tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25299694724547865252024-03-07T15:50:38.793-07:00TravelinOmaOma's Memoirs:
Humor, perspective and lessons gleaned from daily life.Travelin'Omahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18415472674768977723noreply@blogger.comBlogger1232125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2529969472454786525.post-16798078021381229902014-07-14T20:38:00.002-06:002014-07-14T20:38:36.569-06:00Pioneer Stock<b><br /></b>
<div class="post-header" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.6; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div class="post-header-line-1">
</div>
</div>
<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-7373118091513759328" itemprop="description articleBody" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 540px;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_tXNG1vwHvtjUKFRP16Bg_0h_VevKuSXH24jYgMtHe8X8zoDUHN55CMCxa0uxXIgHr8Cs43MVqUlJrunFSeADdL7pA4H3RlNjJjLwiHIfpoClrbINEkST8l7gdtEtAD5j_ikZ4Ww6Y3k/s1600-h/Dusty-Horse-Carriage-Trek-Mormon-Pioneer-Wagon-Train-to-Utah-Near-South-Pass-Wyoming-Photographic-Print-C13079527.jpeg" style="color: #1c768a; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225357617385949362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_tXNG1vwHvtjUKFRP16Bg_0h_VevKuSXH24jYgMtHe8X8zoDUHN55CMCxa0uxXIgHr8Cs43MVqUlJrunFSeADdL7pA4H3RlNjJjLwiHIfpoClrbINEkST8l7gdtEtAD5j_ikZ4Ww6Y3k/s320/Dusty-Horse-Carriage-Trek-Mormon-Pioneer-Wagon-Train-to-Utah-Near-South-Pass-Wyoming-Photographic-Print-C13079527.jpeg" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; cursor: pointer; display: block; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; position: relative; text-align: center;" /></a><span style="font-size: 14px; font-style: italic;"><span>Photo </span>by Holgen Leue</span></div>
<br />Great-great Grandpa John Bagley was only eighteen when he left his family in eastern Canada. He joined with the Mormon pioneers to prepare for a trek across the plains from Illinois to Utah.<br /><br />John was extremely trusted and took the responsibility of caring for a widow and her children in the wagon train. He drove the lead team of nine yoke of oxen into the valley in 1856 when he was just twenty years old. Later, Brigham Young requested that John accompany him in many dangerous situations as a body guard. At the age of 58 he wrote his life story in his own hand, recalling his adventures with Indians, wild animals, cholera, and starvation.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSS4ORuZE_ho3fAT1ELOkK99kMPdByg6-GcLMFKIZyK_-arvD_XqCmfU2U1ryjsvPBY7TIgj2Ib2PwQ_Pq9qTpuMTb9cSyrv7SCSqw7UfteWUD3p05APSowV1cgUezRMQioQNWr5pmbGY/s1600-h/diary.jpg" style="color: #1c768a; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5079742008876137554" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSS4ORuZE_ho3fAT1ELOkK99kMPdByg6-GcLMFKIZyK_-arvD_XqCmfU2U1ryjsvPBY7TIgj2Ib2PwQ_Pq9qTpuMTb9cSyrv7SCSqw7UfteWUD3p05APSowV1cgUezRMQioQNWr5pmbGY/s320/diary.jpg" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; cursor: pointer; display: block; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; position: relative; text-align: center;" /></a><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-style: italic;">John's Journal<br /></span></span>But there is one particular feat John is remembered for.<br /></div>
John had worked in a lumber mill with his father from the time he was a little boy. Four days after his arrival in Salt Lake Valley he started work on what would become six lumber mills in Big Cottonwood Canyon. He helped build roads, haul logs and build silver mines in Alta, and became known quickly for his ability and agility.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcXl_OvuHzzl4vrgzw_cQCI2x6TD6U77np8SKctyy9h66bNVnrO6CrhmyCdtwsrRedIY-1jDKnhmeyytZiPvYHbtJ98rvhNM02i2tSvf7blCbXoKxprUvkfUlMlT20-sk_yVEf37ge2pE/s1600-h/2634850587_8a864c8b56.jpg" style="color: #1c768a; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225357614133722370" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcXl_OvuHzzl4vrgzw_cQCI2x6TD6U77np8SKctyy9h66bNVnrO6CrhmyCdtwsrRedIY-1jDKnhmeyytZiPvYHbtJ98rvhNM02i2tSvf7blCbXoKxprUvkfUlMlT20-sk_yVEf37ge2pE/s320/2634850587_8a864c8b56.jpg" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; cursor: pointer; display: block; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; position: relative; text-align: center;" /></a><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Photo: Lake Mary, Brighton, UT</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">Project 365:185/366 Flickr<br /></span></span></div>
On July 23, 1857, nine months after John's arrival, 2,600 people (with 500 vehicles and 1,500 animals) gathered at the bottom of Big Cottonwood Canyon for a giant anniversary party. The first pioneers had settled the valley ten years before, and there was a celebration planned ten miles up the canyon in Brighton. The group followed Brigham Young and a long line of dignitaries in carriages and wagons. A marching company of 50 kids between 10 and 12 years old led the way up the canyon, along with a brass band that furnished music for the celebration.<br /><br />At sunset a bugle summoned the campers to a central elevated spot where Brigham Young addressed them. On the morning of July 24, the flag was unfurled from a giant pine tree, standing on a peak. Prayer was offered, then singing, and afterward cannons roared. The Big Cottonwood Lumber Company, for which John worked, had constructed the road as far as Lake Alice, near Silver Lake, expressly for this occasion. Today there is a small chapel at the top of Big Cottonwood Canyon, in Brighton, close to where the celebration took place.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLKVgqEm_eSl5Oj1MnZIO4xQsR4jBQH66qpSjt75DSbHmk-szQbHYHsShnKIt7mwBv6eNxTmlFxMnNp90jX3K9niUdpbDdSR0YIoTU1toe3wAuprCDxY_QHoyx3CJMWKty_rycyCPefQA/s1600-h/20909993.jpeg" style="color: #1c768a; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225370661135191458" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLKVgqEm_eSl5Oj1MnZIO4xQsR4jBQH66qpSjt75DSbHmk-szQbHYHsShnKIt7mwBv6eNxTmlFxMnNp90jX3K9niUdpbDdSR0YIoTU1toe3wAuprCDxY_QHoyx3CJMWKty_rycyCPefQA/s320/20909993.jpeg" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; cursor: pointer; display: block; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; position: relative; text-align: center;" /></a><span style="font-size: 14px;">Photo by Blozan's Tree Climb<br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
This is how John recalled the day of <span style="font-style: italic;">Celebration:</span></div>
<blockquote>
<span style="font-style: italic;">Brigham Young's tent was near a towering pine tree 100 feet high. That tree was selected as a flag pole for the unfurling of the Stars and Stripes. I had been reared in the timber lands of eastern New Brunswick, America, and was experienced in handling timber and logging, so I was selected by President Young to trim the tree for a flagpole.</span><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF4wxsGlXV5YXwru53TN2bou8X1VZUhtmvyVQlyq_x3aSLZD9gvWzC9jobB5rjsUJxeeePHNhHmfxJG7AYkLP-s-8igj1Vlk6-exYD81dNjpw0skfSexuVkBt-PmdiNlB3INa32jnWlYk/s1600-h/John+Bagley+treetop.jpg" style="color: #1c768a; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5079721723745598498" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF4wxsGlXV5YXwru53TN2bou8X1VZUhtmvyVQlyq_x3aSLZD9gvWzC9jobB5rjsUJxeeePHNhHmfxJG7AYkLP-s-8igj1Vlk6-exYD81dNjpw0skfSexuVkBt-PmdiNlB3INa32jnWlYk/s320/John+Bagley+treetop.jpg" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; cursor: pointer; display: block; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; position: relative; text-align: center;" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;"><br />Carrying my axe, I climbed to the top of the tree, trimmed the branches and cut the tip so there was a smooth top. I unfurled the flag, and much to the amazement of those below, I stood on my head on the top of the tree!<br /><br />As I descended, I trimmed the other branches, and when I was among the trees that were not so lofty, I seized the branch of another tree and ape-like, swung from the flag pole and disappeared. The people below thought I had perished and were quite concerned until I finally appeared having made my way through the branches.</span></blockquote>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrnM4FAvipsb9pKEUI2CznFCI8QEkOj1sHWAjJDe8fxplEZWvXVmBgji33vVEMoCK6hH7T4XkzMgK75hwSkE_4y_7_-ke8o7rZcQItHJQ_IrxTwph-xieyg043OsWiOJ5q9aXMTZAJebs/s1600-h/John+old.jpg" style="color: #1c768a; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5079742193559731298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrnM4FAvipsb9pKEUI2CznFCI8QEkOj1sHWAjJDe8fxplEZWvXVmBgji33vVEMoCK6hH7T4XkzMgK75hwSkE_4y_7_-ke8o7rZcQItHJQ_IrxTwph-xieyg043OsWiOJ5q9aXMTZAJebs/s320/John+old.jpg" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; cursor: pointer; display: block; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; position: relative; text-align: center;" /></a><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-style: italic;">John Bagley</span></span><br /><br />He sounds like a <span style="font-style: italic;">great,</span> great-great grandfather to me!</div>
</div>
Travelin'Omahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18415472674768977723noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2529969472454786525.post-49607950170889323302014-05-26T16:06:00.000-06:002014-05-26T16:06:02.193-06:00Do Something Hard<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 21px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal;">From Under a Sunbonnet: 1990</span></span><br />
<div class="date-posts" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
<div class="post-outer">
<div class="post hentry" style="min-height: 0px; position: relative;">
<a href="http://travelinoma.blogspot.com/2008/08/from-under-sunbonnet-1990.html" style="color: #1c768a; text-decoration: none;"></a><h3 class="post-title entry-title" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 20px; position: relative;">
</h3>
<div class="post-header" style="font-style: normal; line-height: 1.6; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
</div>
<div class="post-body entry-content" style="font-style: normal; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 540px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyEk1VlaFSYQvfAMAll2BYJVhDVPfRFrHwFNzmXc65TOCr0NL-f2MSlcCTcvYZiSa5ntWmsYD7u7LBvV8YcTS6ewXD0OoRpgYKglC37PGh2E6_B12Scbx7iWqn_DrhzIEYky-Dp5jp-k0/s1600-h/iowaCityArticle1.jpg" style="color: #1c768a; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5233991371678717874" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyEk1VlaFSYQvfAMAll2BYJVhDVPfRFrHwFNzmXc65TOCr0NL-f2MSlcCTcvYZiSa5ntWmsYD7u7LBvV8YcTS6ewXD0OoRpgYKglC37PGh2E6_B12Scbx7iWqn_DrhzIEYky-Dp5jp-k0/s320/iowaCityArticle1.jpg" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; cursor: pointer; display: block; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; position: relative; text-align: center;" /></a>Against my better judgment I became a pioneer woman for a week. Our church youth group recreated a Pioneer Trek, complete with sunbonnets, bloomers, aprons and handcarts. As a leader I was expected to be part of the four-day activity as a chaperone, even though the teenagers would be divided up and grouped as <span style="font-style: italic;">families</span> with kids they didn't know.<br /><br />Specially trained young adult couples played the parts of <span style="font-style: italic;">Pa</span> and <span style="font-style: italic;">Ma</span>, while the legitimate adults were assigned to accompany each family as participants. I had a 16-year-old son and a 14-year-old daughter who were excited to go, so I reluctantly agreed to join the group. I knew we wouldn't be put in the same trek family, but we would have a shared experience and that was a good enough reason.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSo0dON4AQdoIjlrI8Vks89vleNijj5njBojvZlEQp8aMRXuktpdaZPszrWvjPqqP8lDZQ9WOCjip3j7zwLx1JVs7elyPDM0HNzs4ykpjnxCqclUYAehVgocn4I_cpeHuMjz36EPZJ78w/s1600-h/IMGP2359.jpg" style="color: #1c768a; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5233991293758230498" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSo0dON4AQdoIjlrI8Vks89vleNijj5njBojvZlEQp8aMRXuktpdaZPszrWvjPqqP8lDZQ9WOCjip3j7zwLx1JVs7elyPDM0HNzs4ykpjnxCqclUYAehVgocn4I_cpeHuMjz36EPZJ78w/s320/IMGP2359.jpg" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; cursor: pointer; display: block; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; position: relative; text-align: center;" /></a>It was a grueling first day. The kids started out with energy. I started out tired. We put together our own handcarts and loaded them with supplies. Since they weighed several hundred pounds, each member of the family was supposed to help pull or push the handcart on the 13-mile hike.<br /><br />Ours was one of the first wagons in the train and we set off with vigor. Excited jabbering and singing was heard down the trail behind us. By 2:00 in the afternoon the little enthusiasm I had had early that morning was gone. It was 100° and I was out-of-sorts with exhaustion, and hunger. Some of the kids were whining and complaining and I identified with them.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGac6ZJ_jFSWD2_rYClS_iPd9CEZk7sZB4JXHw_AJUYlaMrmIlmGCf3MicjNtDqE2U4kxzATfmXHAcN15m5tuGiJHbwhSw7e85TNkRULUoPNEIW3gHAbmG3mpcUgVQ_L51elX8P9qa4uM/s1600-h/1357412339_da9e3c9576.jpg" style="color: #1c768a; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5233990687760271778" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGac6ZJ_jFSWD2_rYClS_iPd9CEZk7sZB4JXHw_AJUYlaMrmIlmGCf3MicjNtDqE2U4kxzATfmXHAcN15m5tuGiJHbwhSw7e85TNkRULUoPNEIW3gHAbmG3mpcUgVQ_L51elX8P9qa4uM/s320/1357412339_da9e3c9576.jpg" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; cursor: pointer; display: block; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; position: relative; text-align: center;" /></a>I started dragging behind, walking slower and slower as the other handcart families passed me by. Whose idea was this anyway? Why would we take a bunch of teenage kids into the wilderness and subject them to such hardship? I felt disoriented, lightheaded, and miserable.<br /><br />The <span style="font-style: italic;">trail boss</span>, a man I respected and trusted, noticed me and led me over to a stream where he soaked my bandanna in the cold water, and gave me a canteen of Gatorade. He suggested I ride in the support vehicle behind the group for a few minutes to regain my strength.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKgQgKLDf4Pv1ggVBxEBQX237lUQY7-7istUzjFaauJ-r2nlJbdHIjmg-sNX8rk890k4ALn82nlhmRqgjtsYYZKWlDkHTyePy-xBt8spDxFd3a_xKoUFNUtdsZmas4Si9dWbWbgs_y1pc/s1600-h/435014048_47aa48dc60.jpg" style="color: #1c768a; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5233990571864661634" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKgQgKLDf4Pv1ggVBxEBQX237lUQY7-7istUzjFaauJ-r2nlJbdHIjmg-sNX8rk890k4ALn82nlhmRqgjtsYYZKWlDkHTyePy-xBt8spDxFd3a_xKoUFNUtdsZmas4Si9dWbWbgs_y1pc/s320/435014048_47aa48dc60.jpg" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; cursor: pointer; display: block; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; position: relative; text-align: center;" /></a>Relieved of my sunbonnet, in the air-conditioned Suburban, I cooled off quickly, and chatted with the driver, a good friend who was a physician. He assured me I would make it, so a few minutes later he caught up with the group and let me out, and then dropped out of sight again.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1hus_1YM2jmtgAKtYdo_D2rmr6Ponu1sU-j_XKPKPBkZY2nO53Fj5u5gaPXOY-uAkAtf57z1CVEH1dVZmGxLaF0QjS-zuFwORQAVxc_4wcijDh_0o_zxMiRxrTYm5kkMjlsjslwNefoI/s1600-h/435016984_bcb72c8045.jpg" style="color: #1c768a; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5233990685905833650" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1hus_1YM2jmtgAKtYdo_D2rmr6Ponu1sU-j_XKPKPBkZY2nO53Fj5u5gaPXOY-uAkAtf57z1CVEH1dVZmGxLaF0QjS-zuFwORQAVxc_4wcijDh_0o_zxMiRxrTYm5kkMjlsjslwNefoI/s320/435016984_bcb72c8045.jpg" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; cursor: pointer; display: block; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; position: relative; text-align: center;" /></a>I walked a little faster, passing other handcart families to reach my own. Instead of the flat trail we had been walking all day, we were now going up a mountain. It got steeper and rockier, and was difficult to navigate in a long skirt. Soon I was actually scrambling on all fours, climbing over the rocks. I had passed one group and now I was behind a handcart that perched precariously on some rocks. It was off balance, and the kids in front were pulling while others were behind, trying to push.<br /><br />Suddenly I noticed that it was quiet. The ma's and pa's had asked the trekkers not to talk. The kids had to negotiate the handcarts on this difficult stretch silently, cooperating by observing their companions, and just doing what became obvious to them. Then the pa's whispered to the boys that they could not participate in the work. It was time for the <span style="font-style: italic;">Women's Pull</span>.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5WHSM1qC1hRzMbuDXAQDqNmefrrTrKQCDpGB8iC6kK1suzLQLKuUdtTJXe3gY__Y-D8AVayUQenl89TVUHrtkFKBwQXcNvMwBi-zo6H9CkxseZ5KpGge5teD8VlvtTViHZBPCPBPhRyI/s1600-h/435016569_50de518e44.jpg" style="color: #1c768a; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5233990574222011266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5WHSM1qC1hRzMbuDXAQDqNmefrrTrKQCDpGB8iC6kK1suzLQLKuUdtTJXe3gY__Y-D8AVayUQenl89TVUHrtkFKBwQXcNvMwBi-zo6H9CkxseZ5KpGge5teD8VlvtTViHZBPCPBPhRyI/s320/435016569_50de518e44.jpg" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; cursor: pointer; display: block; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; position: relative; text-align: center;" /></a>We had been forewarned that there would be a section of the hike where the girls pulled the handcarts alone. Of course it was highly anticipated. The young women were anxious to show off their fortitude and stamina to all the guys. However, the results were not anticipated.<br /><br />The mountain was the most demanding area we would encounter. Everyone was tired, and shaky from heat and exertion. Going up the steep, rocky slope the families had needed everyone's strength, and now it was cut in half. The boys witnessed the trouble the girls were having; some ran for water, and others whispered encouragement, and went ahead to move big rocks out of the way. The girls had resilience, and discovered new muscles emotionally and physically, tears running down their cheeks as they exerted courageously. The young men were overwhelmed with respect, wondering if they could have risen to such a challenge.<br /><br />I'm embarrassed to say I didn't have the energy to help. Getting myself up the hill was all I could manage. I was several yards behind a handcart that began to tip. A tiny girl, her face shaded by a big sunbonnet, supported it from behind. I watched as her feet dug into the dirt between the rocks, her back hardened and her shoulders tensed. Her arms clenched while she<br />pushed the wagon with force and determination. With the help of the girls in front pulling, she jostled the cart up and over a giant boulder in the path.<br /><br />For a moment she caught her breath and wiped the sweat from her forehead. As she lifted the brim of her bonnet I saw it was Amy, my 14-year-old daughter.<br /><br />Even after 22 years, the lessons of my Pioneer Trek continue to unfold in my mind. I would never have expected such inner fortitude of young city slickers; we all stumbled on power hidden deep inside ourselves. The experience demonstrated potential and capacity, and I <span style="font-style: italic;">know</span>we can do impossible things when we need to. And so can our kids.<br /><br />Sometimes the most help we can give someone is to let them do it on their own. Desperation can be the source of motivation. A person who is balancing their whole world is more careful about where they place their feet. I learned that from a girl in a sunbonnet.</div>
<div class="post-body entry-content" style="font-style: normal; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 540px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="post-body entry-content" style="font-style: normal; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 540px;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="post-body entry-content" style="font-style: normal; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 540px;">
<i>Think about a time you did something hard. Are you in the middle of a Pioneer Trek experience right now? Write about it. Discover what you're learning. If you write about it, you can learn from it the rest of your life. Eventually you'll see the hard thing as one of the great blessings in your life.</i></div>
<div class="post-body entry-content" style="font-style: normal; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 540px;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="post-body entry-content" style="font-style: normal; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 540px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLF-cTHBvl5RRjrCoGHJ7JoVa1JWt625Dk5LRJkBYaDZsWh25G4_SUT_EWIZOk2v7nszDGoDoI3-0lwR6QoL-3ThU4ME_21w1qx5WQQhiAw9z0VuxgBHrWRDE6eKDiSIlDcq_1KvAyvBY/s1600/Write+Stuff+Logo.jpg" style="color: #1c768a; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5753159579248255970" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLF-cTHBvl5RRjrCoGHJ7JoVa1JWt625Dk5LRJkBYaDZsWh25G4_SUT_EWIZOk2v7nszDGoDoI3-0lwR6QoL-3ThU4ME_21w1qx5WQQhiAw9z0VuxgBHrWRDE6eKDiSIlDcq_1KvAyvBY/s320/Write+Stuff+Logo.jpg" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 200px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; position: relative; text-align: center; width: 134px;" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
Travelin'Omahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18415472674768977723noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2529969472454786525.post-8577608722076636332014-05-08T23:32:00.000-06:002014-05-08T23:32:29.172-06:00Little Lessons Everywhere<b><br /></b>
<div class="post-header" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.6; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div class="post-header-line-1">
</div>
</div>
<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-4902110100488308059" itemprop="description articleBody" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 540px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLMjU-zdrfVFRyT4jIA1VZTmmAywmRXUoUbG8O_MMFTbfU7VP-3p7Zh0hP6wUkt8a-vhWQbSTqdeXlkkkRsD1Ls7X3awgzEizWqy0wrpbtVXHxoa6Qi0boRNnatmA6_vesRr6Tupc_Exw/s1600/imgres-1.jpeg" style="color: #1c768a; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5751198743139569266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLMjU-zdrfVFRyT4jIA1VZTmmAywmRXUoUbG8O_MMFTbfU7VP-3p7Zh0hP6wUkt8a-vhWQbSTqdeXlkkkRsD1Ls7X3awgzEizWqy0wrpbtVXHxoa6Qi0boRNnatmA6_vesRr6Tupc_Exw/s320/imgres-1.jpeg" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 192px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; position: relative; text-align: center; width: 263px;" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">
One day I was sitting in my friend Julie's kitchen, watching her four-year-old through the window. Lauren was playing on the sidewalk when the sprinklers suddenly went on—she shrieked! Arms thrashing, feet slipping, she twisted blindly and howled for help.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"Just walk forward," her mom called through the window. We could see that she was only a few feet from relief, but her predicament was too overwhelming, and her wailing was too loud for her to hear. "Lauren! It's OK! Just walk!" Tears mixed with drops of water and ran down her cheeks while her older brother dashed outside to rescue her. He took her arm and steered her out of the spray.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
She wiped her eyes and smiled up at her mom before she started skipping down the sidewalk. The whole traumatic episode had only taken a minute or two, and was forgotten immediately.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I can look back at times when I've been surprised by what seemed like a <a href="http://travelinoma.blogspot.com/2011/06/bad-words.html" style="color: #1c768a; text-decoration: none;">deluge</a>. I've howled for help with such a racket that I've drowned out the quiet response, "It's OK, Marty, just walk forward." That's usually when someone shows up to walk with me a little way, and suddenly my tears are gone, and my path seems clear.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I love it when that happens.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Have you had a life lesson lately? Write it down!</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; color: #0000ee; font-style: normal;"></span></i></div>
</div>
Travelin'Omahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18415472674768977723noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2529969472454786525.post-55726741785411614132014-03-25T16:27:00.001-06:002014-03-25T16:27:09.702-06:00<br />
<h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 20px; position: relative;">
My Tribute to Moms</h3>
<div class="post-header" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.6; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div class="post-header-line-1">
</div>
</div>
<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-8905350356788291950" itemprop="description articleBody" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 540px;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA3fSVhsFtRgCMx8DGcKNraTlIvPw0QG3QTbXGQBIKAT96tGE7BRtEXNwOb9srza7KyWZBJ4FYkUSZ8dPnl2mrV1aDr2rjZdLbj7H6wPmBFvlSB_T82PxTPPcrhbRQuP11672m-mS1qak/s1600-h/candlemaking.jpg" style="color: #1c768a; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287361306050860242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA3fSVhsFtRgCMx8DGcKNraTlIvPw0QG3QTbXGQBIKAT96tGE7BRtEXNwOb9srza7KyWZBJ4FYkUSZ8dPnl2mrV1aDr2rjZdLbj7H6wPmBFvlSB_T82PxTPPcrhbRQuP11672m-mS1qak/s320/candlemaking.jpg" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 260px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; position: relative; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Colonial woman dipping candles.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">"They had waxed strong in the knowledge of the truth."<br /><span style="font-size: 14px;">Mosiah 17:2</span></span></div>
Into the hot wax; out of the hot wax. Into the hot wax; out of the hot wax. I watched as the woman dipped her candles. She held a dowel with ten pieces of string looped over it, and repeatedly lowered it into a vat of melted wax.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQDM7UrMpjHAE5m7U9ss95ZxTtrdEyhXI1BXPo9KUxTQpcBuGDgcyDfp8d9Bta8rqh9qxqjOELTtRK9N50wxz1f5TdWQ4IiaWSEtuG6RM9Izv5sUMzecnd2kc9j0ZwiHH2UTaWdjdN5Rs/s1600-h/straightenwicks.jpg" style="color: #1c768a; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287361859460239618" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQDM7UrMpjHAE5m7U9ss95ZxTtrdEyhXI1BXPo9KUxTQpcBuGDgcyDfp8d9Bta8rqh9qxqjOELTtRK9N50wxz1f5TdWQ4IiaWSEtuG6RM9Izv5sUMzecnd2kc9j0ZwiHH2UTaWdjdN5Rs/s320/straightenwicks.jpg" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 320px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; position: relative; text-align: center; width: 296px;" /></a><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Wicks</span></span><br /></div>
The first time it looked like nothing stuck to the strings at all. Another dip, and they still looked clean. Patiently, the woman dunked them again, and again, and eventually I could see a film of wax building. Time after time the thin layers adhered to each other, and slowly the strings began to look like candles.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtJipNKNXMsnsKGLQQaXam-G20p3FW_6osSn-u-hVTHJw-mo_lFCB_YUS6i2zQWEWiJvWwChnMBT5P3Y1yxznd84-GLM43v-wGSQo1uJsMgBpSkhDESP_K2Z4efbJRRi-XC0d28nASPk4/s1600-h/dipped_candles.jpg" style="color: #1c768a; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287361311160859570" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtJipNKNXMsnsKGLQQaXam-G20p3FW_6osSn-u-hVTHJw-mo_lFCB_YUS6i2zQWEWiJvWwChnMBT5P3Y1yxznd84-GLM43v-wGSQo1uJsMgBpSkhDESP_K2Z4efbJRRi-XC0d28nASPk4/s320/dipped_candles.jpg" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; position: relative; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-style: italic;">After countless dips.</span></span><br /></div>
I've watched other women engaged in an old-fashioned art that also involves patience and repetition. It is mothering. Time after time they dip their kids in character building experiences---say "Please," "Thank you," "I'm sorry;" share your toys; pick up your coat; mind your dad; love your brother; don't whine; feed the dog; say your prayers---over and over again the same admonitions. At first it seems nothing is sticking. The kids are still the same. But eventually they begin to wax strong.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZxZVCMGMbM2DpdP1vD_JevHuASZM5Fvv9Zfa4jvPqCmOgtcMMMLv28_iIEp7Qq0YhFGL2YGBJfYf2d_YMKtB5QM66spSmjyReUxAgZt698SuGuNlXLBnf38qQ688OYKv1uZpVjzC1-ao/s1600-h/hand-dipped-beeswax-candles.jpg" style="color: #1c768a; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287361860325011890" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZxZVCMGMbM2DpdP1vD_JevHuASZM5Fvv9Zfa4jvPqCmOgtcMMMLv28_iIEp7Qq0YhFGL2YGBJfYf2d_YMKtB5QM66spSmjyReUxAgZt698SuGuNlXLBnf38qQ688OYKv1uZpVjzC1-ao/s320/hand-dipped-beeswax-candles.jpg" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; position: relative; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-style: italic;">A work of art!</span></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Each experience a child has in character building is like one more dip of the candle.<br />It is repetitious, it can become wearisome.<br />But it's worth it.</div>
<br /><div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO6pLHWVaukRCLwJajHG1NBYA6JBsQQH2zPmqiXSd5fLLzUxt_2QWvB5U2vMzYqsmg9Jch6COLmerH1D0H9hBef-1kCWXPsB1MFeiXsJOf6e7O5dHFsbDQ1_D7rf34hpMjo3CwPrnaJzk/s1600-h/355px-William-Adolphe_Bouguereau_(1825-1905)_-_Young_Gypsies_(1879).jpg" style="color: #1c768a; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287363228663692002" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO6pLHWVaukRCLwJajHG1NBYA6JBsQQH2zPmqiXSd5fLLzUxt_2QWvB5U2vMzYqsmg9Jch6COLmerH1D0H9hBef-1kCWXPsB1MFeiXsJOf6e7O5dHFsbDQ1_D7rf34hpMjo3CwPrnaJzk/s320/355px-William-Adolphe_Bouguereau_(1825-1905)_-_Young_Gypsies_(1879).jpg" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 320px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; position: relative; text-align: center; width: 190px;" /></a><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Art by William Adolphe Bouguereau</span></span></div>
<br /><div style="text-align: center;">
"Be not weary in well doing,<br />for ye are laying the foundation of a great work.<br />For out of small things proceedeth that which is great."<br />—D&C 64:33</div>
</div>
Travelin'Omahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18415472674768977723noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2529969472454786525.post-79942418146480014342014-03-15T13:43:00.001-06:002014-03-15T13:43:23.584-06:00Remember!<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBMJcWCJlnZd1pl73cg_lq7ksro3A4_ehRsXqtbgqB1U85PcGfdvM7FiJGQbPOuiXlV745PngMsP9C_nJvLbj8Rl1Mt-gQW9BTzhkQcn0Mz7sC9tvEv7Qo3RSMRSsNZMsJqgiBlk0Jo-Fn/s1600-h/751px-VanGogh-starry_night_edit.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBMJcWCJlnZd1pl73cg_lq7ksro3A4_ehRsXqtbgqB1U85PcGfdvM7FiJGQbPOuiXlV745PngMsP9C_nJvLbj8Rl1Mt-gQW9BTzhkQcn0Mz7sC9tvEv7Qo3RSMRSsNZMsJqgiBlk0Jo-Fn/s320/751px-VanGogh-starry_night_edit.jpg" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352658668211023442" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 256px; margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px;" /></a><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Starry Night</span></span> <span style="font-size: 16px;">by Vincent Van Gogh</span><br />
<br /></div>
"We go to art museums, longing for a glimpse of the world through someone else’s eyes. The images we see of starry skies and fields of flowers are not valuable because they are <span style="font-style: italic;">truth</span>. The yearning to see them is based ... on the desire to learn a different way of looking at the world. Memoirs provide the same benefit." ---<span style="font-size: 16px; font-style: italic;"><a href="http://memorywritersnetwork.com/blog/are-memoirs-true-or-false/">Memory Writers Network</a></span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoDFeNH52Tg9QDkNaaZ_DOvIT-FEfuEthsw3E2KkRMtq-OOKj1suaJgl2WvaruB7NEYb2yacYajj5KFpNV5hX6yY2swfFDaVjsetdp8tv8-0predxNv3X_YQVEa3lTn1VynPBQtqghFwEy/s1600-h/vincent-van-gogh-sunflowers.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoDFeNH52Tg9QDkNaaZ_DOvIT-FEfuEthsw3E2KkRMtq-OOKj1suaJgl2WvaruB7NEYb2yacYajj5KFpNV5hX6yY2swfFDaVjsetdp8tv8-0predxNv3X_YQVEa3lTn1VynPBQtqghFwEy/s320/vincent-van-gogh-sunflowers.jpg" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352659134586121474" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 240px;" /></a><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Sunflowers</span> by Vincent Van Gogh</span></div>
<br />
<div>
My mind is like a DVD player. I can slide in a memory and be entertained for hours by the colors, the fashions, the songs, the scenery—I'm never bored. I remember details: like the orange and red flowers on my parent's brown bedroom drapes. Or the sandpapery bottom of the swimming pool the first day of summer, before I'd developed any callouses. I can remember the last names of all seven Lindas in my 7th grade science class. I can even remember things that aren't memories. Like prom. (I was hiding out in my girlfriend's car watching <span style="font-style: italic;">Goldfinger</span> at the drive-in, pretending I didn't care.) But I can still picture the bouffant hairdos the luckier girls wore.<br />
<br />
Sometimes when I write these memories, I'm afraid someone else will remember it differently and call the history police. What if one of the Lindas reads my blog and remembers there were really eight Lindas in Mr. Stucki's class? Will I have to publicly retract my statement? Is it libel? Will I be sued? Will my work ever be trusted again?<br />
<br />
The great thing about writing a <span style="font-style: italic;">Memoir</span> is that it is, by definition, a biographical account <span style="font-style: italic;">according to your own memory.</span> Nobody can second guess you. If you recall hearing about Kennedy's death while you were eating breakfast, it doesn't matter that it didn't happen until after lunch. Maybe you got up late or maybe you were eating an omelet at 2:00 in the afternoon. It doesn't matter because it's <span style="font-style: italic;">your</span> recollection. It's OK to record an event the way you remember it. Don't second guess yourself, or postpone writing your memoirs until you check all the facts. Get those important memories down, in a way that others can catch glimpses of life in a different light. Your impressions will help both you and your readers see the big picture.</div>
<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Room-Write-Bonni-Goldberg/dp/0874778255/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1246313463&sr=1-1">Bonni Goldberg</a> said, "Memory is an aspect of imagination. For writing, memory is one of your most important tools. A phrase from the lyric of a song, a poetic phrase in a book, a fragment of a story, an object from the past is enough to spark the creative, intuitive mind ... Especially rich are incidents and images stored away that you aren't sure ever actually occurred ..."<br />
<br />
Remember that!Travelin'Omahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18415472674768977723noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2529969472454786525.post-46918147556852069632013-07-11T00:00:00.000-06:002013-07-11T00:17:26.434-06:00She Made Me Who I Am<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7m282eZ_-ZmQ-d_6p0nwwi7I9T5WUWiXrePbwy0pNnFA7uSgwzNdvqH1t3J6LIwkPDZmD9NfbghbxQCQSxbp9aL-tmQo_vKp0gbMMMh9Tc-rbNhBdePVScamE2KbdL3Unr7ZdQEfkjak/s1600-h/Marty+and+Gabi+Easter+1971.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5086188283927438866" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7m282eZ_-ZmQ-d_6p0nwwi7I9T5WUWiXrePbwy0pNnFA7uSgwzNdvqH1t3J6LIwkPDZmD9NfbghbxQCQSxbp9aL-tmQo_vKp0gbMMMh9Tc-rbNhBdePVScamE2KbdL3Unr7ZdQEfkjak/s320/Marty+and+Gabi+Easter+1971.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a><span style="font-size: 78%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Marty and Gabi, 1970</span></span><br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Exactly forty-three years ago, on a July morning at 7:00 am,<br />
Gabi made me a mom.</div>
<br />
I wasn't quite twenty-one when she was born, and I didn't have a clue about what it meant to be a mom. I just knew it was what <span style="font-style: italic;">I</span> was meant to be. (My big fear as a teenager was that I would die before I had kids. I wasn't afraid of how I would die, or being dead, but that my dream of being a mother wouldn't come true. I must have wished on a lucky star!)<br />
<br />
She was born breach (and totally natural, I might add) folded in half, and she inhaled before she hit oxygen, leaving her breathless. The nurses worked on her for a few minutes and then whisked her away somewhere, without telling us anything about how she was. After over nine months of togetherness, it was terrifying to be apart. Several hours later they brought her to me. I was overwhelmed—now I was breathless!<br />
<br />
For a couple of days I kept trying to say a magnificent prayer of thanks to Heavenly Father for letting me have her, but I couldn't find the words. I felt ungrateful just saying "Thank you, thank you" over and over again, but I think He may have understood.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX8FNEjGsJlWL7WNrNdiN9vw2pwh5oDfe6ipGTXENNOz9Tsy9p9hwbJhMXQNmhIhvUIRvRXikY2FL6fWGX56vQVC0uoWe5eRpqwliMv2Vs8-S9CGMrSVAxi0auKYgWzM5uu3RnvnfmLzo/s1600-h/Gabi+at+2+months.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5086188271042536930" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX8FNEjGsJlWL7WNrNdiN9vw2pwh5oDfe6ipGTXENNOz9Tsy9p9hwbJhMXQNmhIhvUIRvRXikY2FL6fWGX56vQVC0uoWe5eRpqwliMv2Vs8-S9CGMrSVAxi0auKYgWzM5uu3RnvnfmLzo/s320/Gabi+at+2+months.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a><span style="font-size: 78%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Early days.</span></span></div>
<br />
Gabi came into my life only 18 months after Dee did. She's known us almost as long as we've known us! In fact, she helped us become US. She lived in our first tiny trailer home, our second less (but still) tiny trailer home; she rode in the VW and the Vega, and saw Dee as a soldier. She was part of our college life, and part of our pre-TV, pre-income days. We started leaving shoes out for St. Nickolas Day, and cookies for Santa because of her. She made us a family.<br />
<br />
I read out loud to Gabi from the day she was born. Mostly I read Dr. Spock as I nursed her, trying to figure out when she'd do something interesting. Dee laid on the floor with her for hours demonstrating how to roll over. It actually<span style="font-style: italic;"> took</span> hours of watching her for him to figure out the steps of rolling over. He practiced with her for about six months until she caught on. We figured we'd taught her, not realizing that she'd come already programmed to do every important thing. We didn't have to teach her much. In fact, she taught us.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh34L-DC_tcYG3cZ-sydNWZiFI0VRQ0M-aiTvkcbWe_d_sE-BHv6VDXQFsAa1wU-AWtsjPDfXwWsTy0kFUkTssGJlJJwTrFpTTff8ytEI9hhDGoHRE-JybRmxZaRSB1FuGIrWFEw5-hSQ/s1600-h/Gabi+Christmas+%2771.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5086188275337504242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh34L-DC_tcYG3cZ-sydNWZiFI0VRQ0M-aiTvkcbWe_d_sE-BHv6VDXQFsAa1wU-AWtsjPDfXwWsTy0kFUkTssGJlJJwTrFpTTff8ytEI9hhDGoHRE-JybRmxZaRSB1FuGIrWFEw5-hSQ/s320/Gabi+Christmas+%2771.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a><span style="font-size: 78%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">'Noopy</span></span></div>
<br />
I read an article about how to make your child a genius. It said to tie helium balloons to your baby's wrists and ankles, and their eyes would catch the movement. Eventually they'd realize they were pulling the strings! I tried it, and it must have worked. She became a genius, and knew how to pull all our string.<br />
<br />
She could sing dozens of songs, say the Pledge of Allegiance, recite poems and ask questions by 18 months. By the time she was two, I was asking her questions.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBGEiFu0NhvvMco9EeV5FHn45ndm2IFoGyXxfhtNQ0HWm1ufyekwSuQwrF2O4aR3HEI40HwwIjKhWvrnNnr2ltqaLIKAndmD6hCKpuW5MEHdoMZQGWcDWzmn-cbNImvTuH9cNxEd72DWw/s1600-h/Gabi's+back+as+baby.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5221990492465234082" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBGEiFu0NhvvMco9EeV5FHn45ndm2IFoGyXxfhtNQ0HWm1ufyekwSuQwrF2O4aR3HEI40HwwIjKhWvrnNnr2ltqaLIKAndmD6hCKpuW5MEHdoMZQGWcDWzmn-cbNImvTuH9cNxEd72DWw/s320/Gabi's+back+as+baby.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a><span style="font-size: 78%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Gabi 1972</span></span><br />
<br /></div>
Looking back, I see that she brought color into my life. She became my best friend. I'd even consult her about what I should wear! (She knew exactly what they were wearing at the laundromat, and milk depot, which were my usual destinations.) Her siblings started arriving about that time, and it was a joint project for us. I saw her as my confidant and support.<br />
<br />
She was an awesome babysitter, first for me, and then for many others. She became a nanny, and tended kids for weeks at a time while their parents traveled. She worked at a nursery school and daycare center during high school, and then majored in Elementary Education. She taught 6th graders who were taller than she was. She also taught Kindergarten and Pre-school. She was born to teach.<br />
<br />
She met her perfect match, they got married and worked their way through college for a few years before they graduated. Being the perfect parental candidates didn't translate to being parents. While they waited, they built careers and houses and moved across the country. They traveled and had fun together until the other shoe dropped. They <span style="font-style: italic;">did</span> become parents . . . twice in three years, and then again with twin boys . . . and they did it with a flourish!<br />
<br />
It's stunning to look at this woman whom I admire and respect so much, and realize she's <span style="font-style: italic;">my</span> daughter! She sets an example of kindness, hospitality, charity, spirituality and energy that I can't come close to emulating. She changed me forever and I'll be forever grateful to be her mom.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzyeby9dZ0BBXPMGCXLwkT2CXz2DbdcMoKlGVvtAm4NtKrh1OX59KRp6CNsKe9FPGazLcD4Jnes3Ik30KYEW8in6kpcWG4n1OPSuIW3UqYMXXFbx4JN7gIJRS5lTZi74_AodDzNPrz-n8/s1600-h/HPIM0006.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5086188279632471554" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzyeby9dZ0BBXPMGCXLwkT2CXz2DbdcMoKlGVvtAm4NtKrh1OX59KRp6CNsKe9FPGazLcD4Jnes3Ik30KYEW8in6kpcWG4n1OPSuIW3UqYMXXFbx4JN7gIJRS5lTZi74_AodDzNPrz-n8/s320/HPIM0006.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a>Happy Birthday, Gabi!<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Travelin'Omahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18415472674768977723noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2529969472454786525.post-40691817496343292972013-02-14T02:28:00.002-07:002013-02-14T02:28:24.830-07:00Love Letter<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkXg8nVH_I_TSWos777t7fIMD3UpAkJPy5wYCkCPejRiLpjhWf_eA4sZyDdJ8vIj4RvnV1O62QQ3EC2pZ0bQw4Fh4JGqo4lmD9IwMsRFIOM2XhSaQ47S3hYkRWwTP6rVo7R5nBFjGy44A/s1600-h/us.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5243877177137706018" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkXg8nVH_I_TSWos777t7fIMD3UpAkJPy5wYCkCPejRiLpjhWf_eA4sZyDdJ8vIj4RvnV1O62QQ3EC2pZ0bQw4Fh4JGqo4lmD9IwMsRFIOM2XhSaQ47S3hYkRWwTP6rVo7R5nBFjGy44A/s400/us.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px;" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;"><br />"There are many things, I'm sure," she said, "without which we could not live...</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-style: italic;">But love is the only one I can think of."</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Some secrets for staying in love, so you never have to live without it:</div>
<div>
<ol>
<li>Recall why you fell in love in the first place.</li>
<li>Count your <span style="font-style: italic;">together blessings</span>, together.</li>
<li>Tell private jokes, and laugh often.</li>
<li>Think about the problems you used to have and how you solved them together.</li>
<li>Anticipate doing something you both love to do.</li>
<li>Watch your favorite old movie.</li>
<li>Take a long drive and listen to the music of <i>your</i> olden days.</li>
<li>Pray for each other.</li>
<li>Decide that unity is more important than being right.</li>
<li>Remember that love is not something you get, it's something you do.</li>
</ol>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh441lwYwf8gUiFeXDLq5UiG2y1YPrSZekgJO2zsEEMpZxvvbjXTCxZGodY7NzmoSFL9iRYoU8dQ6GR4a0ObpMoqGZiUOsGNCnVfD38JchhExrCaTT8vC0zraU80xtI0UmwL1tKAdrOLvQ/s1600-h/Couple+w:moon+by+Warren+Davis.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5243892464951678754" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh441lwYwf8gUiFeXDLq5UiG2y1YPrSZekgJO2zsEEMpZxvvbjXTCxZGodY7NzmoSFL9iRYoU8dQ6GR4a0ObpMoqGZiUOsGNCnVfD38JchhExrCaTT8vC0zraU80xtI0UmwL1tKAdrOLvQ/s200/Couple+w:moon+by+Warren+Davis.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Art by Warren Davis</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I fell in love with Dee 44 years ago today!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Travelin'Omahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18415472674768977723noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2529969472454786525.post-13973019779201891682012-12-31T02:52:00.001-07:002012-12-31T02:54:23.115-07:00Halverson Hero Reunion 2012<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEOrwVdRlGSeMUScPuuk-8BEJQNBBgn_B0hZwiux_RkPsyQo8-Ndq7T4ekRaoEAs3loEoXmdMvJy150_YvwQYeYMpwPzlR_L25u_DIXrjvFXQTB_LUbNznAZxlfu4NfcbGEbbIE3uYCdo/s1600/IMG_0629.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEOrwVdRlGSeMUScPuuk-8BEJQNBBgn_B0hZwiux_RkPsyQo8-Ndq7T4ekRaoEAs3loEoXmdMvJy150_YvwQYeYMpwPzlR_L25u_DIXrjvFXQTB_LUbNznAZxlfu4NfcbGEbbIE3uYCdo/s320/IMG_0629.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
"Over the river and through the woods ..."</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Here's some of what was happening at a fantastic hunting lodge</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
in Coalville, Utah this past week:</div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt3y91CVZGdoL6hcEG_JNZXDXNcU7TReib3DS_DWgbb410QRweJxUwhW3OXmQenYSAV2DLnVwB5JPKbB8NnJX1E56ZT3RjPT_uKNjDEoZsk_6Mj6cf1cwQ6HuAHXYibnAqyXVcdhMQsNs/s1600/IMG_0631.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt3y91CVZGdoL6hcEG_JNZXDXNcU7TReib3DS_DWgbb410QRweJxUwhW3OXmQenYSAV2DLnVwB5JPKbB8NnJX1E56ZT3RjPT_uKNjDEoZsk_6Mj6cf1cwQ6HuAHXYibnAqyXVcdhMQsNs/s320/IMG_0631.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Smiling</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjNM5yiOgIo8vqubrGbeeVDGbSGibUUAqb_5c_Oec2N2wTMNHjiD5cRJ_j_yrHhal_W-bueSoVu8BCekyEIBYKc2MENvDguEmspEZH4mOfJfoBiMIs4Ot9aMf5IUMq_lQFcCjePjnEPks/s1600/IMG_0545.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjNM5yiOgIo8vqubrGbeeVDGbSGibUUAqb_5c_Oec2N2wTMNHjiD5cRJ_j_yrHhal_W-bueSoVu8BCekyEIBYKc2MENvDguEmspEZH4mOfJfoBiMIs4Ot9aMf5IUMq_lQFcCjePjnEPks/s320/IMG_0545.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Bonding</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuNSEdGXZP9sGU4I-fAGspnrA5PUhB1r9iJzWZZTDzPWz-TyqCQzR04t5CFgWTQsXYyJQk_6AnjGlUZTFy61ZW_Nd9utFrkgELbGefxFYcsvfs9T03UsMEEgRXI66ntbNpNKRqF15Jsj0/s1600/IMG_0605.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuNSEdGXZP9sGU4I-fAGspnrA5PUhB1r9iJzWZZTDzPWz-TyqCQzR04t5CFgWTQsXYyJQk_6AnjGlUZTFy61ZW_Nd9utFrkgELbGefxFYcsvfs9T03UsMEEgRXI66ntbNpNKRqF15Jsj0/s320/IMG_0605.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Dancing</div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX71kcXGsIsosjRoNggNUxsl7s4Cb7Aa7DNRgDScjkZg6O9ByrBtgY5-h95_Hl3_D7lTAZozNZbHmfC5YzznYmdFcLokAXoty8yNRTYesdSBUaoFJH2ZUFskUcUjiUKiT3RSbvN3MkZss/s1600/IMG_0585.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX71kcXGsIsosjRoNggNUxsl7s4Cb7Aa7DNRgDScjkZg6O9ByrBtgY5-h95_Hl3_D7lTAZozNZbHmfC5YzznYmdFcLokAXoty8yNRTYesdSBUaoFJH2ZUFskUcUjiUKiT3RSbvN3MkZss/s320/IMG_0585.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Air-softing</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1aYzlbEL0eOYgSoA7PnhyArAYMdYCpEABT5QBHcdJraVQj5c8We1oiu1BqSuSydCRHnoPEzD4BIT3DaL7VnuFu71LhNRnFlO5Zhlzwxpd5JVjmcJeRj8tsXngagAgIyUrJOpGWmN2DbQ/s1600/IMG_0608.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1aYzlbEL0eOYgSoA7PnhyArAYMdYCpEABT5QBHcdJraVQj5c8We1oiu1BqSuSydCRHnoPEzD4BIT3DaL7VnuFu71LhNRnFlO5Zhlzwxpd5JVjmcJeRj8tsXngagAgIyUrJOpGWmN2DbQ/s320/IMG_0608.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Puzzling</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIodMTCrBC7Z-eroY4COYlw2xCgpoC2Wb3J2eSTzcBoAp8syOj3LtG1-UrhrNJEOsDcW-VniKb_2Qf6Jqr6mJN1PqYkVZoUwnjY5PGMJIpo4LDS_217i3h3JyT5AR4qusMfVTtzfzB8BA/s1600/IMG_0625.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIodMTCrBC7Z-eroY4COYlw2xCgpoC2Wb3J2eSTzcBoAp8syOj3LtG1-UrhrNJEOsDcW-VniKb_2Qf6Jqr6mJN1PqYkVZoUwnjY5PGMJIpo4LDS_217i3h3JyT5AR4qusMfVTtzfzB8BA/s320/IMG_0625.jpg" width="259" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Freezing</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5OI5T5K6hTAt0b1_lhw22jcQ-tar4ixtC2HCju5gnZkloEnoYDxCmjM0up856exPvPZBMBLIpOZop2OjHZxozorl2pOj3rR_gL4QVVDurrQF5OPkrMHnfLb-hYHTn5wHb8TKWEOP1q-c/s1600/IMG_0628.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="204" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5OI5T5K6hTAt0b1_lhw22jcQ-tar4ixtC2HCju5gnZkloEnoYDxCmjM0up856exPvPZBMBLIpOZop2OjHZxozorl2pOj3rR_gL4QVVDurrQF5OPkrMHnfLb-hYHTn5wHb8TKWEOP1q-c/s320/IMG_0628.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Posing</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6ENfafLePo5qe2KGZlM3X38CL4BeaLSNzpQer88z23vx5TCrgVggA6z4E7hANDVuek-PNXSAkqTAWpp35dtWNRGhqIfXTzrDE_dQOQvcuL1GhwriZRhYPfniXz-ue9qtnovg_1bTK3T8/s1600/IMG_0591.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6ENfafLePo5qe2KGZlM3X38CL4BeaLSNzpQer88z23vx5TCrgVggA6z4E7hANDVuek-PNXSAkqTAWpp35dtWNRGhqIfXTzrDE_dQOQvcuL1GhwriZRhYPfniXz-ue9qtnovg_1bTK3T8/s320/IMG_0591.jpg" width="211" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Teaching</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijufxDzKZ12iVHy0qmJvcE_0fW-LokzY3qYwcUpNmHw9l0Y6pV5_q4UP_sT1R4shdWBzDf7Akm_zkMKS545gw4JYodifZlPaPHwsvYJiFADsJNgq2l4UuAPkyNu4c7i2KZswT-jWyEn3U/s1600/IMG_0609.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijufxDzKZ12iVHy0qmJvcE_0fW-LokzY3qYwcUpNmHw9l0Y6pV5_q4UP_sT1R4shdWBzDf7Akm_zkMKS545gw4JYodifZlPaPHwsvYJiFADsJNgq2l4UuAPkyNu4c7i2KZswT-jWyEn3U/s320/IMG_0609.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Crafting</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4zbZUTbxVtrGSOKAg7lNJxD8ciqGmnU-fWRZ0KcScFcY-EuI9cmdEAnqwHzvCAyWNQLO_0nazkTxAuxXlQ_c3p58_C3tn3Id2PKYQjA52fmLxfXZ5FRC5I9FO1nmE9DS6HxPuTksejNo/s1600/IMG_0556.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4zbZUTbxVtrGSOKAg7lNJxD8ciqGmnU-fWRZ0KcScFcY-EuI9cmdEAnqwHzvCAyWNQLO_0nazkTxAuxXlQ_c3p58_C3tn3Id2PKYQjA52fmLxfXZ5FRC5I9FO1nmE9DS6HxPuTksejNo/s320/IMG_0556.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Sleeping</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_Yc02RoQ2RCgM6PKfbquDjoKvOuAzyDeqCNMMMoQ_bnc66VyWkUl86hMikg-59imucafEsg4k1-MbZQ3wQeyGBoXkhXeR8Wbyw9UdftMpmBu8hI2ljLTY04i4Xfum7dLE355Sowk8ngg/s1600/IMG_0632.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_Yc02RoQ2RCgM6PKfbquDjoKvOuAzyDeqCNMMMoQ_bnc66VyWkUl86hMikg-59imucafEsg4k1-MbZQ3wQeyGBoXkhXeR8Wbyw9UdftMpmBu8hI2ljLTY04i4Xfum7dLE355Sowk8ngg/s320/IMG_0632.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Hiking</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiVUcUbQusWSIGd_JLPpOnuYvDxkhulJ0TbQeOd_3IB-ZiN7Dlz5VTnKrw1B1JP46T8z8lvGac-jTZJhFiXpx19gqEyOJZByxcsw5atp2zfOEe1hLOgT1ouZ87FjaLuwL2455Fhpm3EJc/s1600/IMG_0638.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiVUcUbQusWSIGd_JLPpOnuYvDxkhulJ0TbQeOd_3IB-ZiN7Dlz5VTnKrw1B1JP46T8z8lvGac-jTZJhFiXpx19gqEyOJZByxcsw5atp2zfOEe1hLOgT1ouZ87FjaLuwL2455Fhpm3EJc/s320/IMG_0638.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Crying</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdnGrZoDAKxCpkzdHYog_A37hPcmgDrFsEdyBWlaRIah6y2KUQ2msvY-k6cENPNXyFRIehLn9nLkP__fjIUa8Qup4R1G3xJNA-50jn4BlAFKbd42seK5xLKjlkrJrkZKSE-9dGlIMrNrE/s1600/IMG_0665.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdnGrZoDAKxCpkzdHYog_A37hPcmgDrFsEdyBWlaRIah6y2KUQ2msvY-k6cENPNXyFRIehLn9nLkP__fjIUa8Qup4R1G3xJNA-50jn4BlAFKbd42seK5xLKjlkrJrkZKSE-9dGlIMrNrE/s320/IMG_0665.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Texting</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4ZYzFPPqmNe0ZiOAivLUiCmkLLsQOyfEgXF95BdXk0nv_dSDOATJPih9GT9G6SZE_fgfsQvPTLC7LpXbpRjfeZUbfIDTGpjaT8u6HTogBPxtMhtKfTMeFGHJ8-r46fahPUgIqLdsX4jQ/s1600/IMG_0573.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4ZYzFPPqmNe0ZiOAivLUiCmkLLsQOyfEgXF95BdXk0nv_dSDOATJPih9GT9G6SZE_fgfsQvPTLC7LpXbpRjfeZUbfIDTGpjaT8u6HTogBPxtMhtKfTMeFGHJ8-r46fahPUgIqLdsX4jQ/s320/IMG_0573.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Chatting</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0EU1UIzDeVk3ANEtK01r9fcTIX75Veji_V8zr12-9croshRDaRsJsOV9n2t3ZpQyLrP-A9MnCtJU585kUmPBQo0DIvvTGytz3iqnfZ17QfnPLShyphenhyphenK5WzMb1Ja3ExzdKpFq38TDtx9By0/s1600/IMG_0626.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0EU1UIzDeVk3ANEtK01r9fcTIX75Veji_V8zr12-9croshRDaRsJsOV9n2t3ZpQyLrP-A9MnCtJU585kUmPBQo0DIvvTGytz3iqnfZ17QfnPLShyphenhyphenK5WzMb1Ja3ExzdKpFq38TDtx9By0/s320/IMG_0626.jpg" width="242" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Loving</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Families are forever but they're for right now, too!</div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I write stuff at <a href="http://www.gardenparkdaybreak.com/blog/">A Walk in the Park</a>. Check it out!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Travelin'Omahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18415472674768977723noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2529969472454786525.post-31169330154303404362012-12-22T01:39:00.001-07:002012-12-22T01:39:37.833-07:00Season of Light<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfXlRRNpEnONZ4aip4DgPeWTC-HJ_ExgpDElBT5X7y_rySRr5CWhhd1KbTNyOFgK9ASIUiS1Ajkz19S4CtosPBE5u7PmkwOa5M49Pjul7Dahx2xxPu78XekMHt_aCLNo-6oGyhxyHuOYYZ/s1600/images-2.jpeg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547846913233858066" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfXlRRNpEnONZ4aip4DgPeWTC-HJ_ExgpDElBT5X7y_rySRr5CWhhd1KbTNyOFgK9ASIUiS1Ajkz19S4CtosPBE5u7PmkwOa5M49Pjul7Dahx2xxPu78XekMHt_aCLNo-6oGyhxyHuOYYZ/s400/images-2.jpeg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 285px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 228px;" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
The snow was glistening in the sunshine when I sat down by the window with my book. I got so caught up in the story, and it happened so gradually, I didn't even notice the sun going down, and the shadows that crept into the room. Mom walked past a while later and asked, "Why are you sitting here in the dark?" and then she flipped on a light.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
The action and suspense of my everyday drama sometimes takes over and I lose sight of the Son. Shadows creep in and I start to dim out. Luckily Christmas comes along and turns on the light.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzkrOx3SGrxRpxnADh65Xv8G5H6ffJBn9DdcYxeH2IR39kc6DWNMW_H-Y3lhyGHsY1wWpu4U-iDLUIzk5Lk7qqqLfnSv-jl10u__YbpWUFIZxttpCqc07AvSxxTOdCx5AnypF5R5QELAlI/s1600/images-4.jpeg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547848119297163154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzkrOx3SGrxRpxnADh65Xv8G5H6ffJBn9DdcYxeH2IR39kc6DWNMW_H-Y3lhyGHsY1wWpu4U-iDLUIzk5Lk7qqqLfnSv-jl10u__YbpWUFIZxttpCqc07AvSxxTOdCx5AnypF5R5QELAlI/s400/images-4.jpeg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 201px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 302px;" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
Everything looks brighter!</div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div>
</div>
Travelin'Omahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18415472674768977723noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2529969472454786525.post-41089082739774122242012-12-11T01:06:00.000-07:002012-12-11T01:11:22.746-07:00Recommendation<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcHBcCijXS66ctTvzxX7NaoN_trXgUs_lCQAb0OJS-kLVMDQ0z458ClHnKd01nDJn6A5D7T2onRVfiCH45nrIRcFg7Ie_IAWHSaYimufE78BxtipnQLL9yb4c_dcP548gjXvsghaSRfaM/s1600/DSCN530412.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcHBcCijXS66ctTvzxX7NaoN_trXgUs_lCQAb0OJS-kLVMDQ0z458ClHnKd01nDJn6A5D7T2onRVfiCH45nrIRcFg7Ie_IAWHSaYimufE78BxtipnQLL9yb4c_dcP548gjXvsghaSRfaM/s320/DSCN530412.jpg" width="248" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Go read my daughter Marta's blog. She's awesome. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Click <a href="http://www.martawrites.com/2012/12/three-men-and-little-lady.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+martawrites+%28martawrites%29">here.</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Travelin'Omahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18415472674768977723noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2529969472454786525.post-55777219378689173352012-11-18T00:19:00.001-07:002012-11-18T00:29:21.936-07:00Love, Oma<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJRhne0ZSnnZyIxTUI7tULziAJact-RGM59x1I3FtLuX5yS8aT0MRKAn5NIJX3DJ-uIbyDcBtCXNIyuJdUCbYXXngQ-Yr85YGSVG6AF5_0vosaxotXOQzRGrst8U9fndATS5lPsqYW64s/s1600/DSC02973.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJRhne0ZSnnZyIxTUI7tULziAJact-RGM59x1I3FtLuX5yS8aT0MRKAn5NIJX3DJ-uIbyDcBtCXNIyuJdUCbYXXngQ-Yr85YGSVG6AF5_0vosaxotXOQzRGrst8U9fndATS5lPsqYW64s/s320/DSC02973.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
"For my birthday I just want a blog post. You haven't written one for ages!"</div>
<br />
Dear Chloë,<br />
What a sweet request—it made me cry and laugh at the same time. Oh, I have loved writing blog posts! They've been love letters to my grandkids about things I remember, and things I know I <i>will</i> remember, in case some day you want to know about me.<br />
<br />
Here's a little hint: on the right side of my blog (the sidebar) you'll see a list of quotes with pictures. Click on each picture and you'll find a post that tells you something I want you to know, about my family, what life was like when I was little, how I met Opa, or what I think about important things like being a writer and being a Mormon and being a mom.<br />
<br />
Toward the bottom of the sidebar is a section called <i>Special Collections</i>. I've written more than a thousand essays explaining what I've learned about being happy. Of course I wasn't happy in every single post—nobody is happy all the time. But you'll notice that a few days later I was always happy again. Usually it was because of something I remembered, or something funny that happened, or because adorable grandkids cheered me up with their <i>kidspeak</i>.<br />
<br />
There are many posts on how to strengthen the family in fun ways. Those ideas came as answers to prayers, so I can promise you they are good ideas. I didn't think them up! Maybe you can turn them into traditions some day.<br />
<br />
Lately I haven't been able to write often. It's not because nothing's happening to me, or because I have nothing to say. My energy is just going a different direction. I write a blog about my neighborhood and I have some editing jobs—it's fun to get paid for my writing skills! Blogging gave me lots and lots of practice, and I think I've gotten better at it over the years. You're already such a good writer—I hope you practice by writing something every day.<br />
<br />
Mostly I don't blog because I'm the Relief Society president. It's like having a fabulous full time job. (Except I'm paid in blessings.) I spend hours listening to incredible stories, but since they're not my stories, and since they're usually pretty private, I can't write about them. I wish I could. I wish you could know these wonderful, wise women—all 216 of them—who are teaching me what they've learned about being happy and unhappy. We talk about how living the gospel of Jesus Christ brings peace and happiness. I believe that more than ever!<br />
<br />
I totally miss writing a post every day. It was good therapy, and helped me work through confusion and frustration. It helped me count my blessings and understand myself better. At first I felt guilty about not writing my blog, and sad that I had to sacrifice something I loved so much. I don't feel that way anymore. Life is made up of seasons: learning, teaching, giving, taking, rushing, wandering, wondering, discovering. Heavenly Father is in charge of when the seasons change, and every season is uniquely beautiful.<br />
<br />
For sure I'll write again, but maybe not for a while. In the meantime, I've written you hundreds and hundreds of letters on TravelinOma. And they were written with tons and tons of love! It will probably take you years to read them all!<br />
<br />
Happy Birthday, Chloë!<br />
<br />
Love,<br />
Oma<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Travelin'Omahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18415472674768977723noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2529969472454786525.post-63301501190262605562012-10-05T01:19:00.000-06:002012-10-05T01:19:20.967-06:00Re-Run for Dee-Day<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4IkMQdouOipZI2LW78Ooc3d82srgkT-xKxYxAJtBot5-_gD7H-NxiZd8qdI08MRdPL7681VBjQobMJNUUgjizpYh4CMCgC3dzt0X5MwmsskAMgFQiDR69yLxISpTX4ZRfT5D7kes6Gnk/s1600/Dee+boat+St.+Wolfgang.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524433960130081138" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4IkMQdouOipZI2LW78Ooc3d82srgkT-xKxYxAJtBot5-_gD7H-NxiZd8qdI08MRdPL7681VBjQobMJNUUgjizpYh4CMCgC3dzt0X5MwmsskAMgFQiDR69yLxISpTX4ZRfT5D7kes6Gnk/s320/Dee+boat+St.+Wolfgang.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 214px; margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px;" /></a><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Looking back</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Who's 66?</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Click here for my homemade <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EZ_wCe8LLQs">Opa Movie</a>.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I made it when he turned 64,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
but now I like it even more!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(Happy Birthday, Dear!)</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Travelin'Omahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18415472674768977723noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2529969472454786525.post-75686735098066331312012-09-18T03:29:00.002-06:002012-09-18T03:33:40.069-06:00Field Trip<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW8jkw2-PSwiuuyxE2GQn1YExXutkup3mS9hTS-glgRyl61u94XXFd-ygDblyuDRMqsyDfnJu8vgl1y5TeOCaVWbasxzYTBMRfgVJY7uS1yuepAi5lAl4aBPbw-iYECbGiwkmmNDw34fg/s1600/Baby+feet+w%253Aparents%2527+feet.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 223px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW8jkw2-PSwiuuyxE2GQn1YExXutkup3mS9hTS-glgRyl61u94XXFd-ygDblyuDRMqsyDfnJu8vgl1y5TeOCaVWbasxzYTBMRfgVJY7uS1yuepAi5lAl4aBPbw-iYECbGiwkmmNDw34fg/s320/Baby+feet+w%253Aparents%2527+feet.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5789447370688907778" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Check out the cutest baby in town:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.martawrites.com/2012/09/little-tidbits.html">My Little #22</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Travelin'Omahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18415472674768977723noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2529969472454786525.post-74685346260781362002012-09-09T01:34:00.000-06:002012-09-09T01:39:01.786-06:00Happy 43rd Anniversary!<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTljyfK6XnoObyh4A17BAXcAkI__198z008E7J2tGoaJ5okwP4BWmQzv29qbcfi0g1rWNNgY9gB0Az8ijwnVnFSwNfdq23jvijEBUBz3rtxdQJ1H1d3hGU13sabS9CJ1thPkLAIvHNsvw/s1600/Winter%252C+2011+013.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_BbtOSNo1fNs3bq_o78GE0TZgQ3b7ddADwo4BgTDmH6N10rra0geuln7feGVhqjb862EEkwjCe0rwFU5DoV3x3VZDymMaDgJzPPD18QW79cyVR96G9i3cPgtQBvubUDQYQpnjkwt2rJ4/s1600/dee+and+marty.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 268px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_BbtOSNo1fNs3bq_o78GE0TZgQ3b7ddADwo4BgTDmH6N10rra0geuln7feGVhqjb862EEkwjCe0rwFU5DoV3x3VZDymMaDgJzPPD18QW79cyVR96G9i3cPgtQBvubUDQYQpnjkwt2rJ4/s320/dee+and+marty.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5786061034156260690" /></a><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:78%;"><i>September 9, 1969</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center; "><br /></div><div style="text-align: center; ">"Love at first sight is understandable.</div><div style="text-align: center; ">Staying in love is the miracle."</div><div style="text-align: center; "><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiZbr7_9HuMn8dlrkw-4bhiQFFtFloJ6ax9t1TGOwFpF1d1cKYPswQ5GGS3jNLutWNEKHXiOTIKajoEyMWBL1yh_mq2O6kwV4HAKau2AEGgIEqBWdpcKQxqng06QlExHo7zPjbqlFkOE0/s320/dadgroom_2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5786067010724917218" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 296px; height: 320px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:78%;">September 9, 1969</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:78%;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;">"Tell me who you love and I'll tell you who you are."</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000ee;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoe0hx-v3xCQcfEj22kNA1YXomKAMacFMHd7r_70ml-t4-KRXu0JUpZWWEgv5nCsfLHQOaByXFI5AbVhVGL3lIrDUMVvkrG3F8L1noDGZZMk7ugQlqTi3HcgLxwVHQSqgywAHKA3KoRYI/s320/CAROUSEL%25231_052+copy_3.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5786067008062059042" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 201px; height: 320px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:78%;">June 1971</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:78%;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;">"A great discovery in marriage is that you can grow separately </div><div style="text-align: center;">without growing apart."</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtHsNqzgzXQDDokmPTM9JosSaIwS_xaqSBXpHIaDmVg8EjTdKPH0iQAtbeikwSHWLo30IckJrHORRzcr8j4gJG_7BjAVY5RX8fY7Nr-S_Y-tZWqeM5xAFwN1KkWm71MnaKFvW41t0F53c/s320/W+Dee+Halverson+Family+1983.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5786067043489789154" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 256px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:78%;">June 1983</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">"The most important things in life aren't things."</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxKvLnRuUkMXVUB1vKJZIsli1jHDc2PdglIvtPhhoTalpAPIN-QnJBF5r5UO7U9EvVuGi_tiM-xPIrW4tWBJcKArPsbvj8BL05qYeG_nILnVo08eJ6anIseyWhvNGDUiB5_5ToYp3_e18/s320/DSCN3110.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5786067034575005010" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000ee;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><div style="text-align: center; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:78%;">October 2008</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center; "><br /></div><div style="text-align: center; ">"Love isn't just gazing at each other,</div><div style="text-align: center; ">it's looking out in the same direction."</div><div style="text-align: center; "><br /></div></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTljyfK6XnoObyh4A17BAXcAkI__198z008E7J2tGoaJ5okwP4BWmQzv29qbcfi0g1rWNNgY9gB0Az8ijwnVnFSwNfdq23jvijEBUBz3rtxdQJ1H1d3hGU13sabS9CJ1thPkLAIvHNsvw/s320/Winter%252C+2011+013.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5786061042885153634" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 320px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:78%;">November 2011</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:78%;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000ee;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><div style="text-align: center; "><i>Me: I think you're starting to rub off on me.</i></div><div style="text-align: center; "><i>Dee: That's good. I've been trying to lose some weight.</i></div><div style="text-align: center; "><br /></div></span></span>I would rather do nothing with this guy<div style="text-align: center; ">than something with anybody else!</div><div style="text-align: center; "><br /></div><div style="text-align: center; "><br /></div><div style="text-align: center; "><br /></div><div style="text-align: center; "><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:78%;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-style: italic; "><br /></span></span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000ee;"><br /></span></div>Travelin'Omahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18415472674768977723noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2529969472454786525.post-67771552544401274782012-09-06T02:10:00.002-06:002012-09-06T02:18:33.931-06:00Life Lessons<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4PoMAoTrNG7FaMXKVj5MqbsOmHWBCM4BX-touGM2k-eBlCgP6n2dI6HsN6FFBjYau6q9y8gihlzKdJmLVpFAxOEsR_JPboXGTw6ImozKW9EdQ6kRx-s3Nfb6PebLLLpGHImLss8RZSQc/s1600/IMG_0221.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 257px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4PoMAoTrNG7FaMXKVj5MqbsOmHWBCM4BX-touGM2k-eBlCgP6n2dI6HsN6FFBjYau6q9y8gihlzKdJmLVpFAxOEsR_JPboXGTw6ImozKW9EdQ6kRx-s3Nfb6PebLLLpGHImLss8RZSQc/s320/IMG_0221.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5784969194558183010" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Like I say, a little gray hair is a small price to pay for all this wisdom:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>On Being a Kid:<br /><ol><li>You grow out of being the smallest.</li><li>Fractions are more important than you thought.<br /></li><li>Never "joke" that you saw a neighborhood kid floating in the canal.</li><li>Assume that your brother will find your diary and show it to his friends.<br /></li><li>Hope you get that many interested readers later when you have a blog.</li><li>Your mom will find out when you change your report card.</li><li>A tight curly perm won't make you look like Annette Funicello.</li><li>Don't ever swear at your mom.</li><li>Someday the mean 4th grade boys will be your sons.</li><li>Grandparents are nicer than parents.<br /></li></ol>On Being a Teenager:<br /><ol><li>Even the popular kids don't think they're popular.</li><li>Peer pressure prepares you for parenthood.</li><li>It's the longest six years of your life.</li><li>The music you love will always be the music you love.</li><li>It really wasn't the best time of my life.</li></ol>On Being Married:<br /><ol><li>It really is the best time of my life.<br /></li><li>Marry somebody you like being with for hours, doing nothing much.</li><li>Reminisce often so you'll remember why you fell in love in the first place.</li><li>Notice reasons to fall in love over and over again.</li><li>Laugh as often as possible.</li><li>Expect troubles. They come whether you're married or not.<br /></li><li>Perfect people are very annoying. Be glad you didn't marry one.</li><li>Go on trips,<br /></li><li>Or plan trips you want to go on,<br /></li><li>Or at least watch TV together.</li></ol>On Being a Mom:<br /><ol><li>It's harder than you think.</li><li>It's way more fun than you think.</li><li>There are lots of days you wonder why you had kids at all.</li><li>You can't imagine your life without your kids.</li><li>Kids totally take over your life</li><li>But you'd give up anything for your kids, so it works.<br /></li><li>You hope your kids will someday realize all the stuff you did for them;</li><li>You wonder if you really did anything important for them.<br /></li><li>Kids put you in a time warp—</li><li>Twenty minutes til bedtime can seem like six hours</li><li>Looking back, twenty years can seem like six hours.<br /></li><li>You'll feel older when they're 8, 6 and 4 than you do when they're 28, 36, and 40.</li><li>They won't remember that you picked them up faithfully every day after school.</li><li>They'll remember the one day you got there fifteen minutes late.</li><li>Their most memorable present will be the one they didn't get.</li><li>Kids teach you more than you teach them.</li><li>You could be a really good mom if it weren't for all the kids.</li><li>Parenting books are written by people with nannies.</li><li>Most of us think we became functioning adults all on our own.</li><li>All mothers are working mothers</li><li>Motherhood is a multi-faceted career.<br /><br /></li></ol>On Getting an Education:<br /><ol><li>School teaches you how to learn.</li><li>Most education takes place after you finish school.</li><li>Life stages are like advanced degrees.<br /></li><li>It's possible to get several master's degrees at once:<br /></li><li>I studied childhood psychology for 20 years,<br /></li><li>Family relations for 43 years,<br /></li><li>Adolescent behavior for 20 years.</li><li>I minored in Homemaking, History,<br /></li><li>Creative writing, Computer science.<br /></li><li>Continual learning keeps you from noticing senility.<br /></li></ol>On Life in General:<br /><ol><li>I am wiser than when I started.</li><li>Getting old is just as challenging and interesting as being young.</li><li>Fear is the opposite of faith.</li><li>Worrying doesn't do anything except make you feel like you're doing something.</li><li>Collecting people to love is a worthwhile hobby.</li><li>In spite of everything, life is fun.</li><li>God is good.<br /></li></ol></div><div style="text-align: center; ">I'm glad I made it to sixty-three!</div><div style="text-align: center; ">Happy Birthday to me!</div><div style="text-align: center; "><br /></div><div style="text-align: center; "><br /></div>Travelin'Omahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18415472674768977723noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2529969472454786525.post-59012610116932246172012-08-25T02:33:00.000-06:002012-08-25T03:29:43.357-06:00Picture Perfect Swiss Souvenirs<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4r6HuVVx2a0RfRUUD6hc_23m78XeKE7BdNfodsXjIsF2zmO8krP6geYutJjr4Xq1I3H3LSQarzJLlOkHV0cY5l1oqkDxuxWVN2qmJPSbaxclBFazGOoO6ZfzHskgLvZrJXn1Gk7lXiOs/s1600/IMG_0288.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Db0h-HjpzPh8OzMIVo2w33zlwZa8N5n5daRjuaUhMQhb0G-LslE8RTxOOqzhNvJVCBTSdYfLMsXPS-axO21gzhZYEe4al1Pv_19QcL6YXfYAqhxjvL2X3weBh6e-sZ06adQRPeSWjP4/s1600/Trip+coke.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Db0h-HjpzPh8OzMIVo2w33zlwZa8N5n5daRjuaUhMQhb0G-LslE8RTxOOqzhNvJVCBTSdYfLMsXPS-axO21gzhZYEe4al1Pv_19QcL6YXfYAqhxjvL2X3weBh6e-sZ06adQRPeSWjP4/s320/Trip+coke.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5780517750793771026" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">These things caught my eye:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIGGOyKEMoKCKlC69XVoTqAZBgnyhAqsD5wlFpX-4KA5jQUHrRfM3kYzzaq6BzPHXvRRXQ7lrCFZ6ZTT_9M71Yx2YoN-8TTjPUJSkF1dZ91xCuJfZoPLjbWmZUVx-1pAKKJzRTb4TbdLs/s1600/IMG_0179.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIGGOyKEMoKCKlC69XVoTqAZBgnyhAqsD5wlFpX-4KA5jQUHrRfM3kYzzaq6BzPHXvRRXQ7lrCFZ6ZTT_9M71Yx2YoN-8TTjPUJSkF1dZ91xCuJfZoPLjbWmZUVx-1pAKKJzRTb4TbdLs/s320/IMG_0179.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5780517744006224434" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Cupboard carvings.</div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4r6HuVVx2a0RfRUUD6hc_23m78XeKE7BdNfodsXjIsF2zmO8krP6geYutJjr4Xq1I3H3LSQarzJLlOkHV0cY5l1oqkDxuxWVN2qmJPSbaxclBFazGOoO6ZfzHskgLvZrJXn1Gk7lXiOs/s320/IMG_0288.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5780526320418870962" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 239px; height: 320px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Lacy linens.</div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-2b9IsZ_YkIvPcBAB0fqmNDKPfDoH3IKa3FRFE1cIiOvFv62MFWooGaKlOvlzlhhbrP-NjA3P-H1rfy-61wJ3aFHGAHxK5Adq92DK186HTdXlk1_9C9ROp964aOAqv2nzA3ZNHYNw2rQ/s1600/DSC02690.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-2b9IsZ_YkIvPcBAB0fqmNDKPfDoH3IKa3FRFE1cIiOvFv62MFWooGaKlOvlzlhhbrP-NjA3P-H1rfy-61wJ3aFHGAHxK5Adq92DK186HTdXlk1_9C9ROp964aOAqv2nzA3ZNHYNw2rQ/s320/DSC02690.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5780517736537017058" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Rustic restaurants.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU5K9dL5I9rJBwPO1rtrPCJ0Q3LsDFmAzFYluWj1ouacp7rPhyxGOPXV6_lKJ6AOKGo_6rzjhO44DK04WBxqfywLNDU22VdBQGsZjtDfPCgZLZ5fMmywDg1FhrB-GWDI120GdM7DUsGUI/s1600/IMG_0120.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU5K9dL5I9rJBwPO1rtrPCJ0Q3LsDFmAzFYluWj1ouacp7rPhyxGOPXV6_lKJ6AOKGo_6rzjhO44DK04WBxqfywLNDU22VdBQGsZjtDfPCgZLZ5fMmywDg1FhrB-GWDI120GdM7DUsGUI/s320/IMG_0120.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5780516607134895314" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;">Breakfast buns.</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDjtWnI8hX0lgn_x7GiNgl9XkHM7uNXHuC_ITtNt_XDaZzuFfIHuUOF5SxxkFbXuo5dkkltnEogMp5lBVoAhv_Q9SNiToYe1nCz2AIuCbvg-89lUKosga5lX-VNw5ld3AZiRwkSvBrJ34/s1600/IMG_0175.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDjtWnI8hX0lgn_x7GiNgl9XkHM7uNXHuC_ITtNt_XDaZzuFfIHuUOF5SxxkFbXuo5dkkltnEogMp5lBVoAhv_Q9SNiToYe1nCz2AIuCbvg-89lUKosga5lX-VNw5ld3AZiRwkSvBrJ34/s320/IMG_0175.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5780516594862968498" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Funky fountains.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbXZvhoUxm3eFB_uCyY8L7OVIjshhzvnGFLK0TZOO02tMoZ02VaLGPTtnwTkhL6KJfD67cdtSoCQhhtxdoGVYS-nHfvTmVe7T3U281f6UBW7mp9xv-7f3alLTw-7narxF7Tx4g87O3ngI/s1600/DSC02702.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbXZvhoUxm3eFB_uCyY8L7OVIjshhzvnGFLK0TZOO02tMoZ02VaLGPTtnwTkhL6KJfD67cdtSoCQhhtxdoGVYS-nHfvTmVe7T3U281f6UBW7mp9xv-7f3alLTw-7narxF7Tx4g87O3ngI/s320/DSC02702.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5780516586774047218" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Cozy corners.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqF4K3qv8OI1FXb7zzvxzRQ1cIjje7ri3fCTmLrpAslMLsM4SHRYxIqpgh1fFp4taCAIMfQ75hMZMfOBhuEmSDcpxEffeO9yCoxAa5_KgWCaYmimiVuu-kcUvZ_dVJOGyCf-dxHxGO26Q/s1600/DSC02696.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 250px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqF4K3qv8OI1FXb7zzvxzRQ1cIjje7ri3fCTmLrpAslMLsM4SHRYxIqpgh1fFp4taCAIMfQ75hMZMfOBhuEmSDcpxEffeO9yCoxAa5_KgWCaYmimiVuu-kcUvZ_dVJOGyCf-dxHxGO26Q/s320/DSC02696.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5780515316908751410" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Decorative doors.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgy9Hyq-1_aFNwDd6TAMKsYLwJ8iwDP9D0SziVWA5AgswC0lTXaqwEma4qd6wXKs9n7S50p-tYki6mYbzzcS6TeJE4Ir2Cwr1jxUyaXCPHBION8g4_xvXMJ1VGnUTf4QdF104iQsmokug/s1600/DSC02692.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgy9Hyq-1_aFNwDd6TAMKsYLwJ8iwDP9D0SziVWA5AgswC0lTXaqwEma4qd6wXKs9n7S50p-tYki6mYbzzcS6TeJE4Ir2Cwr1jxUyaXCPHBION8g4_xvXMJ1VGnUTf4QdF104iQsmokug/s320/DSC02692.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5780515304772659106" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Gorgeous gastronomy.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWo9qcThie8gwwJXZxsTq-cA4xX1KOvTO8Xy7Vs9ptLA9szB1tngxJTni1BpSepwPxWcvPDfh0SmkqkqncwAZU5CjIRA-ohN6-CRJCMKPmjKkRrX2_Gzw4SeDVqB6KU5_edvP4igbCGxU/s1600/DSC02688.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWo9qcThie8gwwJXZxsTq-cA4xX1KOvTO8Xy7Vs9ptLA9szB1tngxJTni1BpSepwPxWcvPDfh0SmkqkqncwAZU5CjIRA-ohN6-CRJCMKPmjKkRrX2_Gzw4SeDVqB6KU5_edvP4igbCGxU/s320/DSC02688.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5780515293271547762" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Quaint Kitsch.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgub2eOQaYU_3eujdUZBZPaEOEb0bQf0avVkLXdO37owj3rpIe8sJre7AQTdQ_-22tW-apedvcVbenkdr-ZvyUZ_HTwtUidQRXUu8e_Vc8p3cabi9T3Koh-4mtTZJdW-wJN-NiZFM7zJ-w/s1600/DSC02676.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 236px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgub2eOQaYU_3eujdUZBZPaEOEb0bQf0avVkLXdO37owj3rpIe8sJre7AQTdQ_-22tW-apedvcVbenkdr-ZvyUZ_HTwtUidQRXUu8e_Vc8p3cabi9T3Koh-4mtTZJdW-wJN-NiZFM7zJ-w/s320/DSC02676.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5780515282950146466" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Ancient architecture.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Dj_RwUftJwChMZSaMQQsNxJF3-ddCKS3THtjQGRe9SKmVblF64FzHIwvbBIWceej6jszrwAy6WwT7f0UXBC58nhCt5Zfk-XxY-CR_ilc3yoGhyEX5iAOBQ9x6oC27U1GTRxtFb-Aezo/s1600/Dee+at+Festung.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Dj_RwUftJwChMZSaMQQsNxJF3-ddCKS3THtjQGRe9SKmVblF64FzHIwvbBIWceej6jszrwAy6WwT7f0UXBC58nhCt5Zfk-XxY-CR_ilc3yoGhyEX5iAOBQ9x6oC27U1GTRxtFb-Aezo/s320/Dee+at+Festung.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5780515267520470754" /></a><br /></div></div></div></div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;">My main man.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Travelin'Omahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18415472674768977723noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2529969472454786525.post-4341128068385756582012-08-16T00:25:00.007-06:002012-08-16T01:07:52.530-06:00Photo Tour of Switzerland<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhTOa-7tfZP_W6foTaTm6u6xskFnMaTLDuKZ4d7BNtGd_NHNKPSotGNCMNKTHbsohyyCxYVHWfSms2snBJz77CJUiZg_U2eOtykaTOAt77iRjiU7ZeR2_OjTIJhuAbmd3XESuldYQcoz0/s1600/IMG_0097.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 254px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhTOa-7tfZP_W6foTaTm6u6xskFnMaTLDuKZ4d7BNtGd_NHNKPSotGNCMNKTHbsohyyCxYVHWfSms2snBJz77CJUiZg_U2eOtykaTOAt77iRjiU7ZeR2_OjTIJhuAbmd3XESuldYQcoz0/s320/IMG_0097.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5777156708729250642" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Arrive Zurich, Switzerland</div><div style="text-align: center;">8:05 AM.</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8He839QBj7UNdAprVSa3B7SqZG6LdizAl9-MFQrrq56mQXP0B8zn6_wiNLdIk24uRe5TtKalWVkHcnQqoeX802cgLzKvEtTFuYcfBGzEouX6bqH2W5UwCuTNkM6bhY6Z7taXbz2ntgUE/s320/1+Trip.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5777154542643582530" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 239px; height: 320px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000ee;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;">"Oh my gosh, you guys!</div><div style="text-align: center;">Are <i>you</i> here, too??"</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3kb3Imy_jpg7ONMmswiPbTXZaZ28urBPNNa5v3gSTT1-XcphwhMy20fIYnmX6xGLa7oFCGvQaX9Hp8aX1FbGBRNy6NKMbm3ZYJS0KXtAxRAZHc2NLVLVL7U-kBZ1KoNWw4cvTNPWHDbQ/s1600/IMG_0182.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3kb3Imy_jpg7ONMmswiPbTXZaZ28urBPNNa5v3gSTT1-XcphwhMy20fIYnmX6xGLa7oFCGvQaX9Hp8aX1FbGBRNy6NKMbm3ZYJS0KXtAxRAZHc2NLVLVL7U-kBZ1KoNWw4cvTNPWHDbQ/s320/IMG_0182.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5777156514829536146" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Zurich Hauptbahnhof.</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiig-35nI75PslIIhL-siq8A3ObBbHWxos4kcYmgnfYYcLc4VGYZGzgqVvlddPVSPQAD5bRPi7EEJHEjXbRTMNdt5ltmtoiQPJBzr7P7bKEiwckSFO4jpoBN3mI1Efm8VRUoDXk9Vg0DQI/s1600/IMG_0185.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiig-35nI75PslIIhL-siq8A3ObBbHWxos4kcYmgnfYYcLc4VGYZGzgqVvlddPVSPQAD5bRPi7EEJHEjXbRTMNdt5ltmtoiQPJBzr7P7bKEiwckSFO4jpoBN3mI1Efm8VRUoDXk9Vg0DQI/s320/IMG_0185.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5777156501455288178" /></a><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;">Hannah freaks.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7g4QLjWtAzV5zWSLTlglCwUYkuKgGB1F8IZjM_-iYbKZPBjK1mtOjxBWxAWh_Y9k4uDqKyqFRWHSrU9Jncab46Mt0lhefDERt83J0SGzsJETfr9rWAvvjLwFNi1f888ctWKQD0IkY16g/s1600/IMG_0189.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7g4QLjWtAzV5zWSLTlglCwUYkuKgGB1F8IZjM_-iYbKZPBjK1mtOjxBWxAWh_Y9k4uDqKyqFRWHSrU9Jncab46Mt0lhefDERt83J0SGzsJETfr9rWAvvjLwFNi1f888ctWKQD0IkY16g/s320/IMG_0189.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5777156491639385842" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Mack fades.</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0q5Y05YWoKH2QoxBioaVgRMStkdVqftfgEF1biDtEcYJt11zBlOGH582xcEGWh63bOKBQrGsvtK_ljsKWb4cUzKXv-de-0DJVIm8e0Im7rHr5bUbJO8XstzlWF-TNVNafXLSOYyGmpq0/s1600/2+Trip.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0q5Y05YWoKH2QoxBioaVgRMStkdVqftfgEF1biDtEcYJt11zBlOGH582xcEGWh63bOKBQrGsvtK_ljsKWb4cUzKXv-de-0DJVIm8e0Im7rHr5bUbJO8XstzlWF-TNVNafXLSOYyGmpq0/s320/2+Trip.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5777154529209689266" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;">"You won't believe this train ride."</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPP-hHONarvhnRPV90bN5c17g96mwpx_AQAFDNQBKsNe2qZf9rpqUtU7f12OXfPHCXtSp_g116KuYOT4ri2C8pmeOeOD-eEr07hlXm3HZn7ne0zlds2Z3iLek40esNhMcXbxRGIwwIcek/s1600/3+Trip.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPP-hHONarvhnRPV90bN5c17g96mwpx_AQAFDNQBKsNe2qZf9rpqUtU7f12OXfPHCXtSp_g116KuYOT4ri2C8pmeOeOD-eEr07hlXm3HZn7ne0zlds2Z3iLek40esNhMcXbxRGIwwIcek/s320/3+Trip.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5777154252708317314" /></a><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;">Two hours of alpine villages ...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEUWT9Vmb2fnryEzlmFUE42XoQNe_EN8kMjgihvHZtXVC1moCJse1gPzpzPx-QyfDmvUqHxnyaYtS0zYcgm4WSabdFbA8GB2JJmVLIp3HMZqcUMsDAf1Q5-h4BDAQOI3H7EnmSFGqJGjY/s1600/4+Trip.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEUWT9Vmb2fnryEzlmFUE42XoQNe_EN8kMjgihvHZtXVC1moCJse1gPzpzPx-QyfDmvUqHxnyaYtS0zYcgm4WSabdFbA8GB2JJmVLIp3HMZqcUMsDAf1Q5-h4BDAQOI3H7EnmSFGqJGjY/s320/4+Trip.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5777154239562169042" /></a><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;">Swiss meadows and lakes before we arrive in Luzern.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTlEx26r33_uoel2nViH2Un4TZOKEtQv4AIpIgvFNqc8Vju1HkrnOuoDmxpmyq4HIxTVABDVOFZisVSt8HkJzHtWYTXhLbfqFYZu9MD5D8VrVqRRq4ZkYntPIW-mD5KwAKxgXVnKLwObQ/s1600/5+Trip.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTlEx26r33_uoel2nViH2Un4TZOKEtQv4AIpIgvFNqc8Vju1HkrnOuoDmxpmyq4HIxTVABDVOFZisVSt8HkJzHtWYTXhLbfqFYZu9MD5D8VrVqRRq4ZkYntPIW-mD5KwAKxgXVnKLwObQ/s320/5+Trip.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5777154226375832274" /></a><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: left;">Right across from the train station is the Chapel Bridge, built in the 1300s. Paintings representing Christ line the ceiling. The oldest part of town is on the other side.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXwIwWGD7OASApQmxNuBnw14LKlX95hi-t4vksUKTF1LL0hdQjZZnNiXHigQycvu8CGHBl66XMYLJiXP7ypEVffoEbbvOHXUpSEQfVyY4-IcLZxE293Ygciqs3bde-CpQtdk4L7_YVLSU/s1600/6+Trip.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXwIwWGD7OASApQmxNuBnw14LKlX95hi-t4vksUKTF1LL0hdQjZZnNiXHigQycvu8CGHBl66XMYLJiXP7ypEVffoEbbvOHXUpSEQfVyY4-IcLZxE293Ygciqs3bde-CpQtdk4L7_YVLSU/s320/6+Trip.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5777154213907967282" /></a><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;">"Come on!"</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ6_PIG-JcmCC-FO02cucqNDtYVLUU2vEP8bDLV3xjkP8-3afrBtAVRO9ibF6fYdtaVpBRWJ0ci6pIx1srCw8n15hHVPNzkDPRDPTaaUWl_4UgPvD1JHT2pIK6s84bxlhHrWBDtmDlhqo/s1600/7+Trip.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ6_PIG-JcmCC-FO02cucqNDtYVLUU2vEP8bDLV3xjkP8-3afrBtAVRO9ibF6fYdtaVpBRWJ0ci6pIx1srCw8n15hHVPNzkDPRDPTaaUWl_4UgPvD1JHT2pIK6s84bxlhHrWBDtmDlhqo/s320/7+Trip.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5777154200830795490" /></a><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;">The architecture is my favorite part.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoDqs8hAEumUfZe70wRtssUrjHdyBwOogI5wtCTYsT89Xt8Ezbrt8o9v3s1jGafsWKuh27cIcqEscE7Nz9RbegqdtgBw4zLLoHFqs-qjPPMUxVoUA5HkZm6DYMLinPBG88zpbV64Y-2hs/s1600/8+Trip.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoDqs8hAEumUfZe70wRtssUrjHdyBwOogI5wtCTYsT89Xt8Ezbrt8o9v3s1jGafsWKuh27cIcqEscE7Nz9RbegqdtgBw4zLLoHFqs-qjPPMUxVoUA5HkZm6DYMLinPBG88zpbV64Y-2hs/s320/8+Trip.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5777153717509987474" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">How old do you think that roof is?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_R3joCKCDRJm5XQoMIU8_zppu9sQyeeTcir7q6mDuymOnil5NOp2GlHx5nMSzxGaKByRJUb2EWu66xE2FfFt79cU-3aUpVRtu_G1Q31sPkxXmKlLKUt2SIvG4OQWF2F4J0huEiUrOj14/s1600/9+Trip.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_R3joCKCDRJm5XQoMIU8_zppu9sQyeeTcir7q6mDuymOnil5NOp2GlHx5nMSzxGaKByRJUb2EWu66xE2FfFt79cU-3aUpVRtu_G1Q31sPkxXmKlLKUt2SIvG4OQWF2F4J0huEiUrOj14/s320/9+Trip.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5777153707007807682" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;">We can't give in to jet lag—</div><div style="text-align: center;">Keep walking!</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0BWuEdbvlQqf8zS7vo5JPzkUBVKoO-DCrNSEulSEj8SxRDVzYmGNgoTjY2cz3lWLEYpUJNVZbGWpOAJQTwGCgfZP61SmfNARmCI_UYzOiVWDYOXwPjC5Ose7Cih_oF1xv84H6KTrE6vU/s1600/10+Trip.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0BWuEdbvlQqf8zS7vo5JPzkUBVKoO-DCrNSEulSEj8SxRDVzYmGNgoTjY2cz3lWLEYpUJNVZbGWpOAJQTwGCgfZP61SmfNARmCI_UYzOiVWDYOXwPjC5Ose7Cih_oF1xv84H6KTrE6vU/s320/10+Trip.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5777153697077193298" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;">The whole city of Luzern is an art museum.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKVD9WjSpmS5PIa39Pst-fLkXPZvJ0W63XZUmmX0bGQXF99eFDT1VgZeUadgQaUMrGVo8tVhIOw7YENuUcgUaP4YS_LvY35WKtZMTSE1bxFiM8S2YCFC_ElVlCM0Jd19ngrRHyyicT_uk/s1600/11+Trip.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKVD9WjSpmS5PIa39Pst-fLkXPZvJ0W63XZUmmX0bGQXF99eFDT1VgZeUadgQaUMrGVo8tVhIOw7YENuUcgUaP4YS_LvY35WKtZMTSE1bxFiM8S2YCFC_ElVlCM0Jd19ngrRHyyicT_uk/s320/11+Trip.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5777153688424324850" /></a><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;">"Are we there yet?"</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRhcC7TWYgJ2YYyv2Sxtr8PWu6G-SUP0CNVqM1pcCoyMqOXYAEglKprAvP797co9XOyF2u2A0al1ZV28u5K3_qFexH7fFNI_2snJoxsQcoJl-XRaJr4rpzV1JixwQ_KW3IU96R317WWEM/s1600/12+Trip.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRhcC7TWYgJ2YYyv2Sxtr8PWu6G-SUP0CNVqM1pcCoyMqOXYAEglKprAvP797co9XOyF2u2A0al1ZV28u5K3_qFexH7fFNI_2snJoxsQcoJl-XRaJr4rpzV1JixwQ_KW3IU96R317WWEM/s320/12+Trip.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5777153669493816642" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;">Süsse Träume!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Travelin'Omahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18415472674768977723noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2529969472454786525.post-76498118907122173192012-08-14T02:39:00.007-06:002012-08-14T03:27:17.287-06:00Kidspeak<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhapwmvn8Gi_H3ewK4k4wyXPz2CiphU3GYm2gcqQPp_bWVoPqZTNp65IeFBRWBtZ-1F7GWpJ5o-ajn3FQ3ZD6dx7Yv54FAolYY8ihW2X17YJwi1e3YvAykjAQ84322FGjbd4hZuifptMZQ/s1600/DSC02774.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg17b6BJVlHbDV49FJ578C5BPdL-GHhcItkhmMaHbWJiXCQUPRrhP8qQdpQP8tDhYV5cSSOdebsBONonTf3ob53aOPiSrin88XP3aNiNo1p-KJ0MxFLaUAUyHeqFsGeBpvqA5AZel5En5I/s1600/Baby+Seth.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 237px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg17b6BJVlHbDV49FJ578C5BPdL-GHhcItkhmMaHbWJiXCQUPRrhP8qQdpQP8tDhYV5cSSOdebsBONonTf3ob53aOPiSrin88XP3aNiNo1p-KJ0MxFLaUAUyHeqFsGeBpvqA5AZel5En5I/s320/Baby+Seth.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5776446358459116946" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">While we were gone, baby Seth joined our family.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://travelinoma.blogspot.com/2009/09/school-of-thought-seminar-life-as.html">Marta</a><i> </i>is Seth's mom, and Dan is Seth's dad.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirALY748szhuMR-p1DTxvdmdqWkD28xx6yFJGkNesLc9t0r8rtTo-LJqLejSVTIT3ilu1QPS7vm6_5fnQhKCtNsUWYXLN6YUKHx0LCCqHr1NPJf7wqLoFFaA_OR_OFkqFXbWFv9cxeChk/s1600/004.jpeg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 255px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirALY748szhuMR-p1DTxvdmdqWkD28xx6yFJGkNesLc9t0r8rtTo-LJqLejSVTIT3ilu1QPS7vm6_5fnQhKCtNsUWYXLN6YUKHx0LCCqHr1NPJf7wqLoFFaA_OR_OFkqFXbWFv9cxeChk/s320/004.jpeg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5776446354566445858" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Benji is Seth's big brother, and he came for a sleepover last night. Dee graciously let Benji share the master bedroom with me, and I made him a comfy bed on the floor with a feather tick, quilts and several fluffy pillows. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">"Who's sleeping there, Oma?" he asked. </div><div style="text-align: left;">"You," I replied. </div><div style="text-align: left;">"Well," he said, "I<i> could </i>sleep in the bed." </div><div style="text-align: left;">"I thought I'd sleep in the bed," I said. </div><div style="text-align: left;">"Well, it's big enough for two," he said.</div><div style="text-align: left;">"Really?" I said.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhapwmvn8Gi_H3ewK4k4wyXPz2CiphU3GYm2gcqQPp_bWVoPqZTNp65IeFBRWBtZ-1F7GWpJ5o-ajn3FQ3ZD6dx7Yv54FAolYY8ihW2X17YJwi1e3YvAykjAQ84322FGjbd4hZuifptMZQ/s320/DSC02774.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5776446365305459090" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">He's learning to share his mom and his dad. </div><div style="text-align: center;">It might be too much to expect him to share his bed!</div><div style="text-align: center;">(The floor wasn't that comfy, by the way.)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Welcome to Seth Wells Dansie</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Cousins Club Member #22</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Read Marta's beautiful new-baby post <a href="http://www.martawrites.com/2012/08/5-things-not-to-forget.html">here</a>.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Travelin'Omahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18415472674768977723noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2529969472454786525.post-68332813307672819732012-08-02T13:56:00.003-06:002012-08-02T14:56:24.412-06:00Message from MünchenWe're on the trip of a lifetime, showing our favorite places to one of our favorite families. Our son Josh, his wife Christie and their three kids McKay (14) Chase (almost 13) and Hannah (10) met us in Switzerland. (I put a bunch of photos of Lucerne on Instagram, and wrote on Facebook about our stay in Salzburg, Austria.)<br /><br />Now we're in Germany, and the WIFI in our hotel is $25 a day! Luckily there's a computer in the lobby so I can keep this trip journal going. On a daytrip from Munich Stie, Hannah and I toured the original Sleeping Beauty castle (Neuschwanstein) and Linderhof, another of Mad King Louis' fairytale castles.The weather was perfect and the crowds were non-existant! We stopped and shopped in Oberammergau, a tiny town famous for its painted buildings, wood carvings and Passion Play.<br /><br />The guys spent three hours looking at historic BMW motorcycles and watching BMW cars being made. Chase and McKay are now planning to build themselves a car. They searched online all evening for ideas. The only thing that could pull them away from car websites was a huge selection of Bavarian pastries. The food so far has been a major attraction! Tomorrow we fly to England where the restaurants aren't so tempting.<br /><br />It's amazing how well this family gets along. No arguing, complaining, pouting, tension. Even when it's hot and there's a wait, or a long-ish tour with a strange-ish tour guide, nobody whines. There is <em>constant</em> laughter and good-natured teasing. I'm not exaggerating. We're into our second week together and I haven't heard a cross word.<br /><br />Travel, especially foreign travel is stressful--close quarters, constant togetherness, no privacy, unfamiliar conditions and different kinds of people. These guys are all great sports, patient, looking for fun, ignoring irritations. Every night a different kid shares our room and it's a party. We split a coke and a cookie from the minibar, and try to be the last one awake.Travelin'Omahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18415472674768977723noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2529969472454786525.post-49267383443097960472012-07-25T00:18:00.003-06:002012-07-25T00:26:48.470-06:00We're Off!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4uBjZRtWzD0juZflz8hkZc_ersJNoBkkrGMEhGPqw3D-NhmHKgRrtil5xKOImstf0QWjkye4dTHI495Y6x0KarA3xaxE9eovXBcmzqjzps_X-hVaaUVkSBKgGCb3yN7rLMQjQw6ke-q0/s1600/Dee+pulling+suitcase.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4uBjZRtWzD0juZflz8hkZc_ersJNoBkkrGMEhGPqw3D-NhmHKgRrtil5xKOImstf0QWjkye4dTHI495Y6x0KarA3xaxE9eovXBcmzqjzps_X-hVaaUVkSBKgGCb3yN7rLMQjQw6ke-q0/s320/Dee+pulling+suitcase.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5768988110488333026" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:78%;">TravelinOpa</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:78%;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">Switzerland, Austria, Germany and England,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">here we come!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">I'm going to Instagram my way through Europe.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">Since I don't know how to do it yet, I can't tell you how to follow me.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">But somewhere in the vast webosphere there will be awesome pictures!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">See you later!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Travelin'Omahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18415472674768977723noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2529969472454786525.post-73731180915137593282012-07-24T00:11:00.001-06:002012-07-24T00:13:48.276-06:00Pioneer Day<div style="text-align: center; "><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_tXNG1vwHvtjUKFRP16Bg_0h_VevKuSXH24jYgMtHe8X8zoDUHN55CMCxa0uxXIgHr8Cs43MVqUlJrunFSeADdL7pA4H3RlNjJjLwiHIfpoClrbINEkST8l7gdtEtAD5j_ikZ4Ww6Y3k/s1600-h/Dusty-Horse-Carriage-Trek-Mormon-Pioneer-Wagon-Train-to-Utah-Near-South-Pass-Wyoming-Photographic-Print-C13079527.jpeg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_tXNG1vwHvtjUKFRP16Bg_0h_VevKuSXH24jYgMtHe8X8zoDUHN55CMCxa0uxXIgHr8Cs43MVqUlJrunFSeADdL7pA4H3RlNjJjLwiHIfpoClrbINEkST8l7gdtEtAD5j_ikZ4Ww6Y3k/s320/Dusty-Horse-Carriage-Trek-Mormon-Pioneer-Wagon-Train-to-Utah-Near-South-Pass-Wyoming-Photographic-Print-C13079527.jpeg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225357617385949362" border="0" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; " /></a><span style="font-style: italic; font-size:78%;"><span>Photo </span>by Holgen Leue</span><br /></div><br />Great-great Grandpa John Bagley was only eighteen when he left his family in eastern Canada. He joined with the Mormon pioneers to prepare for a trek across the plains from Illinois to Utah.<br /><br />John was extremely trusted and took the responsibility of caring for a widow and her children in the wagon train. He drove the lead team of nine yoke of oxen into the valley in 1856 when he was just twenty years old. Later, Brigham Young requested that John accompany him in many dangerous situations as a body guard. At the age of 58 he wrote his life story in his own hand, recalling his adventures with Indians, wild animals, cholera, and starvation.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center; "><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSS4ORuZE_ho3fAT1ELOkK99kMPdByg6-GcLMFKIZyK_-arvD_XqCmfU2U1ryjsvPBY7TIgj2Ib2PwQ_Pq9qTpuMTb9cSyrv7SCSqw7UfteWUD3p05APSowV1cgUezRMQioQNWr5pmbGY/s1600-h/diary.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSS4ORuZE_ho3fAT1ELOkK99kMPdByg6-GcLMFKIZyK_-arvD_XqCmfU2U1ryjsvPBY7TIgj2Ib2PwQ_Pq9qTpuMTb9cSyrv7SCSqw7UfteWUD3p05APSowV1cgUezRMQioQNWr5pmbGY/s320/diary.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5079742008876137554" border="0" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; " /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-style: italic; ">John's Journal<br /><br /></span></span>But there is one particular feat John is remembered for.<br /><br /></div>John had worked in a lumber mill with his father from the time he was a little boy. Four days after his arrival in Salt Lake Valley he started work on what would become six lumber mills in Big Cottonwood Canyon. He helped build roads, haul logs and build silver mines in Alta, and became known quickly for his ability and agility.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center; "><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcXl_OvuHzzl4vrgzw_cQCI2x6TD6U77np8SKctyy9h66bNVnrO6CrhmyCdtwsrRedIY-1jDKnhmeyytZiPvYHbtJ98rvhNM02i2tSvf7blCbXoKxprUvkfUlMlT20-sk_yVEf37ge2pE/s1600-h/2634850587_8a864c8b56.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcXl_OvuHzzl4vrgzw_cQCI2x6TD6U77np8SKctyy9h66bNVnrO6CrhmyCdtwsrRedIY-1jDKnhmeyytZiPvYHbtJ98rvhNM02i2tSvf7blCbXoKxprUvkfUlMlT20-sk_yVEf37ge2pE/s320/2634850587_8a864c8b56.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225357614133722370" border="0" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; " /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-style: italic; ">Photo: Lake Mary, Brighton, UT</span> <span style="font-style: italic; ">Project 365:185/366 Flickr<br /><br /></span></span></div>On July 23, 1857, nine months after John's arrival, 2,600 people (with 500 vehicles and 1,500 animals) gathered at the bottom of Big Cottonwood Canyon for a giant anniversary party. The first pioneers had settled the valley ten years before, and there was a celebration planned ten miles up the canyon in Brighton. The group followed Brigham Young and a long line of dignitaries in carriages and wagons. A marching company of 50 kids between 10 and 12 years old led the way up the canyon, along with a brass band that furnished music for the celebration.<br /><br />At sunset a bugle summoned the campers to a central elevated spot where Brigham Young addressed them. On the morning of July 24, the flag was unfurled from a giant pine tree, standing on a peak. Prayer was offered, then singing, and afterward cannons roared. The Big Cottonwood Lumber Company, for which John worked, had constructed the road as far as Lake Alice, near Silver Lake, expressly for this occasion. Today there is a small chapel at the top of Big Cottonwood Canyon, in Brighton, close to where the celebration took place.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center; "><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLKVgqEm_eSl5Oj1MnZIO4xQsR4jBQH66qpSjt75DSbHmk-szQbHYHsShnKIt7mwBv6eNxTmlFxMnNp90jX3K9niUdpbDdSR0YIoTU1toe3wAuprCDxY_QHoyx3CJMWKty_rycyCPefQA/s1600-h/20909993.jpeg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLKVgqEm_eSl5Oj1MnZIO4xQsR4jBQH66qpSjt75DSbHmk-szQbHYHsShnKIt7mwBv6eNxTmlFxMnNp90jX3K9niUdpbDdSR0YIoTU1toe3wAuprCDxY_QHoyx3CJMWKty_rycyCPefQA/s320/20909993.jpeg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225370661135191458" border="0" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; " /></a><span style="font-size:78%;">Photo by Blozan's Tree Climb<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center; ">This is how John recalled the day of <span style="font-style: italic; ">Celebration:</span><br /></div><blockquote><span style="font-style: italic; ">Brigham Young's tent was near a towering pine tree 100 feet high. That tree was selected as a flag pole for the unfurling of the Stars and Stripes. I had been reared in the timber lands of eastern New Brunswick, America, and was experienced in handling timber and logging, so I was selected by President Young to trim the tree for a flagpole.</span><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF4wxsGlXV5YXwru53TN2bou8X1VZUhtmvyVQlyq_x3aSLZD9gvWzC9jobB5rjsUJxeeePHNhHmfxJG7AYkLP-s-8igj1Vlk6-exYD81dNjpw0skfSexuVkBt-PmdiNlB3INa32jnWlYk/s1600-h/John+Bagley+treetop.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF4wxsGlXV5YXwru53TN2bou8X1VZUhtmvyVQlyq_x3aSLZD9gvWzC9jobB5rjsUJxeeePHNhHmfxJG7AYkLP-s-8igj1Vlk6-exYD81dNjpw0skfSexuVkBt-PmdiNlB3INa32jnWlYk/s320/John+Bagley+treetop.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5079721723745598498" border="0" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; " /></a><span style="font-style: italic; "><br />Carrying my axe, I climbed to the top of the tree, trimmed the branches and cut the tip so there was a smooth top. I unfurled the flag, and much to the amazement of those below, I stood on my head on the top of the tree!<br /><br />As I descended, I trimmed the other branches, and when I was among the trees that were not so lofty, I seized the branch of another tree and ape-like, swung from the flag pole and disappeared. The people below thought I had perished and were quite concerned until I finally appeared having made my way through the branches.</span></blockquote><div style="text-align: center; "><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrnM4FAvipsb9pKEUI2CznFCI8QEkOj1sHWAjJDe8fxplEZWvXVmBgji33vVEMoCK6hH7T4XkzMgK75hwSkE_4y_7_-ke8o7rZcQItHJQ_IrxTwph-xieyg043OsWiOJ5q9aXMTZAJebs/s1600-h/John+old.jpg" style="font-style: italic; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrnM4FAvipsb9pKEUI2CznFCI8QEkOj1sHWAjJDe8fxplEZWvXVmBgji33vVEMoCK6hH7T4XkzMgK75hwSkE_4y_7_-ke8o7rZcQItHJQ_IrxTwph-xieyg043OsWiOJ5q9aXMTZAJebs/s320/John+old.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5079742193559731298" border="0" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; " /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-style: italic; ">John Bagley</span></span><br /><br />He sounds like a <span style="font-style: italic; ">great,</span> great-great grandfather to me!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div>Travelin'Omahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18415472674768977723noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2529969472454786525.post-53790894830937244662012-07-20T02:01:00.002-06:002012-07-20T02:17:31.567-06:00A Grand Kid Day<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGX0jN4Wk12jTBwDYzZMSAS823aEQ8xDfAnxWkwidbrIGxmqIjDwGfPeDnKglW4oAzV6jKiz8C5omsdO5zvjy6Qf-tnIjJ-fLmOARSSIbA5Tkc6l89DEnd_2_3zSOaWRhKrWXuavU2ZOc/s320/Grand+Entry.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5767133736248468818" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 288px; height: 320px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:85%;">Lucy, Jessi and Chloë make their Grand Entrance</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">Nothing is more fun than a day with grandkids! </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:medium;">(I've had quite a few lately, and I know my stuff.) </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:medium;">I took this trio to the Grand America in downtown Salt Lake City for the Grand Tour.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000ee;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjasQBbBrcxcu78Dgp9GQQeSEypaGRuBdNQxovJAW15NVJi-ByCrVsqilKvmM5l6v9ffGJNS6_f9k_akSknNrm1p9Y0k3rbaDLzvU5gIWhWg7vtVPy8epf_wR32WBqhyphenhyphenOVU2jVwJxAyzqE/s320/Grand+brunch.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5767133716988632946" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000ee;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000ee;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size:medium;">We started with brunch. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000ee;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size:medium;">P</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:medium;">ancakes with strawberries and cream cheese,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:medium;"> crepes with bananas and nutella ... </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000ee;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuYR-SJHYjD7-FBerSchMyQAwViHDrgmhMVxeeMHxeWwGQ7rPYrJ-6Nk08J-2zsBXnDR0-HaR3KiyVEd7cX4ykuoYvQl43BvYX4KBCPmj_yNHl6rstiR6QCX_VPJy7A1YoCz0tKQcceTQ/s320/Grand+cocoa.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5767133726273858482" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 304px; height: 320px; " /></span></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:medium;">Hot chocolate with fluffy mounds of whipped cream ... </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:medium;">"Can we go to <i>La Bonne Vie</i> after this?" they asked. The French bakery outside the <i>Garden Cafe</i> was filled with pastel macaroons and chocolate truffles and had caught their imaginations on the way in. "You don't have dessert after breakfast," I explained. </span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCCrxR0wFXmIlEJZYURu64U3lXq46VHtpe0u9sBR25KW0WnghWBHHa4W6R8clI0btG_qcWM-HGCKE13pOd8KCMTE4xkIDI5W5-NjtBA6NgyfuA1cwMgaOZ5UTVWEF9R7F8QWLN4wtSB7E/s1600/Grands.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 280px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCCrxR0wFXmIlEJZYURu64U3lXq46VHtpe0u9sBR25KW0WnghWBHHa4W6R8clI0btG_qcWM-HGCKE13pOd8KCMTE4xkIDI5W5-NjtBA6NgyfuA1cwMgaOZ5UTVWEF9R7F8QWLN4wtSB7E/s320/Grands.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5767134242933591346" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:medium;"><i><b>"But this is brunch!" </b></i></span></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyWQNYzKfVTRoq8rOWs5KeOni4-mKe_lgyxoC36a2E6EwkE4Tvb3d0mH1ystck3JMG65gljdYzRIMpW4a79_-rLtWzftwiLIpC_WkeMjOGrIqUJn3dP3dOfw9ksh3t6BDHJo8DCxOEvco/s1600/grand+toilet.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyWQNYzKfVTRoq8rOWs5KeOni4-mKe_lgyxoC36a2E6EwkE4Tvb3d0mH1ystck3JMG65gljdYzRIMpW4a79_-rLtWzftwiLIpC_WkeMjOGrIqUJn3dP3dOfw9ksh3t6BDHJo8DCxOEvco/s320/grand+toilet.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5767134228865276610" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">"Prepare for the bathroom of your life," Chloë told the others.</div><div style="text-align: center;">"We get our own little rooms, with chandeliers."</div><div style="text-align: center;">(It's a grand thing when toilets make such a splash.)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJSgoyE7U8JpvcZYs9y45SXVd7ukBBqE2YMEXfW3iB8mox5SuaQH1gauzHQkinW63Ib0lX0J9fJus7tFgoRqrwwEmaEYQUXEbtrg6WoECqL5GMRtTtuMHVNyypofYiyfDuj4nddAI1xlg/s1600/Grand+phone.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJSgoyE7U8JpvcZYs9y45SXVd7ukBBqE2YMEXfW3iB8mox5SuaQH1gauzHQkinW63Ib0lX0J9fJus7tFgoRqrwwEmaEYQUXEbtrg6WoECqL5GMRtTtuMHVNyypofYiyfDuj4nddAI1xlg/s320/Grand+phone.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5767134226289822978" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">"Look at these old fashioned phones!" Jess exclaimed.</div></div><div style="text-align: center;">"Are they from the '90s?"</div><div style="text-align: center;">Cords, buttons, and even a dial—</div><div style="text-align: center;">"Where's the caller ID?"</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY-4J70pfaziVr5f5k4d1p0_TJlhpk19NpaylPbpTEm8k52cKk_9yBFxA5SOQfXxVspk2SsjIhfkGTadMse_0Ke_nMSE2hgSZmK2HlSbEe9CBiw-EVHOq-Dq6qa5gVrVTczhBTSvCA9Wc/s1600/Grand+kids.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY-4J70pfaziVr5f5k4d1p0_TJlhpk19NpaylPbpTEm8k52cKk_9yBFxA5SOQfXxVspk2SsjIhfkGTadMse_0Ke_nMSE2hgSZmK2HlSbEe9CBiw-EVHOq-Dq6qa5gVrVTczhBTSvCA9Wc/s320/Grand+kids.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5767133746041318690" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The Grand Finale was a visit to <i>Jou Jou</i>, </div></div><div style="text-align: center;">a toy boutique in the hotel for grand kids.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLEgvUUMBqesqBz1TiQytzKF04BLamdWwUHpcQGj7xIiBR2D7rNGpJkYTmWrAYNsND-5NSKc1F1CY3gFBsoEmd2rA0VjlnJRnjtTcc6Sv0iBy59_vqY6-37dWkUS_btXzMaS8j9Er_1F8/s320/DSC02571.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5767150888382272706" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 317px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;">"This is the ultimate doll house," Lucy said. It was standing next to a giant robot that told knock-knock jokes in a monotone robot voice, after it greeted us with:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">"I-can't-give-a-high-five-but-I-can-say-hi-five-times ...</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">hi-hi-hi-hi-hi."</span></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin-s7lcaPAuZZI9cVixG6Rn9K6_t02YKyhsLK6eDlaVW608RPumWGEFHiRpNHCpsOpm5SjtS702Cc5up8LSsA0yYgCmmoR5LkQYf9V_1etbXsh17U-d_UCalwyfEApRvaBzoooJtLzv_U/s1600/Grand+ballroom.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin-s7lcaPAuZZI9cVixG6Rn9K6_t02YKyhsLK6eDlaVW608RPumWGEFHiRpNHCpsOpm5SjtS702Cc5up8LSsA0yYgCmmoR5LkQYf9V_1etbXsh17U-d_UCalwyfEApRvaBzoooJtLzv_U/s320/Grand+ballroom.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5767133707476979570" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: left;">A grand piano was on the floor in front of organ pipes filled with brightly colored bubble gums. When the girls stepped on the keys the music started and so did the dance moves.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9_BgNs0NqBFzc7ZdK3gg3OwKxL1csyuQwCebc8ZWsq8dlKw6pymHRpuzGjmqkH34PvGcbb1az5rmMKBucvbyfrSdAonkR4uwu0tqXavFp1sj3VL5Wgf1Hppsy51mQ0akY3eLGzUHga1c/s320/DSC02587.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5767150894754677570" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 218px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:85%;">Making memories in grand proportions</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">There's nobody quite like grandkids. They love completely with no expectation except receiving love back. It's a forgiving, tolerant, accepting kind of love. They aren't trying to improve us, or change us. We're good enough. Who else loves us that way? They aren't embarrassed by us, and actually expect us to be a little eccentric, which gives us confidence to just be ourselves. All in all, it's just grand!</div><div><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">"And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children,</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">and the heart of the children to their fathers . . ."</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">—Malachi 4:6</span></i></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000ee;"><br /></span></div>Travelin'Omahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18415472674768977723noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2529969472454786525.post-92051922626372345772012-07-16T00:02:00.003-06:002012-07-16T00:12:36.959-06:00Mountain Oma<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin1qIGw_mTk2ygVNEcf4xPKBdjANrQkTai1lVqi2QAln52MKYBM6xjgWhh5pRH4W7k-bxDd9xS5KY4ZlDpq3lUXMcf9AmUqFAKjb1uf1RWfJJT1vanRDLIPtELYC86mB6kcawe47qzIsY/s1600/DSC02458.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 252px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin1qIGw_mTk2ygVNEcf4xPKBdjANrQkTai1lVqi2QAln52MKYBM6xjgWhh5pRH4W7k-bxDd9xS5KY4ZlDpq3lUXMcf9AmUqFAKjb1uf1RWfJJT1vanRDLIPtELYC86mB6kcawe47qzIsY/s320/DSC02458.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5765636498353736946" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Two nights of this—</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij_cf1pXGSfd4JXF3855wr6rNwIEg9F3k6waIiama-Dbui2qEtN3YtL3HBKuohzmpJt8F3X2H791gF-xLTxhWRUgyAQvIYwIp4IARnrAxv0YwBAUX81yi3YFNWwxmhsHEJEBrQDDwMG6o/s1600/tent.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij_cf1pXGSfd4JXF3855wr6rNwIEg9F3k6waIiama-Dbui2qEtN3YtL3HBKuohzmpJt8F3X2H791gF-xLTxhWRUgyAQvIYwIp4IARnrAxv0YwBAUX81yi3YFNWwxmhsHEJEBrQDDwMG6o/s320/tent.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5765629026141595282" /></a><br /><div><div style="text-align: center;">Was totally worth three days of this:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8Ub_kU_s0aqZKfn-h_1ezHMVcRDsDWjhJrZhE_OoLpxkgQc63CyDNna83LB5E5LZ2Ia6TF2GPUCLIPG8kRknp3pPDkB0PoxZp8QEe8Uve-x3Jk14gd8OR46YC_uev7-hEaCuN0glHmKM/s1600/Reunion.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8Ub_kU_s0aqZKfn-h_1ezHMVcRDsDWjhJrZhE_OoLpxkgQc63CyDNna83LB5E5LZ2Ia6TF2GPUCLIPG8kRknp3pPDkB0PoxZp8QEe8Uve-x3Jk14gd8OR46YC_uev7-hEaCuN0glHmKM/s320/Reunion.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5765629012387657218" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">Arizona Cousins greeting Colorado Cousins,<i> </i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:85%;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-SC4b-6kGq7LTGiAHowRHp-in9kOsf0VQGwHIMBtIrn6eZYPAKtMTDXPxXTpCZ94uGGd4aHL-kielV6Lrw6ZbmVHW15b0a-BsSp_b1YMKWrZa2kbG1yrdXVQmUOqxpVbx6CWpm5NA7dU/s320/DSC02496.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5765628505560758690" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 254px; height: 320px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000ee;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><div style="text-align: center; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">Little cousins meeting big cousins.</span></div><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><i><br /></i></span></div></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000ee;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOXh5mLVZ7Qoh_1ZmCzYO75wY2os7YibIuuOC6qX_cM6udC95_tK-RJ5AlgMYjgpCzfsLy7mzW8ArwFax01qvil_YU9C9pqAoH7lfUKVMJiuOKcvy_q4o4MJYCWDtvK-qw_MVi9RbfvJs/s320/008.jpeg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5765628495355035154" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 263px; " /></span></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">Boy buddies, </span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000ee;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8wzb5c8YGyLYuNx48Q0y6Xi5kDifZSGOKgeqmysDhLoxa7BECGLFgJVvzaQMBYSKfpxvK31b_rDjs0beCEJPmlCsRVOPrkd0uU05J5ekli49Nl1aWCrrqKFQoxn20WCJCPnldZYD48BA/s1600/DSC02497.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8wzb5c8YGyLYuNx48Q0y6Xi5kDifZSGOKgeqmysDhLoxa7BECGLFgJVvzaQMBYSKfpxvK31b_rDjs0beCEJPmlCsRVOPrkd0uU05J5ekli49Nl1aWCrrqKFQoxn20WCJCPnldZYD48BA/s320/DSC02497.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5765628520874707346" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000ee;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000ee;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size:medium;">Girl buddies,</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000ee;"><br /></span></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXx2akOwhlCe5Ct4166KymvWDslYA-M9oxGFlAKXtA0wW-PYG4Fv5m3yA748GWC9yER19DkT9l2G55Z1rcSPR4jFoK1l7gB9glqM_4_o-fIxYlJYIz2Jc_5gdbR3oEGC7okUY9pycLh5A/s1600/DSC02507.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXx2akOwhlCe5Ct4166KymvWDslYA-M9oxGFlAKXtA0wW-PYG4Fv5m3yA748GWC9yER19DkT9l2G55Z1rcSPR4jFoK1l7gB9glqM_4_o-fIxYlJYIz2Jc_5gdbR3oEGC7okUY9pycLh5A/s320/DSC02507.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5765629010785035730" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:85%;"><i><br /></i></span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:medium;"> Best buddies. </span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnkz55ROQAPv_xc686HUmsRAZR-Z60wSfNi0xe-idJQIQ8_edpCPSOEtq8jv7vfmLTk8-8mrutS3jqFxcce9-gq6qfrHcVqIAEu4QHdEBmKxL9LKQ38vMyYFHBSriolrQ7NO8cl9ibYwU/s320/DSC02493.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5765637821292232770" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000ee;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">Weaving,</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2NI5BiC6c6rIuNmzvAfRmzXhUY-TITqBeS4hSKfKeepInhxBv0q53hiqhrCy9Mju4t-TVfZ0qNW0f6BXrU6yPLM5T0MWKU-FY11qhMAKDfCZCQiNSrR2XqqoZCBrwElwHYnejLe8YXq4/s320/DSC02489.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5765637827443537682" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">Braiding,</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTeMULwONC-tbAPORA7Kdkq8g7_31f-yJNTEL7aFWXbutLQghMAou99fTUOihai2ufsoLBB-_YvXQlzdvKVONyfy1aYn3gpEdDJNnCXCmt8DktPUaQEEVTY0ipOZw4i7I0Vra3Q1wehWk/s1600/DSC02459.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTeMULwONC-tbAPORA7Kdkq8g7_31f-yJNTEL7aFWXbutLQghMAou99fTUOihai2ufsoLBB-_YvXQlzdvKVONyfy1aYn3gpEdDJNnCXCmt8DktPUaQEEVTY0ipOZw4i7I0Vra3Q1wehWk/s320/DSC02459.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5765628500968984258" /></a></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Knitting thirty-one hearts together.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyjO0JR1Wx1zzBDz9jTqpvWL8DBK0vUDAWZMzc2Dmxpi1cYbcWQCvrvg3KOROWN5kr0kF1Iw0RFyjWub8qSnbmPt0jQnMsAMjGxk1HDx3cpBc95du7McAIbtexWaqaK911D0JHAutqydw/s1600/004-1.jpeg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 284px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyjO0JR1Wx1zzBDz9jTqpvWL8DBK0vUDAWZMzc2Dmxpi1cYbcWQCvrvg3KOROWN5kr0kF1Iw0RFyjWub8qSnbmPt0jQnMsAMjGxk1HDx3cpBc95du7McAIbtexWaqaK911D0JHAutqydw/s320/004-1.jpeg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5765628488751388834" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">A couple of nights on the ground was totally worth it! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Travelin'Omahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18415472674768977723noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2529969472454786525.post-8696925507042743792012-07-11T02:14:00.000-06:002012-07-11T02:24:12.019-06:00Music to My Ears<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi51a86hKb82TNuodsJ9WaOIxKZ5kEAfQiku3fcxNqtWKQt0r8hwrUagE9O_aKV8b6_O1vJ8Tt4TlHp_CvQ9l5Ek9JTg02ulggIH6A_Vr3LxdypEqDNwD8kHPo1Czitu48CKqXVOPY1C-w/s1600/CAROUSEL%25231_015.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 310px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi51a86hKb82TNuodsJ9WaOIxKZ5kEAfQiku3fcxNqtWKQt0r8hwrUagE9O_aKV8b6_O1vJ8Tt4TlHp_CvQ9l5Ek9JTg02ulggIH6A_Vr3LxdypEqDNwD8kHPo1Czitu48CKqXVOPY1C-w/s320/CAROUSEL%25231_015.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5763802719514198690" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:78%;">Me, Bryant and Carol in Salzburg, 1969.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>If your Junior High had a hootenanny you're one of my peeps. I fell in love with Rich McClure, Keith Roark, Tom Carter, Bob Evans—any guy with a guitar. I sang "Michael Rowed the Boat Ashore" at church to a strummed accompaniment. Back in the day "Leavin' on a Jet Plane" to the tune of a guitar was the expected closing song at a missionary farewell! Guitar was a love language for boomers.<div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEh4Es_1jnTKAofecoq46d1qk-9wSWYHY_ZwPwBsXq1QhlC61yf2jd5aUNGpYFX-rTqGH8phPYT1KleLRZ4kp6NW55OmSi2xmLTrfZNhu8wnFcl8ZMGaBtjhtgzyMainEBk50PeHZMQXQ/s320/Jammin.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5763802759827925954" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:78%;">Jess, Lucy, Chloë</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:78%;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;">Dee and I had our own baby boom, </div><div style="text-align: center;">and into the third generation they're still speaking our language!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgotGX2_y5rOrerF0poHk6nMiX4BQY43eWvDpWf5P17xxWB5F1LwUcFTwpQVWtWt4ur0JH_EuOeRv12KwPfeAsLiW8Iq2j2sGY-gt8w1TokqMUerAGDWqbBo_Z0P5-pNI7OlMzpxgOsTBQ/s320/DSC02541.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5763802740945560674" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 248px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:78%;">Uncle Pete and his backup.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:78%;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;">The Halverson Heroes just got back from a week in the woods, and the hills were alive with the sound. Under one tree or another there was a jam session going the whole time, and I loved it! "Starting on A, one, two three ..."</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvVZ2qbAj5gTSRHVBtbE_v2zzaLboDmJc9yjtjg4wBXFc0NWSwKIFqO30nYTNKwIfrmvgEnLvKrrie488Rwqztr4za4hNdU0mYacsV_Zy_kctq2F8LDmdM_oKRgMNJ6PHIjQ7VM8Mjx8Y/s320/guitars.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5763802752358983346" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:78%;color:#0000ee;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><i>"<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Havi</span>n' fun at the campout, singin' a song,</i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:78%;color:#0000ee;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><i>Havin' fun with Oma all day long ..."</i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000ee;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000ee;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">The little kids wrote lyrics and taught each other chords,</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000ee;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5N68tt2Kyhi066jZ8dcaiPEDKJSS8f80TCSFIaIUIhsqXYN74Igqs_ZZTN0pL0_z6nwvdomnLtVPK7iS1ExNOvwHDjtc-evzp8Vi4oTqkBpKvTroHW7EsfuAmMqqZNFVgx8M2XcAJ1JE/s320/DSC02533.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5763802730176678546" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:78%;">"Sha la la la la la la la la la la te da ..." </span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"> and the big kids remembered when they used to sing</div><div style="text-align: center;">"You, my brown-eyed girl."</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKSU0U9BbXjTWbEgca4ZknmiFLLNa9Aelf4rJolZAoObUaOSigjToWDtS_xHovcMhtSKajiUbQlX7cHh4uBh0Onartrn8fjR06xj1mSiTbc4AJTsgPwKkpwoLDQAMo-Rd3atOKrFmjyz4/s320/Lucy%253AOpa+singing.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5763802930943565794" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; " /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:78%;">"I was riding shotgun with my hair undone in the front seat of his car ..."</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">While Dee was singing a duet with Lucy at the campfire,</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT_8XUZNeYUQrgtJeNjHZ9Y58lkIr6RL_0cdYyria7sxnEBzf1_WX6CtWviBLmrwIweR5avQiZa9k5-I1vrKCyDKHVKrnVMsxLz-sA-te67MwtYXQ-5t4QloimNYjTOtYVyHUiHM86hf4/s320/DSC02462.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5763813600084639586" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 254px; height: 320px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:78%;">"Are you Eliza?" </span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:78%;">"Guess again, Oma."</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">... one of our little twin granddaughters asked me, </div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>"Has Opa ma-wied Tayloe Swift yet? I know he loves her." </i></div><div style="text-align: center;">Of course he loves her. She plays a guitar.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">In my heaven angels won't play harps. They'll have guitars.</div><div style="text-align: center;">And it will be a hoot! (enanny.)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">(If you want to know what I'm singing about today, click<a href="http://travelinoma.blogspot.com/2010/07/she-made-me-who-i-am.html"> here</a>.)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /><div><div><br /></div></div></div></div>Travelin'Omahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18415472674768977723noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2529969472454786525.post-89907986880855959982012-07-05T14:28:00.010-06:002012-07-05T15:22:40.338-06:00Oma Days<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIH7fXx3u0ZdTuKN7nLFwaRN2TAWT9P4iCjqZt6GwuODhh1KCuu6dqdwkcGDzMWzUIPm2b7dl4tveauvBcXR4gttJCJQtnc7SUgdwYbIuYjOL7_TVeg-Iarrb8aQxCkc3YCq_Rtvjnf3Q/s1600/Gelato+cones.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4RP57n1SIK-x9R7_KRPwpyAcQS_6UXvPl9wpPFASZE3ITi4rbLW2g-RnloU6mdASH318Itln9k6Xf0S7UxX3Di1f1EemV4WRLJg_87pQk3D4cZe7SC7B6pRLwbJ0K2OXGg0uaPs9z9pY/s1600/DSC02418.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 298px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4RP57n1SIK-x9R7_KRPwpyAcQS_6UXvPl9wpPFASZE3ITi4rbLW2g-RnloU6mdASH318Itln9k6Xf0S7UxX3Di1f1EemV4WRLJg_87pQk3D4cZe7SC7B6pRLwbJ0K2OXGg0uaPs9z9pY/s320/DSC02418.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5761788971487380290" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:78%;">Oma Day</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center; "><br /></div><div style="text-align: left; ">There are Pioneer Days, Strawberry Days and Onion Days up and down our state, but my favorite summer days are <i>Oma Days</i>. The kids are out of school, travelin-grands come from far away, and I get to hang out with my favorite people. For six weeks this summer grandkids are at the top of my to-do list. They pair off and treat me to the pleasure of their company for an Oma Day.</div></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTRYsMEMhZAl3jMTx0NqLZrCYsJoWpxodkQ0vdyXqxdQybIjWzQGCCeGp72bJtck5c7FluJg1-Qf_AZEHTxvBDjV0JkHrFLKTKzD_bXI4WNtVWF_OkpuRqB-Pgv0j1mSJKIJm-yZbj6io/s320/Chelsea+and+Ashley.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5761786766615976114" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:78%;">Chelsea and Ashley (both 7)</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">I took these guys to Walmart where we bought fishing poles,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">and headed out to my neighborhood lake.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2eW01_l-JOFmFaeN1Gx4ApD-6omv3j3XV2AXg__u4M8-TzBdhnIG7T15a7-nMWjrIF9vgxzyH6L4snNnGPQDq-yarMUpg2X8fSDYD6OQGO_sXjYlb9JIHl7BBMOCPndnBohbjHAdnmcs/s320/Chelsea+fishing.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5761786759969385906" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:78%;">Chelsea at Oquirrh Lake</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:medium;">It's 65 acres, almost four miles around, with playgrounds and picnic spots scattered here and there. Sailboats, canoes and row boats are available to residents and there are 13 miles of walking trails. We just needed a few yards.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000ee;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihjTDoODHK0AOL0-75qgQnC9Ks0gI9GgtxolcecInaPWITqthAYLsCOwkmzYzF2cDnAHCVzlakcIE1c5xTHxm0jU5Ln6gQ6b_9qploAExpzkrjLel0Ee2bpg44l6hJxyUSp_NCs5xma7Y/s320/Ashley+fishing+in+life+vest.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5761787220174418114" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:78%;">Ashley prepared for giant fish.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:78%;"><br /></span></i></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:medium;">Since it's stocked with trout, bluegill and bass, I was certain we'd each catch our two fish limit. The girls were so worried they'd be pulled into the water by giant fish, they insisted on wearing life jackets. Unfortunately, I forgot about hooks and worms. The fishing lines floated aimlessly on top of the water until we got bored. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXRW4zmB9NsLAuC5m9XWrZhVpytFXDxmPDBrcdt6LNH-SmqRcB7R1K0CS9HfTNgIfm6V4YZNQYOAOPRSW7nAX5SdWYR5BYOVsLzt877fOg6vQwi2DMu7CJtakOry1fJuog_G_spEiawbM/s320/Splashing+.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5761786794016642930" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 271px; height: 320px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:medium;"><i>Ashley and Chelsea on Soda Row</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:medium;">Then we dashed across the street for a run through the splash pad ...</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIH7fXx3u0ZdTuKN7nLFwaRN2TAWT9P4iCjqZt6GwuODhh1KCuu6dqdwkcGDzMWzUIPm2b7dl4tveauvBcXR4gttJCJQtnc7SUgdwYbIuYjOL7_TVeg-Iarrb8aQxCkc3YCq_Rtvjnf3Q/s320/Gelato+cones.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5761793543505273010" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 280px; " /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000ee;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000ee;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">and gelato cones.</span></span></div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0T1YmoQr5xr6kQLBT0NF6F18_euXFjy3st46w6KCtBGCzLnackpaH920iK06fDBXw_Zk78doq7L5eETyJrnf3nqHToEX9noKoc6GrKkZCXNMRF2_ytMagFe3_KD-Pld87POe8GG6DPWI/s1600/Sco%252CPete%252CBrad%252CDan.jpeg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 238px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0T1YmoQr5xr6kQLBT0NF6F18_euXFjy3st46w6KCtBGCzLnackpaH920iK06fDBXw_Zk78doq7L5eETyJrnf3nqHToEX9noKoc6GrKkZCXNMRF2_ytMagFe3_KD-Pld87POe8GG6DPWI/s320/Sco%252CPete%252CBrad%252CDan.jpeg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5761787807377693378" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:78%;">Scott, Pete, Brad and Dan</span></i></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The guys went golfing one morning,</div><div style="text-align: center;">and biking the next.</div><div style="text-align: center;">The ladies had an outing at City Creek.</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQRigiCGpn51k1oWJsoKAW71HfedoZzJSPqI_1bx4uHFfPWf1I3WQRUAnRQgQqteXiduvvz7QLfbF3M7yTSYwk_ASORNFIz2zQK8hKNhYeSP4CrX71472Gnxa396J24agDAjIjt9b7_Aw/s1600/waterskiing.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 242px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQRigiCGpn51k1oWJsoKAW71HfedoZzJSPqI_1bx4uHFfPWf1I3WQRUAnRQgQqteXiduvvz7QLfbF3M7yTSYwk_ASORNFIz2zQK8hKNhYeSP4CrX71472Gnxa396J24agDAjIjt9b7_Aw/s320/waterskiing.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5761787239876096914" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:78%;">Gabi, Sam, Brad</span></i></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:78%;"><br /></span></i></div><div><div style="text-align: center;">Jordanelle was the scene for a boating adventure.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I watched in awe as the littlest kids rode the waves,</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFfh7sUP0zcjAoRo1RTHfSrjagOMq_vT5RISQab_ufkhR-5l-yjObjSk5VZ00k0s6sauieOBwY2Do1wxYi53kZ0Nhr-5X39IhfH9d9RPgkaZEQjKgbesUvBbs6ISrMOtpVRNVZIHhPWR4/s1600/little+girls+boating.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFfh7sUP0zcjAoRo1RTHfSrjagOMq_vT5RISQab_ufkhR-5l-yjObjSk5VZ00k0s6sauieOBwY2Do1wxYi53kZ0Nhr-5X39IhfH9d9RPgkaZEQjKgbesUvBbs6ISrMOtpVRNVZIHhPWR4/s320/little+girls+boating.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5761787230178584418" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:78%;">Chloe, Emmie, Jessi</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:78%;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;">... and the experts surfed the wake.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizaDtpijb3B9WEUg3o9bUxtPVNQ5B4MogxUtFzEGn1qFO2AzG5xYK0treZkDQ86NYSPHY_zEKxU6mJMDZDEcpoTdqnCz7d-fAEATKEGbAHIRHLNBpLYz9mMQtEnf1e9X2NA9G21G2IYho/s320/Eliza+and+Jill.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5761786772142558066" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 296px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000ee;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:78%;">Eliza and Jill</span></i> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000ee;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000ee;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">The twinkies requested their favorite cupcake store.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000ee;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">Then we went to the Oma Clubhouse for dress-ups and a tea party.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000ee;"><br /></span></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDf53YBmQ4l_texhcH15x7D9McQaHkK5i9p5lKnkmHjunfGdUXaHjKDuanwZO6IK71KauYBzOCnf3LHfDuXf6ekCDPNdv7SM5tKRiNm5ErCAX1R8BYIOeWTdRp_BPLURl1bZm42w8MTNo/s1600/Gabi+watching+fireworks.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 275px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDf53YBmQ4l_texhcH15x7D9McQaHkK5i9p5lKnkmHjunfGdUXaHjKDuanwZO6IK71KauYBzOCnf3LHfDuXf6ekCDPNdv7SM5tKRiNm5ErCAX1R8BYIOeWTdRp_BPLURl1bZm42w8MTNo/s320/Gabi+watching+fireworks.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5761786784617118114" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:78%;">Gabi watching fireworks</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: left;">After a grand display of fireworks and a month of fiery weather, we woke up to rain and cool temperatures. Perfect for a <a href="http://travelinoma.blogspot.com/2011/07/camping-with-kids-family-ties.html">weekend in the woods</a>! The car is loaded, and the Oma tent pack-ups are ready to go; <a href="http://travelinoma.blogspot.com/2011/06/camping-with-kids.html">s'mores are waiting</a>! I'll report next week!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>Travelin'Omahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18415472674768977723noreply@blogger.com3