A three hour tour.

Here is what happened: We had been thinking we would go to the boat show last weekend. We are actually in the market for another boat. Nothing expensive or flashy, just something we can spend time with family and friends on. We miss that, now that we don't have a boat anymore.

Wednesday evening I was pulling into the driveway after scouts, and I rolled down the window to say "Hi" to Doug as he was walking to the front porch. Just as I rolled down the window, the DJ came on the radio to announce that the 10th caller would win boat show tickets. I told Doug to grab his phone and call. He pulled it out of his pocket, and actually had it on speed dial. Who'da thunk it? He was caller 3.

We went into the house, and he continued to call, but got busy signals over and over. We had a conversation about our day, talked about some scout things he said he'd help with, and then he called again. It rang and rang and rang. We continued to chat. He asked me if I thought he should stay on the phone, I said, "Why not? It won't hurt." In the middle of saying something to me, they actually answered the phone and told him he was caller 10. You could have knocked me over with a feather. I was stunned. Why can't those things happen when you can win something really good?

We went to the boat show and had too much fun looking at boats. It made me feel like spring might actually come, especially with all the snow we have had this week. It amazes me that they can fit so many boats in the building, and they are soooo close together. This boat was the least expensive we could find that night. That made it a winner for us.

Doug found a bunch that he wanted. The one he was really interested in can't be fitted with a wake board tower, so that was eliminated. As if we could afford any of them, anyway. Miriam had fun touring the houseboats and checking out the view.

She loved this boat. It looked cool, and she thought it would go super fast, so we took a picture of her with it. I think she would rather be in it, instead of underneath it, though.

Dad gave her the nickname "Skeeter" years ago, so of course we had to take this picture. She liked that it was sparkly, too.

Seeing that Doug and I are both graduates of AF high, we are grateful that someone is looking out for us. Go, Cavemen! Here is the proof in red, white, and black (school colors!):

We also saw some wakeboard demonstrations that were fun. Ok, to be truthful, most of them were the same stunts over and over, but one of the last ones was cool.

This boat had my vote. There was one down the aisle that had a TV on the passenger side, and I thought it would be great for kids when they have had enough, but it was in the way of the view out the front, and who needs a built in tv on a boat? You are out there to get away from that sort of thing. Besides, Doug would probably put one in, anyway. I would rather go for this one. Ahhh, someday.

We also saw some great choppers. I wish I had taken a picture of one that looked like a snake, but didn't think about it at the time. Very cool! I loved this one, too. It was airbrushed in black, but it definitely made me see things in red, white, and blue. Doug is a huge fan of motorcycles, and it seems to be rubbing off on Miriam.

We invited Erlene and Grant to go with us, and had a fun night. We seemed to get there at the right time, just before it got very crowded. We ate dinner, and had a fantastic time dreaming about warmer weather. I want to go again. Spring fever, anyone? After all was said and done, we finally found the boat we could afford. Too bad the kids wouldn't get out of it for us.

Any one up for a ride in the S.S. Mini-Minnow? Just for three hours or so, we'll be back before dinner. Right, little buddy?

What's in a name?

Great Grandpa Williams holding the littlest one of our family. I think I am going to use photoshop on that finger, though.

Last Sunday was the day that my little sister, Misty, and her husband, Clint, blessed their little girl, Brookelin Capri. The debate goes on as to whether we should call her Brookelin, or Capri. Maybe I haven't spent enough time with her, but I can't get it the same two times in a row. Of course, every time I am around my little sis, I end up calling her by my daughter's name, and I start calling my daughter, Misty. When I visit my Dad, I start calling him Doug. What is that about? Why do I have that problem? I'm sure it says something bizarre about me, I'm just not sure what it is. Maybe I just don't get out enough. I am working on it, though. Someday I will remember to call people by the correct name, at least that's what I tell myself.

This was one of the rare occasions that our family was mostly all in attendance. We didn't have a chance to get pictures, because not everyone could stay for the luncheon afterwards, but out of 10 siblings, 7 were in attendance. One lives out of state, one has passed away, and one couldn't make it. We also had my Dad's parents there. What an amazing thing for this family, we almost never get to see each other all at the same time. That was a pretty good turn out, considering. What a keepsake photo to use for her genealogy. Her four generations together to welcome her into the family.

I wish you could take a picture of the moment when all of the men gather together to give her a name and a blessing. My Grandpa at 90 years old, standing with his oldest son (my Dad), who is standing with his own sons, and the sons that became his through his daughters. All joining to show support and love for a little baby and her father in asking our Heavenly Father to watch over her. Such a powerful moment. We had a chance to celebrate a new little girl in the family that belongs to the youngest in my family. How fortunate are we that we have that opportunity? Quite a reality check. I guess I thought Misty would always be the baby, now she has one of her own.

Brownies, and fairies and imps! Oh, my!

Last Friday was a fun day for Miriam and her best friend, Becca. Brandon Mull, for those of you that don't have children of school age, wrote the "Fablehaven" series, and also "The Candy Shop Wars". Miriam loves his books almost as much as "Harry Potter". Almost.

He came to her school last year, and they didn't have time for signing books. This year she is in a different school, and sure enough, he showed up last Friday. He is so good at promoting literacy for children. At the back of every book there is a list of questions to answer about the book to get you thinking about what you read in the story. This time they had a chance to have one book signed by him, so Miriam took "The Candy Shop Wars". She was so excited.

She went straight to Becca's on the way home and spent the afternoon with Becca and her mom. They went shopping and bought matching hoodies. Yeah, that's just what they needed. One more thing in common. Soon, I think they need to separate for an afternoon, or they may actually merge into one bizarre being with two heads, lots of hair, and eight long, wiggly tentacles that used to be arms and legs.

That evening, they were going to go to another book signing at Deseret Book in Provo to have Miriam's "Fablehaven" book signed, but things didn't work out, so I recieved a phone call at about ten minutes to six. 'Mom, can you take us over to the book signing, Becca's mom can't. Pleeeeeeaaaase? Pretty Please?" "Ok. Run over and get in the car, I'll take you." So off we went.

There were quite a few kids there, and the two I brought had to be the loudest. They were running all over looking at books and movies and games, and racing each other back to the line while wearing their matching jackets as I held their place in line. After awhile, I got smart, and had them stand in line, while I went shopping. They were the ones that wanted to be there, after all.

When we got to the front of the line, they suddenly became very quiet and shy. Brandon (or should I say Mr. Mull?) was very good with them. He got them talking by saying, "You two must be sisters!" They both giggled and said, "No!" Long silence...... I had to jump in to explain that they were just best friends, and he actually looked surprised. He signed Miriam's book, signed a poster for each of them, and then they talked for a bit about their favorite parts of the stories. I asked if I could take a picture of the three of them, and he replied, "Absolutely!" What a nice guy. Miriam and Becca had the nerve to look horrified that I would even suggest such a thing, but I think they were happy about it after we left.

Is there something wrong with me?

Today I have turned 40. To some that is old. To others it is young. I prefer to say I am 40 years young today. What a baby I am! I must admit I have an unusual opinion about aging. I love it. I can't wait for it. I hear from others that there is something wrong with me. It sounds bizarre, I know, but that is how I feel. When I turned 20, I had some of the best friends a girl could ever have, and I still love them all. I got married to a wonderful, adventurous man in my 20's, and I learned to paraglide. Who would ever think that I would someday run off of a mountain, and enjoy it? I went to school and became a cosmetologist, and then became an instructor. I learned more than I taught, which is saying something. I also made more friends that I truly admire. I also had more sadness in those years than I care to think about. It is hard not being able to have children like most of the people you know, but even that has made me who I am.

When I turned 30, I was relieved. Wacky, yes, but true. I couldn't wait to be done with my 20's. I thought my 30's would be much more fun. I don't think that was the case in general, but there were many fun things that happened in the last 10 years. I do have to say that for me the most life changing things (so far) have happened in my 30's. I finally became a parent to a challenging but wonderful daughter. I learned to scuba dive. How many people do you know that can say they went scuba diving in Yellowstone Lake? I worked for a company I loved, and then had to leave for reasons beyond my control. (Being hospitalized, and then unable to move does that to a person.) I have had the opportunity to consider that someday I will die. Not something the average person wants to think about, right? I was never afraid of death until a few years ago. I am not afraid of it now, but there was a moment in time that it stunned me. Realizing that things were happening to me that could someday cause such an event was life changing for me. I was able to take stock of my life, and decide what I truly wanted to accomplish with the time I have been given on this earth. I am grateful for that. (Please don't panic, and think that I am dying, I'm not. I was just forced into the realization that I could have had that result, if it wasn't for modern medicine. I have so much gratitude for doctors, nurses, and medication!)

I have made some truly wonderful friends in my 30's. Many of them are in their retirement years. Nothing is better for your perspective in life than to live in a community of people that have lived and loved almost twice your age. You forget that they are the age they are, because they are so full of life, and so fun! Then someone dies, or an ambulance arrives in the middle of the night, and you remember.

I love the idea of being able to look back at life and reminisce about your friends and family, the adventures you had, and the things you have learned. I love that I can tell my future grandkids that Michael Jackson was the coolest when I was in high school. (I know, I know. Things change.) I love that I will be able to marvel them with stories about how we used to ride in the car, and roll all over the place whenever there was a turn taken a bit too fast. We even rode down the freeway in the back of my dad's truck. (How did we survive to adulthood without being permanently injured or mangled? Ah, the danger of a childhood without seat belts.) Of how we never wore bike helmets, and had a stream in my backyard that wasn't fenced off to keep kids out of it. (Four and a half years in that house, and nobody drowned! Amazing.) There are so many fun things to look back on.

The more I live, the more grateful I am for the adventures I have had. Some have been more difficult than I would like, but they are the ones that mean the most to me. I appologize for the downer this may have caused you, talking about death, and all. To me it is a celebration of who I am becoming, and I am looking forward to my 40's with great excitement. I wonder what friends I will meet, and what things I will accomplish that I never thought I could do. I have earned every gray hair, wrinkle, and freckle, and I am proud to have them. I can't wait to see what happens next!