Colorado // Saturday and Sunday

We love spending time in Colorado. We look forward to it all year long and we're always so thankful for the time we get to spend at the cabin. 

This year Jared wasn't able to spend much time there, which left me alone with the kids. We did get a good 18 hours with him however before he had to head home. 

I never knew a set of stairs could be so exciting. We had a great competition seeing who could make it up and back in the fastest time. 

It rained and rained on Saturday and we lost power at the cabin. After a few hours with no electricity we decided to head to town for some food and entertainment. 

We ate some disappointing BBQ them let the kids play some mini golf. 

I was dreading the time that Jared had to leave. I actually cried!  But, we stayed busy and didn't allow ourselves too much time to miss him. One of the easiest ways to stay occupied is just to enjoy the beauty. 

We went to a ward in town on Sunday and had a great fast and testimony meeting. It was a great ward!  After church the kids once again found a way to entertain themselves on the stairs. 

We just relaxed and hung out. My favorite Sunday activity. 

That night we pulled out the facial masks. The girl had a ball with them!  Peeling them off had to be the best part. 

We ended the night with a game of Uno. We wouldn't be in Colorado if we didn't play a few card games!

Adventures with Jared

Jared loves to explore.  Sometimes we find ourselves in some crazy locations because of his sense of adventure.  So, he earned the term Adventures with Jared.

On Monday we spent the day as a family and ended up adding another chapter to AWJ.  We had lunch at the Pizza Factory, watched Ben rope for a bit, headed up to Hawley Lake then ended the day with dinner at Red Devil.  The day included too much eating out but kids+hungry tummies does not make for a happy family.

Kimber found some cow dentures to replace her three missing top teeth.

Araviapa

One of my favorite places on earth is The Ranch at Araviapa Canyon.  I have so many wonderful memories of that place.  My grandparents sold it when just after I graduated high school and ever since then, a little piece of my heart has been missing.  I longed, no, I yearned to go back and smell the air, walk in the creek, eat some citrus, listen to the birds and everything else I enjoyed as a child.  

When my mom told me that The Ranch was up for sale, I was shocked when she said her and dad were considering purchasing it.  And my heart literally leapt when she told me they were successful in doing so.  

We decided to celebrate dad's birthday there a few weeks ago.  The anticipation of visiting The Ranch again for the first time in nearly 15 years was much like that of Christmas morning.  It was all my sisters and I could talk about.  I had told my kids so many stories of that place, it seemed unreal that they would get to experience it for themselves.

May 16th finally came and again, the excitement was almost too much.  I felt like we would never get there!  When we finally drove up, I wanted to burst into tears.  It felt like I was home again.  It looked different, but felt the same.  And smelled the same, and everything else.  

We spent the day enjoying each other's company and letting the kids explore.  The funny thing is, no one had to tell the kids what to do, they just naturally did what we did as kids; played in the water and ran like crazy!

Everyone was in a great mood and there wasn't any fighting.

Colton was thrilled that he was able to have whatever he could get his hands on.  Whether or not I approved.  

 Travis and Allie, Heather, Brigham, me and my big girls took a walk to the Holy Joe.  Just as we were coming up on it, I spotted some fresh (and rather large!) mountain lion tracks.  At first I was a little frightened but then jokingly said that Grandma Richardson probably hurried it away before we arrived.   Then I realized, that probably wasn't funny because it was likely the truth!

Boys will be boys!  Brigham, and later Travis, had to try climbing the waterfall.

 We found a piece of wood that looked like a giant pencil.  Of course Heather and I had to make a joke of it.

 My boys :)  My favorite picture of the whole day.

The only problem with visiting is that I ache to go back.  It was the most fun my family has had in a long time.  I just can't wait for them to get the whole experience.

Colton Right Now // 10 Things

1.  He calls me by my first name, "Gobbie."

2.  He loves his dad.

3.  He loves to be outside.

4.  He is has no fear of things that should freak him out, but is often terrified of things that aren't scary.

5.  He is finally (although very slowly) learning to like nursery class.

6.  He is 20 months and only has six teeth.

7.  He loves to spray bottles.  He could walk around squirting things all day.

8.  He loves to hang out with his Uncle Kenny.

9.  He isn't a very good traveler.

10.  We always ask what life would be like without him.  And we know the answer.  It would be very dull.

Lucy Right Now // 10 Things

1.  She is super messy and always leaves a trail of toys, blankets, etc. in her path.
2.  She loves steak as well as spaghetti.
3.  She things her cousin Lana walks on water.
4.  She is a toehead!  I hope that doesn't change too much as she gets older.
5.  I love it when she says, "mom, I hab a question for you."
6.  She gets compliments everywhere we go about how pretty she is.
7.  She can often be seen wearing a princess dress.
8.  She is in love with Tyler (aka Ty-Ty) Jones and says she is going to marry him.
9.  She loves listening to the radio and knows almost every song is her "fabit."
10.  She plays well by herself.

Addie Right Now // 10 Things

1.  She is super boy crazy.

2.  Fourth grade has been very good to her and she is sad to see it end.

3.  She loves to tell stories.  They take a long time.  And a lot of "likes," "and so's" and details.

4.  She is always the first one asleep.

5.  Sometimes it seems like we fight like teenager sisters.

6.  She loves to bake on her own.

7.  She loves to get up early if it means doing something fun.

8.  She enjoys dressing nice.

9.  She wants hair down to her waist.

10.  She is a big help.  When she wants to be.

Lessons Learned

I've spent the last six weeks learning many humbling lessons.  What I thought was allergies turned into a sinus infection, then that became a cold which later became a hacking cough and eventually Walking Pneumonia.  And that pneumonia came with other issues, bruised ribs and Tietze Syndrome.   Once I had a handle on those and thought I was out of the woods, I was hit again, this time by strep throat. 

I'll spare you the details of how everything progressed and changed, but what I do want to document is what I learned.

*It's okay to be sick.  I felt terrible but kept telling myself I wasn't that bad.  Jared kept telling me to go to the Dr. but I refused.  I knew that they wouldn't be able to help me because, I wasn't that sick.  On the 29th of April, I learned how sick I actually was, but still had a hard time accepting it.  Jared came home to grab something for work and asked me how I was feeling.  I normally keep my composure pretty well but I broke down crying telling him how miserable I felt.  I had a short cry then pulled it together again and told him to go back to work; I would be fine and life goes on.  Which leads me to my next point...

*Sometimes other people know how to help you better than you know how to help yourself.  I should have listened to Jared when he first told me to get help.  Ultimately, he had to force to me to go to the Dr.  He returned to work and a few hours later, called and told me he would be there in an hour, then we would be heading to Urgent Care.  I went, but I was very reluctant.  When the Dr. said Walking Pneumonia, I was so thankful Jared had made me go.  If I had waited another day or two, I would have likely been admitted into the hospital.

*It's okay to let others see you at your worst.  Since I had been feeling so lousy, my house was paying a price.  When Jeanie learned we were going to the Dr., she quickly stepped up and took over things at home.  I wanted to crawl under a rock when she did my dishes, washed and folded the laundry and cleaned the house.  She is such an immaculate person, and my house looked like, well, the lady in charge was out of commission.  But, I could see a physical change in her.  Her service actually brightened her countenance and put some pep in her step.  Speaking of that...

*People want to help.  I tried to keep things under wraps but Jared didn't mind telling people.  At first I felt embarrassed but later saw that people were anxious to do what they could.  Mindy picked up Kimber, people were understanding when i couldn't do things or be places, friends offered to get groceries, one friend brought flowers, my sisters sent flowers, and so so so much more.

*Food from other people is a burden lifted.  I've had people bring in meals after I have a baby and I always felt a little silly for accepting it.  There wasn't anything wrong with me, I'd only had a baby!  But, now I get it!  I had a few friends tell me (not ask!!) they were bringing dinner.  It was such a relief when evening rolled around and dinner was taken care of.  When I had strep last week, one friend who had already brought dinner the week before, called and said she was bringing dinner again.  I didn't even fight it, I just said okay.  I had learned my lesson!  Plus, I was feeling miserable.

*It's okay to spend money on frivolous things if it helps you out.  I paid someone to come clean my house while I laid on the couch and coughed.  I didn't feel bad about hiring someone and I didn't feel bad about laying down while she cleaned.  It helped me out and lifted a weight off my shoulders.

*People are understanding.  I was throwing a party last Thursday night, the same day I was laid up with strep.  I was so happy that people were willing to bend so we could rearrange it.  Every person I spoke told me that it was fine and just to take care of myself.

*I can pray about anything.  This sounds so elementary, but it's one of the best things I learned.  Sometimes when I am struggling with something, I push it aside and don't put much prayer into it because I feel it takes away from the more difficult struggles other people have.  I know my trials aren't nearly as severe as the trials of other people, so I used to feel like I didn't have the right to pray for something that was so piddly.  I know Heavenly Father cares about every aspect of my life, but so many struggle with things way worse than I can ever image, so I took my trials in stride and tried to deal with them on my own.  I finally realized that I have to tell Him.  I prayed about my back, I prayed about my cough, I prayed about everything.  And He answered so many of my prayers....

*He answers those prayers. Of course I have always known that He answers my prayers, but I prayed about some very small things. And He answered them!  I asked Jared to take me back to Urgent Care one Sunday evening. I wasn't improving and was absolutely miserable. I just knew they were going to tell me they had done everything they could ao I would need to head to the ER. I couldn't afford time away for hospital stay!  I prayed so hard.  And He answered my prayers. I left Urgent Care with a number of new prescriptions, an x-ray and a shot in my booty, not instructions to go to the hospital. Then when I realized I had strep and needed to get to the Dr., I instantly got concerned. I've had a terrible time getting into our family doctor lately and last time I tried to get into the town walk in clinic, they weren't accepting our insurance. I prayed that night, through the night and in the morning that something would work out and I would be able to be seen immediately. At 8 am, I called my dr and had no luck. I then tried the walk in clinic and to my surprise, they had started accepting our health insurance. And my co-pay would be the same as going to my primary care physician!  A true answer to my prayers. 

*I had priorities that weren't very worthwhile priorities.  Checking out means very little gets accomplished, which also means only the very very important things gets attention. I still woke my kids up in time to pray and read scriptures together, I brushed my teeth, I fed my kids, I read my scriptures, I tried to show them as much love and affection as possible, I prayed with them and tucked them in at night and said my own personal prayers.  I'm not sure it matters if anything else in the day gets done. Since then, I've turned down some offers to do certain things, some of which would take a considerable amount of my time and energy. I don't feel like those things fit onto my shortened priority list. 

*I will be more alert to people who don't seem well. I think I hid my illness pretty well, but when people heard from Jared that I was sick, some of them showed true concern and compassion. Others brushed it off and had to tell me about similar illnesses they'd had. I'm not sharing this because I felt I didn't get attention, but because it taught me that I need to be more compassionate to people in their circumstances. People are experiencing all kinds of trials, slow down and see what you can do to help them out.  When Addie came down with a 72-hour flu over the weekend, I was as compassionate as I could possibly be. I had just been in her shoes and knew the misery. 

*I am thankful for my trials.  I have never been the kind of person who felt like I was thankful for hardship. I handle my trials but don't feel thankful for them. They are hard and painful!  But, these experiences have changed me. It was very hard and very painful, literally, but I learned so much about myself and my Savior, that I am grateful!

*Don't take your health, abilities or family for granted. When you go for a period of time without being sick, you go through the motions of the day without any thought of the you might not always be able to do those day-to-day tasks. (Man!  I sound like I lost a limb!). My point is, I have a great life and this reminded me of that!