Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Beautiful Colorado Skies
I always think that a Colorado sky is so beautiful- but this summer it has topped even my expectations.
There was an amazing lightning storm one night while I was driving home from my parents house. I kept trying to get a picture but lightning doesn't just stay still for a picture. So I put the camera on a time lapse mode (so the shutter was open for a couple seconds and therefore could catch the lightling) but I was driving and didn't take into account the lights I was passing. So I got some really cool pictures. (I did pull over and try it but still couldn't catch the lightning).
Experimenting with Fake Eye-Lashes
The Gibson’s sent us the most amazing house warming package; Ben got tools and fix-it stuff and I got spa stuff- AWESOME!! (Thanks Gibson Family!!) The other day I was trying to apply the fake eye-lashes they sent. Having never worn fake eye-lashes I was at a slight loss. I got them on (a little gluey but on) and thought it was so funny I took pictures. I have found that when I try to take serious pictures of myself I always look weird or look unnatural (because the camera is so close). So instead of trying and failing at a good picture- I just took some weird ones, so that I was supposed to look weird.
My No Good Very Bad Day
I woke up on this wonderful Thursday Morning (September 1) thinking that all was well in the world. I woke up in a slightly heightened emotional state- which may have made everything look/feel worse then it needed.
I closed all the windows, made the bed, went running, started the sprinklers and went inside to take a shower. Our sprinklers have a timer on them, so they turn off after a certain amount of time. So I took a shower, got ready, read my book, ate breakfast all before I realized that the water was still on. I walked over to the window, to look out and check on the sprinkler when I noticed that the entire windowsill was completely covered with water, it was running down the wall and the floor was soaked. I quickly grabbed a towel to put on the sill and ran outside to turn off the water (the timer was broken). When I got inside the towel was soaked through and the water was continuing to flow down the wall. I went and got another towel and slowly cleaned up the mess (sopping up the carpet and putting a fan on it to dry). And so begins to no good very bad day.
Then I went to the computer to send out some resumes, check my e-mail, blog, ect when to my surprise it crashed (it crashed any time I tried to open anything or two things at a time). To preface this story I must explain that just a week earlier Ben’s computer died wiping the hard drive and our external hard drive. The extra computer that we got from the Davis’ refuses to turn on. So without my computer working- we had nothing (Ben managed to get my computer to work when he got home that night). So I went to the library and used their computers.
Then Ben called and said he had left something at home and asked if I would bring it to him at work (20 minutes away). I usually would not have thought second about doing this but on this no good very bad day it seemed like an extra burden and I cried all the way to his work.
The day prior to this no good very bad day we had friends over for dinner so there was half a pan of brownies (which we don’t usually have in the middle of the week). I was trying to eat said brownies to sooth my mood but they were sticking to the pan. As I tried to pry them out of the pan my hand slipped and I stabbed myself in the hand. I ran to the kitchen and got a paper towel to put pressure on my oozing palm and called Ben. The conversation went something like this, “Umm….Ben how deep do you have to be cut to go to the hospital?” “I don’t know…why?” “I just stabbed myself with a knife!”
Ben called Nedra and she came right over to see. She said she did not think it needed stitches but I should call my Mom to make sure. It just so happened that my Mom was driving home from Denver so she swung over. She said stitches were not necessary because of the angle of the cut (it did not open when I moved my fingers). But she made me wash it (with soap- aww) and helped me bandage it and ice it. Through the next couple of days I would experience severe pain in my palm and fingers, swelling, bleeding, bruising and all around unpleasantness.
Note: To heal my no good very bad wounds a friend invited me to go to yoga with her, it was so calming and relaxing (Thanks Emily). And Ben took the next day off; he made me breakfast, we went to see a movie and had a nice relaxing day together.
I closed all the windows, made the bed, went running, started the sprinklers and went inside to take a shower. Our sprinklers have a timer on them, so they turn off after a certain amount of time. So I took a shower, got ready, read my book, ate breakfast all before I realized that the water was still on. I walked over to the window, to look out and check on the sprinkler when I noticed that the entire windowsill was completely covered with water, it was running down the wall and the floor was soaked. I quickly grabbed a towel to put on the sill and ran outside to turn off the water (the timer was broken). When I got inside the towel was soaked through and the water was continuing to flow down the wall. I went and got another towel and slowly cleaned up the mess (sopping up the carpet and putting a fan on it to dry). And so begins to no good very bad day.
Then I went to the computer to send out some resumes, check my e-mail, blog, ect when to my surprise it crashed (it crashed any time I tried to open anything or two things at a time). To preface this story I must explain that just a week earlier Ben’s computer died wiping the hard drive and our external hard drive. The extra computer that we got from the Davis’ refuses to turn on. So without my computer working- we had nothing (Ben managed to get my computer to work when he got home that night). So I went to the library and used their computers.
Then Ben called and said he had left something at home and asked if I would bring it to him at work (20 minutes away). I usually would not have thought second about doing this but on this no good very bad day it seemed like an extra burden and I cried all the way to his work.
The day prior to this no good very bad day we had friends over for dinner so there was half a pan of brownies (which we don’t usually have in the middle of the week). I was trying to eat said brownies to sooth my mood but they were sticking to the pan. As I tried to pry them out of the pan my hand slipped and I stabbed myself in the hand. I ran to the kitchen and got a paper towel to put pressure on my oozing palm and called Ben. The conversation went something like this, “Umm….Ben how deep do you have to be cut to go to the hospital?” “I don’t know…why?” “I just stabbed myself with a knife!”
Ben called Nedra and she came right over to see. She said she did not think it needed stitches but I should call my Mom to make sure. It just so happened that my Mom was driving home from Denver so she swung over. She said stitches were not necessary because of the angle of the cut (it did not open when I moved my fingers). But she made me wash it (with soap- aww) and helped me bandage it and ice it. Through the next couple of days I would experience severe pain in my palm and fingers, swelling, bleeding, bruising and all around unpleasantness.
Note: To heal my no good very bad wounds a friend invited me to go to yoga with her, it was so calming and relaxing (Thanks Emily). And Ben took the next day off; he made me breakfast, we went to see a movie and had a nice relaxing day together.
New York Collage
I have been doing some crafts for the house. This is a collage that I made with Erica, Andrea and Mom. We decided to do New York City because Ben and I lived there right after we were married and it had fond memories for us. All the material is paper (except for the blue background- which is paint). It was fun to put our creative minds together and do this project. The final piece is in our game room!
Summer with the Dawson's
This summer has been so much fun with family reunions, moving to a new place and having the Dawson’s here. Here are some of the fun things we did with the Dawson’s.
I persuaded the kids to wash my car (I told them it was a fun game and they got to use the hose). They really scrubbed hard; at times I was worried for my car’s sake. Spencer even started scrubbing with his chest. It was funny to watch and great to have my car cleaned.
One night all the girls were painting our nails; Jasen got a little jealous so I painted his for him. He picked out the colors (and the patterns). His toe nails were HUGE (biggest I have seen) which was kind of gross but kind of cool because I had a much bigger canvas to paint on.
I got to go to the midnight showing of Harry Potter 7.2 with Andi, Andrew, Jasen and some of Andi’s family. It was a long wait in the line (but was very interesting watching all the people in costumes) but the movie was defiantly worth it. It was so much fun to go with them and to see that movie!!!
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| Jasen, Andrew, Mitchell and Blake |
We also went to Water World for Jasen's Birthday but I have no pictures because water and camera's don't usually get along!!
But most of the time we were just having goofing around and having fun!!
Thanks for visiting Dawson's- I love you!!
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Qualities of a Father
This past father’s day I wrote a few stories from my life about the qualities of father’s. I have recently relocated these stories and thought I would share them. So happy father’s day…
PATIENT
Ben, the youngest child of six, was constantly teased and this made him very angry. When he would get hurt or teased he would scream and get into a rage. One day, upon seeing this rage, his father took him aside. He asked his son, “Ben, does screaming and getting angry stop the pain?” The young child shrugged and admitted it did not. His father then explained that if would be a better choice upon getting hurt or teased to stop and count to 10. After taking this time to breathe and get control, then it is appropriate to deal with the situation. Ben found that after trying this he was no longer angry and as able to deal with his life in a happier and more satisfying way. His father, with loving patients, had taught Ben a lesson that would stay with him and help shape him into a great man.
FAITH
For one of our family trips we had the opportunity to visit Palmyra, the home of the young Joseph Smith. While walking through the sacred grove Ben stopped me, looked me straight in the eyes and bore his testimony of the restoration of the gospel. I had known he had a testimony but having him testify and proclaim of these truths strengthened that knowledge and strengthened my testimony through his faith.
When I went to high school I attended seminary in a building far from my school. Every morning my father would wake me up and rive me to seminary. While I was in class trying to stay awake, my father was out in the car studying his scriptures. There were countless times in which I left seminary to find my Dad so immersed in his studies that he had lost track of time. Seeing my father’s dedication to the scriptures and to his studies showed me how important it was. I began trying to get more out of seminary and to study more diligently. I am one of six children and we each graduated from seminary becayse of the dedication of our father.
LOVE
Larry is a great man but he has one flaw, he faints at the sight of blood. Loose teeth, scrapped knees or small pin pricks made him queasy and sick. One afternoon he walked to the park with his three youngest children. Soon after they arrived his youngest son, Michael, fell off the jungle gym and cracked his chin open. There was blood everywhere, mixed with gravel and tears. Larry picked up his son, and without any cloth to stop the bleeding, rested his son’s oozing chin on his shoulder to apply pressure and started to quickly make the two block walk home. The other children ran ahead to get their mother and get some first aid help. By the time Larry arrived at the home with Michael his shirt was covered in his young son’s blood and the child was soothed. Although it was very difficult for Larry to do this small task of carrying his son home it showed that he loved his children. He got over his own fears and insecurities to save/help his child.
FRIEND
My father made time to play with us and be with us. I remember countless hikes, softball practices, game nights, ect in which he was there with us. I also remember driving with him to the grocery store, just so we could talk; Getting into deep conversations about music, movies and books. This time that my father spent just being with me, getting to know my likes and dislikes and making himself available to talk created a great friendship and bond. I knew that if I ever needed him, he would not hesitate to drop everything and be there to help. I knew that if I ever needed to talk, even if it was about something bar or hard, that he would be an open listener. I knew that he would always be there to be my friend.
PRIESTHOOD DUTY
Melvin Stones was an inactive member and very rough around the edges. He drank, smoked and cursed like a sailor. Melvin had 7 children and the oldest two boys, Mike and Larry, were about to turn 12 and wanted to go to church for scouting and to get the Priesthood. Melvin took his two boys into a room, sat them down and explained to them the importance of the Priesthood. He told them that having the Priesthood was a very serious and great responsibility and that if they were going to make this decision and do this great thing that they needed to be dedicated. Although Melvin did not attend church he knew and remembered the importance of the Priesthood in his life and in the home. Mike soon got the priesthood and Larry began to attend church to receive it. Larry said that he went to church faithfully everyday since that talk with his father ad tried to learn and study the gospel as mush as possible so that he could live up to the responsibility his father explained.
CARING
Ron has a very rough exterior; he grunts for replies and keeps to himself. One day, soon after we moved in with Ron, he commented on the ragged and tattered look of my Sunday shoes. He said that they were not appropriate for church and that I should not wear them again. I felt slightly ashamed and tried to think of a way to afford a new pair of shoes. The next day Ron woke me up and told me the needed me to go somewhere with him. He took me to the store and walked me to the shoe section and said, “Pick any pain; I will get them for you.” Although I was embarrassed and didn’t want him to have to buy me shoes, I realized how much he noticed and really cared about me. It was at that point that his rough exterior melted and I knew he was a wonderful and caring father.
SACRIFICE
Lawrence Baker had fiver children and worked as a University Professor. In that time (1960s) the possession of extravagances was rare. Margaret, on of his daughter’s remembers that on occasion they would be treated to a candy bar. One candy bar for the entire family. She said that everyone, including her parents, were always so excited for this treat. They would all gather around as her father, Lawrence, opened the wrapping and began cutting the bar into small pieces. She said there was always one piece that was smaller than the rest and without hesitation her father would take this piece for himself. This seems like and insignificant even but it taught Margaret how much her parents sacrificed for her every day. She realized tat if her father sacrificed this small extravagance for his children that he must also be sacrificing more on their behalf.
PATIENT
Ben, the youngest child of six, was constantly teased and this made him very angry. When he would get hurt or teased he would scream and get into a rage. One day, upon seeing this rage, his father took him aside. He asked his son, “Ben, does screaming and getting angry stop the pain?” The young child shrugged and admitted it did not. His father then explained that if would be a better choice upon getting hurt or teased to stop and count to 10. After taking this time to breathe and get control, then it is appropriate to deal with the situation. Ben found that after trying this he was no longer angry and as able to deal with his life in a happier and more satisfying way. His father, with loving patients, had taught Ben a lesson that would stay with him and help shape him into a great man.
FAITH
For one of our family trips we had the opportunity to visit Palmyra, the home of the young Joseph Smith. While walking through the sacred grove Ben stopped me, looked me straight in the eyes and bore his testimony of the restoration of the gospel. I had known he had a testimony but having him testify and proclaim of these truths strengthened that knowledge and strengthened my testimony through his faith.
When I went to high school I attended seminary in a building far from my school. Every morning my father would wake me up and rive me to seminary. While I was in class trying to stay awake, my father was out in the car studying his scriptures. There were countless times in which I left seminary to find my Dad so immersed in his studies that he had lost track of time. Seeing my father’s dedication to the scriptures and to his studies showed me how important it was. I began trying to get more out of seminary and to study more diligently. I am one of six children and we each graduated from seminary becayse of the dedication of our father.
LOVE
Larry is a great man but he has one flaw, he faints at the sight of blood. Loose teeth, scrapped knees or small pin pricks made him queasy and sick. One afternoon he walked to the park with his three youngest children. Soon after they arrived his youngest son, Michael, fell off the jungle gym and cracked his chin open. There was blood everywhere, mixed with gravel and tears. Larry picked up his son, and without any cloth to stop the bleeding, rested his son’s oozing chin on his shoulder to apply pressure and started to quickly make the two block walk home. The other children ran ahead to get their mother and get some first aid help. By the time Larry arrived at the home with Michael his shirt was covered in his young son’s blood and the child was soothed. Although it was very difficult for Larry to do this small task of carrying his son home it showed that he loved his children. He got over his own fears and insecurities to save/help his child.
FRIEND
My father made time to play with us and be with us. I remember countless hikes, softball practices, game nights, ect in which he was there with us. I also remember driving with him to the grocery store, just so we could talk; Getting into deep conversations about music, movies and books. This time that my father spent just being with me, getting to know my likes and dislikes and making himself available to talk created a great friendship and bond. I knew that if I ever needed him, he would not hesitate to drop everything and be there to help. I knew that if I ever needed to talk, even if it was about something bar or hard, that he would be an open listener. I knew that he would always be there to be my friend.
PRIESTHOOD DUTY
Melvin Stones was an inactive member and very rough around the edges. He drank, smoked and cursed like a sailor. Melvin had 7 children and the oldest two boys, Mike and Larry, were about to turn 12 and wanted to go to church for scouting and to get the Priesthood. Melvin took his two boys into a room, sat them down and explained to them the importance of the Priesthood. He told them that having the Priesthood was a very serious and great responsibility and that if they were going to make this decision and do this great thing that they needed to be dedicated. Although Melvin did not attend church he knew and remembered the importance of the Priesthood in his life and in the home. Mike soon got the priesthood and Larry began to attend church to receive it. Larry said that he went to church faithfully everyday since that talk with his father ad tried to learn and study the gospel as mush as possible so that he could live up to the responsibility his father explained.
CARING
Ron has a very rough exterior; he grunts for replies and keeps to himself. One day, soon after we moved in with Ron, he commented on the ragged and tattered look of my Sunday shoes. He said that they were not appropriate for church and that I should not wear them again. I felt slightly ashamed and tried to think of a way to afford a new pair of shoes. The next day Ron woke me up and told me the needed me to go somewhere with him. He took me to the store and walked me to the shoe section and said, “Pick any pain; I will get them for you.” Although I was embarrassed and didn’t want him to have to buy me shoes, I realized how much he noticed and really cared about me. It was at that point that his rough exterior melted and I knew he was a wonderful and caring father.
SACRIFICE
Lawrence Baker had fiver children and worked as a University Professor. In that time (1960s) the possession of extravagances was rare. Margaret, on of his daughter’s remembers that on occasion they would be treated to a candy bar. One candy bar for the entire family. She said that everyone, including her parents, were always so excited for this treat. They would all gather around as her father, Lawrence, opened the wrapping and began cutting the bar into small pieces. She said there was always one piece that was smaller than the rest and without hesitation her father would take this piece for himself. This seems like and insignificant even but it taught Margaret how much her parents sacrificed for her every day. She realized tat if her father sacrificed this small extravagance for his children that he must also be sacrificing more on their behalf.
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Stones Family Camp-out
Mat and his family live up in beautiful Leadville, CO and so during the reunion (beginning of July) we all went up and camped at Turquoise Lake near Leadville. It was beautiful and it was so much fun to go camping with everyone again (We had six tents full). The food was amazing- Jasen is a pancake expert. The activities were awesome- baseball, biking, fishing, canoeing, hiking, games and wood chopping. We had fun stories and games around the camp fire. And we even enjoyed it in the rain!!
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| Ben was the Fishing Master!! |
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| Andrews contemplative fishing face. |
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| I guess it worked. Andrew caught the first fish and Emma caught one later. |
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| Waaa- totally self explanatory |
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| I just LOVE this picture. This is Wyatt excited!! |
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| We saw dad walking from far away and thought he looked naked. We had a good laugh about that one! |
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| Yes- he is in the dogs kennel |
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| Erica said there weren't any pictures of me on my camera so she took a 'Good Morning' shot. Lovely! |
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| This is Taylor and Tonks in a thoughtful model pose. |
The second day we went to the Leadville National Fish Hatchery. It was cool to see all the fish in these tanks. There were signs that said not to touch the water but honestly with 6 kids (and Michael David) that was more of a…guideline. We went on a gorgeous hike by the hatchery that ended at a park where we played horse shoes. It was so much fun to be out in nature with family and just get dirty!
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| Michael exemplifies the rule of... |
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| 'Don't touch the water!' |
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| Look at the poor crooked fish |
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| Dad and my new favorite Balderdash word! |
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