reap and sow

I am in love with our pattypan squash. Planted from seeds this spring. And it never gets old seeing it in the garden. So cute.

next chapter

All the peeps in school for 9 hours each week. Now what?

I've only had 12 years to think about it. On to the next chapter.

If you're planning on calling or stopping by Monday, Wednesday, Friday between noon and 3:00 pm, I'll be unavailable. So, hush... I'm writing.

crown of stars

these past weeks i have felt: dashed upon, swallowed up in the depths, left gaping open, carved hollow, lost.

then, star by star, the light appeared. my crown of stars. consisting of past hours spent in prayer and meditation, the truest of friends, priesthood blessings, inspired counsel, a mother who knows, covenants made and kept.

now, my crown of stars has helped see me through the night. the lesson i will continue to learn throughout my life: patience. because "the hour is not yet", but it has been promised to me that it will come.

and it will be worth it.

She Saw Through the Night by the Light from Her Crown of Stars print by Amanda Blake

a post for jenni

Remember how I promised a souvenir to whomever guessed all the places we were headed on our vacation? And then I hardly ever blogged after that?

Well.

Lots of things going on over here, but I didn't forget you, readers. Or you, blog. Or you, Jenni.

Jenni, congratulations. You were the first responder to my post and I got you this little lovely dream catcher from a sweet little Navajo grandma. (Even though we went to the Apache Indian Reservation, and dream catchers originated with the Ojibwe tribe.) I hope you like it. I'll bring it with me the next time we get together. And I hope it catches all your bad dreams.

travelogue

best vacation of my life, so far. so many memories made, so many people i love, and so many miles driven. my van and i are on a break.

worst drivers: nevada. also, people become hard of hearing when you show up to the breakfast buffet with 1 adult and 4 children. ONE adult? yes. FOUR children? yes, people. i know.

to attract attention, i like to borrow my nephew as well and head to the beach.

then take them all to sea world, BY MYSELF.

it's okay, because a few days later we headed to one of the most beautiful places on earth: hawley lake, az.

where i sat and did nothing for about 4 days. surrounded by the people i love best in the world. best family reunion ever.

mr. coleman flew in for the event, where he had a narrow escape from dying of boredom, but i like to think it was worth it because it prevented him from missing us to death the 3 weeks we were gone.

the last week we spent in mesa, az at my parents' house, because really, can you think of a better time of year to spend a full week in arizona? actually it was pretty amazing: monsoon lightning storms, haboobs, bahama bucks, swimming, all-you-can-eat-crab (!), and qt.

i have to confess that the best part of my trip was when my brother ryan shared this double rainbow video with me. and then this song. it is still making me laugh everyday. go check it out. then come back. i'll still be here.

after sunday family dinner we were entertained by a magic show

and then glow sticks. never gets old.

the ride home was gorgeous. i love the little peek of the north rim of the grand canyon here. {photo by micah}. it is great to be back. i love my state and city and grocery store* and home more than i ever have. it doesn't hurt to have had incredible weather every day since we've been home.

utah summer: i just can't quit you. next year we're staying home.

*does your grocery store have men in dress shirts and ties that carry umbrellas and escort you to your car in a summer rainstorm? mine does. i love nice people.

road trip mix

Of course, I've got an Ipod, but I still can't find a way to get the sound quality to match a good old-fashioned cd mix. Here's what we're listening to. How about you?

Think Of Me-Rosi Golan

Hear Me Out-Frou Frou

Blue Beard-Band Of Horses

Dilly-Band Of Horses

Everlasting Light-The Black Keys

Howlin' For You-The Black Keys

The Boy With The Arab Strap-Belle & Sebastian

Heart Skipped A Beat-Xx

Islands-Xx

World Spins Madly On-The Weepies

Square Peg Round Hole-Wakey!wakey!

Almost Everything-Wakey!wakey!

Drowning Men-Fanfarlo

Finish Line-Fanfarlo

Fire Escape-Fanfarlo

Swing Tree-Discovery

Take A Bow-Glee Cast

If I Had Eyes-Jack Johnson

Aisle 13-Built To Spill

Supermassive Black Hole-Muse

See ya.

We are leaving tomorrow for our annual Summer Sabbatical. So I stole some pictures from my sisters' blogs to show you what I'm looking forward to, since I am busy washing every article of clothing we have and doing all the things I've procrastinated doing all summer and clearly don't have time to take my own pictures.

We are headed to:

1.) The Sin Capital of the World

2.) The Avocado Capital of the World

3.) The Kidnapping Capital of the United States (debatable)

4.) The Jewel of the Fort Apache Indian Reservation

I will offer a souvenir from my trip to the first person who guesses all 4 places correctly. It will be totally rad. You'll have to trust me on that. Family: you cannot vote. Which could be bad since I don't know if anyone else is reading this blog during the summer.

I can't wait to see everyone.