Favorite things.........

Rocky Mountain High

"Rocky Mountain High" by John Denver (lyrics) and Mike Taylor (music) 1973
"Rocky Mountain High" was adopted as another State Song with the passage of SJR07-023 on March 12, 2007. After the song's release in 1973 there was some controversy as some people thought that it encouraged drug use. Denver, in 1985, responded by saying that these people had obviously never experienced the beauty and wonder of the Rocky Mountains. Denver's real name was Henry John Deutschendorf Jr. but his stage name came from the capital city of Colorado.
Verse One

He was born in the summer of his 27th year,

coming home to a place he'd never been before.

He left yesterday behind him

you might say he was born again,

might say he found a key for every door.

When he first came to the mountains

His life was far away

on the road and hanging by a song.

But the string's already broken

and he doesn't really care,

it keeps changin' fast, and it don't last for long.
Chorus

It's a Colorado Rocky Mountain High,

I've seen it raining fire in the sky

The shadows from the starlight are softer than a lullabye.

Rocky Mountain High, ...in Colorado....Rocky Mountain High.

Verse Two

He climbed cathedral mountains,

he saw silver clouds below,

saw everything as far as you can see.

And they say that he got crazy once and that hetried to touch the sun

,and he lost a friend,

but kept the memory.

Now he walks in quiet solitude,

the forest and the stream,

seeking grace in every step he takes,

his sight is turned inside himself,

to try andunderstand,

the serenity of a clear blue mountain lake.

Chorus

And the Colorado Rocky Mountain High,

I've seen it raining fire in the sky

You can talk to God and listen to the casual reply.

Rocky Mountain High, ....in Colorado....Rocky Mountain High.

Verse Three

Now his life is full of wonder,

but his heart still knows some fear,

of the simple things he can not comprehend.

Why they try to tear the mountains downto bring in a couple more.

More people, more scars upon the land.

Chorus

It's the Colorado Rocky Mountain High,

I've seen it raining fire in the sky

I know he'd be a poorer man if he never saw an Eagle fly

Rocky mountain high

It's the Colorado Rocky Mountain High,

I've seen it raining fire in the sky.

Friends around the camp fire and everybody's high....

Rocky Mountain High, Rocky Mountain High,Rocky Mountain High,Rocky Mountain High.

I'm not buying, but I'm a conspirator to buying

Well the 100 thing challenge is going. David Bruno is the creator of it. I'd like to go to his house and see his stuff laid out--it's probably alot different than the 100 things I'm going to end up with, because his wife isn't doing it with him.
I have to keep my sewing machine, there's an example of something a man wouldn't keep. And the baby things I've kept since Arianna and Joseph were born, for my grandchildren...like the crib, the bassinet, the pack-n-play, the changing table/dresser. I can't part with those. When my granbabies come to my house, their mommies can leave alot of stuff at home knowing "Granma Dawn's" got it covered. There's no way Kent would ever think about that kind of stuff being essential to keep.
So I am sortin' and tossin thru stuff, I have to decide which stuff is for ME personally and what stuff I can KEEP for my posterity. Ha!
Still, I am bent on lightening my load before we move though my temptations surface when I go shopping!
The girls and I went to Ross' last week and as I waited outside the dressing rooms while they tried things on, I came upon the coolest little invention: an avocado utensil that was so darn cute and looked so interesting that I haven't forgotten about it, and wondered outloud to the girls if it would be okay to buy something that costs $3.49 if I got rid of something equal in value?? Dani laughed at me. I put it back. But in the back of my mind, I'm thinkin that if I come across it again, I might have to buy it! I love Ross.
Oh! they have the cutest sundresses too! Each of my girls 'cept Ari got the same exact dresses in different colors! They are all in a toile print and easy to make modest with a little tshirt under them. Diana got red/cream, Dani got white on black, Tisha got black on cream, and Dara got brown on pink. I will totally have to get a picture of all of them together for a picture.

Yeah, so I'm not buying new stuff for me, but I am having fun watching and cheering on the girls to buy stuff. Hmmm, is there a name for this?

Movin' News

Well the news is Good! Kent begins his new job in CO mid-July and we'll follow him soon after.

Thanks to everyone who has remembered us in their prayers and please keep us in them as we go forward!

100 Thing Challenge!

Ok so if you notice on my favorite Blogs list over there you'll see a blog by a guy who has the 100 thing challenge on it....
Read it! Go on, I'll wait. Well, not wait really, but my post will make more sense to you if you do!
I LOVE THIS GUY'S CHALLENGE!
In this day and age of excess, waste, consumerism and bankruptcy, it is not a completely insane idea to take stock of what I own and why I own what I own! When I look at the state of affiars in our wonderful USA, it is not hard to conceive that we as Americans have forgotten how to be frugal, to be thrifty, to care for what we own and how to save MONEY! We're all drowning in debt--and for what???? Not to live in modest homes that fit our needs, or to drive sensible cars or provide for our basic needs or even to invest in our talents---but to KEEP UP WITH THE JONES'--(no offense Nannette Jones!lol).
Seriously, this guys' idea of paring down his personal things by the end of August really has my attention. I think I want to join his challenge and take it on myself. No kidding. I have more than enough stuff--stuff I don't use, stuff I am holding onto for who-knows-why or how long, stuff that doesn't enhance my life in the least bit and definetely doesn't define who I am Today.

That really is the gist of the whole thing: to let go of the past. Toss out my skinny jeans! Give away those Navy blue dress shoes that I bought in 1999 because they were on sale and looked cute with that one skirt I had that I no longer wear. And since we are in the process of Moving back to Colorado this summer, I see this as my Prime opportunity to do some serious purging!

And while I am at this, I'm building steam to do the same this for my kids. My husband on the other hand is gonna be alot tougher. He has milk bottles from his late granparents dairy ranch in Montana, among other momentos that are hard to part with and somehow reminds him of his "roots"--howbeit that he only looks at those milk bottles when we have moved...that would be 3 times in 10 years...and for a period of about 5 minutes total each time. But no, those can't go.

So I will have the JOY of simplifying my life by truly accepting the challenge. I decided tho, that I will twist the challenge MY way: I will give away or sell 100 things FIRST before I decide which 100 things I need to keep. You know, knock out the "known" unwanteds before selecting the keepers.

I CHALLENGE YOU ALL to follow suit! And to be wise during this process! Start saving more by using your money not to buy "happiness" but to secure your future. If Americans stopped buying so much "crap", I doubt we'd be in the financial chaos we find ourselves in right now!
I know for a fact that since my husband has been out of work nearly a year that we have been able to live on 1/4 of what he used to make! I admit with some degree of embarassment, that I now realize how much money I wasted! Even if everything I did buy was ON SALE or Clearance--I could have been so much thriftier and wiser!

So, that's it. That's my take on the 100 THING CHALLENGE! Let me know if anyone else is on board with it too!

What Kind of Sermon Are You?

Sermons We See

by Edgar Guest

I'd rather see a sermon than hear one any day;

I'd rather one should walk with me than merely tell the way.

The eye's a better pupil and more willing than the ear,

Fine counsel is confusing, but example's always clear;

And the best of all the preachers are the men who live their creeds,

For to see good put to action is what everybody needs.

I soon can learn to do it if you'll let me see it done;

I can watch your hands in action, but your tongue too fast may run.

And the lecture you deliver may be very wise and true,

But I'd rather get my lessons by observing what you do;

For I might misunderstand you and the high advice you give,

but there's no misunderstanding how you act andhow you live.

Joseph's first Pinewood derby car nicknamed " Lean Green Machine"--he loved making it with his Daddy. I actually don't know who had more fun, Kent or Joseph!

Kent & Dani in CO.

Yesterday Kent and Dani left for Colorado so Kent can pursue some employment opportunities.
They left at 4pm and arrived 12 hours later at 4am. They went to our old ward there by 9am and said they were warmly welcomed by everyone. In Kent's words, it is good to be home.

He said he felt very emotional today--not in a depressed way, but in a grateful way. Love does that, doesn't it? I sure hope something wonderful comes of this visit and we get to move back there before summer is through and school begins.

For those of you reading this, please say a prayer for us all, we would be most grateful.

Guided Steps?

Well, this post is about STEPS...
We started our day with a hike up to a place above Boise called Table Rock. Kent, David Scott, Tisha, Joseph, Arianna, Danielle and I set off at the base and kept going and going and going until we all reached the top. Now for those of you who know Kent, he was practically born with hiking boots! This man loves to hike! It is therapy to his soul. And we're not talking a leisurely hike, we're talkin' hike as fast as his two legs can carry him to the top! The youngest, Arianna and Joseph, are probably the only ones who could keep up with him in our family--well, Tisha excluded. She hung back with David Scott, while he and I both sucked alot of wind and took frequent breaks...and Dani stayed back with us too, mostly to push me along, literally, with her hand on my back--lol. That is a funny image, but it's true. Hey! I'm old and outta shape, I admit it.
The view from the top was nice, and the wind was gusty up to a zillion mph! So we caught our breath and headed down zig-zagging all the way to comfort our poor knees and ankles. Hey, I told you I'm old. Danielle was saying that "age is all a state of mind"--and I responded, "Well my brain is telling my body I'm old!"
The hike was really a good deal, and afterwards we were treated to some delicious homemade chili at Tisha & David Scott's apartment. Good stuff.

This weekend Kent is leaving for Colorado to see about finding employment there. He will be staying at the Bartholet's in FoCo. He will miss Father's Day and his birthday with us. Which is sad. But he is hopeful that he'll accomplish what he is setting out to do, and it will be worth it in the long run. Me too.
I wonder if these "Steps" are going to be as guided as our steps up the mountain today were?
Oh I hope so.

1st camping trip in Idaho...

So we headed North yesterday morning with a camping site in mind...we'd never been to Cascade Lake before but heard good things about it.
We go thru the windy-windy roads that lead us up north and finally get to Cascade State Park. We find a beautiful camping site right on the Lake--it is Gorgeous! But when we get outta the car it is Brrr-freakin cold! It took us just about 5 minutes tops to decide to "keep looking"...2 hours later after driving to the TOP of the Lake and down the Western side of it, thru mud and snow, we end up at the very Southern end of it...about 15 minutes from where we had started, at French Creek Loop. The Site was lovely...looking right to the Lake and mountains facing us, over a meadow...surrounded by loads of humongous Pines. There were even pelicans on the Lake...who knew Pelicans lived in Idaho?! We were the only ones there. (That should've been a clue to me, the tourist). Anywho, we unload, set up camp and set about to build a nice warm camp fire. It was still pretty cold outside, but not as windy as the first site on the opposite side of the Lake.
We get the fire going and then it starts raining?snowing? sleeting? yeah, all of that, for the rest of the evening off and on. How funny was that?!
By 8pm we're huddling around "the little campfire that wouldn't" and decided to call it a day. It was getting too cold to sit around outside and there wasn't anything else to do.
Not fun. It didn't even get dark until 10:30pm. But boy, when the sun finally went down, it got even colder. Several times during the night I had to pull Joseph and Arianna back up to the top of the tent in their sleeping bags...we were on an angle! LOL
I had the thought at one time to just pile us all back into the car and head home...but thought better of that. It was dark by that time.
The sun came up 8 hours later, and all I can say to summize this was that the entire camp was packed up and we were in the car by 7:30am and on our way home!
So this is my personal recommendation: Cascade Lake is Beautiful! And it would've been 100x more fun if it had been about 50o warmer! ;-)