year.

I didn't actually know Austin from high school, but I did remember his name.

We introduced ourselves to each other and became good study friends.

We sat together for the rest of the semester, with a few other super intellectual friends.

After a while, Austin kept mentioning to me that he had someone that he wanted to set me up with.

uh, NO.

Little did I know that he was also trying to convince Rick that he had someone for him to go out with.

And Rick kept saying NO.

In order to keep Austin quiet, we both FINALLY agreed to go out.  One time.  If everyone would just leave us alone.  

And that is pretty much what happened.

But, then we kept hanging out, studying, whatever, with the same group of people.

Well, one thing leads to another, and a few years later, Rick and I were finally dating.  

Mostly because we were the only 2 people left.

oh, and then we broke up.

And then we dated again.

And then we got married.

At least that is how I remember it.

So, Rick and I sort of give Austin credit for our union.

And because of that, I have felt the need to play match maker this week with another one of our friends from the good old days.  (Brett) But, that story will be for another day.

It was so fun to talk to Austin and Emily and hear of their adventures from Vermont.

We chatted all morning long and it was as though we had never missed a beat.

Austin, you are exactly the same guy we've always known!!

Maybe next time we visit it will be in your living room in Vermont!!

ps.  sorry about the black eye that Cole gave Gavin.  we'll work on that before we come visit

He's 6.

Cole says THE funniest things. 

For Example:

Yesterday he said to me, "Mom, I have this friend.  Her name is Rebecca.  There's a problem."

"What is the problem, Cole?"

"Well, it's her face."

oh no.  "Cole what's wrong with her face?"

"It's just 

so

so

so

CUTE!"

who needs 7 peaks...

My brother sure knows how to throw a party...

Sierra

Cole 

Summer

Mr. Party

Heading up the ladder.  Grandma Nan thought it looked like a good idea...

Grandma Nan.  Don't you love the look on her face?

Cole catching some air

Lanny and Gage

Grandma Nan, BryBry and some grandkids

Taking a break for some BBQ.
Even though we kinda had food assignments, we still ended up with 4 different desserts.
We know how to party.

Grandma Nan and her grandkids (in age order--4 girls, then 5 boys.  We like to keep things organized)
This is one of about 20 photos.  And not one of them had all eyes on the camera!

We thought it would be fun to get one at the other end of the slide...then it collapsed.

Rescuing the injured.  And yes, I just stood there and took more pictures.

Then we needed one with Nan and her darling children.

Lanny wanted us all to flex.

Oops, not focused.

Nan tells us to get closer together.

Then Nan takes off her glasses and put them down her shirt.  Brandi is irritated.

Smile Everyone.  I think we got it.

Dancing at the Rascal Fair

I taught a lesson in Relief Society several weeks ago about Connecting Ourselves to Our Ancestors.

And I might have told some stories.

And I might have included some pictures.

It was recommended to me after the lesson to read this book: 

(thanks, Amara)

I wasn't sure about it...but after seeing all of the 5 star reviews, I purchased this book.

The story takes place in Montana.  

It is about two best friends--Angus and Rob--who come from Scotland in the early part of the 20th Century to America, settle in the West, and become sheep herders.

It isn't an easy book to read.  It took me quite a while to get into this book.

I actually put it down and read another book.  But I came back to it.

I'm glad I did.

The book was written in 1987, so it's not a new release.

The writing is full and deep.  Not complicated.  Just thick with meaning.

A favorite phrase late in the book...

"We count by years, but we live by days.  Rightfully, we should do both by seasons." p. 221

or 

"Where the bevels of the valleys met, the creek ran in ripples and rested in Beaver ponds. A curlew made deft evasive flight across the slope below us as if revealing curlicues in the air." p. 80

Isn't it just beautiful?  so descriptive.  Paragraph after paragraph of poetic prose.

I felt, as I read this book that I could fully imagine the Montana countryside in all its seasons.

The characters were equally well developed.

The plot didn't go the way that I wanted or expected.  It was almost frustrating.

But, sometimes that is how good stories go.

I think that this book would be great for a book club.

A lot of reviewers recommended listening to the story.

*Amara, this one is for you....Did I ever tell you about when I used to workout with the lead singer from 3 Doors Down?  True story.  I used to go to the YMCA in Flowood, MS with Sierra almost every morning between 8 to 11 am.  (that's when they had childcare)  So, we were pretty regular.  You know how you get to know people's faces when you see them day after day.  I had  no idea that one of those faces was Brad Arnold--lead singer for 3 Doors Down.  I wasn't a huge fan, but I knew who they were.

Super nice guy.  Polite as can be (they're Southern, of course!).

And they did a lot of fundraising and charity around Mississippi and Alabama after Hurricane Katrina, as the entire band is from Mississippi.  So, you gotta love 'em for their Humanitarian hearts.  Just thought you'd want to know another rock star story.

UVM

This was the second time that I had done the Utah Valley 1/2 Marathon.

Rick has done the Marathon twice, but this year he did the half with me.

Sadly, Rick's partner and good friend died the Monday before the race and the funeral was scheduled for the morning of the race.  

So, we had concluded that we would not be able to run in the race.

Then, on Friday evening, we changed our minds.  We decided that Dr. Hooker would want us to run.

  Rick had it all plotted out so that he knew the starting time (this race has a very dependable start time!), he knew how fast we had to run, and he knew how fast he had to drive to get to the funeral.  

Things didn't go exactly according to schedule.

First, we didn't train exactly as we should have.

Our entire family got a killer respiratory illness in May and training was on hold for 4 weeks.

Then, we didn't do any running the week of the race.

We didn't eat or drink right all week, so we weren't prepared nutritionally.

AND, the night before the race, we went to a concert in SLC and didn't get home until 1 am.

I set my alarm for 3 am to get up and get on the bus for Provo Canyon.

2 hours of sleep is not enough sleep for a 1/2 Marathon.

I found Melinda before the race.  She was excited.  It was her first 1/2 Marathon.

I lost track of her at the port-a-potties.

Then the race began...Rick said he'd meet me at the finish line (in the Mini) according to the plan.

Somewhere along mile 1 to 2, Brandi and her posse passed me.  

They were probably trying to catch up with Melinda.

I was fine.  Slow and Steady.

Until Mile 7.  

I turned to look behind me--probably to make sure I wasn't in last place--and I totally hurt my knee. 

It was killing me.  I slowed down.  Still hurt.  I stopped and stretched.  Still hurt.

I walked. Still hurt.  

I was afraid I was going to have to stop running.  As in, drop out of the race.

I couldn't bring myself to quit because I wanted this... 

I wanted that medal.  Rick would get one.  Everyone would get one and I wanted one, too.

So, I tried to start running.  HURT SO BAD.

So, I walked for 1 mile.  I was almost to the mouth of Provo Canyon.  I knew that I had to decide if I was going to keep going or walk to Gma B's.

It felt the same to walk as it did to run.  So, I ran.

Well, it was kind of a run.  a walkish-run.

I decided that I could do it for a mile and then decide.

It worked.  I kept going.

But, near Riverwoods, a group of runners suddenly stopped and cut in front of me.

I yelled, "Get out of my way.  I CANNOT stop."  

And I didn't stop.

I ran until Will's Pitstop.  I figured that  that was my last chance to quit and walk home.

But, I couldn't quit.  I remembered once when I lived in Kirksville when a couple of my "friends" told me I was a quitter.  So, I kept running.  I was just praying that I hadn't hurt my knee too badly that I couldn't go to Girls Camp 5 days later.

The Marathon runners started passing me near Riverside--the exact same spot they passed me last year!

At Provo High, Rick texted me to tell me that he had finished.

Usually this is where he turns around and runs back to find me and drag me across the finish line.

But, that was not the plan this time.  The plan was that Rick would go to the mall and get the Mini and pick me up as close to the finish line as possible.  

A few minutes later he texted me to tell me that he was near RC Willey Outlet.

Then, Right as I was sprinting the last 100 meters, I got another text saying, "Go Go Go"

How did he know?

I did it.  I finished.  It wasn't pretty. 2:52.

I ran to the Chocolate Milk table.  Then to the Creamy table.  Then back to Center Street. 

And around the block to find Rick. 

Not a minute to spare.  We drove to Orem.

Showered.  Dressed.  Medicated.  Hydrated.

Then off to the funeral.  

We arrived at the Tabernacle in AF with just a couple of minutes to spare.

It wasn't until later in the day as I was wearing my finishers medal around the house, that I noticed that they were different.  Hmmm.  Mine was missing the little orange disc.  It spins.  

I decided that since I was so slow and finished so late in the race, that I got one of the last ones!! 

It was my worst time ever (if you don't count the Thanksgiving Point 1/2).

But, the little orange disc that is missing just reminds me that I didn't get in the training that I had planned, I didn't get the nutrition and hydration that I needed, I didn't get the sleep that I wanted.

But, when things almost go as planned you almost get what you expect. 

It reminds me that next time the training and planning will be better.

And the results will be better, too.

My knee hurt really bad on Saturday and I  was worried.

On Sunday it was sore.

On Monday, it felt fine.

Next up...Red Rock Relay.  

Sperry reunion in Nephi

Last Saturday, we attended the Sperry reunion in Nephi.

This would be Rick's side of the family.  And Rick was at work.

But, I wanted to go.

I think it is important for my kids to know who they are and from where they came, so we went...

And I did not take one single picture.  Luckily, Summer did.

The good thing about the get togethers with this family is that you can depend on good food and you can depend on the meal starting on time.

Kelli and Sierra filling up their plates

Waino enjoying a plate of pulled pork

Bette enjoys a variety of salads

Bev and Charlie fill their plates

Charlie, pretty much the best uncle ever.

Tausha and Waino telling stories

Tiffany and Cole

Kelli and Charlie

 Charlie and I were chit chatting when Summer took this picture.  It looks like I better be careful about the stories that I tell, because one of the stories made it into Charlie's High Council message at chruch the following day...

Bev and Cole

Bev always likes to make sure everyone gets a treat.

These are pictures of Rick's Great Aunt Janice.

She is holding a bottle of pickled beets.

Here is the funny story about beets...

Rick has always refused to eat beats since I have known him.  He says that he will only eat beets that are canned by his family with the family recipe.

I have always told him that nobody can pickle a beet better than my Grandma Ethel.

Last Summer we were at a family party at the Scera in Orem.

And there on the table was a bottle of pickled beets.

I think I ate the whole thing.

Rick was right.  They were good.  Almost as good as Grandma Ethel's beets.

So, Saturday in Nephi, there on the table was a bottle of pickled beets.

I made a big deal about them, not really knowing who brought them.

Well, turns out it was Janice and she was standing right there.

She had actually brought 2 bottles and she personally gave me the second bottle of beets to take home for my very own.

And to share with Rick, if I wanted.

She said that she keeps canning beets and her kids won't eat them and she is getting mad at them.

Now, she knows who appreciates her beets--ME!

Can't wait for the next family party!

 Here is the home where Bette grew up in Nephi.  

It's nice that someone is living in it and taking good care of it.

And this is the old Sperry home on Main Street in Nephi.

Veyo Pies

It occurred to me today that I missed recording a life changing event that we experienced earlier this month.

This happened while we were in St. George on our venture to find Mountain Meadows.

We headed north towards Pine Valley.

This bright red sign caught our eye.

 We decided to stop on the way back from our adventures.

Sadly, I was so completely transformed by our experience that I forgot to document the actual pie.

We ordered 3 pot pies--2  chicken and 1 beef.  

Delish.

Then we got 3 pieces of pie--1 pecan, 1 sour cream lemon, and 1 volcano pie since we were in Volcano Country (it was chocolate and butterscotch and lots of whipped cream).

Veyo is little more than a junction in the road to get to Gunlock Reservoir.

I am pretty sure I will never taste pie that good again.

Can't wait for another trip to Veyo even if it's a bit out of the way.

There is a huge map on the wall inside the tiny lobby area.

There are pins marking locations of some of the many visitors to Veyo Pies.

People from all over the world.

So, really it's just a short trip to Veyo for pie compared to the distance some people travel to taste the world's best pie.

And it really is.

Everybody Talks...

a few weeks ago Rick got a call from a friend.

he needed a favor.

Rick said yes.

as a thank you, we got tickets to Neon Trees.

and back stage passes.

I've never been back stage.

It was as the Depot in Salt Lake.

We took the girls.

There were 3 opening bands.

It was the first time that Neon Trees has sold out a head lining concert.

Right here in their very own state.

The last concert before they take a short break.

 

I must say, it was pretty awesome.

They put on a great show.

We stayed after and went back stage.
(did you know all 4 of the band members are RM's?)

Here we are with the band after the concert.

This is Elaine, the drummer.

She is 7 months pregnant.

And that is why this is their last concert for a few months.

It's Elaine's husband who needed the favor.

So, we are kinda friends with a rock star.

read more about Sebastian & Elaine here.

These girls are part of a band called the Blue Aces.

They were the first band to open for Neon Trees.

They are from Orem.

The lead singer is Crystal Ramirez.

She is 16.  

Her sister plays the drums and she is 14.

How fun would that be to open for Neon Trees???

Super fun night.  But it reminded me that I am not 21 anymore.

We got home at 1:30 am.

We set the alarm for 3:15 am.

We rode a bus up Provo Canyon.

And then ran a 1/2 marathon.

Again, I am not 21 anymore.

Worst 1/2 marathon ever.

Would do it all over again.