Everyone loves Spring...

...except me! For so many reasons, I loathe springtime in southeastern Idaho. Is it winter, is it summer, is it snowing or raining or warm and sunny? Blaaahhh. One fine day we're able to be out enjoying the warmth, working in the yard and having fires in the firepit...

and the very next day we could wake up to this, after a huge wind storm, snow flurries and a plummet in the temperatures...

In the few minutes it's taking me to post this blog, it has literally gone from huge snowflakes blowing wildly, to the sun shining brightly, and a little rain in between. I guess one consolation is that at least our summers are mild, never too hot or humid, and that is one thing I love about living here. But those days cannot come too soon for me!

I can't believe my eyes...

I'd say we're pretty blessed. :)

We'll take it when it comes...

Today it has been a balmy 75 degrees! This morning we had Cub Scouts, at which Chris was a huge help and came to talk to the boys about being a police officer and what they can do to be good citizens. (It's actually one of the requirements for the Bears to meet with a law enforcement officer and learn these things, so how convenient for us that we have a resident Trooper!) Thanks, Chris. You did an awesome job, and hopefully the boys learned something, but they seemed to enjoy talking about your gun and getting to see your car and hear the sirens the most.



When we came home, the kids got their bathing suits on and helped their daddy wash his patrol car, then they ran through the sprinkler. Chris also planted starters for some garden huckleberries, tomato plants, pink daisies and some other blue flowers, I can't remember what they're called. I'm sure this great weather will be short lived, this being Eastern Idaho, after all, we may still be in for some snow! So we'll just enjoy it while we can.

My uncle Kevin.

One of my uncle's co-workers has set up a web page with information and updates on his status since suffering a stroke on March 31. I just thought I would post the link here on my blog, for anyone interested in reading about him, learning more about strokes, or even making a contribution to aid in his recovery. http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/kevinstellingworth

Facing Challenges and Difficulties

"Mortality is a period of testing, a time to prove ourselves worthy to return to the presence of our Heavenly Father. In order to be tested, we must sometimes face challenges and difficulties. At times there appears to be no light at the tunnel's end—no dawn to break the night's darkness. We feel surrounded by the pain of broken hearts, the disappointment of shattered dreams, and the despair of vanished hopes. We join in uttering the biblical plea 'Is there no balm in Gilead?' (Jeremiah 8:22). We are inclined to view our own personal misfortunes through the distorted prism of pessimism. We feel abandoned, heartbroken, alone. If you find yourself in such a situation, I plead with you to turn to our Heavenly Father in faith. He will lift you and guide you. He will not always take your afflictions from you, but He will comfort and lead you with love through whatever storm you face."

Thomas S. Monson, "Looking Back and Moving Forward," Ensign, May 2008, 90

Topics: Love, Purpose of Mortality, Adversity

First camping of the year.

This week the children are on their spring break, so we took advantage of Chris having mid-week days off from work and went camping. On Tuesday morning, when we had planned to leave, we woke up to several fresh inches of snow, but we decided to go ahead with our plans. The campground is only about 30 miles away, so we figured if it was too terrible, we could just come home. Thankfully the snow had melted at the campground, and the sun did show itself a few times (the kids even got a little sunburn on their faces), but it was very windy and still cold. It was lots of fun, though, and the kids had a great time climbing rocks, going on hikes, riding their bikes and scooters, and just running around. It felt good to be outdoors and spending time together as a family. I was able to keep my training runs the same as on my schedule, so this morning I did a 4 mile run on a trail that actually took me along the Snake River and to a monument dedicated to the pioneers of the Oregon Trail. On my way back to the campground, at one point I was running up a slight hill when I turned a bend in the road and encountered a coyote right in front of me. Pretty much scared the crap out of me! Good thing they're skittish and when I yelled at it and clapped my hands a few times, it took off running. I was just so glad it wasn't a mountain lion. I have an honest fear of being attacked by one of those sneaky suckers!

My heart and mind are still with my family members in Michigan who are dealing with so many hardships right now, and though not a total distraction, we had a good time, the kids were mostly well-behaved and it was nice to get out of the house for a few days. Here are some pictures: (I've also posted a few additional pictures on my Facebook page, for those who are interested...http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?ref=profile&id=1215145985

Easter morning.

The kids' Easter baskets.
I love how I caught Noah and Sam in action, hunting down those eggs!
Nicolas and Sophia posing in their new rainboots.
Sam took a break from playing Conference Bingo to play with Zipper. That game was seriously the best thing to get the kids to pay attention to Conference.

I'm sad.

Easter weekend is always fun: the kids' excitement about getting their baskets filled, coloring eggs, we've already watched "The Easter Dream", and this year had the added bonus of having General Conference of the LDS church to watch on TV. All these fun memories have been overshadowed by sadness, for me at least, as I received word today that my beloved uncle, who lives on the other side of the country with the rest of my family, has had a massive stroke. He is alive, though I will not say thankfully, since he is in critical condition and his prognosis does not look good. My extended family is relatively small, and when I was little, my uncle Kevin always treated me and my brother like we were his own, as he and his wife had no children of their own. It's always heartbreaking to me when it seems like certain individuals get dealt more than their share of difficulties in life. He lost his wife about 15 years ago, and just a year ago he also lost his dad (my grandfather), who was basically his best friend through the years. He is a good man, with a generous and kind heart, and right now my thoughts and prayers are with him, with hopes that his suffering will be minimized and mercy will be on his side.

I was 5 years old in this photo, and it's always been one of my favorites.

Here he is in uniform. He spent his entire grown life in service as a law enforcement officer, working his way up in the ranks.

This photo was taken in June of 2008, when our family made a trip to Michigan, the first for our kids.