Girls only

This was my first trip to the Oregon Coast. I've been to the beach in San Diego and Santa Cruz once each in my 47 years. Tom always talks about how much fun the beach is and how much he misses it. I finally started thinking to myself, "He misses the beach the way I miss the mountains." That's the only way I could relate for a while. I'm beginning to see what the beach means to people. When we finally got to the beach, I didn't care it was only 60 degrees...I was in that water as fast as I could reasonably get there. LOL...I felt like a kid, running down the beach just to get my feet wet.

At the beach in Manzanitas, Oregon

I went with my two friends, Lynda and Donna. They are both 10-14 years older than I am. I felt like a teen as I jumped in and out of the Yukon and walked circles around them. I never thought when I met Donna and Lynda through Dr. Phil's message boards that I'd have lifetime friends. They both live in town. Lynda and I walk together twice a week at the mall. We get with Donna once a month to visit and work on whatever project we have going at the time. Lynda needed companions on this trip to Oregon to pick up her grandma's desk. Donna volunteered herself and me to make the trip. We talked, teased, joked and talked some more. We enjoyed it so much that we are planning another trip in three years to Manzanitas, and we'll just relax and play together for a few days.

Donna, Ann, and Lynda at Seaside, Oregon

And we can't forget the Tillamook Cheese Factory where I experienced Squeaky Cheese for the first time. I'm the face of the cow.

On the way home we took a scenic drive and saw all the falls on the way down the freeway. This is the trail at Bridal Veil Falls. I loved the greens of the trees. Gorgeous!

Me at Bridal Veil Falls

At Multnomah Falls Donna and Lynda waited for me as I walked up to the bridge you see in this photo. The trail to the top was another .8 miles, and I went a little ways, but I didn't want to make them wait 2 hours for me so I didn't go too far. I love how strong I've been feeling, and I knew the hike wouldn't be a problem for me. No worse than the Timp Cave or Wind Cave hikes! As I walked along I thought, "I LOVE doing this. How I've missed it!"

Horsetail Falls

Best Buy of the Season

Yep, there it is. I bought this as soon as I saw them in the stores. So what we were on a diet at the time. I knew that if I waited until it got hot, they would be gone and I'd be out of luck. I think it is quickly becoming the most used appliance in my kitchen. I honestly don't know how this Jenson family got along without one of these babies.

We used to bribe the kids to be reverent in church with homemade cookies every Sunday. I think the tradition will change starting now. Homemade ice cream as the new reverence treat!

Yummy! Nothing like ice cream without all the fillers, and I can make it gluten-free, too!

Reunion

The last of our vacation was the Bright Family Reunion. We love this reunion. We've been camping every year for 25-30 years now. We are usually at Willow Flats near Preston, Idaho, or Malibu Campground in Logan Canyon. Lately, we have been in Logan canyon to make it easier for the older generation.

Each of the original families used to cycle through and take a turn planning the reunion. In the last 5 years or so my generation has been doing it more. My Wiser cousins have been doing it for the last 3-4 years and we always look forward to their Dutch oven cooking. This year it was decided that my parents will book the campsite every year, the Wiser boys will cook the community meal, the rest of us will add potluck items for that meal and take turns mailing out info about the reunion. Everyone was happy that way. They like to cook and the rest of us like to eat.

Three of the Wiser boys...Sherwin, Doug and Anthony

This was the main cook this year...Darrel Wiser

There are 9 Wiser boys and they have 2 sisters. Love them all.

Here's a couple recipes:

Meat marinade

1 1/2 cup vegetable oil

3/4 cup soy sauce

1/2 cup lemon juice

1/4 cup Worcestershire Sauce

2 tsp dry mustard

2 1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp pepper

1 1/2 tsp parsley

2 cloves garlic, crushed

Combine all ingredients. Let meat marinade at least 2 hours. Good also for fresh vegetable shish-kabobs. Cook meat on the grill.

Dutch oven potatoes

1 pound bacon or sausage

1 onion, chopped

1 can cream of chicken soup

3-4 pounds potatoes

Brown meat in 12 inch dutch oven. Remove meat and some of the grease if it is too much. Saute onion in the remaining grease. Add meat, soup and potatoes. Stir. My cousin didn't mention adding water, but now that I've tried it I would recommend adding some. Cover with dutch oven lid and bake for about 45 minutes depending on amount of heat. When the potatoes are almost done sprinkle with 2 cups grated cheddar cheese, cover again and finish baking.

Apple Chop Suey

This recipe was made by the Wiser boys' mother (my aunt). She baked it in a 9 x 13 pan in the oven. They have started doing it in the Dutch oven every Sunday after breakfast as the reunion ends.

1 cup flour

1 cup sugar

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp cinnamon

1 egg

4-6 granny smith apples, cored and sliced

Mix all ingredients together and pour in Dutch oven. Bake until done. Serve with whip cream.

Saturday we spent hiking some more and going to Bear Lake. I have wanted to hike to the wind caves for several years now, but didn't think I was in shape enough before now. This year was my year to reach that goal. It was a 4 mile round trip and quite steep. It raised 900 feet in 1.3 miles.

James and Hannah at the start

Tom on the trail

James, Arie, Garrison, Hannah and me

The wind cave!

James

A very impressive view

This one is cool, too.

The neatest thing happened while we were in the wind cave. We had been hiking in the vicinity of a young Hispanic family. All the way up they would pass us and then we would pass them along the trail. Finally, after exploring the cave a bit I sat down near them and started talking to them. I asked, "Where are you from?"

They said, "Honduras."

I told them I had lived in Honduras for 16 months. Then I asked what part of Honduras they were from.

"Catacamas...It's in Olancho."

Me: "I lived in Catacamas!"

I told them how long I had lived there and when. They asked why I had been there and who some of the people were that I remembered. I told them I had been a missionary.

The father said, "My uncle is Mormon. Did you know Antonio Caceres?"

"Yes! I did know them. They had a daughter named Martha, right?"

The world is so small. There we were sitting on the mountain in Logan canyon talking to the nephew of someone I knew while on my mission in Honduras. Wild!

At Bear Lake

Total miles hiked during our vacation--15!

Btw! Look at the picture of me and the kids on the hike. Notice the shirt I'm wearing. Then look at the pictures in our slide show. Same shirt...sure fits differently now!

The Quest

Here's the bunch that tried to hike Mount Timpanogus. They decided after five miles that the snow was too dangerous so they didn't make it all the way. They had a great time, though, and are looking forward to another attempt later. Early September was always the best time when Tom and I hiked it before.

James, Tom, Hannah, Aseana, Sean and Roscoe

After camping with the Grubers we met a friend of mine from Junior High and had lunch. Then we visited Tom's sister in Salt Lake City for a night. Tom's mom is living with his sister and it was good to spend some time with them.

More hiking...

Did I say I like hiking?

Monday we hiked to see Timpanogus Cave. I've done that three times as an adult. The first time I carried a 2 month old Johnathan up that trail and didn't think it was too bad. The next time was in 2004, I was at or near my highest weight and very out of shape. About 3/4 the way I wanted to quit and go back down, but I didn't and finally made it.

This time, 60 pounds lighter and in better shape, it still took me the entire time allowed, but I didn't want to quit at any point on the trail. I thought that was progress.

Here are a few of our favorite photos.

I can't believe how big Hannah has gotten. She's taller than me even on flat ground.

Shellece, Ann and Carol about 1/4 the way

Carol and me

the mountain goats ran off ahead...see the little spot of red?

Shellece, me and Hannah

Hannah resting...she's so cute.

Hannah's "J" tree

The heart

An underground lake

We made it through!

Front: Shellece, Gordon, Aseana, Cora, Hannah

Middle: James, me, Carol, Tom

Back: Jonathan the guide and Sean

Tuesday Shellece and I went for a short hike with the youngest two kids while the men and older kids went on a quest...the quest to conquer Mount Timp. I'll start with that next time.

I love...

Camping and Hiking!

On June 19th we left for the Utah Mountains. We met our friends (the Gruber family) in Alpine and headed into American Fork Canyon. The problem was that the canyon was packed. There were no camping sites available. So finally we opted to go to the Gruber's house for the night. The next morning we arrived in the canyon and found our site, but we had to wait for the people who used it the night before to clean up and leave.

Oh, what to do? Go hiking, of course!

This is the trail head of the Timpooneke Trail. It goes up the back of Mount Timpanogus...an 18 mile round trip. Tom and I hiked this trail twice when we were younger. The first time was before my mission, and I didn't quite make it to the top. The second time was after my mission, and I made it all the way. This trail has a part in our love story. I'll share that later. This time we went about 3/4 mile and turned around.

Here's the hiking group! Me with Shellece, Gordon and Sean Gruber

Tom, James, Cora, Hannah and Aseana

This was the view from our campsite!

And the creek that ran by our campsite.

I've always loved nature. It reminds me of how great Heavenly Father is and the wonderful things He has done for us. I always feel His love when I'm in nature.

That first day of camping was Father's day and we held a little meeting together to talk about our fathers and how much we love them. One of my friends always says, "Heavenly Father is the coolest dude ever" usually followed with a neat story. I was thinking the same thing as I thought about Tom and what a great father he has been to our kids.

Camping song

A camping we go.

A camping we go.

Hi ho the camp site, oh,

A camping we go.

We're so excited for some much deserved R&R. We're going camping with the Grubers in the Mount Timp area until Wednesday. Then we'll hit the Bright Reunion in Logan Canyon on the way home.

Break out those hiking shoes, everyone! We'll be putting some miles in!

What mama likes...

Tim knows what his mama likes. He sent me a Snickers bar for Mother's Day, a box of chocolates for my birthday and the SD card from his camera with pictures on it!

The chocolate is tucked away for after this diet is over...Look out, chocolate! July 4 is open season on chocolate!

The photos are now on my computer and being enjoyed thoroughly.

Here are a few:

Mount Timp

Provo Temple

Tim and his companion in the MTC

Tim at the MTC

Tim and his mission president and Sister president

St. Stephen, New Brunswick

Tim

Tim and his current companion

Tim by the river. St Stephen is right on the St. Croix River

Yipee!!!

School is out! I've been counting down since mid October. (Isn't that about the time I got my new calling?) This year has been so long.

And the school year ended with a bang when I visited the DMV this morning. I arrived well prepared to sit and wait for an hour. I had a book to read that I hadn't even started yet. I walked in, pushed the button for my number and heard, "Number 0-1-5 is now being seen at window 12." I looked down. My number was 015. I tore the number off and walked to counter #12.

While there the lady asked if I was still 5 foot one inch and 218 pounds. It was great to say, "No, I'm no longer 218. I'm now 167." Her reply was, "Wow!"

Then I walked over to the camera and had my picture taken. I decided to get the 8 year license because I didn't want to go in again for a long, long time. Who cares if my picture and license say I'm 167 when I finally get to 112. At least it's closer than stating and looking like I'm 218. My whole trip to the DMV and back home again took less than half an hour.

My book is still not started.

Another good thing...I don't have to work on my birthday!

One last thing...Tim is doing great. He wrote this week that he and his companion saw a bear and her cub crossing the street one day. He says that's unusual there, too. Also, they started with no one to teach, but are teaching 3 people and finding more. One is a man whose daughter is taking the lessons in another area. He also told us that they found a nice place by the river where they can study every day, and the spirit is strong when they are there. Tim has grown so much already. He is going to be one powerful man. I think he may just love them into the church.