Just Words

I want to put some pictures from my trip to Island Park with my fam but until I get around to that...

I've been contemplating the line between life and death. It's always seemed like such a hard thing to do, to die. My Dad's Step-Father was put in the hospital recently and is now in a care center. He's 82 and for atleast twenty years, he has been preparing to die. His burial plots are purchased. His funeral plans are made. His life story is published, bound, and dispursed. He even has his obituary typed and ready for the paper. He has acted as if he was at death's door for the past ten years. Two months ago, he went for a routine procedure and as they wheeled him in to the operating room he told God, "God, this would be a great time to take me home." He expressed his dissappointment that he heard an audible voice kindly say, "No, John."

Three weeks ago, with the diagnosis of vascular dementia, he suddenly appeared as if he would have his wish. He couldn't eat or swallow and hadn't eaten anything in days. His body was frail and boney. The nursing staff told us he would go at any time. Two weeks later, a doctor asked if he would like a feeding tube and Grandpa said, "Yes." After a long surgery, he's nourished and getting stronger. When my mom and dad talked to him the other day, he said, "They never bring me any food?" My parents reminded him that he was given a feeding tube and he responded, "If I have one, I don't know about it. I'm so hungry...I want a piece of strawberry pie." Later he told my parents that he was going to fight this and get better.

I can't help but wonder, why? I want so badly to ask him, "Why fight something you've been asking for such a long time?" How odd. I'm sure he has his reasons. Many of us do this same thing. We beg for something for so long and when it finally comes, we want to take it back and have what we had all along.

I know this is a lot deeper than my usual "look at this cute thing Kate did" and "Here are some cute pics from our vacation" but maybe I'll need this someday. Maybe it will remind me to be more in the moment, not waiting for the end but enjoying the ride for what it is.

P.S. If you finished reading this whole post, you deserve a star.

Believe it or Not--Vernal Vacate

We just returned from a fun-filled-family vacation to Vernal. At different moments everyone in Scott's family questioned why we chose Vernal as our destination. But it really was fun just to be together and to give some of the newcomers (Kate, Ashlee, and Hailey) a chance to bond with everyone and everyone else a chance to reconnect.

Food is a theme in all of Scott's family vacations. We love it and our activities center around the main meals of the day. Unfortunately, Vernal was not the place for good food or good service. I didn't have a problem with any of my food but it became comical time and again to watch the city fail our family at dining out.

Here are some pics from the trip.

Here's Kate at Daniel's Summit

Jessica, Kate, Gary, Kathy, and Hailey

Kate, Ashlee, and Jessica

Everyone was surprised to learn at dinner the first night in Vernal that Todd and Cherish are expecting numero uno! Even more surprising, the I'm-never-having-kids Todd seemed happier than ever.

While the boys went--I guess you don't call it fishing when no one catches any fish--bobbing in the reservoir, we took the kids to the park, lunch at McDonald's, and the Dinosaur museum.

The third day we took a surprisingly scenic drive to Red Canyon Lodge and then the girls had manicures/pedicures and dinner while the kids hung out with the dads.

Here's Scott and Kate at Red Canyon lodge

Jason and Jeff fishing in the kiddy pool. I guess they were showing the kids how to fish but it was funny to see these men fishing next to the sign that said, "children 12 and under only."

We tried the paddle boats but Kate didn't last long and when we found out the steering mechanism wasn't working on ours, we jumped on canoes and had a grand time on the lake.

The fourth and final day, we went to church and walked around the Vernal temple.

Jeff, Anna, Jessica, and Ashlee had to head out but here's Gary and Kathy with Whitney, Zac, and Kate.

The cousins minus Jessica and Ashlee.

Scott's only sister Kristi with her family: Jason, Hailey, Whitney, and Zac.

Look close and you might see the Swallowtail butterflies Kate and Hailey are enamored with.

This was a special trip because it was Kate's first vacation with Scott's family. She was able to deepen her ties with her cousins, an uncle, and her Grandparents.

The low point of the trip: the moment in the bowling alley when Kate ran lickety-split down the slippery lane and I froze--luckily Scott's fatherly instincts kicked in and he ran to save her before she got to the pin zone.

The high points of the trip: Spending quality time with Scott's fam, finding out Todd and Cherish are expecting, canoe-ing at Red Canyon Lodge, staying at such a nice hotel, swimming every night, and eating those hot Cinnamon rolls from the continental breakfast every morning, and celebrating my eighth anniversary with Scott.