Reunion!!!

We held the first every RAS Family Reunion beginning with the temple session on the 24th and ending with rather tearful goodbyes on Sunday, the 27th...........not too tearful, because we knew we would see everyone again in a week at Brian's and Candi's. We had such a great time together, though, that we really didn't want it to end. Lisa did such a good job planning everything and making the arrangements. She also took on the major task of "designing" a tee shirt for us. Initially, she asked for input and tried to give people options. In the end she took the bull by the horns and said, "This is what we are doing." I think they were absolutely darling, and exactly what we needed right now............

Pretty good looking, huh? And I love the little saying--I've had that on a small board here for a couple of years..........I'm glad she used it. She didn't go through the family and pick out a figure for each one, but there are 25...........just the number we needed.

We spent an after/evening in the canyon............fun!!fun!!!


Cody was so excited to learn Uncle Kelly was bringing his fishing pole.........they didn't fish long, but they sure had fun getting ready..........




Richard must have been hungry..........he was all for getting supper started. It's a good thing too. It took a little longer to cook than we planned. And, of course, we didn't leave home as early as we should have...........we always wish we had more time in the canyon. And we always say "we need to do this more often".

We got supper "stacked up" and then had time to sit around and visit........we cooked chicken, potatoes and cobbler.........



Brian had his "possibles bag" from a scout camp somewhere in the dim past..........I was impressed!!!! First aid supplies, survival implements..........he worked on starting a fire with flint and steel. Here, his boys are watching him create the spark. IT WORKED!!!! We had a great fire for roasting marshmallows later.......



There were times with the younger ones were left to their own devices.........they were not quite into the visiting. They did all right. It's amazing what can become a toy.........


The next day we went swimming.........had the pool all to ourselves! It was GREAT!!! Sadly, I will confess, I started out with a rather sour attitude--camera ready, but "not getting in the water". And my attitude didn't improve any when told I really should plan on getting wet. Ah me!! Thankfully Daniel had some shorts I could wear. I don't own a swimming suit! After taking a few pictures I did get in. I'm so glad!! I had a great time playing with our grandchildren!!

It didn't take very long for this little one to give in..........

Suzanne enjoyed holding her.

Caleb was "fish for the day". He is obviously very comfortable in the water and enjoys it!


Austin was less thrilled with the water.

He went on several "walks" with Grandpa, aunt or uncle, but he was never very comfortable doing it. Toward the end, he was venturing onto the steps by himself. Maybe next year..........

The "children" played together by throwing balls--water polo balls. A couple of them had to see if they could still swim "their" events from the high school swim team. They did a pretty good job! When the girls ventured to the high dive, the boys couldn't be out done, so we had a few dives and a few more "cannon balls".........and lots of encouragement for the tentative one on the diving board. Daniel won the contest to see who could "make a basket" while zipping down the slide!

We had a wonderful three days and have talked about things to do next year to make it better.

Here's what we started with........

These were added by choice........GREAT choices, I might add!!

The next generation..........

The oldest and youngest--he prayed for her........

All because two people fell in love.........

A Day for Suzanne

I've had so much going on these two weeks--so many things to write about but doing things at the same time, so no time to write. I'm a little backed up.............

Manti. The afternoon of Thursday, 24 June, Suzanne was privileged to go to the temple and receive her endowments. There was only one time when we wondered if she would make it or not............she made it! We had to put her in a different wheelchair for a few minutes, so she was sitting straight up with her legs hanging straight down, and her blood pressure being what it is...........she just about passed out! When I saw her I couldn't believe how gray she was!! We hurriedly put her back in her chair so she was in a reclined position and her color returned rather quickly. We had an absolutely wonderful time in the temple. None of us wanted to leave. Suzanne asked only half jokingly if she could stay the night! There were so many people with us who just wanted to be there with Suzanne. She has touched so many lives and there are so many people who love her. We felt it such a privilege to be there. Another wonderful thing was to watch her brothers carry her up and down the stairs. They were so loving and gentle. I am so thankful for the supernal blessings of the temple!!

This is all of us!

All of us plus other family members who were there. Irene is behind the camera and Marlene and Staci left before we got the pictures taken.

Thank you all for coming!!!

...eclipse....lunar type!

I'm sure you all know there was a partial lunar eclipse last week.....the morning of June 26. Well, we talked about getting up--and we were having our family reunion--well, there were a couple of the kids who wanted me to call them. One on the cell phone! I set my alarm for 4:15 a.m. Now........you have to understand that I am NOT a morning person. (I love mornings after I am up. It's the getting up that slows me down.) Anyway, because other members of the family were counting on me I got out of bed and went outside to "check on things". There was just the slightest shadow beginning in the upper left of a gorgeous full moon. I made my phone call--she said she didn't know if she would get up, she was so tired. The other one!!! He thought he had just got to sleep and I was asking him if he wanted me to wake him later!!! Needless to say............he missed it. I quietly got presentable to go outside and slipped out into an utterly enchanting world. It was beautiful and magical. The best place for viewing was on my neighbor's front porch--I knew she wouldn't mind. I wasn't there long before Lisa appeared and I softly called to her. It really was more fun to have someone to ooooh and ahhhh with. It wasn't long before Roger also appeared and we called to him. We didn't watch the whole time. It was beginning to clear before the moon went behind the trees and we returned to our beds. It warms me still to think about it..........another testimony of the Creator!! I love this amazing sphere we live on!!!! and the universe surrounding it!!


Sadly.......these are not my pictures. I'm learning how to find things on the internet!! Aren't they beautiful pictures?? 'Course, it's hard to go wrong with this subject.........

Equinox---no!! Solstice...

The summer solstice was just a week ago...........it's amazing to think of all that has happened in those short seven days! It's been C.R.A.Z.Y. busy and full. I'll get to all that eventually, but for now I will just show you one of our zany traditions..........



Some years ago we heard--I think it was in church, of all places--that you could stand an egg on end at the time of the solstice. Well, we had to try it. It just so happened that we were in a hotel near San Diego that first time and while we were having breakfast we asked one of the kitchen help if we might borrow a raw egg. He looked at us strangely but humored us. He was quite surprised when he saw it "standing" on the table! and as I remember, he brought us a few more. We learned later that the "kitchen staff" had to try it for themselves!!! Sometimes we forget on the 21st-22nd and it has worked up to about two weeks later..........you could give it a try. But no fair sprinkling the counter with salt or some other such thing. And no fair setting the egg down a little "hard". It really is possible..........big end, of course. Have fun!!!!

back on the rails

I thought a picture journal of this morning would be interesting.......It was fascinating to watch these men work! I couldn't stop thinking about "Tinker-toys", "Lincoln Logs" and "Lionel" trains. They were essentially doing what everyone who has ever played with a train has done: picked up the cars one end at a time, aligned the wheels with the tracks and set them down.......just thinking in terms of tons rather than ounces....and using machines to do it. Again, I was wishing Daddy were here to watch with me.........and more than once I wondered what all these men must think about this grown woman watching and taking dozens of pictures! I would have taken my patio chair and camped out, but I was supposed to be cutting end bars (a post for another day). The foreman (at least, something like that of the crew here in Delta) came to talk to me.........the men--the "car crew" were from Ogden and they "do this all the time" and "are good at it". I didn't think to ask him how often they are called upon. But I could tell from just watching them that they have had plenty of practice.


The "car that started it all" and the corner of our warehouse on the left. There were a bunch of cars ahead of this one which they uncoupled and pushed out of the way last night to open the road. The "problem" cars blocked three roads........they were able to open just one last night.


This huge track-hoe was steadying this car while they uncoupled the other cars down the line.


I wondered at the City putting these little barricades in the road...........can't people see the road is closed???? A number of motives come to mind......hmmmmm........


I wouldn't think of "getting in the way", so you can't see much here.......but the machine on the other side had a winch hooked to the cars up the track to the right and was pulling the cars, about seven, to the left. Just like Lionel trains they had to do it one car at a time........and in order--opening up track to reposition the next car.........


This is the same machine--this time a cable around the "hitch". He can lift it up--there are four pulleys at the top--then "lean" it to our left and set it on the rails. I was amazed at how gently he could maneuver these tons of metal!!

The next three pictures show the track-hoe pushing the oil car down the road. When he got it down there and close to the track, they put the cable around the "hitch" and the other machine picked it up and put it down on the track! I was amazed!!! And in awe.............the brown car to the right here is the one that was tipped. I had to make a quick trip home for Suzanne and while I was gone they pushed it upright! I missed it!!!!







After they got the "left" end on, the track hoe guy put his bucket under the other end and set it on the rails! He was so good at running that thing!! Words like dexterous came to mind. And dentist picks.........it was amazing!!


I couldn't imagine how they were going to get this one back......it was farthest off the tracks and buried to the axel--that didn't worry me--it was just so far away........Well, he picked it up with the "block and tackle" then drove over to the tracks carrying the car!!!! You should have heard the pops and cracks and groaning metal!! WOW!!!






It took a little fine-tuning, but they finally got it........

This is the other end--still coupled to the car behind it--well, kind of.......



I hadn't noticed the counter-weight on this machine until "now" (when I took the picture). This was the last car they worked on........I don't know why....... After they got the "front end" of this one on, they went to the "car the started it all" and got it on and out of the way....maybe they just needed more room to maneuver this one........



Looks lots better, doesn't it? I enjoyed standing there, watching them "put things right". It looked like such a huge mess last night. I guess I felt comforted to know there are people in the world--close to my world--who know how and have the ability to straighten out such a huge mess and fix things. I'm sure at least these two cars will need more "fixing", but they are upright and sitting where they were meant to sit! Maybe I read "The Little Red Caboose" too many times.......they almost have a personality!!


Here's what the track looks like now. The foreman told me he thought they might get a few new ties in tomorrow and then finish it next week.

Our warehouse is to the left.

This thing looks bigger on a truck than it did next to the railroad cars!