life is just so sweet!

The family home evening the night before the wedding was so fun! we had Erik's family and our family that could be there all together. we sang songs, read scripture and gave marriage advise. it was a night to remember! I absolutely love Portia's new in law family. They are wonderful people! just like Erik!!


It really is amazing to me just how wonderful life is. How sweet to know we are here; working out our salvation; and yet the tender mercy's of the Lord follows us in such touching ways. He lets us know of his constant love and awareness ans so so often he does this through our loving family and friends. I'm so fortunate to have such a big and beautiful family. We love each other, help each other, support each other and pray for one another. And what friends! though we have moved a thousand miles away from our home; we have remained true to one another, careful with one another. We have been so fortunate in those friendships, so blessed; truly blessed! and when we moved... we had the opportunity to reconnected with such wonderful people! We have also made new friends; neighbors that will soon be as dear to us as any one ever was. When we left for 11 days to go to Colorado and Oklahoma for wedding receptions, our next door neighbors offered to watch after Abie (our beautiful dog of 14 years; whom we had NEVER left!) I can't tell you what lengths and pains they went to to take great care with her. The let us call and 'talk' to her on the phone, they sent daily updates; including pictures and video's of her... there is just nothing they didn't do to comfort us while we were away from her! People like this have ever been in our lives; truly those tender mercy's God sends are reminders that he Lives, loves, understands, and is constantly aware of our plight. We are so very very blessed.


we had an awesome time driving across the USA we spent some time in Colorado and new Mexico on our way to Oklahoma. Rand had never seen the Pueblo village.. so we stopped by there.

The week after we returned I had a teacher appreciation dinner to organize for the primary (where i serve as 1st councilor in the presidency), and a stake family home evening fireside. I made Little family home evening posters with movable farm animals. (if you want to make one for your family go to: http://sites.google.com/site/fhebarnyard/ then click on primary fhe barnyard final doc.) Then I went up to Logan to spend time with my Niece as she is teaching an art class and has a new kiln that needed some attention; we spent a wonderful day together!

After I got back from the 'weddinging' I got a bacterial pneumonia!! I am still recovering; but feeling better.They say relapse with this type is quite probable so we're taking great care to not overdo!

I have been teaching pottery to two young students this summer. They have really been doing well, advancing in remarkable ways. It's always refreshing to me to be around kids; so uninhibited. So creative. I love seeing the world through their eyes. Everything is great when your a child. Everything exciting. in reality i should be about 10 years old my whole life...

Rand works massive hours; today he got up at 3am and will likely work 16 hours. every since we moved to utah, he is just work work work. of course I worry about what it's doing to his 50 year old body! He is really one of the hardest workers I know. Everyone at his work place respects him beyond belief. They call to tell me how great he is; and i don't doubt a word of it. We worked together for 20 years so i am very aware of his dedication to his job. He can work ten 20 year olds under the table! Because of this hard work there are never any questions when he needs to take off; though he has been there only 6 months, he has been able to take off about 3 weeks for weddinging, and another week for the hurst family reunion. so... he does have some rewards for taking on that kind of work load. :)

He and I enjoyed a very intimate fourth of July. We really spent about 4 days just hanging out together... he cooking; I attempting to help.. lol He made an awesome brisket with an unbelievably tasty bbq sauce. we really reconnected over those few days. with all the comings and goings lately; it was most enjoyable to just relax and not have to be anywhere!

I really intend on catching up more on the wedding, the trip and other doings as well... but... i must get going and get the invitations to the primary water party printed up and delivered. So I will end here for now :)

the weddinging is all finished woohooo!!!

The wedding was wonderful and the receptions were perfect! My family and friends helped through out and that made it all doable! promise with out them we would have never been able to do it! I need to do a big wedding post but for now I just wanted to let you all know we're alive and have survived! the 6 months of building and collecting; planning and makings were all worth it! It has been a whirl wind and Rand and I are pretty tired. We did three receptions in 2 weeks-- a friend referred to it as the wedding marathon and i have to agree it was a marathon and we won!!! with the help of our family and friends!

Happy National Pi Day!

3.1415926535897932384626433832795028841971693993751058209

transitions of a week

This has been a transition, I mean the moving to Utah, but .... I simply love being next to my big sister; she's quite the example of angelic like qualities. Oh, and the art her family produces is pretty amazing. Pure talent!

I spent the week going in and out of stores trying to prepare for my own daughters wedding. interesting process.... in the coming and goings I found many records old vinyl records for her husband to be. He's quite the character, therefore; he ought to fit right in with this family. lol

I'm a little like a fish out of water here in my home in Utah, in this way... i rent rather than own the house i live in... the issue is I'm use to being able to carve, create, build, hammer, change and tailor my house. now i have no options to do such and therefore clean it.... a lot! I don't mean to complain... it's a nice house; I just can't make it my house. Rand says a house to me is like a big white canvas; and I agree, I so want to ''paint'' it!

So... this past week i went to visit my big sister in Logan Utah; and what a time! i got to see Carrie and Christine (my nieces) and my sister; we went to Christine's and she taught us how to make soap! I loved it! I'd never made soap before (gasp here) but thought it was something I could really get into! Katherine (my sis) treated me and Carrie to lunch mmm mmmm good! I ordered a monte cristo; which i hadn't had in a while; but of which Rand made all the time when we first got married. After a scumptouse lunch. I went to the d.i. now the d.i. is and interesteding place.... they are all over utah, they are like a thrift store of sorts. and that is when i found and bought ''the chair'' yes, an awesome chair. I re worked the bottom casing, and then the legs; took off the old ones (casters) and got some new turned wood ones; stained them a nice dark mahogany; oh the smell of wood and stain.... just doesn't get any better than that! and then it occurred to me that perhaps that will be my new doings... finding old furniture and fixing it up... So... I went to another di here in Ogden and found an old (40's-50's) dinning room table with two chairs; sure... it's a mess; but not for long!

This week has also been a time to meet with old Friends. luckily when we moved here we found some old friends from Oklahoma, Wade and Shelley! we have the best time when we are near them. this week they came here for dinner and rand made chicken picatta with broccoli... i love broccoli! and Shelley made a wonderful cold dessert that was minty chocolate; I don't know how she made it but it was yummy! we played a game and talked and laughed. Shelley had a quick look at rands cook books; he has a few of them! lol. i've bought him most of them as gifts through the 32 year relationship, he doesn't really need cookbooks as he is a great cook with out them and being schooled in the culinary arts he tends to have a great feel for food. however, because of his interest in the subject it just seems that's the thing to get him; he reads them like novels front to back lol after being married 30 years i started noting which of his cook books had the most use; which had the most dog ears so to speak, I then ordered those for our daughter who fancies herself taking after her dad a bit of a cook. i remember buying her her fist cook book, she took to it like a Hurst to command post... lol if some of you care to own the standards here are some of his most 'dog eared fav's; ingredients, cooking a-z, the classic cook book, the silver spoon, fanny farmer, the silver palate, the cake bible, chocolate and ... wait... that's prob enough for now lol master those and I'll mention some more lol!! as for me and cook books... I say all you need is the red checked cook books. . . . all additions. and the great American cook book and a big imagination! then again, if i cook, i don't really use recipes. i make it up as i cook along... lol I'm a cookie, pancake, roast, chili kind of cook. i can make good pies but cooking holds no allure for me; I'd rather have my hand on a saw, in clay, making or fixing something!

I'm certainly not a blogger but i do try and keep up with my nieces and nephews and it's the wave so I'm trying to catch it. lol be patient it's been a long time since I've caught a wave!

This coming week i will attempt to get the invites finished for the wedding, and start on the chair covers and cloths and refinish that new old table. OH WAIT scratch that! I almost forgot!! the kiln is officially hooked up!! yeah! that means of course I won't get anything listed done.. but rather pots! lol ah.. now I can get back to what i love doing the most making clay objects! :) this alone should brighten my new life and ease the transition into Ogden Utah!

yup the 25 thingy deal!

25 things about me…………
1. I love everyone I meet. xoxoxo
2. I performed surgery on one of my pets at the age of 10. Removed a tumor.
3. I think our birth (the place, to who, and time in which we are born) is designed in order to give us each the greatest advantage of success. This is one merciful creator we have on our side!
4. Even though I THINK I would do things differently if I could do it all over again; I really wouldn’t or couldn’t- because I would begin in the exact same place, with the same mind, circumstances, disposition and up bringing. Therefore I would make the exact same choices… NOW ! if I could start over and know what I know now; then… well! THAT would be different.
5. The smartest thing I’ve done is seek truth. The most challenging thing I’ve done is try and live it.
6. The craziest thing I’ve ever done is get in the cage with a full grown African lion, jump the fence at the giraffe exhibit so I could ‘be’ with them and free climb bodega bay on a windy day with sea lions.
7. The sweetest experience I’ve ever had has been having and raising children to be super great people who I really honestly like as individuals… (and yes, I love them!)
8. The most rewarding thing I’ve ever done is teach seminary for four years.
9. The funnest (or most fun) thing I’ve ever done is save up all my money, quite my job and spend 6 months on the road wandering from state to state, till I ran out of money and ended up living and managing a hotel on the Oregon coast.
10. I think family is central to human existence and the creators plan.
11. I think we are each the total sum of our experiences. So no one is really in the wrong place for themselves… because every person on the planet makes each choice they make; because they believe it will lead to joy and peace; whether it does or not is up for their own debate; but still we are all doing the best we know how to do at present. Truly-- I really think this! And gratefully everyone has a divine potential and all have the ability to progress.
12. Dreams: I’ve never had a dream with out an animal in it and I just realized this yesterday. I frequently fly in my dreams –and I’ve gotten better at it through the years- seriously, at this point, no wings no apparatus - I don’t even have to hold my hands out and I haven’t flapped for years! I maneuver by tilting my shoulders slightly. I’ve flown with all sorts of and I can go as far as Pluto. I don’t need oxygen tanks in space or underwater. What does that mean?---- anyone? Carrie?
13. One of the healthiest things I do is stop everything-- turn off the radio; TV, computer; close the magazines, news papers and books, leave the malls, shops, restaurant, turn off my cell phone, saws, and wheels, leave my business, work and doings… and find myself alone and utterly bored--- and try with all my might to stay still for a few minutes and search my mind to see and feel my own thoughts; this nearly always finds me peaceful, grateful and happy!
14. So far in life I’ve forgiven everyone of every thing- this works for me. Now lets’ just hope they all forgive me!!
15. I read thousands of books each year; but have not read a fictional book in ten years-- this I owe to Emily Voight. She explained Lent to me; so I did it and never went back!  ‘cause I love it!
16. I’m painfully shy in personal large social settings; but if I’m directing or coordinating an event, I can direct crowds of 500 or more blind folded! lol
17. I’ve never been intimidated by anyone (and I’ve worked with some big- big wigs! Lol )
18. I love nature and could spend every warm minute outside. i.e. I freeze in 65 or below; seriously, can’t feel my toes!
19. I don’t need things or stuff to be happy. I found this out when I was 5 and again about 5 years ago.
20. Hell to me would be the inability to learn anything new for ever.
21. I have a very healthy respect for mother-nature. I’ve been in a tornado and watched it destroy and looked into the face of a lion… so…errr that’d be why.
22. I’m fiercely patriotic One of my favorite memories is my dad saying the pledge of allegiance with all his grandchildren around our family flag pole. I’m more religious than patriotic (couldn’t tell huh?) ((Thanks Mom!)) I still stand at HANDEL’S MESSIAH even if it’s being played at church and I’m the only one to stand ((Thanks dad!))
23. Because of my dad--- I really do think I can do anything I want to do; as long as I want it bad enough (Thanks dad!!) Qualifier: as long as my body plays along! (New lesson in aging!)
24. I love to work with my hands and create all sorts of things. I love wood working, clay, paint, graphite gardening, but mostly inventing stuff… crazy stuff with unlikely materials.
25. I have foreign and domestic Presidential clearance status. Recently I found a CIA pen in my drawer….

ok, i'm done!

Ok, I finally got moved! wow that was busy work! but! i've got out here to ogden; gotten to see my family that lives near!:) now i need to get the art studio in order... THAT will be another big undertaking! it's been so nice to feel i've accomplished so much in single handedly moving a house of 23 years accross the country. I do feel like i'm sort of alone in a new town. it's a sleepy little town; there doesn't seem to be much going on. today for instance is very quiet in my area; no one out except the snow! there is lots of snow! i'm calculating how much falls by a stick in my back yard... when it accumulates to 3 ft. i'm afraid i'm going to have to pack up and go back to oklahoma! I miss my freinds and family there an awful lot! but I supose when spring time comes and i can get out i will meet people and be able to go places! I can't wait to find a public art studio! well, not much of an update... but still.....