MAYLIN2007

Today is Veterans Day. I subbed today at a local elementary. I was pretty sad as we said the Pledge and some of the kids in the class were trying to say the pledge as fast as they could and they were laughing as they did it. I stopped them and tried to explain why that is not appropriate. Someone's family fought for the freedom to stand and say the Pledge and it wasn't good to mock it. They really did not seem to get it. I don't know if war is too far away for them, or if they do not know anyone in the military, or if there is so much controversy in the country now that many do not have pride in it anymore. I don't know the reason. It just made me feel sad. I wanted to honor my father this year. We don't talk about his service in the military much. I feel badly about that. So did my sister. She felt bad enough that she took this picture on a recent trip to DC of the Korean War Memorial. It is of  19 figures that cast shadows on a black granite wall making 38 fi...

We love to support the congenital heart defect in Salt Lake. They are a great group and help a lot. They have been a great support to us with Austin. Austin likes to go since he is one of the oldest and the families love seeing someone who has made it that far. They always love asking him questions and talking about what he's been through and ask advice. This year, Austin was really struggling health wise. His heart was acting funny and he couldn't breathe. He had been working with a doctor. We knew this year he could not run part of it as he was too sick, but walking it was fine with us. Jay and Maylin waited in the park and the 4 of us donned our shirts and ran that 5k. We were the last ones to finish! But heck! That was great. We had a sick heart patient with us. They had tons of Star Wars figures there and the kids loved (adults too) getting their pictures taken with them. They also had a great memorial for the kids who had died from their defects. Afterward we went to ...

The first week of September we had a lot to do, but I wanted to have some fun too. So I came up with a scavenger hunt (a picture scavenger hunt) that would allow us to have fun, yet get some things done. Our first stop was to Swig to get our favorite drinks for the ride to Provo. Next stop was at Austin's apartment. We had to move him in and then get a picture of him with a roommate. Next scavenger hunt spot was to Kenzie's. We had to deliver a TV, but for the scavenger part we had to take a picture while we played ball on her sports court. We visited with Kens for a bit and then headed out again. Our hunt took us to the DI where we had to find something crazy to get a picture taken with. Of course, Maylin chose shoes. Alex a bowling ball, which ended up coming home with us. I can't remember what Austin had. Jay's knee was hurting so badly he stayed in the car for our DI event. After we finished inside, we went through the DI drop off and dropped off sacks of clothes I...

So I am so out of order! Ugh. This is going to make my journal so hard to follow. The day before Alex went into knee surgery and 5 days before Jay's we took a little family stroll through Cascade Springs in American Fork Canyon. I had never been there, but have heard great things. It was easy, which was a must for Jay. At this point, his knees were horrible and every step was painful so we had to do something he could do. The trail was a boardwalk and flat. Only one part was steep, but you didn't have to go on it if you didn't want too. There were also a lot of benches so he could rest. This area is filled with massive springs. It is incredibly beautiful. We spent about an hour walking around, sitting, taking pics (the ones on my camera got erased! Shame!) and talking. It was a great little outing before we would all be laid up.

Our family came to see us the end of August on their way to Idaho. Gramps was sick so he didn't do much on his short visit with us. We were so worried, but he is such a trooper he carried on with his trip. While in Idaho, he got really sick and was life flighted to Boise where they found he was in heart failure and in A-fib. After a few days, they released him and he came back to our house only to get even sicker. We took him to the big heart center here where he stayed a week. We were so glad it happened here so we could help out and visit and be a support. We were so worried. After a week, the hospital got him going and they were able to fly home. We were blessed to be with them.  Leaving the hospital. He can't do much, but he had to lay down and charge his bike. He couldn't ride his bike home so we kept it for a month until someone could pick it up for them. Gramps loves his bike. While he was in the hospital, Kenzie moved back to college....

Alex and Maylin started school August 26. Alex is in 11th grade and Maylin is in 4th. I can't believe how time flies. Maylin will be in junior high in 3 years and Alex will be graduated in 2 years. Alex has Mrs. Parker and Maylin has Mrs. Vance. I went with them the first day just to see their assembly, flag raising ceremony and to get pics of them with their friends and teachers. Of course, Alex wasn't thrilled so I didn't get too many of him.  A front row seat! Lucky girl. She was really excited because she only had one boy by her. Last year she was a "boy sandwich" her words and had boys on all sides. She is pretty happy about this arrangement.  Mrs. Vance. She is a delight.  Austin works at the kids' school and his former Alma-mater again this year. Here he is on his first day with the kids back. I can't believe he has been graduated for 4 years. He started his first day of back to BYU about a week after this.  Flag ceremony ...