37...

Just celebrated our 37 year anniversary.  No fan fare or glitz, just a regular low key night.  Due to the travel we have done this summer, budget, and being worn out, it was okay with me.  Why, because I am taken care of, and treated well, everyday.  Everyday is a celebration of our anniversary because of this. Flowers  wilt, gifts loose their luster, fancy foods to extra pounds, but good are those feelings of friendship, companionship, charity, and love. I love my husband.

Taking the Scenic Route

It was hard to come back to Texas, but at least I talked Rick into my favorite route. Down to Spanish Fork Canyon, over to Price, east to Grand Junction, Colorado, down to  Fruita, Montrose, up to Ouray, and  to the summit Silverton, and  desend  to Durango across to Pagosa Springs, an absolute must for everyone.

The ascent.











 You go straight to the top.

 Isn't this beautiful!

 Ouray, Colorado loved the architecture in this quaint town.

  Doesn't this look like a painting?

 Never guess what happened here...

The summit.

The descent.

Chimney Rock

It was worth the extra hour.  Aren't God's creations beautiful?  And isn't taking time to take the scenic route great. It was good to be out and about.

Homeward Bound

Well we just returned from our trip.  As predicted some happy and some sad, but glad we took the time to go up. We have always had things that came up that prevented us from traveling to my reunion,but this year I told Rick we had to go.  We left  on a Saturday morning with a fully loaded car.  We took the Dallas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Denver,Colorado, route to Vernal,  Utah.  We travel 14 hours the first day, and  9 the second. My first glimpse of the Rockies got me more excited about the trip.

We got to Vernal early evening on Sunday.  We went to visit Rick's Mom, that night.  The next morning we got up, ate breakfast, and grabbed one for Mom and headed over to Moms.  Nothing could have prepared me for her frailty.  She has lost an incredible amount of weight and her mind as most do, is fading.  We had a good visit.  We took some things out of the house up to DI to make it safer for her to get around, found some music for the reunion, reviewed some bills and got rid of extra cost, and talked.

Tuesday Rick went with his family and I stayed with Mom.  We went to the cemetery, to see Dad's grave, took some more things to DI and went and grabbed a burger for lunch.  We drove to the tree shaded street that Dad and Her would eat under, before Dad passed away.  I got her packed to go to the reunion, and vacuumed for her.  Then we took off to Salt Lake.

We hadn't been to Salt Lake in 5 years and were excited to see the changes. First stop, down town, City Creek Center, my what an impressive place.  The LDS Church bought the property and restored and revitalized  it. It was stunning.

And who could ever get tired of looking at the Temple.  Special for me, because that is where we were married.


Then it was off for the best hamburger ever, and best of all, to see my favorite Virginians.

Then our old neighbors invited us to come for a get together. It was one of the highlights of our trip.  We love these guys!

Then up to Heber Valley Camp.  The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has the most awesome camp above the Heber Valley.  It is run by 68 Missionary couples, if I go on a mission it will be there.  I will have to convince my husband to buy a trailer and a 4 wheeler but for 224.00 a month I can handle that. Plus, who wouldn't want to live there. Visiting, hikes, watching the wildlife, playing, singing, eating, and reconnecting family bonds.

I borrowed this picture of my sweet Mom and my little brothers.  We didn't get to stay on Saturday to see them, I wish we could have. I almost feel like their second Mom, being the second oldest of 10, I baby sat a lot.

Bubbles and sticks.                                                                                  

Babies galore this year. Becky's family provided 3 of them.













Cutie Laynie found a frog. No fear with her she picked it right up.


Brother, Allen's family in the back ground. Anna and Morgan Daily.

Becky and DJ had their hands full as they were in charge of two of their grandsons. They deserve a medal!

Gavin and Rick had a great time.  They built Legos, played tic-tac-toe, and talked.

Rick and I had a great time visiting with Mom and most of the relatives, we missed some though. We enjoyed the beautiful weather and NO humidity!

So good to see Jamie and his family we have missed them a lot.  Hope we see them sooner than later. We were glad we made the effort to come and attend our Sowards 2012 Reunion.

DUCT TAPE

This isn't my normal went somewhere, did something fun, kind of post.  It isn't a post full of cute pictures of grand kids. We are going home for a family reunion, and a brief visit to our old stomping grounds in West Jordan, Utah where we raised our family. I am excited and apprehensive at the same time.  So many of our trips home have been centered around weddings of our children, and saying goodbye to loved ones that have passed on, both of which have made me happy and sad. They were expensive, stressful, and never just time to sit and take it all in.

I am hoping that this trip will be a happy one, but reality there are things that need to be addressed while there. My friend just said in her blog that there was no DRAMA at their family gathering, I was impressed! So here is to hoping all goes well.  I have been told I am a know it all, I don't try to be.  I have a bad habit of wanting things to be fixed when they are broken,  problems to be outwardly and honestly stated, and misunderstandings to be resolved.  I don't care much for being politically correct when things need to be done. What I am saying is that I just fail miserably when it comes to saying. "We can do this, things will work out, or let's get things resolved!"

I pray that I can keep my mouth shut, my opinions to myself, and just enjoy the time I have with those I care about.  I have thought about duct tape.