Sunday, December 27, 2015

life and death and life



Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened.
-ANATOLE FRANCE

In this first photo, beyond Addi's hair and falls' dried out sunflowers, lay the vast expanse of our spring green pasture. Beyond that; our neighborhood, Payson city, and Dry mountain. But, just to the other side of the yellow ditch line lay two little unmarked graves. Addi made me aware of this yesterday morning while we were burning the weeds along the ditch banks and fence lines. These 2 particular spots are the resting places of little kittens born last spring. While my sister was visiting, her dog managed to get to the kittens and killed the whole litter. Tried to save some but to no avail. So sad.


“It always amazes me to look at the little, wrinkled brown seeds and think of the rainbows in 'em," said Captain Jim. "When I ponder on them seeds I don't find it nowise hard to believe that we've got souls that'll live in other worlds. You couldn't hardly believe there was life in them tiny things, some no bigger than grains of dust, let alone colour and scent, if you hadn't seen the miracle, could you?”
-L.M. Montgomery, Anne's House of Dreams

As Addi and I continued with our clean up we came across other little burial plots of animals we have loved and lost. A pile of regular old rocks at the base of a cedar post marks the grave of Sandra the rat, whom you may have seen in previous posts. Tumor on her tummy that healed and then she lost and eye. Rats are very fun pets and the kids loved them so much. Did not love cleaning there cages.





Kait took the time to place this rock on Ricky's grave. We finally talked Dad into letting us keep one of Izzy's puppies. Little red and white sleek pretty puppy. She was a good dog. She must have run out into the road one morning when Kait was the only one home. Someone carried her from the road and placed her little body near the front step and rang the doorbell. Kait buried her that afternoon. Thank you Kait.
Gyro the lamb. Grave marker, particle board and permanent sharpie marker. Our neighbors, the Beckstroms were kind enough to let us try our best to raise a few little bum lambs one spring. Also pictured in previous posts. Even after the Beckstroms gave them a good start and passed them on too us, we had a hard time keeping them alive. One survived. Thank you Beckstroms. One thing in life that is so cute, and gives you a happy feeling, is a little lamb pushing at the nipple on a pop bottle full of warm milk , excitedly waggling its woolly tail. (punctuations needed somewhere in that sentance) I am glad my kids could experience this, just like I did when I was a little girl.

Voodoo was a little black rabbit that we brought home from a visit to a sisters. Had no idea Bronson had painstakingly put the time into roughly carving his name into this little headstone.  He was just found dead in his cage.  We would let him out to nibble on the weeds and grass.  We think he may have eaten some that had been sprayed with poison.



Adapt yourself to the things among which your lot has been cast and love sincerely the fellow creatures with whom destiny has ordained that you shall live.
                                                                               -Marcus Aurelius

 
Binx and Ashes.  I dont even know who or what they were.  These were stumbled upon while taking engagement photos for a couple I know.  Someones pets who were loved much and lost.  This makes me smile.

Addendum:   The previous paragraphs were written in the Spring of 2011.  Uncle Peter commented on my post before this draft, " I think 2011 should be the year of maintaining our blog."  That did not happen and now hear we are ending the year of 2015 soon to be 2016 and looking forward to spring again.
I finish this draft finally because of something that happened today, Dec. 26 the day after Christmas and the glorious day we celebrate as the Saviors birth.

Tiki passed from this world quietly on the eve of Christmas surrounded by a family that loved him dearly and I am certain he loved them.  Jess, our sister and aunt, called today and asked if they could come bury him in our back pasture.



The boys all worked to dig the hole and then buried Tiki.  Jess said a few things about Tiki, not in a corny way.  It was very sweet and touching.  He lived a very long happy life and brought much joy, happiness, and service to others.  

“So we see that the Lord intends to save, not only the earth and the heavens, not only man who dwells upon the earth, but all things which he has created. The animals, the fishes of the sea, the fowls of the air, as well as man, are to be recreated, or renewed, through the resurrection, for they too are living souls.” (Conference Report, October 1928, p. 100.) J.F. Smith

Just on Christmas afternoon, we sat around the table remembering all the animals that have come into our lives and the joy they have brought.  This year in particular we lost 3 pets whom have been a significant part of the family for many years, memories to last a lifetime.  They have blessed our life.
 Izzy
 Jezzabell
 Prim

A dear sweet neighbor of mine wrote this regarding her boys and their animals, 

"It is a blessing to raise my children, with the opportunity to live on a farm. But this morning, I realize how fragile life is for those beautiful animals . Last night, I watched my 17 year old, hold his new bull calf as it took its last breath. Death is hard, no matter what. Animals teach us so much about life. There will be other baby calves, but we will never forgot this one.

"The love of all life helps man to the enjoyment of a better life. It exalts the spiritual nature of those in need of divine favor.  Love begets love in all creation, and nature responds bounteously to the tender treatment of man.  Nature helps us to see and understand God. To all His creations we owe an allegiance of service and a profound admiration. Man should be kind to the animals which serve him both directly and indirectly. An angry word or a brutal blow wounds the heart from which it comes. 
  Love of nature is akin to the love of God; the two are inseparable.”
 I believe this with all my heart.  All that we see teaches us to trust the Creator for all that we do not see. Especially in the spring with the new life and light that comes into the world, and also at this time of year of year when we celebrate Christ, His life, atonement, and the resurrection to come; my soul awakens and I do realize how fragile life is.  Animals do teach us so much about life and it is a blessing to have God's creatures touch our life and bring us joy. 
I have parents who love animals. A husband who, as a child, brought home every stray animal he came upon.  A mother-in-law who let him keep them.  Children who love animals too, with a loving dad who puts up with more than he should.  This is something I will always be thankful for. 




Sunday, July 3, 2011

THE 2 WHO ARE LEAVING

Had to post some of Kaits senior pictures. She was so much fun to take pics of. I could have shot all day and I think she could have lasted all day. I think she might have had more fun than I did.


Ya, she's cool, no, I mean sick. So sick!
If a personality can be described in a few pics, these are they.

She also went to prom. It was kinda fun for all of us. She was excited. Had a really great time. I know I'm the mother, but....she looked beautiful.

And, she graduates. Did an awesome job conducting the commencement exercises. Her speech was funny and witty and smart and darling. Glad to have family and friends there. Thank you.
If javelin was ever exciting, this day was one of them. She will be attending University of Utah on a 4 yr academic scholarship. Coach Kuusela was able to get books for her, so she will be considered a scholarship athlete and all the "perks" that come with.
Kait on the big screen, instructing the class of 2011 to adjust their tassels to the graduated side.

So many pics of the girl and just this one pic of the boy who is leaving TO RUSSIA! He was being funny. He is funny. We love him so much. We love the girl too. They will leave a big hole in our hearts and our home. Please do not call the number above, I should have blurred it. We would never sell him. They are priceless.


The greatest gifts you can give your children
are the roots of responsibility
and the wings of independence.

-Denis Waitly

Been palyin, tooooo much......

at the ponds, on the swings, with The Wells and Colleen Hayes family all the way from Clayton, NC. Its been 12 years, yet it seemed like yesterday.
at the Manti pageant. Have to say it wasn't really our cup up tea but worth watching especially with good friends.
in Moab with the Benjamin 1st ward young ladies. Matt and Bret where gracious enough to come along as our priesthood leadership. They were the best, and good sports for doin' the jump thing!
hiking to the delicate arch.

Siamese dandelion, lions??
at the Hershey track meet, littler ones running their fastest.

Happy people learn that happiness, like sweat, is a by-product of activity. You can only achieve happiness if you are too busy living your life to notice whether you are happy or not.

~ Frank Pittman III

Just a Few

spring photo shoots......... thank you spencer and max for trusting me to prom and all your wonderful friends.

....and these fun seniors were absolutely the best. had so much fun! thank you.


...some pictures can simply not be taken, they must be gently borrowed

Friday, April 29, 2011

I am in a LOVE HATE relationship......


.......with SPRING!!

my tomato plant thinks it's spring.
the little cactus bud thinks it's spring.
tiny purple weeds think it's spring.
roundup killed the weeds that thought it was spring, now they are dead and snow covered.


will someone please inform dear Mother Nature it IS spring, bless her heart.

snow on the fenceposts.
snow on the lilacs.

I LOVE OUR OLD RUSTY MAILBOX.
do not love the snow on it today.

...and I was going to put these muck boots away. guess not.
SNOW on the alfalfa fields, and the princess Timpanogos.
glad I can come back inside to this cozy warm fire that's burning brightly because, obviously, it is NOT SPRING YET.

In the spring I have counted one hundred and thirty-six different kinds of weather inside of four and twenty hours. ~Mark Twain

I'm hating spring, ....but I love it so much. :)

Thursday, March 17, 2011

Since December

.......not a lot has happened, but wanted to blog a few things. Not in any particular order.


This girl finished up a nice basketball seasons with a couple really great games and one not so great but we sure do love watching her. After all the complaining Matt did about having to watch GIRLS play ball, he thinks he might have to support some of junior girls from this year by attending a few games next year :D
Her game day dress. Custom hand painted Vans, customized by the girl herself. She just started track and with some tips from her dear old dad threw jav. 120. Has a two year scholarship offer to Utah State. Would like to get a 4 yr. offer from UofU in track and field. Will be busy planning prom and preparing her graduation speech.
This boy just turned 15 and can now officially drive with an adult, IF, he passes the test which he has failed twice. Will be back next week for a 3rd round. Good Luck Chuck! He eat drinks and sleeps football and can hardly wait for summer to come to start workouts. We think he kinda likes girls too. He is the perfect gentleman.
This boy had a special birthday and just turned 12, went into the Young Mens program and received the aaronic priesthood and he's handsome. He is his mothers volunteer test pic model and does a fantastic job. He's working on being a gentleman but sometimes it hard with a little sister.



Welcome new Baby Texie. Leslie's sis Laurie had her 4th a couple weeks ago and for her b-day she and Addi flew to the big ole' Lone Star State. For the record, she is named Texie after a dear friend of theirs in Oregon, not after Texas, that would be dorky :) Had a fabulous time. Kudos to their ward for immediately makin them family where they had none. The church is a truly marvelous.

What would a blog be without girls and ponies. This is their weekly trip around the block to and from piano. We have also been going to 4-H weekly and the girls are jumpin their little ponies. So much fun. Do we say that every time? Pictured below is Ads n her cousin Camrie. The Coontz fam did party hard with us over the New Year(along with many others we love) and we had so much fun, someone hid their keys so they couldn't leave. Oooooh! Good times.

These handsome young men are the priests in our ward, who will all putting in mission papers very soon. Tyler, in the blue hoodie just received his call to Norway. Awesome. Cooper is filling his papers out now and will turn them in the first of April. He is busy with work,college, and basketball, and happy to say he's been on a few dates :)
Here are some so so really cute little boys. They are cousins. We like how they are all standing in the same order, now as handsome young men, priesthood holders who will all be serving missions very soon. Porter and Mason have already received their calls. Guatemala and Boise. They will report in June and July. Waiting on Zac and Coop. So excited for them. We think it is amazing.
There are two kinds of people: those who say to God, "Thy will be done,"
and those to whom God says, "All right, then, have it your way."

C. S. Lewis