We have family in HIGH places.

We took a trip to the Albuquerque Temple. We attended an endowment session and then the kids did baptisms. G&G Udall are in the temple presidency. (Soon to be going to Tampico Mexico Temple to be the President & Matron there.)

Family Reunion means. . . .

snuggling with babies
and toddlers
games with cousins
taking a hike together
and FOOD! - (that's why we had to take the hike)
(DUH - Did I mention we have our own recipe book and food blog?)

Diamonds in the rough

Down at the baseball diamond, the boys were playing games day . . .

and night
(pretty late for a school night in fact)

^see his coach back there - CRAZY guy , I should have recorded the wild cheers he had them do.
Sully had a fun season playing with this team.

They both played 2nd base some, Mitchell also played out field and Sully catcher
(This really wears him out, but he did well.)
We sat in the bitter cold with the wind blowing like crazy watching these games.
Too bad the dome isn't made for baseball.


Next to the HS baseball field we would also watch softball

She played on both JV (#10) and varsity (#2)
also 2nd base and outfield like her brothers.
Consequently we were there for several hours watching - going back and forth between the BB & SB fields depending on if she or Mitchell were batting, or fielding.

Listen up! Ladies - go 2 then 1

She even had a home run!!!

And the varsity softball went to state semi-finals!

So what's our favorite sport?
Whichever one our kids are playing in at the moment.

We can do hard things

Next to giving birth, this is the hardest thing I've ever done, but the reward was worth every step.
And unoffically, we do now have 13 more kids. :)
We were MA & PA on the Eagar Stake Trek.

This is our family.

"Shall the youth of Zion falter?" - not these kids.

This was on the trail about 10pm, the kids were so exhausted, if we stopped for a second, they collapsed.
Then would get back up and trek on.

This part of the trail was pretty smooth, however,
the part in the DARK was INSANE -
steep up AND down, rocky and even muddy at times.
There was also a cattleguard to cross - IN THE DARK.
There was no moon and with the thick pines and narrow trail, we had NO idea if we were even on the right trail. It didn't help that because of carts stopping for various reasons, we all were split up and couldn't see or hear any carts around.
For our Sunday drive, we tried to retrace it in the truck, but had to stop because it was sooo rocky it was going to puncture a tire. I still can't believe we did it.

The food tasted wonderful - even if it was mush, or crakked wheat.

Or a luxury - Biscuits - thanks to a very handy son.

It's hard to put into words the bond we created through that experience,
how much we all grew
or the gratitude we feel for the pioneers.
We will never forget this.

This Ain't Nothin'

Tonight as I got in the truck following a flashlight vigil at the high school, this is the song that was on the radio. . .

He was standing in the rubble of an old farmhouse outside Birmingham
When some on the scene reporter stuck a camera in the face of that old man
He said "tell the folks please mister, what are you gonna do
Now that this twister has taken all that's dear to you"
The old man just smiled and said "boy let me tell you something, this ain't nothing"

He said "I learned at an early age,
There's things that matter and there's things that don't
So if you're waiting here for me to cry,
I to disappoint you boy, but I won't"

Then he reached down in the rubble and picked up a photograph
Wiped the dirt off of it with the hand that he still had
He put it to his lips and said "man she was something
But this ain't nothin'"

***************************

A week ago today, we were in Utah at the family reunion. Trav's phone started ringing with calls from NBC, and CBS wanting information about the plane crash. Then Kathy, his secretary, called with the news. A plane had crashed into the high school and it was on fire. I got online and found a flight from SLC to PHX. BIL Matt drove him to airport and then Trav drove the passing league players home in the van from ASU. Saturday was filled with figuring out the details. The Ulrich family on their way to the Grand Canyon from Florida had problems and crashed. All four died. Dad, Mom and 2 beautiful daughters. It is heartbreaking to imagine.
It was a long drive home for me without Travis. But we made it safe and have wonderful memories of great times with the family. (Well most of them - j/k)

Many small miracles prevented anyone on the ground from being injured.
The memorial program tonight was to remember the Ulrichs.
Our trek son Devon played his lovely violin.
He has a wonderful touch on the strings
"If you could hie to kolob" is my favorite.
Various community members - firefighter, councilman, Pres. Hunt, and Travis gave touching remarks.
It was a humbling experience to have such a gathering
(300 people or more) for total strangers.
This community is amazing!

Now we are looking at a crazy summer handling all the rebuilding process.
As I teacher, I honestly hurt for all that was lost in the building.
I can't imagine if my classroom were gone - all the hours of lessons developed, props, pictures of years past.
But in the grand scheme of things. . .
It's true. . . This ain't nothin'

But Man. . .
THESE GUYS ARE SOMETHIN'

2010 Family Reunion
(Missing Travis, Keegan, Camie, Tommy, Elder Udall & Mitchell)

To the Ulrich family ~ although we never met, we will never forget you
God give comfort to your family and friends.

Temple Stories

Last Sunday instead of our regular 3 hour block of meetings we had the broadcast of the dedication for the Gila Valley Temple. We had to get a dedication recommend to go. Only baptized members could go, so there were no youth under 8 years old, which made for a very quiet meeting. President Monson, Eyring and Elder Holland were there. The weather was cold and very windy, and the satellite transmission kept flaking out with the screen going black and sound off, off-and-on throughout the dedication. HOWEVER interestingly it never was interrupted during the actual dedication prayer. We heard every word. Hmmmmm. . .
My mom's family all are from "the Gila Valley." And the whole time I could feel the joy of Grandpa and Grandma Beals, Great-Grandpa and Grandma Beals and Fuller as they certainly were there.
On Friday we met at the church at 6am for a youth temple trip. Even though I am now in primary, I drove the van full of YW. We had a great group and I love going. President Tenney (my former stake president) always takes time to come into our chapel services and give us inspiration. Of course Bishop Hamblin does too. It is amazing to me that with all the meetings our Bishop has, he always comes on the youth temple trips (and we have had them at least every 2 months during the time I have been in.)

I don't know why, but I have been cursed on these temple trips to cause some sort of problem to make me look bad.

One time I hadn't checked if I had gas and the YW had to pray from Green's Peak to Show Low that we wouldn't run out.

Another time, my recommend was expired. (Actually in my defense, it was right when they switched to the bar-coded ones and I thought they were good for 2 years, but they were only temporary until your next regular expiration).

Another time I ended up not driving, but hopping in the Hamblin's car with the YW and left my bag in my van and had NO recommend. The bishop had to vouch for me both times and luckily the temple president was one time Pres. Larry Brewer (my former stake president) and then Pres. Tenney. ( I have friends in HIGH places.)

Another time another car did not YIELD coming from SJ @ 60/61 fork and almost ran into us.

Another time we were waiting for the boys in the MP room and the YW were hoping to get some "teeny cough drops" from the temple workers and I seriously started coughing like crazy, of course not on purpose, but they thought I was.

So this time we finished way before the boys and I took the 6 "non-hamblin" YW to MickeyD's. Then my mom called and told us to come by for a "teeny cough drop" and brownies fresh from the oven. So I made the detour. As I was driving down the lane to their house, I pulled in to see the new barn they are building, and there was a sub-contractor there. He bent over, and I kid not, the plumber's cr*ck was half a foot long. Sterling started screaming and was trying to roll down the window. All the YW are freaking out. And I was trying to turn around and get the heck out of dodge. . . .

So Sunday, the Bishop tells me he heard I corrupted the YW on the temple trip. I told him "Good thing you released me." :}

Ready. . . Aim . . .

FIRE!

TAKE COVER!

These guys don't deserve to get trophies for a science project that was pure FUN!

Sully has a system for science fair.
Find a friend,
find a cool project,
and do it without even bothering your mom!!!!
(Except when you forgot to read the directions on the size of the board - GRRRRR!)