For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:8-9

A little reminder of His ways as I walk the path of this earthly life. Early summer we went hiking with friends just minutes from our home. There is a spring at the top of the trail, cascading down with falls and beaver ponds. In late summer, wild raspberries grow all over. It's a fairytopia, a garden of eden, a little taste of heaven.

Especially when you enter these

little pieces

to the equation!
I just love His ways.

Tea Party

Dear Miss Wiscombe,

You are welcome to attend my evening tea tonight at approximately 5:00 pm. You may bring a guest if you wish. And we will be discussing the new book we will be reading this week.

PS You are assigned to bring fresh flowers of your choice and a jar of mandarine oranges! Thank you

Sincerely, Miss Iroz

The Best of Both Worlds

My baby is approaching his 10th birthday. This fact just might take me over the edge if I think about it for too long. I won't think about it. I'll just walk across my street and down a narrow dirt road to Ellie's house and love on her when I feel the need to nuzzle up to soft warm baby cheeks. Ellie lives with my brother, sister in law, and their other 5 children. They have another baby younger than Ellie. Don't get me started on her. She's for another day.

My dogs love to walk across the street too. Whenever they hear the happy voices in the distance they run over and play with the kids. Ellie and Gus Gus, my friendly golden retriever, have formed a special bond over the summer. Ellie finally came to her own 2 year old conclusions that there is no need to be afraid of the big walking carpet.

conclusion #1 he doesn't lick my face clean

conclusion#2 I am now as tall as Gus so we have eye contact

conclusion#3 he doesn't bark at me

conclusion#4 he has really soft warm cheeks

So when Ellie and I

need our fix,

Gus Gus and I come running!

Devil's Food

It is not a sin to bake a cake on a Saturday afternoon. I wanted to rest on Sunday. Ok, I really wanted something yummy chocolate. It is, however, a sin to bake a Devil's Food Cake. Especially if you are trying to loose pounds. We lapped up the batter like it was melted burnt almond fudge ice cream! This is my first attempt at Devil's Food. Key ingredient that makes it different than your average chocolate cake? (Not that chocolate cake is average) Almond Extract Give it a try. Just add a teaspoon of almond flavoring to your favorite chocolate cake recipe and go ahead and dance with the devil. Oh, I almost forgot! Add it to your frosting as well. Mine was the naughty butter cream! Shhhh. Don't tell anyone.

Making Changes

Reading blogs has become a daily ritual for me. I love reading about family, friends and others I don't even know. Ok, strangers. But after reading about people, I don't think of them as strangers, but friends in the blogging world. But a have a problem. I don't take the time to keep my blog updated, as my few readers know! I'm making changes that will help me be more involved in this world of blogging friends. I've decided to post tips and other thoughts that I have in my head. This will give you a window into my head or what I'm up to today. My kids just might have a part in this as well....little do they know.

Rodeo Princesses and Wranglers

If you live in a small town with horses, cowboys and rodeo princesses, then you have to go the Fourth of July Rodeo. This beautiful princess is my little neighbor and friend KB. I just love her green pants. How does a rodeo princess smile and wave while staying on her horse like that? She is so pretty. And her horse is pretty too. I was lucky to get this photo because these girls were going sooo fast around the arena.
I just love KB. She is so AMAZING.

Every year we go to the rodeo. It's great to be with the country kin folk and pay tribute to our beloved country by standing, removing our cowboy hats, holding our hands over our hearts as our American flag is taking a turn around the arena. We sang along to the National Anthem and took our seats to watch the cowboys get thrashed by the bucking horses and bully bulls. We whoop and holler and get wild and crazy! Exciting things happen at the rodeo. Sad things happen at the rodeo. There are lots of wranglers and cowboy hats and cowboy boots at the rodeo. There is always a funny clown at the rodeo.

This is Josie and our neighbor friend Puny. She's not too sure of the calf roping. This is the sad part about the rodeo. She comes from a family who enjoys all creatures great and small. Her household has 408,234 animals from all kingdoms. They even have a marsupial.

Just last week the kids were born. Less than an hour old when photos were taken. Baby goats are so cute! BTW, these are not marsupials.

Puny has been a local all her live long life and never goes to the rodeo because the cowboys do cruel things like this. ooohh, so sad! PS: She went tonight cuz we had an extra ticket cuz Clark broke his leg. We begged and pleaded and drug her to the rodeo.

Then the cowboys in their wranglers set him free, sending the poor calf with a love pat.

The Rodeo Queens are getting ready to chase the frightened calf back into the pen, all clear for the next calf in line to be chased, roped and tied up. Someone please explain to me why we all sit up in the bleachers and witness such carnage and call it entertainment!

Our niece Hannah Banana wants to be a Rodeo Princess when she grows up. I wonder if she understands the calf chasing thing?? Doesn't she look pretty in pink?

Jeffrey thinks calf roping is sad too. I might rethink the whole rodeo patriotic experience for next year. All creatures great and small should be treated as equals!

Josie found another friend. hold on while I get her attention. I think their watching a cowboy hold on for dear life while riding a bull. oh hi! Josie didn't want to go to the rodeo this year. She told us that she isn't a rodeo person. It looks like she is turning into a rodeo person. See that smile? KK has a smile for us too! Of course the girls favorite event is the barrel racing. It was getting too dark to get photos of the fast cowgirls, however. Fireworks were the finale.

update on the invalid

For all who are wondering how Clark and his leg are doing, you can keep reading. If you would like to ask him in person, just come on over and you'll find him............oh yeah, planted in the exact location last time I checked.........on the sofa in our family room. As a mom of an active teenage boy, or any aged child, this small detail is kinda nice. I always know where Clark is at any given time. Sometimes he ventures off to exciting places like the bathroom..yee yee, or up the stairs to his room or bathroom to take a bath. We're happy that he does that.

WARNING!!!!!! Photos below might gross you out. Just a warning. Tuesday, July 1st we went down to SLC to see the doctor.

First, Angelia cut off the splint.

No, it didn't stink but Clark's dried blood was green. Uhew!

I told you it was gross. But no, you didn't heed my words.

There is a long incision on the other side of leg where plate was put in.

Poor baby!
Then they took Clark to the X-ray room. I stayed in the patient room and waited patiently. dootooodooo.

another WARNING!!!!!

And here is a picture of the inside of his new leg.

The Doc pulled this image up on the screen.
And this is when Clark got ill and Angelia had to go get to oxygen tank (wasn't necessary), a cold rag, and 10 minutes to relax and take a deep breath. Kinda like how you are feeling now.

Then gave him a cool boot. It's actually hot and uncomfortable.

He can't put any pressure on leg for a couple of more weeks. We are going back on Tuesday to remove stitches. After the doctor experience we went and got yummy mexican drive thru and frozen custard and back home to the sofa. What is that around Clark's neck? Josie has been looming scarves and such while keeping Clark company in front of the ol' TV. We've been having a "Lost" fest this past week.