Not Fun!

This post is especially for my grandkids. When your moms want to slather you with sunscreen, smile and say, "Thanks, Mom!" I wish my mom had done that when I was little. . . .

I just got back from having Mohs surgery on my face. I had a basal cell carcinoma (skin cancer) that was invasive and had to be removed and checked under the microscope before they sewed me up again. Luckily, the doctor got it all the first time. But, I asked him about another place that has been worrying me and my other doctor thought it was not cancer. The doctor today biopsied it and found out that it was a squamous cell carcinoma (also cancer). This was the first one I've had of that type. So, while he was at it, I had him remove that cancer, as well.

So, the lesson is to be vigilant, for those of you who are the moms and dads, and keep slathering sunscreen on the kids!

What a Difference a Week Makes!

Take a look at this sleepy guy, only a few hours old. . . .Now, take a look at this alert little guy. . . .

The growth and development of a new little child of God in just one week is nothing short of a miracle!

Summer Potpourri

This summer was fabulous and amazingly busy, with visits (x 2 in each case!) with our daughters and their families and our son in a wide variety of locations and situations, a quick trip to the Utah Shakespearean Festival, a couple of fun trips up to Albion Basin, and an awesome cruise to Alaska, with a number of work days sprinkled in to stay grounded in the real world. Our trips to the Church Historic Sites and the Alaskan cruise both deserve individual blog posts, but this one will be a potpourri of summer adventures.

Tom and Amy and family visited and, among other fun experiences, we accomplished an amazing feat- hiking with 3 kids (ages 6, 4, and 2) and a 7-month pregnant mom on a HOT (95+ degree) summer day up to Timpanogos Cave.

I had forgotten how amazing the cave is, especially through the eyes of a child.
Other favorite activities included slip ‘n sliding and swimming in the hot tub,

Grandpa’s purple cows, roasting marshmallows and making s’mores in the backyard,

hanging out in the water-fall,and visiting Temple Square and the Children’s Exhibit at the Church Museum of History and Art.As if we needed a getaway, we did rather impromptu one with our friends Bruce and Diane, heading down to Cedar City to the Shakespearean Festival. We didn’t do Shakespeare this time but saw 3 great plays, “Great Expectations” (the musical), “The 39 Steps,” which was hilarious, and an awesome production of “Pride and Prejudice.” We enjoyed the greenshows, the seminars, and our great bed and breakfast.

We also took the scenic route home, through Cedar Breaks National Park. A couple of days later, Bruce and Diane called and said that the wildflowers in Albion Basin were supposed to be at their peak over the weekend. The wildflowers did not disappoint!We had a great hike up to Cecret Lake, passing amazing vistas and a huge lounging bull moose, and then shared a picnic dinner “on top of the world.”

David made the comment that he didn’t think that he had ever seen more spectacular scenery anywhere else in the world. I had to totally agree. A few days later, we took our friends Kimball and Terry to see the wildflowers.We got caught in a major thunderstorm, but we made it to the car where we enjoyed our picnic dinner, with the rain adding to the ambience.

Brad and Emily and family spent a couple of days with us at the end of August before they headed up to Brad’s family’s cabin in the Uintas. Highlights of their visit include getting reacquainted with Sam (now 2 ½ months)four- wheeling with Brad up North Canyon and really testing out the Razor on some steep, rocky trails above Bountifuland visiting the Conference Center, Temple Square, and the Church Museum’s Children’s Exhibit. It was a quick visit but very fun. . . . Yes, our summer was crazy busy but, oh, the memories and we loved every minute we were able to spend with our family and friends!