Hummingbird Lessons

It was a sad day in our house today. We found a dead hummingbird in our garage. I am pretty sure the bird got stuck in the garage, we closed it and the bird couldn't get out, fell to the ground in exhaustion and either died or I (I have a really hard time telling the next part) unwittingly ran over it. Let's just say the girls, including me, were really sad all evening. We had another hummingbird experience last week that actually brought on some real epiphanies for me.

A hummingbird flew into our garage and managed to get itself confused and stuck. I watched as it banged itself into the window over and over again. I tried to shoo that bird out, I tried to show it the large escape out the garage door opening and the back garage door. That stupid bird just flapped its wings even faster and whizzed away from me bumping its tiny head against the ceiling of the garage. I just kept thinking "You stupid bird. Can't you see the way out? It is right there. I tried to gently nudge that bird with a broom pole until my arm felt like it was going to fall off. I kept thinking "look down, I can help you." Finally, that bird found it's way out of the garage. I thought he had learned his lesson but oh no he returned a few minutes later, lured by the red dangling rope of the garage door opener I learned later.

I knew that bird had not found something to eat in the few moments it had ventured outside the garage. A hummingbird's high metabolism and outrageously fast heart rate requires it to eat or drink often. When that crazy bird flew back in the garage I really started to worry. I knew that bird could not survive for long and as it started its worrisome attempt to escape, ignoring all help. We offered it the hummingbird feeder to perch on and butterfly bush flowers, but its fear would not allow it to notice the outstretched hands of its salvation. In fact our proffered help actually made the bird more manic. At one point I left the garage thinking that bird has to help itself. But as the minutes ticked by my little heart could not bear the imminent doom. "You stupid bird," I kept thinking. "Why won't you let me help you. That bird had to rest a few times and perched itself in some pretty wierd places. Eventually, we saw the bird start to fly in an ever descending spiral. I knew that bird was going to fall and it came to a sliding exhausted fall on the cement floor. Rebecca and I scooped it up in my giant sun hat. Rebecca ran and filled the hummingbird feeder. We placed that bird outside on the lawn on the hummingbird feeder. I thought that bird was a goner. I tried to pour out the juice for the bird but it just sat there panting. Eventually, it miraculously regained its strength and flew over the house as if drunk. The next few days, I am positive I saw that recovered bird. And I am pretty sure it is not the same bird that was killed today.

That was a dramatic morning for us and while I was trying to help that beloved stupid bird, I realized something about myself. I have been that hummingbird lately. Struggling with my own spirituality, I have flown manically in the wrong direction, never noticing the outstretched hands of my Savior, offering to bring me to safety and to him. I have been so busy buzzing from one duty to the next that I have forgotten to pray and read my scriptures. Like that hummingbird I need frequent spiritual nourishment and I was feeling empty because I was ignoring the opportunities to drink and be filled. I felt empathy for that silly bird because I finally understood. The loss of a different hummingbird was quite a blow to me today. Rebecca pointed out that our new garage arrangement has several bright red lures for the bird. How often are we lured into dangerous territory by something that is not what it seems?

I originally meant to write a very well-written essay on this hummingbird experience, but the untimely death of the bird today nudged me to get my thoughts down on paper, no matter how random they may be.

Wow what a week. Last Saturday we arose at the brake of dawn to hightail it to Payson for my nephew's baptism. I am more than a little sad that I didn't get a picture of the newly baptized boy. Cameron was so adorable. He was all business as he got ready for that baptism and any one that knows Cameron knows he is more full of play than serious business. I was so proud to see that cute boy. Rebecca is the next cousin to get baptized. I am excited and nervous. Will I have her ready in time? We spent the rest of the day with Tom's family. Melinda you are such a good sport to host us all. The kids had fun dressing up. But truly my favorite costume is the buck naked Ryan. I had a migraine that day and I am sorry to all of you that had to put up with me. Especially, those of you who went to the mall with me. I should never shop with a headache. Thanks Melinda for saving the day and getting Becca the pants she so desperately needed for school. That Becca is really hard to pant shop for especially when you are suffering from a headache. But Melinda traipsed off with her and a passle of kids to Gap and got her all ready for school.




On the way home from the mall my sister Nicole, who I have not seen in 1 1/2 years met me at the Chevron in Payson. She had just arrived from a long drive from Boise that day. She followed Tom and I down to Cedar and we spent the next four days playing so hard I fell into bed every night exhausted. OK, one night we stayed up talking until 1 am. I am really mad that I forgot to get pictures from her camera before she left. She took all the good photos. I kept forgetting my camera. Nicole is one fun Mama to her three boys. She is not afraid to get right in the middle of the water fights or soccer games or in one case the creek in order to play with her kids. She is such a smart cookie too. I am always amazed at her wit and her perception of current events. I really enjoyed playing with her even if I was so tired I almost fell asleep during a Boggle game. I don''t normally sleep during Boggle becuase it is my favorite game and I usually have to wait until I see my sister's to play a really good competitive Boggle match. Love ya Nicole. I had fun playing in the creek,(both times) making dinosaur rocks, eating snow cones, watching movies, watching a waterfight, and visiting Cedar Breaks (even if it was freezing._

The 24th of July

I am a little behind. I have a dozen ideas for posts running through my head. But first I wanted to post about our 24th of July day. It took me a long time of living in Utah to remember that Utah had a second holiday. I just could not remember the 24th of July for years. Now, I look forward to this great day of celebration for Utah. This year we had a really fun day.

Tom's sister's Stephanie and Libby's families were coming up. Tom's band was playing in the Enoch celebration, Enoch was having a party in their park where all the kids activities were free and the kids were going to be in the Enoch parade.


We had such a great time. We spent the afternoon getting the Hughes' grandkids float ready. We had a few authentic pioneers.
The kids were well stocked with candy, water guns and balloons. The
big boys dunked their heads in the water and had a blast soaking the parade spectators, especially me. Aunt Stephanie was the best sport of all as the only adult actually on the float. I am sure she had fun waving to complete strangers.


We finished up the evening in the park where we listened to Tom's band. There were also some other performances, one of which had all the adults in shocked disbelief as we watched a puppeteer sing and perform her wannabe Muppets act. I guess the kids liked it. We did enjoy Tom's band.



A couple of my nephews joined in on the pie eating contest. Cody actually won.
This is how you win a pie eating contest. Get your whole head in the action.

Lia was in total heaven as she ran around with her best friend/cousin. We all took turns waiting in the big blow-up slide line with them. They even managed to get matching face paint tattoos.

Isaac was pretty much on the lam since he was off with his cousin Cody.

The rest of us enjoyed an enjoyable evening, except for that little run in I had with the police man. But hey only a few of us know about that one and I say we keep it that way. I did, after all escape unscathed and ticketless. Can't wait for next year.

Write A Little -- An Inspiring Woman

I am busy writing up an article on job options for women so I am not writing extra stuff today but my article about the Deputy Director of Parole for Utah (who happens to be a woman) is published online at Wasatch Woman today. This woman really inspires me. She reminded me that we should reach for our dreams and never sell ourselves short. You can check out the story here
Tomorrow I will update on our fun 24th of July day.

Flaming Gorge Vacation

Our vacation started with somewhat of a miracle. Tom visited his cousin Suzy and got his long locks cut off. I could not stop staring at him. He looked normal again. Suzy also did some touchups on Becca and Isaac's hair.

Down the road from Suzy's salon is Tom's sister Stephanie. The kids got some good cousin time and Tom and I got our last few moments of alone adult time before we ventured into the wild with our kids. Thanks Steph and Clay for dinner.

Friday night we made our first camp. The campsite we wanted was full so we would end up breaking camp the next morning. We chowed down on some delicious brats and watermelon for our first dinner and in the morning Tom cooked up some pancakes and sausage. I love camping. Tom does all the camping and I love camp food. I know it's crazy. But give me a hot dog a little on the charred side and a good old steaming pot of dutch oven food followed by smores and I am in heaven.

Our first campsite.

Our second campsite had this challenging climb down to the lake. We made a couple trips where I literally held onto Lia's shirtails so she would not slip into the deep waters. There was a small shelf of rocks under the water that allowed for limited wading. But I was still wary.

My favorite view. Flaming Gorge really is beautiful and huge. We spent a lot of time sight seeing and Tom practically put skid marks on the road as he turned off at every view point with a sign. He has a thing for viewpoints. The topography of this region is amazing and diverse. One moment you are on the lake staring at towering red or limestone cliffs and the next you are in rolling green hills or staring at the backs of birds high on the cliffs surrounded by pinetrees.

One of these photos is going to end up as a painting I think.

On Sunday we spent a restful day in the tent after three agonizing hours of church in the little town of Dutch John. I know it is a terrible attitude but Becca and I were exhausted. Neither one of us had slept much Saturday night. I was so excited for a nap back in the tent as the rain pattered on the roof tent and the wind gusted at the expertly tied tent. Tom is an awesome camper. This picture of Becca is from Monday when we rented a ski boat. From the moment we got on that boat to the moment we got off three hours later, Becca was in heaven. It's as if she was made to play on lakes.

The view from the boat.

We are all smiles. This day was so fun.

Becca is brave enough to try the knee board. She did this for a good 30 minutes. She held on for about ten minutes at one time. I could barely hold on for five. It was dang difficult to hold on to the rope. But she just kept going and going. I told you she was a lake girl.

Isaac was the only one of us (Tom didn't try. He was afraid of my boat driving skills) to get himself up on his knees. He didn't do so well with the skis but he is excellent on this board.

Lia got to drive the boat.
Tom really was in his element. He was so happy on that lake, just driving that boat.

On Tuesday and Wednesday Tom had client meetings. We stayed in a hotel Monday and Wednesday night. Honestly, three nights of camping was our limit. There were a lot of good times but there was a great deal of whining as well. Wednesday we headed to the dinosaur museum in Vernal. My kids were positively gleeful in this place.

We were not supposed to touch these outdoor models. But you just try and stop these kids.

It was a great week. But I was so grateful for my own bed where I finally got a chance to sleep in.

Talkative Tuesday - A Fun Filled Summer

We have been busy. Summer is finally here and we are keeping ourselves busy doing summer things. Riding in parades, hanging out in the park, doing Primary Day activities, having birthdays, basking in the sun, going to street fairs and having our faces painted, wearing ourselves out everyday.

Friday Favorite Find

I finally have a new favorite find for Friday's post.

Today we tried out the site freerice.com. My son saw it in a magazine and wanted to try it out immediately. Here is how it works. For every vocabulary question you get right, the site donates 10 grains of rice to the UN, which uses it to fight world hunger. I know 10 grains of rice doesn't sound like a lot, but after 10 minutes Isaac had successfully earned 700 rice grains. 10 minutes is a small amount of time to give to provide a few meals for the needy.

I love this site. It teaches while serving and my son loved that he could use his uncanny vocab abilities to help the hungry.

Check it out FREE RICE