utah summer 2006

andy thought emily needed to know what appropriate hand holding was... emily was appropriately horrified~
Andy, Candice, Mandy, and Emily formed one of our family groups at the park.
There is something i really enjoy- i look at the expressions in each of the following photos and know that these people love me- just look at their faces (well, Mandy is thinking about it- with an expression that reminds me of Ron, i might add...) . I love you too!!!

This is the final group- Dad, Mom, Braden, and Taylor.

my group: Kirk (Dani's husband- she was home being sick, baby #4, and missed out), Ally, Kimmy, and Rissa.

i could not get enough of the trails that followed the river up sundance canyon.

here in texas our river beds are dry- and because of my thoughts regarding this river that is so full of life and the barren one i walk by daily (pun intended???) i wrote this:

Oh River

Oh river that ran in beauty
Your days gave joy!
Working, forging- laughing
Years flowing in meaning
(you were full)

Oh river that ran in faith
Forgotten, empty, cracked
Are you lost now?
Is what you feel…despair?
Do you dream in your loneness
(or are dreams gone too)

Oh river that ran in innocence
I weep for you!
For the days that flee
And the forsaken-
Life that turned away
(i know my tears do not fill you)

Update:
Em read through this poem and said "It's only personification! No metaphors, no similes! What are you really writing about?"
ummm....

adding the past (aka the beginning of the family blog)

wow! amazing bridal veil falls in the sundance canyon- utah. pictured with me (rhonda on far right) Emily, Taylor, Ron (dad).
i've always loved the falls. it used to be that you could ride a tram up to the highest level to dances they held in a building...avalanches eventually changed all of that.
during this past trip i hiked up to the falls with my cousin cori. it was a 10 mile round trip that took 2 1/2 hours- but so worth it!!!

the last day of our trip i asked that we might stop once more at BVF's so that i could take a few pictures.
mom waited in the car but Taylor (16), Emily (12) Ron (senior citizen eligibility) came with for the fun!

on our walk up to the falls we came across an abandoned mine- photo op!

dani's birthday 2006

how to put a silly grin on a teen boy's face-

Taylor and i went to about 8 different car dealerships and each played out about the same:
flashy sales guy- great shoes: "how can i help you today?"

modest me and boy observer: "well- i have a boy here who needs a car and we have 5k to spend. whatcha got?"

flashy sales guy- great shoes: "ummm....i'm not sure- let's look into it"

gullible me and hopeful boy: " 200,000 miles but they changed the oil every 3k miles you say?!?"

james via tele: "no deal"

on, and on... until......

the beautiful blue saturn (with only 100,000 miles)

saturn sales guy who gave quiznos his only business card to the free lunch drawing, thus has none when he reaches for it: "and this car came in from being owned by one driver- an older lady living in Krum"

incredulous, wisened me and tired, hungry boy: " are you kidding? the old lady line?"

cardless saturn sales guy: "i know it sounds funny- but here- i'll run the car fax free of charge for you."

eyebrows up, glancing at boy, me: "alrighty then!"

two hours later we had secured applebees lunches (25.00), one saturn (5k), james' approval (rare), and a huge silly grin on the teen boy's face! (priceless)

candice left this comment:

"Congratulations, Taylor! Congratulations, Rhonda on achieving the deal...and the silly grin! It looks like a great car! Have fun driving, Taylor but drive safe!!!!!!!!! We love you! Candice and fam"

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