Secrets of Some Natives

Happy Days
I have known Star for many years now. I have found him to be ever industrious, ambitious, and willing to take a risk. After 9/11/01, when the start-up company he'd been with wilted like so many others at that time, he began a new full time career: job-seeking.

He had full faith when I wavered. He was optimistic when I was not. And eventually, he was offered a job in Loa, Utah. Now I am a native Utahn. My father was raised in Utah, my mother was raised in Utah, but we were not familiar with such a place.

Loa is a town in and the county seat of Wayne County, Utah, along State Route 24. The population is 525. Star became a commuter and a wilderness therapist. He would leave around 4am Monday mornings, and return 9pm or so Friday nights. Zach was in Kindergarten, Abbie was in Joy school, Sam was just over 6 months, and Louisa was on her way.

We lived like this until mid June when we loaded up a U-haul and two green vans to take up residence together in the old Leavitt house off of Main St. It was a wonderful season for us. As renters we had no weekend or evening responsibilities. Since the only grocery store in the county closed at 8pm and offered little, we found we had fewer needs. And since there was no cell phone coverage at that altitude, we had a Dad without distraction.

We sat on the front porch in the evenings and listened to our resident owl friends call to one another. We played store and school, we slid on blankets down the steep staircase, we read stories and played at the Fremont park.

The tree swing

Sam in his new Fish Lake b-day shirt

Millie takes a turn

These legs sure have gotten longer since he first spent time on this swing

When a promising job option became available up north, I tried everything I could to figure and re figure the budget to match the math. We knew we needed to return to our Grandview home that hadn't rented or sold yet. Within days of bringing the U-haul back to Provo, we were told of Louisa's fatal condition, and a whole new challenge surfaced for me.

Our time in Wayne county turned out to be the eye of the storm. We have returned almost every year since. And so even though it may not seem an exciting get-away for some, it has always served as an amazing reprieve for me. I breathe deeper there.

This year's edition:

The new park rangers

Their friendly replacements

So much time spent on the road just wears a fella out

An action shot of an athlete

Millie caught on quickly to the Frisbee concept

Master of the pioneer toys

Popeye?


Sisters

Brothers

Well --what would you do?

With the on-call Sheriff (he gets parked in a different town each day or so)

At the historic Fish Lake Lodge

Are you looking for peace?

Abbie reading in the window seat
Visit Wayne county, just sit and enjoy the breeze and watch the constant sprinklers at work on the acres of farmland. Go for a hike in Capitol Reef and study the petro-glyphs. Call Ted Winder and adopt him as your grandpa for a bit.

Ted Winder

Have a pastry at the Chuck Wagon Hotel in Torrey. Spend a Sunday meeting in the old Loa chapel with it's grand doors, red roof and tall open windows. Take a turn on the tree swing in the large maple guarding the Leavitt home. Breathe deep. These are secrets only a Utah native (who once called Wayne county home) can tell you.

Pictures of past and present

Changes in Energy

Did you know that the number eleven, as the fifth lowest prime number, has supposed power?
Those who recognize the meaning of number Eleven in their lives are quite sensitive to vibrational frequencies...
Pretty Wacko huh?

Abbie began her 11th birthday with a tour-guided hike with Sam, Zach, Dad, and Ted
(Who is Ted? An awesome guide who knew the ins and outs of everywhere).

Reaching great heights after surgery --quite a feat!

Her shirt reads "Fish Lake Girl."

The recipient of "Newsies" (a true family favorite)
When they returned we all headed into the heart of Fruita. We visited the one room school house, explored the Ripple Rock learning center, watched a short film on the way Capital Reef came to be, and relaxed with a picnic lunch and a game of Frisbee.

Odd jobs around the Fruita farm

hard at work grinding the corn
We then returned to Torrey and went swimming, and then to the new pizza place in town for dinner and a special Oreo malt for the birthday girl.

After a dip in the pool

1 and 1 equals 11, see?

Oh we've got trouble...with a capitol T that rhymes with P that stands for...

Abbie is a thinker. She makes correlations and witty comments that surprise me. Abbie is a talker. As a baby she refused to work on any signs --she'd much rather express her thoughts verbally (and she does). Abbie is a helper. She's determined in her efforts to be aware of needs, and offer to meet those needs before being asked (unless it involves my need to have her room tidy -- and then she'll reluctantly set about her task as long as she can listen to a book on tape while working). Abbie is no longer a little girl. She will begin middle school this year and is anticipating much change. She is restless to move out of primary, and is already offering her services to the Sunbeam teacher who seems a bit overwhelmed.

Abbie is socially confident with adults. She sets up her own hair appointments, made up her own "Summer School" and called all the moms with children in the ward. Phoning, selling --socializing are not my fortes, but I have encouraged it in her. I have wanted to have her feel that she has good wings, and that as long as they're pointed in the right direction --I'll allow her to fly.

I can feel it though --I can feel the "Tween" setting in and am a bit melancholy about the strength and increased energy in each new flight.

Looking forward....

The Great Number Eight!

Since Sam has been on the countdown for nearly 300 days, August 6th came slowly. It did come however, and Sam was very pleased to get on with the festivities. Up early, he woke Millie and coaxed her to gather eggs with him for his requested German Pancake and Egg-In-A-Circle breakfast.

Distracted on the way to the hen house

Planning the attack

One small treasure

Course one
He was sung to and showered with gifts he'd already found in my not so great hiding places.

The beloved Cal Ranch Muzz Loader

Legos

The only surprise --Scooby Doo
After the celebration we finished packing, and loaded up the car for our family vacation to Wayne county. We had a fairly good trip except for Max, who was certain that his increasing his volume would decrease the time he spent in his car seat. When we pulled into the Chuck Wagon Hotel in Torrey it was lovely and breezy. We piled out of the car and into the family suite where we unpacked and had a little food. Only a little food though --the swimming pool was calling.

Sam loves being goggle clad and in the water. He showed me his new "shark fighting technique." It was bold. It was aggressive. It was impressive. I baked a birthday cake and a Costco frozen meal while the baby slept, and cheered on the swimmers (I love having a kitchenette while on vacation).

The fearless shark fighter
That night we had cake and ice cream, and sang again.

In his new hat, Sam seems happy with his Loa-purchased cake topper (luckily the cavernous dip on the cake was perfect for the oreo marsh). (Clever clever Mama).
After tucking others in, I found Star in on the double bed with Sam in the boy's room. They were talking about how baptism would change things. Sam said, "Dad, you know how when you tell the truth, you're supposed to get a good feeling inside? Well I've tried it, and I didn't feel that way." As Star tickled his back he gently explained how the Spirit would feel different to different people. I noticed also that he carefully encouraged Sam to keep telling the truth, and he'd feel better and better.

With the windows open (no screens because there are no mosquitoes) and an evening breeze accompanying the quiet conversation, I felt at peace. My two blonde haired blue-eyed boys...

Focus Issues

Much has happened in the month of August. I have scores of photos to prove it and lofty plans for documenting it all. However, I want to make a note of today's experiences first:

I woke at 1am to have a sleepy conversation with my troubled bishop. I woke again at 5:40am for some exercise --NOTHING gets in the way of my exercise --you know me. I then woke up the oldest 3 children for scripture study (day 3 of our new program), and had a good discussion. Then I got Sam's medicine ready, filled a cup with water and...swallowed it myself! The group made it out the door in time for carpool. 7:30am. What a wonderful day this was bound to be. I love my little ones, and I love to "behold" them, but there is something that excites me about making progress on the house, or the laundry, or my photo albums (what photo albums? --someday) or....

Millie had big plans of her own. It was her first day of afternoon Kindergarten. She has waited so long. She requested my help her with her bed and room, her hair, and her new uniform. all before 9am. With that out of the way she was ready to set up the Barbies . I told her that I had to get the peaches from our tree peeled and in the dehydrator really fast, and then we could play.

I just need to check my email first. I didn't want to miss another VT appt. Oh good. She hadn't written. In an effort to appear an active part of my Visiting Teaching companionship, I sent an email "Do we have appts. for this month?"

My having forgotten the last two appts. is really not my fault. I suffer from a serious cerebral condition: Post-Half Dozen-Posterity-Amnesia. She quickly called back, "Stefanie, did you get my message last night? How is the best way to reach you? We have an appt. for 10:30am this morning if you can make it" I assured her that I could, then went to head upstairs to get ready.

As I was passing through the kitchen area however, I noticed the bench I had pulled out in order to vacuum under the table. What if I just moved it over here? That might be nice. Hmm-- if I moved that here, then I'd have to move that there. Yes -- it'd be very nice to have a little change... Oh! I know. I should grab the measuring tape. Now where I had I seen that last? Sam had measured his rock collection with it recently. I'm pretty sure we have several of them...
I'll check the den. Ope --there are those bills I was going to call on today. Why is the computer on in here? Oh yes --Abbie wanted me to look over her choices for electives for the year. Animal Science? What? How about Math Lab and Study Hall. Knitting? Should I keep that on there? Now Stef, she is trusting you...

"Mama," Millie called from the next room. "Yes" I guiltily replied. "Is it time for me to go to Kindergarten yet?" "Not yet, sweetie." "Mo-om...you said you were going to do peaches." Oh yeah. I hustled in to fill the sink get out the fruit fresh. "I'm hungry," said Millie. Oh she looks so cute --we should Skype Grandma and Papa in Africa. I go in to call and invite to come and show off. Grandma says all the right things, of course and we begin chatting. I am surprised when I see myself on the computer screen -- I thought I'd gotten ready this morning ( Ope-- I had done half of my hair, and washed my face before Millie had derailed me by wanting me to fix her hair in curls). There was that crazy noise from Skype again --I looked at the top of the screen to see if there were sound adjustment doo-dads I could fiddle with --What? 10:14am already? And Sister McMillan always comes early to pick me up.

I heard her horn, and raced in to get Schuyler --oh no --I hadn't remembered that I'd left him in his jammies for his morning nap. Oh well. As I climbed in the car I hoped he wouldn't be hungry or messy --I'd forgotten to grab the baby bag. We had a good visit and a bit of an impromptu lesson from me on seeking education and being a lifelong learner.

I came in to get Millie some highly nutritious-first-day-of-school-lunch. "What would you like for a special lunch today, Mills?" She rattled off about 5 items. I looked at the time. "How about one of my special Zone Protein bars today? Wouldn't that be fun? I'll just grab you a water bottle and you can eat it in the car --won't that be fun?" Millie lit up, "Yeah Mom!"

"Let's get in the car now. Oh wait, go out by the tree so we can get your 1st day of school picture." Where had I seen that camera last? "Can you smile like you feel peaceful Mills? Okay, you look super. Do you have your really yummy lunch? "

I drove up to the school. All the parents were waving goodbye as their new Kindergartners went through the doors. Millie hopped out and joined them. I parked and came in to help her with her back pack. She 's suddenly looking a bit unsure of things...

I pulled back in the garage and closed the door. I'll just get Max down for a rest, and then I'll have 3 full hours. Wow? What projects will I tackle, I wonder. Max smiles back at me from his car seat --what is that all over his hands, face, and jammies? Okay -- I'll give him a quick bath and then fold some laundry while he plays. One small pile folded...What is that noise? Oh man --he drained the tub! I dried him off and started folding again. I can feel my heart pumping --Ahh it feels so good to be accomplishing something.

Max-O came crawling up to me with... What in the World IS that? --all over his hands and feet. I picked him up gingerly, from the armpits, and sat him at the back of the tub. I ran the water and went to clean up the carpet and surrounding area. Alright. I am not going to let this get me -- I still have more than an hour. I'll just grab his bottle in the kid's bathroom ... why is the tub water running in here? Looks like Max just soaked the rug I'd preserved from last night's flood. I'll just throw that in the washer. I finally laid him down for a nap. My stomach is growling. I must have forgotten lunch. I'll just grab a quick Zone bar and water (like mother like daughter)...where is my purse, I put it in there. Why is this bench pulled out in the middle of the floor? Oh yeah -- I was going to vacuum the rug. It's kind of nice to have it pulled away from the table, I should see if it would fit against this wall. I just need to measure it. There's my purse. Right by the computer. Hey, and there's the measuring tape. I'll just write down these numbers quickly on this post-it note...I should try to record this on my blog, it's been so long since I've written...

What? 3:00pm already? Millie will be watching for me, I'll just grab the baby (who is still happily banging and chattering in his crib. On my way through the kitchen area I noticed the fruit flies gathering around the peaches still sitting there. The bench and chairs are still separated from their table, the dishes still in the sink.

After reviewing my day, Dr. Wells might diagnose a problem with my attention abilities. Perhaps. But give me a few more school days and I just surprise everyone. Just a few more days.

"You found me. And I was so quiet too."

So busy. So happy --hard at work in the computer cubby.

Makin' Goals

Chris Watkins, Rich Harrison, Drew VanWagenen... Who are these guys?
Just some of the most awesome guys ever. They know soccer. They wear Adidas. They lead the BYU Men's team, and Zach just spent an entire week living and working among them.

At LaVell Edwards stadium

Registering...
As the first born son of a man who likes to plan, Zach has been taught to set goals and reach for them. This spring he decided he was interested in an intensive soccer camp. He got a job with a neighbor, saved up, paid and registered for his week of choice, and then helped pay for new cleats, shin guards etc. Pretty impressive. Pretty empowering.

Changing from his street clothes

Meeting his room mate, Lukitas from Argentina.

On their way to orientation

As the oldest child of a Mom who tends to be a bit weepy, Zach simply smiled and reassured her as he packed his bags. He promised it would only be a few days, that he would wash his face, and make new friends. That funny lady somehow saw "the beginning of the end" in all that packing up and moving out. Silly Mom.

He returned well-fed, tanned and blistered --tired but satisfied. With three sets of workouts per day, he'd paid his dues, but he'd also met his goal (and made several goals on the field as well).

In the end --Zach's team won the league championships
Want to learn more about BYU Soccer and the team?
Go to www.byusoccer.com