Random Post

Heather says its my turn to post (again) although I've posted more recently then her....

So here is a bunch of random pictures:

Tribute to MJ-Part 2

Best news ever!

http://www.examiner.com/x-9082-Walt-Disney-World-Recreation-Examiner~y2009m8d30-Michael-Jacksons-Captain-EO-returns-to-Disneyland-Will-Epcot-be-the-next-to-honor-the-King-of-Pop

July in review

July started with the celebration of Royce's golden birthday month. First gift: Golden sparklers!

"Happy, happy Golden Birthday love,
Happy days will come to you all month.
If I had one wish then it would be,
A Happy Golden Birthday to you, from me!"

One of July's exciting events (ok, it might have been June) was capturing one of our car's milestones on camera.

We spent the weekend of the 4th visiting Royce's longtime friend Jon, his wife Angie, their son Christopher, and Jon's parents in Bakersfield, CA. They were kind enough to take us up to their timeshare in the Sequoia's. What a fun weekend!

We saw giant trees . . .
. . . and giant roots.

We rode horses . . .
. . . and yes, we wore helmets. (In retrospect, if I had known how slow we were going to be going, I wouldn't have bothered. But it was my first time ever on a horse, and Royce's second, so, hey, better safe than sorry, right? Ok, laugh away. We're not proud!)

We also rode paddle boats, went swimming (you have to when it's so, so hot!), played a million board games, and watched street fireworks. You can see more of our adventures here.

Unfortunately, we didn't get to see any big fireworks on the 4th, so we made up for it by going to the fireworks show at American Forks' Steel Days the next week. Pretty amazing fireworks!
This was our attempt at a self-portrait that night. Cute!

After that, we took a little breather before heading to Pajaro Dunes in CA over the weekend of the 24th: what could be better than a weekend with your two best friends from highschool, your friends that set you up with your husband, and their 4 adorable kids? I can't put in words how great it was, so go here, here, and here for great pictures and reports.

We went to the Monterey Bay Aquarium . . .
. . . on the famous 17-mile drive, where we fed squirrels cheese crackers . . .

. . . to the famous Phil's Fish House

. . . and to the beach which was yards away from Amy's grandma's beachhouse door.
The ever-cute Lucy Truman.
The boys get in a little rumble.
Royce and I also had a little wrestling match, but thank goodness it didn't get caught on camera!
Sigh . . . good memories.

The day after we got back, Royce's brother, mom and I pulled off a very successful surprise party for Royce (we even got him in the door right on time: 7:27).


(Sparklers work as candles right?)

And then the day after that, I abandoned my hubby to go to girl's camp. Good thing Ryan and Amy invited him to Vegas so he wasn't lonely all week. Thanks guys!

Planning for girl's camp was stressful, but once we were up there everything went pretty smoothly. (Notice how our camp director actually wore makeup. So did our YW counselor that came. Whaat?)

This was actually much scarier than it looks. My eyes were not just closed because the camera clicked at the wrong time--this was the ultimate trust test. I don't know why I'm biting my lip so hard though . . .
So there you have it. July. What a crazy month. Here's to a calmer August (calmer, but definitely not calm).

Think of me . . .

As you're all sleeping in your nice warm beds, taking your nice warm showers, and eating your fresh refrigerated food, you can think of me at girls camp, not doing those things. But it will be good (right?), and I promise next week I will finally post about our July adventures (brace yourselves--there's a lot!).

My tribute to MJ

In tribute to Michael Jackson I say Disney bring it back:

American Radio Cafe

I'm playing this show--doesn't it look fun? I'm telling you, it is! And would I lie to you? Never! And should I write another sentence with a question mark followed by a sentence with an exclamation point? Absolutely!

But really, this is going to be a great production, so if you are looking for something to do during the patriotic holiday come on over to the Covey Center. Ticket information is here.

And on a somewhat random note, I realized something about myself at yesterday's rehearsal: I have a hard time equating money with music. Not in the sense that if you become a musician you'll never earn any money (although that sometimes may be the case), but more in the sense that I feel like I shouldn't be earning money when I'm playing music because I love it so much. I even sometimes feel guilty for taking money for my teaching because I like that so much too!

This realization came to me after one of the ladies asked another violinist if we were getting paid for the rehearsals as well as the shows; upon learning that we were paid for rehearsals she asked why we were not paid more for the rehearsals since they were longer. And at that point it just hit me: "Are you really doing this for the money? Do you care more about whether the check comes or whether the production goes well?" And for my part, I definitely am more concerned about the outcome of the show than the outcome of my wallet. So I'm definitely not going to get rich with that attitude, but that's just how I feel. A result of years of unpaid work as a student I guess.

See you at the show!

A Hero

*I just discovered a blog of someone who is a real-life hero in my eyes. Anthony (1st Sergeant) Martinez. I've added the link to his blog on my blog-roll, and you can access it here.

Anthony is currently serving in Iraq, for the ???? time (I honestly don't remember if this is the first time or if this is a return visit). You should read his blog. Anthony has an amazing sense of humor as well as an amazing ability to make you feel. (I realize that sounds like an incomplete sentence, but I hate to try and qualify it too much--perhaps you know what I mean.)

How do I know Anthony? He was in my ward growing up. He and his wife Maryann served many times in the Young Women and Young Men organizations and other things associated with mutual. They were the types of leaders that were also your best friends. They thought you were cool to talk to and they made no division between teaching moments and fun moments. Church lessons were entertaining. And activities, like hanging out with them at the Register's, often turned into "Aha!" learning moments.

When I was a teenager Anthony was stationed in Bosnia. For a long time. I don't know how he did it. I don't know how Maryann did it. I think he may have gone back more than once. But he was so positive, and Maryann was so positive. I remember being so excited when he came back to visit for a few days. And I remember being even more excited when he came back for good. I think Maryann painted his car in camouflage as a surprise for his return.

Several years ago Maryann passed away due to complications with the diabetes she had been struggling with for years. I remember at the viewing he was smiling and making everyone feel so good. When I walked through the line he said to me something like, "Doesn't she look just like an angel? She looks so happy." And all I could do was smile back and agree with him. I don't know how he did it.

Awhile after Maryann passed away, he met another amazing woman--Angie. They fell in love and got married. They now have 3 adorable children (I just met them for the first time yesterday). And now he's in Iraq, and I don't know how he's doing it. I don't know how Angie does it. But I'm so grateful that they are willing to put everything on the line to serve for our country. I'll never know all the fear and the heartache and the loneliness that both of them must experience, but I am inspired by them. My heart and my prayers are with them and everyone like them.

*Please feel free to correct any mistakes Kayla. My brain is so fuzzy.