End of the Grants

In our little town, and our little school, there is only one Grant family. It is us. In 2007 Collin entered the doors or good old South Fremont High as th first and only Grant to attend and this last week, the twins, Adri and Katy walked out the doors as the last of our family to graduate. (I was once told that no other Grant family has ever gone to school here but I don't know if that is true.) South Fremont has been a good place for the kids. They have had good friends, lots of fun, opportunities to be involved and lead, and have become well educated. I'm grateful for the wonderful place it has been for our family. However, I am also sad that it is over. No longer am I obligated to attend games, concerts, graduations, plays, or other activities. That seems a little weird. There were times when I felt I lived there. 

Congratulations to all four of these great South Fremont grads. I love them all!

Life is good - and new adventures are just around the corner.

Eighteen Years Old

This is a special day. Today the twins turned 18. The big 1 and 8. I can't believe it. So many changes will come in the next year for them and us. They will graduate from high school on May 25th. Whoa!!!! So excited for them but also excited for me because I will not be helping to write papers, or at least feeling the pressure of getting them to write papers. Then, two days later, the twins move out and into a house in West Yellowstone with their friends and will work for five months. I don't know what I will do without their laughing and quoting television shows at every meal. What will I trip over as I walk in the door? Their shoes will not be there. The very long hair will not be woven through the fibers of every shirt I pull out of the dryer. I'm going to miss them. 

When their work is completed in West they will both head to college and will find new adventures and opportunities. Their will build new friendships and relationships. They won't need me as much then. That is exactly as it should be but I would be lying if I didn't say that hurts my heart a lot. After a semester of college they will be off on their missions which will bring a whole new element to everything. Actually, as I write this I realize this is my last month to enjoy the twinners just as I always have - close beside me.

I have told people that I am so excited for these girls to go, to move out, leave me as an empty nester. All the quarrels and messes leave with them. But that isn't true. I'm not one bit happy for them to go. I'm not ready. But, they are. That's what is important and what we have been preparing them for. I'm so proud of them. 

So, happy birthday Adri and Katy, Twin A and Twin B, or my Twinners. I love you more than you will ever know!

Life is good - 18 years of looking at these beautiful miracles has helped make it so.

Being Better

I have sat quietly tonight, after watching a movie that got me to thinking, contemplating the current status of my existence. I don't say too much about my thoughts and what I think because they usually aren't that valid and I never want to be judged by others for the things I think. (That is stupid, I know.) But, recent world events, political strife, and general uncertainty have made me decide to write a few things in the blog that no one reads (I read it and so I can go back and read it again and again if I need a reminder).

First, I have been so overwhelmed because of frustration, discouragement, rejection, roadblocks, and hurdles that my children face. There was a time, when the kids were younger and I thought life could not get more difficult, that I actually wished their childhood away and hoped for adulthood. How stupid was that? I would give anything to go back to the days when the twins were uncontrollable, band-aids were put on every three seconds, kids squabbled over everything, homework was always needing to be checked, someone had to be run somewhere, the house was a disaster, and someone hated every meal that was fixed. But, I could hug my kids every single day. I could sit with them at the table and help with homework. I could rock them in the chair and read them stories. I could listen to them read to me. Those times were so much easier than the pains that are felt as children are hurting. Man I love these kids. I wish I could help them escape the trials that help them grow. But where would they be then? They have to experience all of them to make them strong enough to face the future. I just don't like it. And I miss them terribly. (Okay the twins are still here but only for a couple months more.)

Next, my life is not charmed. It is difficult, at best, some days. There are weeks that nothing seems to go right. We don't have all the things we want, heck, we can't always even have all the things we need. However, I am so blessed. Today while watching a move, The Butler, I realized that I am totally free. I make the choices I want. Do what I want. See what I want. And I can be what I want. There is nothing, save it be myself, to hold me back. I have become the person I have wanted to be. I am happy with who I am. No one has ever told me I can't do something because of the color of my skin, because of my religion, or because of my situation. I am so grateful for that. I don't understand people that hold others back. Why should I care where another person is from or what they look like or what God they pray to, or if they don't believe in a god at all. I am here to find joy in this life and bring joy to others. I don't want to be a roadblock in another's life and progress. I truly believe that we should all be free to find joy. I am blessed! What a wonderful life I have.

And last, after learning of bombings, verbal and physical fights among candidates running for President (are these people seven years old? I deal with this stuff on the playground daily.) and a general disregard for other humans, I decided to take a stand where I am. I am going to be a bigger person. I don't want to add one more second of negativity to this world. Martin Luther King Jr. said something about dark can not get rid of darkness. Only light has the ability to rid the world of darkness. I am going to be a light. One little light doesn't do much but if I can influence another someone to be a light and that influence inspires another light and it continues then I have made a difference. We can all make a difference. We have got to stop hating and stop all the ugliness. We can be better than this. I'm going to be better, starting right now. 

Life is good - and I am going to help make it better.

Heart Full of Thanks Day #4

I'm thankful that the weatherman can be wrong. I fully expected to wake up to three inches of snow on the ground. But when I peered through the window, early this morning, I saw green grass and heard rustling leaves. Yay for the wrong forecast! Makes me happy.

A Heart Full of Thanks Day #3

I'm thankful for my good husband who is so wonderful and supportive. He makes dinner when I'm not going to be home early. He supports me in my wild hair-brained ideas like taking a second job and then happily he does the dishes when I have to go back to my first job to finish up some things for the next day. He is so awesome. Love you, Trent!

A Heart Full of Thanks Day 2

Today I am thankful for opportunities to learn new things, meet new people, and take steps into the unknown. It isn't easy, mostly terrifying, but it is good for me. I have an additional job. It is very little. I am a therapist that helps with reading problems in an optometrist office. I've known nothing about vision therapy until I started - at least I thought I didn't. Turns out I knew more than I thinking. I do a lot of the therapy procedures in my class but I just did it to help readers. Each job is teaching me something new to use in the other job. I've met some great people and work with marvelous patients. It is a nice new challenge.

A Heart Full of Thanks Day 1

Today I am thankful for Primary music and children that sing them. I have been the chorister in our Primary for two and a half years. I love it there. I love all the songs. I sing them while I'm falling asleep (in my head, of course). I sing them when I wake up and can't fall asleep. I sing them out loud as I walk to school and when I come home. I just love them.

Seeing the Beauty of Fall

Six months ago I blogged about spring and how nice it was to experience the season. Well' I'm here to blog about autumn.I haven't been known to love fall because it seems that this neck of the woods has a week, maybe two, of what I would call autumn weather and then BAM! snow hits and it is winter. But, this last month has been spectacular. We have cool mornings and then wonderfully warm afternoons and evenings. It is the kind of weather that you must dress one way for mornings and then another way for the afternoon. And with this fantastic weather has come beautiful colors to enjoy. The leaves have lingered in their perfect color array for much longer than normal. The yellows, oranges and reds cling to the branches and gently twirls to the ground as opposed to yellow to brown to ground in seconds. I am loving it! 

My favorite part has been the near daily chore of raking leaves. We rake in the afternoon and by morning, as I step out for my short jaunt to school, the grass is covered again. I don't mind it because I know that the entire time I'm outside I am "stealing" away the memories of a fall that hasn't been seen before and may not be seen again. I wish this blog could have smell-a-vision so I could share the scent of those leaves as they are pushed and pulled into small piles dotting the yard. It is wonderful! 

Life is good! I do love the changing seasons of 2015. And I'd better go take Buddy for a walk before it is too cold and we aren't able.

The Bike Rides

I have been wanting to go on a long bike ride for some time now. Actually, I love any bike ride. So when my nephew asked me to ride with him to Grandma's it sounded like a great idea. He asked his friend. liam, to come. I asked him mom to come, too. Sixteen miles later we arrived. He enjoyed lots of giggles and smooth roads without much traffic. Nephew Quincy was happy but tired and had no intention of returning home on the bike. I didn't either, at first. But after resting for a few minutes I could have returned ... Just more slowly. We hitched a ride back instead. And Quincy and Liam were able to check off a requirement for their biking merit badge.

That ride got me thinking about riding further and exploring more. I had heard of a trail that went between Ashton and Tetonia, following along an old railroad line. It isn't paved and doesn't follow the road. Quincy needed a 25 miler so this trail would be perfect for him. So, Cristy, Quincy, and I decided to go. Then, as a bonus, Trent decided to go with us. It was a lot more fun with him. We started in Tetonia and began the journey. It was awesome! The views were spectacular. I will say, we were all doing well until we had to take a detour due to lack of rights on the trail. That detour was a killer!!!! Not just a little killer but a giant killer. The road went through a field that hadn't been water and the powdery dirt was a couple inches in some spots while we climbed hills. I think I was close to death. I also began to notice the horrid saddle soreness that was developing. Continued perseverance got us to the end where Tom picked us up, we drank Gatorade, and ate crackers. I felt much better after that. I am so excited to do that trail again.

Starting out in Tetonia.

Sights seen on the road less traveled.

One of three trestles we crossed.

The dreaded grain field road of dust and hills.

We could see the Tetons most of the way along the trail.

A happy crew. So much fun.

First Day

Today was the first day of school. Just two kids in school again. This was the first of their last. One year left. They are brave and good and kind. They are also a little nervous for the future. I don't blame them. I am nervous for them. It is an exciting and troubling time.

I began my first day of my eleventh year in second grade. I have NEVER been nervous before. This morning I woke up with nausea. I just wanted to throw up. It got worse until I got to school and saw that none of those twenty-five students were scary or mean. I could handle them. They were actually cute and have a funny sense of humor. I think I'll like them.

Summer Favorite

It must be July because the raspberries are bursting out. Tomorrow begins a morning ritual of picking but today it was just a little picking to top our ice cream. DELICIOUS!!!!

Summer Arrives!!!

We are now into our second week of summer vacation. We have had so much fun. Even while washing walls, the girls and I have been able to laugh. That Katy-girl is a crack up. We have also kayaked a couple times. June is not usually warm but it has been a perfect 80 degrees nearly every day. We also had a fun day cleaning up the yard at Grandma and Grandpa Grant's house with the cousins. Not a bad beginning.

Plans for the summer include a week long conference on rocks and mining, ( I know it sounds exciting!) a week at girls camp, (Bring on the mosquitoes!), and  family celebrations for the Fourth of July and Pioneer Days. We also have a a big family reunion/vacation planned for the Oregon Coast. We are so excited about that!!!

Along with yard work, de-cluttering, and day activities around here, we will be busy and really enjoying ourselves. Bring on Summer!!!!!

So This is Spring

We have one of the most spectacular Springs in the history of forever. It has allowed us to experience outdoor adventures much earlier than previously known to those who live in our neck of the woods. So Trent, Buddy, and I have walked many miles up and down the Greenway trails. I've also been able to ride my bike a lot. I love that bike!

Tonight, Buddy and I set out a little late but our timing was perfect for seeing a gorgeous sunset. We had to run or it was going to be too dark on the way back. Now we are both very tired and coughing like we are about to die. We'll feel better in about an hour.

Life is good. I really LOVE Idaho. And it is nice to know what a real Spring is.

And Even More Small Town News

SOUTH FREMONT BRINGS HOME THE FIRST, YES FIRST, STATE HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP TROPHY! Yes I was yelling that. Because we're South Fremont and couldn't be prouder and I can yell a whole lot louder.

In More Small Town News

When small things happen in a big town only a few people notice. Fortunately, and unfortunately, when small things happen in a small town then everyone notices. But when something big happens in a little place then it seems the entire world is fixated and focused. Right now, our small high school, with its small studentbody, and its unassuming boys basketball team is the talk of the town and rightfully so. Today at 3:50 the boys play for the state title. I went back in the history books to see when the last time was that South Fremont won a basketball title and I got bored looking for it. Must have been awhile.

The best part is how there is so much support for them. Our little food joint, Big J's, has pulled in family members, retired workers, and possibly people off the streets (j/k) to fill working spots so every high school employee could go to Boise for the games. It is broadcast live on the Internet and I don't know of a single household who hasn't been watching or at least getting frequent updates from someone watching. The band was sent over and has played their hearts out. Most of the faculty from the schools was gone because those boys are OUR boys. They all need to be there to cheer and jeer. Unifying a community takes a lot of people and that is what is happening.

So ... GO COUGARS!!!!!

It's a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

I ran to Rexburg after school to get a new harness for Buddy. His old one is so weird that I can't figure it out and it isn't very comfortable for him, either. Upon my return, Buddy and I went for a walk along the Greenway. This was the first adventure of many along this beautiful trail. Buddy's new harness was perfect and he loved it. He also went for a swim in the beautifully clear and freezing cold water. He is a happy puppy today.

Friends

This is my friend Emily Rice. We have been friends for a long time. We met when Trent was attending BYU for Law School and her husband was in graduate school. We lived in the same apartment quad where each day our children played outside together. We had good times together like pushing our children up the Temple hill to the park, participating in EARLY morning deep water aerobics, swimming at the Towers pool, attending the dinosaur museum, and talking for hours. That all happened when our oldest two children were four years old or younger. Now they are in their twenties. A lot of time has passed and we can't do those same things anymore. We live in two different states and have busy lives. But, on those rare occasions when we do get together we can still talk for hours. I'm so grateful that I am able to visit with her like we did during those good 'ol days. 

Small Town Grocery Stores

Living in a small has its disadvantages and I am well aware of many of them. Like, there are no museums to go to. You have to find your own fun. And there isn't a lot of shopping. But, there are advantages too. Like, the pace is pretty slow. You know a lot of people and can wave to everyone. And, there is a small town grocery store. I love ours. It usually has what you need just not everything that you want. I almost always see someone to chat with for a second. 

Tonight, my sister and her husband were there. They bought a lot more than us and we were at the check out together. We were talking with the cashier, manager, and each other about a particular item they were out of and were getting rainchecks when my sister's purchase was completed or at least it seemed completed. Then it was our turn. They left and we proceeded to purchase our groceries. We didn't need a lot but when the cashier was finished scanning our items the total was over $100. I was dumbfounded. This is about all we got. There may have been a little bit more but not enough to total that much.

Upon closer inspection of the screen, I saw the things that my sister had purchased. They hadn't finished their transaction. All of our talking had gotten everyone distracted. We had a great laugh while we waited for them to come back to the store to buy their stuff. It was very funny. That is the kind of stuff that can happen in a small town grocery store and no one got too worked up about it. 

The Super Bowl

It isn't as much fun to watch the Super Bowl when you want both teams to lose. I found myself in-cheering both teams at times. But, we did and unfortunately, or fortunately, the Patriots won. Personally, I think the biggest winner was the Chevy ad that had us all thinking our TVs had gone out right before the games started. It was funny. Our party was small with just the four of us who occupy this house on a full-time basis attending. It was quiet, perfect for a little snooze, and very low key. We did have some snacks. I think it was almost perfect - could have only been better if the other two members of the clan were here.

A New Delicious Delight

HONEYCRISP apples. Sweet yet tart. Crunchy and juicy. Nature's great snack has been perfected. I could eat them all day - but they are expensive and I am cheap. I can only enjoy them occasionally. The real treat is a glass of honey crisp apple juice. Now that is pure joy in a cup.