The highs and lows of Summer

The other day, Ken mentions to a friend that he wants to hike down into the Grand Canyon.  I wondered if he was serious, but let the thought go because it wasn't a good time for a "deep"  conversation.  A few days later, having completely forgotten about Ken's comment, I read my friend's blog where he mentions that he'd like to hike into the Grand Canyon someday, and it reminds me that I still haven't talked to Ken about his interest in hiking into the Canyon.  I'm thinking he can't be serious; after all, we've already planned to hike to the top of Arizona's highest peak, Mt. Humphries, this summer.  Did he really want to hike to the top of the mountain and to the bottom of the canyon in one summer?  But then I start thinking - maybe he really wants to go . . . and maybe I want to go.  I've seen pictures from inside the Grand Canyon, and they're just as grand if not grander than pictures from the rim.  And this summer is probably the best opportunity we'll have in quite awhile - we actually live very close to both locations and we're in relatively good shape (I definitely need to prep for climbing hills, however).  I figured, if Ken wants to go, I did too.  After a brief discussion (it's tough to have lengthy discussions about anything lately - what with finals approaching and the Portland Trailblazers in the first round of playoffs), I concluded that yes, Ken was serious about hiking into the Grand Canyon - not camping overnight, just a day hike into and out of the canyon.   Sounds good to me, so I start researching hikes.

I found this website http://www.grand.canyon.national-park.com/hike.htm and started to get a bit concerned about our idea of hiking into and out of the canyon.  In big, red, bold letters, are the words: Do Not attempt to Hike from the rim to the river and back in one day.  So, I'm thinking this is just a caution, but it's on the webpage multiple times.  In some places, it even suggests that death could occur from attempting to hike from rim to river and back.  Yikes - death is not what I was looking for in regards to a summer hike.   Perhaps we should just do one of the trails that are recommended as do-able in one day.

But then I got to thinking - if hiking to the bottom of the Grand Canyon can be so treacherous, what kind of warnings might we face hiking to the top of Mt. Humphries?  Thank goodness the websites I found about that hike weren't nearly as "hazardous" as the Grand Canyon hike.

Down?  Up?  or Both?  . . . stay tuned!

Happy Birthday Ken!

So what do you do when you want to celebrate someone's birthday, but they're too busy and stressed about school?

First, you celebrate with ice cream on Sunday while friends are here to sing "Happy Birthday" to him.

Then, you let him study . . . 

Next, you cook him one of his favorite dinners - Halibut au Gratin - Yummy! 

And then you let him study some more . . . there is, after all, two tests and a presentation due this week.

And finally, you let him eat cake . . . 

But first, he has to blow out all the candles* - Good Luck!  (*Disclaimer - the cake was too small to fit the right amount of candles)

Happy 40th Birthday to my best friend, hiking partner, rockin' drummer, PT student, eternal companion, sous chef, and sounding board.  Love you lots!

(Perhaps someday we'll get to celebrate Ken's birthday like birthdays are supposed to be celebrated!)

General Conference

I love General Conference weekend!  I love getting spiritually fed for 2 days, rather than just 3 hours on Sunday.   I love participating in sustaining new apostles.  Isn't that just an incredible blessing, to be a part of something so significant?  And even though I wasn't in the Conference Center, I still felt the Spirit confirm to me, that indeed, Bro. Anderson, was called of God.  I take notes while I listen; not so much to refer to later, but more likely to share with others - sisters I visit teach, people I work with, etc.  The trick is trying to implement the things I learned and want to work on and/or share with others.  I always have such great intentions, they just don't always materialize.

 I'm grateful that we are able to watch conference at home.  We don't have cable, but we do have the internet.  For the last 3 sessions of conference (Oct '07 - Oct '08), Ken and I have crowded around our computer monitor to watch conference.  This is somehow preferable to dressing in Sunday clothes and watching it at the Stake Center.  However, a week ago, Ken started researching computer cables that could be connected from our laptop/computer, to our TV.  We didn't really have the money for the cables, but he found them cheap on Amazon, so I took money out of my "baby fund" (who knows if/ when I'll ever get to use that), and let him buy the cables.  Wow - what a great buy!   Today, we watched General Conference on our TV, as it came through our computer internet, with the clarity and sound as if it came from the TV (okay, there were occasional blips, but that wasn't so bad).  How I love technology!

Every 6-months, during the Priesthood session of conference, my mind goes back to my youth, and tonight was no exception.   My cousin Kathryn used to come over to my house, while our dads and brothers would attend the Priesthood session.  While they were gone, we often made cookies or brownies or some other treat, which went perfectly with the ice cream the men always brought home - those were great times.  (Ken - I'm sorry I didn't have cookies or brownies waiting for you when you got home from the Priesthood session, but I'm so grateful you went.)  And I always want to know what the men heard, what stories were shared, messages given.  I don't want to miss out on any part of Conference.  As a matter of fact, I always read the Priesthood session talks first when they come out in the Ensign.  Ken's intepretation of the theme for the Priesthood session tonight was "stand by your man".  Ooh, intriguing - now I can't wait for the May Ensign . . . I may just have to read the articles on the internet as soon as they're available.