Alamosa weekend

I am grateful for any day that I find myself on a road trip.  The third Thursday in April I was particularly grateful to God, my sister Anne, my sponsor--the driver Chris,  Grandma Martha the babysitter, Granddad on daycare pickup and drop-off, and the people at doTERRA and other powers that be in the Universe that combined so I could find myself here by this amazing landscape, which will look so better when I learn how to use my new camera, and stop taking pictures with my phone.

And here in Grand Junction, one of my ancestral homes.

Friday morning we met my sister Anne and drove to this mall in Alamosa, Colorado, the biggest town near her home.  

 We set up a table outside of this health food co-op.  We spent two hours stopping people passing by, asking if they were interested in a free sample of essential oils. It was really amazing that in that little hallway, in just two hours, we found a good handful of contacts for Anne. We were impressed by how eager the customers were to learn about the health benefits of essential oils. We passed out fliers to the event Anne had organized for the afternoon at the Rec center in town, and for the Saturday event as well.

Friday afternoon was a success.  We had two women from the health food store come.  One brought her daughter and granddaughter, who had both had positive experiences with essential oils.  Five seems like a small group, but the number was the perfect amount to be able to address every one's needs and questions. Anne found a new business builder and looks forward to teaching more classes to help people in the area understand how beneficial the oils can be.

In the evening we went to The Joyful Journey Hot Springs pool to swim in this water that is body temperature and above and filled with healthy minerals.Joyful Journey is a social hub of the community both for healthy activities like water yoga and therapeutic soaking, and slightly less healthy, but delicious pursuits like enjoying these amazing sweet potato fries and this hamburger on pretzel bread at the restaurant by the pool.

This was our Saturday morning drive to Howard where Anne had organized a Reflexology and doTERRA Aromatouch  technique demonstration and class.

 It was here at the Eagle's Wing Fishing Ranch. Jan Marie Smith was our gracious hostess.

 Just one of our new friends.

Eric brought amazing lemon bars made with a few drops of  doTERRA lemon essential oil.

 I love the people here and I love this area.  I can't wait to return soon.

nothing better

There's almost nothing better than field trip day. Caitlin makes seven years of kindergarteners. I sat on the school bus wedged between six year olds, swarmed by flying elbows and the buzz of excited voices. I was thinking grateful thoughts about flashbacks, and the many years of field trips to various museums, apple orchards, factories, monuments, water parks. I'm not sure if there is a bigger honor than a spot for me on the bus bound for field trip day.

Wednesday Caitlin and I and the kindergartners were off to the BYU Museum of Paleontology.

The kids enjoyed their very animated tour guide.

Next we visited the Monte L. Bean Life Science Museum, where we watched a demonstration on reptiles.

And had the opportunity to get acquainted.  Then we made a scavenger hunt out of the exhibits.

And we finished off with a walk over to the BYU creamery. 

Peeps

I was grateful for a beautiful Easter Sunday. A week and a half later I ate my last Peep of the season, now crunchy on the outside, soft in the center, and posted pictures of new hats and vests, tears, and anticipation. No more peeps for three hundred days.

friends, family, milestones

This was the first week of April. I was grateful for a visit from our good friend Kimberly from Quito. The kids were all so happy to see their babysitter from our Ecuador days.

I was grateful to spend time with the kids watching General Conference, and grateful for milestones.

Easter weekend we went up to a cousin's baptism and spent the afternoon together preparing for the holiday.

Kimberly and the girls at Arctic Circle.

 This was an exciting moment for Caitlin.

Olivia presented a project about Pakistan for school.

Kyle presented a project on Italy.

William became the Easter bunny.

 Olivia's activity day girls creation.

Happy Easter!

babies make six

Thursday morning, March 29, I woke up at 4:15, went down to be sure Sam was awake.  He was, and looked handsome dressed in a dark plaid shirt and tie, suit pants and a dark coat.  He had to be at the school for the 5:00 bus departure.  He was heading to Layton for a FBLA conference.

Sam I am proud of you for packing your own suitcase, looking after every detail, signing yourself up for something I have never even heard of, growing into your own amazing person.


I drove home and tucked myself back into bed next to William for another hour.  And then the morning started again.

As the children began to gather in the kitchen, there was the typical scenario.  Grant and Olivia both had something to tell me. Neither wanted to wait so I tried to listen with both ears.  Grant's was a line of questions.

"Mom, do baby bunnies get cold?"

"Yes," I said.

"So when they get cold, do their moms make a nest to keep them warm?"

"Yes, " I said.

"Do they pull off their fur and gather it around the baby bunnies?"

"I guess so."

"So is that what all the white stuff is around the baby bunnies?" He asked.

"What baby bunnies? We don't have baby bunnies," I said.

"Yes, we do." He said with a satisfied smile.