CUT THE STRING

As I type my children are in the other room playing a game. They converse, they laugh, they enjoy being together and the aroma of a Sunday night treat is in the air. I write with mixed emotion and consider my future.

Rakai booked his one way ticket to New Zealand last week. He leaves November 30. With Isaac leaving for his mission and Karamea in Salt Lake my household will feel drastically diminished come December.

Magnificent motherhood memories surf the waves of my brain. Walking through the park... pushing them on the swing...stitching matching dresses for me and Karamea...bedtime stories...Rakai loved Little Black Sambo...butterfly kisses...bikerides...hiking in Zion...laundry for the masses...soccer games...piano and violin recitals...songs of delight...puddle stomping...Redwood Trees...Door of Faith Orphanage...ocean breezes and orange sunsets...

This list is endless...

I treasure motherhood it is my joy and my priviledge. The greatest of any of my blessings.

BRIGHT STAR IS BRILLIANT

This is a movie directed by Jane Campion and based on the love story of poet John Keats and Fanny Brawne. John Keats was 23 when they met. He died 2 years later. The deep affection the 2 of them shared is brilliantly portrayed in this film. I was captured and held hostage from the beginning as a wooden needle was fed through the fabric by the hand of Fanny Brawne. It wasn't until the credits were complete that I could speak a word. This film is magnificent, a visual masterpiece and a most treasured love story.

BRIGHT STAR, WOULD I WERE STEDFAST

By John Keats

Bright star, would I were stedfast as thou art---
Not in lone splendour hung aloft the night
And watching, with eternal lids apart,
Like nature's patient, sleepless Eremite,
The moving waters at their priestlike task
Of pure ablution round earth's human shores,
Or gazing on the new soft-fallen mask
Of snow upon the mountains and the moors---
No---yet still stedfast, still unchangeable,
Pillowed upon my fair love's ripening breast,
To feel for ever its soft fall and swell,
Awake for ever in a sweet unrest,
Still, still to hear her tender-taken breath,
And so live ever---or else swoon in death.

1819

GIFTS FROM GOD

My weekend began on Friday morning with a trip to the temple. Moana (my sister) and I attended a session with Eric (my nephew) and Isaac. It was a mother/son excursion. We enjoyed the session together then pictures then pancakes at Cracker Barrel.

Moana and three of her boys stopped by St. George on their way home to Tempe, AZ. It was a timely trip and we were so happy to have them. Eric will report to the MTC on November 4 and is on his way to the Dominican Republic. He will be at the MTC when Isaac arrives on November 18.

What a surreal time this is as I reminisce over childhood memories with my sister and now we send boys into the mission field at the same time. The cycles of life keep us learning and growing.

Southern Utah weather was magnificent this weekend. A complete gift from God. We piled in two cars and took eight of our nine boys to Zion. Brian was missing from Moana's boys as were the two girls Allison and Karamea. It was their first time to Zion so we decided to hike Emerald Pools.

We hiked this trail in May but hiking it in the fall is a new and refreshing experience. The colors were spectacular! It was a wonderful hike and if you are my Facebook friend you can look there to see all the pictures.

When the hiking was done and we were all starving we headed to Springdale Park for some much needed nourishment and a little bit of fun. A picnic in the park and some fall football. What a perfect day this was.

We made it home and decided to have breakfast for dinner. Pancakes, scrambled eggs and ham. By 10:30 I was beat. A little bit of lavender oil to sooth the mind and I was out.

Tomorrow the kids are out of school and I have to work. I think I'll make it an early day so we can go see a movie tomorrow afternoon. Remember Where the Wild Things Are? It's a children's book and now it's a movie. We all want to see it.

Today is October 18. Isaac reports for his mission in exactly 30 days. Oh my.

MOANA LANI SPA

A friend of mine could not find work in St. George so he went to his home on Maui. He applied at every Hotel and Spa on the island and found nothing. He has family on Oahu so he went there and his brother hooked him up with a top guy for Westin Hotels. Kauhi is now the director for the Moana Lani Spa.

The crazy thing about that is that I am Lani and my sister is Moana. Moana Lani means Ocean and Sky. I told my friend that my sister and I should be the spokesgirls for the place and have a lifetime of free accommodations and treatments.

BLOOMINGTON GEYSER

This is what happens when a golf course sprinkler bursts. I was enjoying the land of dreams when there was a loud pop and then gushing water. It was around 2am and I couldn't see what was going on until sunrise. It wasn't until about 7am when the golf course maintenance guy came around and they finally shut it off. It was loud. This happened sometime in September but the battery on my camera died. I ordered a new one and then had to wait for it to be shipped. Now I am back in business.

My boys are so excited that I have the camera back...not. I am always taking pictures or videos and posting them to the family blog. Which pretty much annoys them.

The first week of October is past and gone. The broadcast center keeps me so busy. I feel like I am working all the time. Not exactly what I expected but money is a good thing and helpful when it comes to paying bills and getting Isaac ready for his mission.

We are in the 5 week countdown. He reports November 18 which is the day before my birthday. This is such a time of mixed emotion. I will miss him but the thought of experiences he will have and the excitement that exists for him right now brings joy to my heart. Then a few weeks after he leaves, Rakai will leave for New Zealand. Christmas this year will be calm and strange. Especially compared to the fun we had last year.

Ra's family visited this weekend. It has been wild and crazy. Next weekend Moana and her boys will be here. We're going Zion hiking. Eric and Isaac will have a chance to be together once more before they are both off on their missions.

Life is moving by at what seems to be the speed of light.

FINISH LINE

CMI linked up with KCSG which meant I was back on the Finish Line at the marathon. I'm still trying to decide how I feel about receiving my old job back, but being on the finish line was absolutely wonderful.

There is complete comraderie among the volunteers who have been there year after year, some for all of the 33 years of the St. George marathon. Those crossing the finish line come in order of appearance. First, those who are participating in the Mayors Walk, then the marathon wheel chair particpants, then the anticipated arrival of the one who takes first place. We watch as a combination of wheel chair and male runners cross the finish line and once again - anticipate - the arrival of the first female runner.

She comes through about 3 hours after she has begun. She crosses then crumbles to her feet. Men of the 172nd battalion run to her aid, lift her and carry her to the first aid station. Fourty-five minutes later she stands, with her 6 children, in front of our camera's and does a live interview.

As a mother of 6 children I am amazed at her commitment and dedication to accomplish this goal she has set for herself.

Another St. George marathon has come and gone and I have had the priviledge of being in the thick of it all. This brings joy to my soul. Maybe my job is not such a bad thing afterall.

REVIEWING

The past few days have been a whirlwind of thought and activity. Last night Isaac and I returned from a weekend in Salt Lake. While up north we drove up to Heber City. That drive and the drive home gave me time to reflect on the changing of seasons.

Feeling inspired I pulled out paper and pen and scribbled a few words while driving 70 mph on the highway...

"It's that time of year when God pulls out his paintbrush and splashes shades of red, gold and green on this canvas we call earth. The voice of FALL tells us that the cold is yet to come. It speaks in a magnificent sort of way."

Isaac and I spent a part of Saturday at the temple with dad. For me a session filled with insight and inspiration and for Isaac, a time to hang out with Grandpa in the Celestial Room.

I cherish moments with my children. They are growing into independent adults. Isaac leaves in 6 weeks for Berlin. Rakai to New Zealand and Karamea explores options of adventure. I believe this may be a Christmas of only 3 children at home. Such a strange concept...

My job...wow...crazy things are happening. I was feeling pretty comfortable with marketing and sales for the broadcast center. But a "shock and awe" announcement came last week. The CMI broadcast center has partnered with KCSG TV and will be producing the news from our location. I have been promoted to Director of Public Relations and Promotions for CMI - basically the job I was doing for KCSG only now for 2 radio stations, a TV station, a newspaper and soon to be online video. I am now in the process of negogiating a fulltime salary. My former job at KCSG is chasing me. I want to turn and run but my feet feel stuck in position.

Here's another crazy thought...We have a dog. I love dogs but they are like children. They need love and attention all the time. Rakai rescued an English Bull Dog from his wacked friend...I use the word "friend" very lightly. He named him Leopold. We call him Leo. He's cute...short and pudgy. Now we have to train him. I still love Sammie best of all.

My life at the moment feels frayed and random. There's so much happening. It's difficult to keep it all straight.

Where is my Island???

AND SO IT GOES

September Equinox is two days away and with it comes the close of my summer. My mind is wrapped around the memories.

Freeze time and remember...

**summer sunrise**summer skies**summer nights**summer picnics**summer love**summer weddings**summer reunions**summer breeze**summer hikes**summer joy**summer soccer**summer morn**summer strolls**summer tunes**summer drives**summer bike ride**summer parades**summer heat**summer rain**summer blossoms**summer birthdays**summer sunset**

**green grass**sun rays through the clouds**lazy afternoons**leaves on the trees**tank tops and shorts**barefoot in slippers**sand in my toes**orange peel smoothies**lavender walk**reggae festival**pioneer park farmers market**park city**emerald pools**harry potter marathon**kolob reservoir**lost on hulu**family and friends**county fair**isaac at the temple**roundup rodeo**

"Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened."

STEPPING STONES

There are experiences in life that we can call stepping stones, the times when we accomplish that which we have been reaching for. Yesterday was one of those pinnacles.

As a mother I set goals for my children and hope they will want what I want for them. I raise them the best way I know how and teach them the way to happiness. They have their free agency so I can only hope they will accept the things they have been taught.

Isaac set his sights on the temple many years ago and yesterday he went through to receive his living endowments. It was a surreal moment for me. Sitting and experiencing each level of the endowment then watching as he stepped into the Celestial Room. "Welcome Home Isaac" We embraced and shed a few tears together.

It is a wonderful feeling for a parent to watch as your child follows and feels the joy of the gospel.

COME SEPTEMBER

"By all these lovely tokens September days are here, With summer’s best of weather And autumn’s best of cheer." - Helen Jackson

Memories of Labor Day weekend include my mom's birthday, one final summer picnic and school on Tuesday.

When I was young summer ended with the Labor Day weekend and school started the Tuesday following. School in August continues to be a foreign concept to me.

So here I sit on this lovely September morn. Enjoying seventy degree temps on the veranda, listening to the song of the birds, watching the occasional golf ball zip by, gazing out into the southern skies and feeling the love of God as it embraces my existence.

With the duties of work and mom and philanthropy, on most days my life is filled with chaotic tasks. I treasure my Sunday mornings.

We have chosen to stay home on this Labor Day weekend. Ammon and Asa went camping and boating with friends. Karamea is in Portland exploring the opportunity of moving there. The rest of us remain home lost in Lost...

I made the mistake of watching Episode One, Season One of a show called Lost on hulu.com. Now we are all hooked. Hulu has all 5 seasons. It is entertaining and definitely keeps our interest. I finished Season One last night and am anxious to get started on Season Two. But today is the Sabbath and I was taught that there are more important things to do on the Sabbath than watch TV. Technically its not TV...or is it?