PURPLE TREE

Saw this at Walmart and couldn't resist.  Come on...it's purple...I love everything about the color.  Insight into this warm and cozy color goes something like this -

Royalty and Spirituality:

Purple is royalty. A mysterious color, purple is associated with both nobility and spirituality. The opposites of hot red and cool blue combine to create this intriguing color.

Nature of Purple:

Purple has a special, almost sacred place in nature: lavender, orchid, lilac, and violet flowers are often delicate and considered precious. Because purple is derived from the mixing of a strong warm and strong cool color it has both warm and cool properties. A purple room can boost a child's imagination or an artist's creativity. Too much purple, like blue, could result in moodiness.

Culture of Purple:

The color of mourning for widows in Thailand, purple was the favorite color of Egypt's Cleopatra. It has been traditionally associated with royalty in many cultures. Purple robes were worn by royalty and people of authority or high rank. The Purple Heart is a U.S. Military decoration given to soldiers wounded in battle.

THANKSGIVING TREK

The turkey was in the oven by 6:30am and we were on the road to our picnic by 11:30.  Spending a day off work with boys sitting around the house and me cooking in the kitchen just is not my idea of fun.  So this Thanksgiving we headed up to Kolob Canyon with our gourmet picnic and trekked the Timbercreek Overlook.  This was a fun adventure and a perfectly beautiful day.  

With Isaac in the MTC and Karamea at work there was just 6 of us and Leo.  Rakai invited Carlie so she took this picture for us.  There was lots to eat and then Asa showed us how to play Wave Tag.  No worries about eating too much today.  I worked it off as fast as I ate it.

I drove home while everyone passed out in the car.  After cleaning up the kitchen I climbed under my electric blanket to watch a movie and take a nap.  Now I'm just ready for bed.

PLAYLIST CHANGES

On this Thanksgiving Eve I have been in my kitchen preparing a gourmet picnic for our trek to the Valley of Fire tomorrow.  I chose the music on my blog to pull me through the pain.

Umm yah..food is not really my thing...in fact its kind of torture.  But my boys love when I prepare food and, like it or not, I do it well.

So listening to the playlist on my blog I realized it was time for new music to stir new emotion and pull new memories.

I deleted songs that carried unwanted memories and picked up on new grooves for fresh new emotion.  

I like this a lot! 

EMMMMMMMMMMCEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

There's a first time for everything and tonight was my first time as an emcee.  Ammon asked me, "what's an mc", so I told him, "it's the person who introduces stuff on stage, the master of ceremonies."  Ummm, I am a master of nothing. But I did emcee at the Jubilee of Trees tonight.

Normally this is something I line up for on air talent but the talent was busy doing the news.  So there was no one else to play the part but me.  This is not something I like to do.  I am generally the one who sets it up then stands behind the scenes to watch.  But tonight I had to step out of my comfort zone.

It was Family Night at the Jubilee of Trees and it was get-in-free night.  Oh my, the place was packed.  Standing room only.  Diamond Talent did the entertainment and it was spectacular.  I was so impressed!  The Larson's are amazing.  High energy and fabulous talent.

So now I can say that I have been the "mistress of ceremonies" and I did okay.

BENJA'S FOR MY BIRTHDAY

My mind has been a swirl of emotion for the last week. Getting Isaac ready then sending him off...I took four days off work and today - on my birthday - I had to catch up.

Today was a good day, a busy day, but still a good day.

I love everyone!

WHEN WILL I SEE THIS AGAIN

Wow...I don't quite know what to type. Here they are...the joy of my life...together for this moment in time.

And I am typing through tears.

My last few posts have been a reflection of motherhood joy. I suppose that is my right as I cut the strings and watch them leave one by one. My heart aches and I dwell on the memories of 25 years. Ups and downs, highs and lows, joys and sorrows. And we made it to today...

Family arrived throughout this wonderful weekend. Friday night we shopped for food and spent a lot of money. Saturday I prepared food, went to a soccer game and enjoyed the company of extended family. Today Isaac spoke in church and then our house was filled with wall-to-wall people. And we fed them all. (pictures in Elder Isaac's photo album on my facebook page)

Thank you to everyone who helped. I have the most wonderful family and friends! Isaac's choice to serve a mission brought us all together for this weekend. It was an expression of joy, love and all things bright and beautiful.

CHEERISH THE MOMENT

Rakai...Karamea...Isaac...

I spent the weekend with them in Salt Lake...all together...one last time...and then Isaac will be in Berlin, Rakai will be in New Zealand and Karamea will stay in Salt Lake.

Should I be sad or glad...a little of both I think.

We drove up late last week on Thursday night. I made it to Fillmore then Rakai drove the rest of the way. I collapsed into Karamea's bed at 1am with her next to me and the boys on the floor.

Friday morning Karamea had to work. Rakai was with Simp. Isaac and I went to the Salt Lake Temple for a session and we did a few sealings before leaving. It was peaceful, calm and inspirational. Isaac understands how sealings work. It will be wonderful for him if he experiences a family sealing while on his mission.

Friday night we went to eat. That's us waiting...bored...taking silly pictures...waiting...outside the restaurant. They said 20 minutes...ummm it was 45. But the food was yummy so it was worth it. I went back to Karamea's for the bed. The kids went to play.

Saturday...breakfast with the Petty's. Friends from forever ago. Then Karamea to work, Rakai to Park City and Isaac and I went shopping for more missionary stuff. This is expensive.

Sunday...breakfast with Kenton and Cari...the Golden Braid Bookstore...Whole Foods.

We left Karamea standing alone on the sidewalk. It's okay though. We'll see her next weekend for Isaac's farewell.

I love my children!

GIFTS FOR THE TRUCKERS

Last week was National Trucker Appreciation week. I took some time on a beautiful St. George afternoon and went out to the Port of Entry. I joined lots of other people in handing out drinks and snacks to the truckers. Dirty, dusty, diesel - but so enriching.

The truck drivers transport everything. Without them what would we possess? How would we perform our day to day activities?

This was a rewarding experience and I met some great people along the way.

SUNDAY NIGHT

It's becoming quite clear to me that Sunday night seems to be the best time to catch up on blog entries and facebook. Tonight the house is quiet. The boys are catching up on their reading, Isaac is at missionary prep and I am making cookies...

I have decided that my body is breaking down and I am getting old. It's such a sad thought. It is my desire to stay young at heart that makes me feel younger than I really am. I realize that I have not taken advantage of my membership at Massage Envy for more than 6 weeks. My muscles are inflamed and I ache when I get cold. My body reminds me that I am definitely as old as my years tell me. Speaking of which...it's my birthday in 18 days.

The countdown to my birthday is also the countdown to Isaac reporting to the MTC. He reports November 18. It is thrilling and breathtaking. Yesterday the German teacher at the MTC called and had a complete phone conversation with Isaac... in German He informed Isaac that "because he can speak German fluently, he will be in Germany for Christmas." Incredible!

I suppose I should journal work for a moment...

As the Director of PR and Promotions Manager for CMI and KCSG I have accepted my fate. I have two full time jobs all rolled into one. It is clear to me that I am entirely busy and that there is little time to accomplish all that I want to do. Television, radio, newspaper, film production. Media is a fast paced machine and I am all caught up in it.

Next weekend I'm in Salt Lake with Karamea. One last shopping excursion for Isaac. Since Rakai is leaving for New Zealand on November 30 he is tagging along with us. So I will spend the weekend with my three oldest. This will be a mixture of joy and sorrow.