Labor Day, Monday, September 7th--We made our yearly drive up Big Cottonwood Canyon to Silver Lake. It is a tradition of ours as we celebrate the Labor Day Weekend that Nate took me to this very lake to propose to me. This year marks 10 years since that very special weekend. Nate planned it all on his own. He packed a picnic and we drove up there. There weren't a lot of people at the lake that day (anymore, it's always packed!). We found a picnic table in a beautiful, sunny area next to the ranger station. Lunch was delicious. Then it was time to burn off the calories by taking a walk around the lake. It's a very easy walk and you can often see chipmunks and an occasional moose or beaver. I figured Nate was going to propose to me but I began to wonder as we were nearing the end of the trail heading back to the parking lot. We came to a bench, kind of secluded, and Nate suggested we sit down for a while. We looked at the beautiful lake. I gave thanks for the fresh air and forest that reminded me of my Washington home I had just left behind to be with the man I love. We started some small chit-chat and then Nate got off the bench, got down on his knee, held my hand, and proceeded to share his feelings of love for me and then proposed. It was incredibly romantic and there wasn't a doubt in my mind that I wanted to spend forever with him. We kissed, hugged and then Nate decided we would "commemorate" this moment by "recording" it into the very bench that was involved in the decision we made that day to spend our lives together (thank goodness for sharp keys!). Sadly, that special bench is no longer there, it was old then so it's now been replaced. The first couple of years we would return we could still find it and our initials carved into the right-hand corner of the seat.

Every year we take the kids up with us. We pack a picnic and when we're done eating we take a walk around the lake. We show them the area where Nate proposed. This year we also tried to geo-cache. There was one on the geo-caching website that looked pretty easy. Nate's new GPS pointed the way but, sadly, the "treasure" was either gone or buried some where. The kids were bummed but we assured them we'd go on other treasure hunts. It was fun!

I still can't believe it's already been 10 years! Nate took me up to Silver Lake on the Saturday of Labor Day weekend then on that Monday we went ring shopping. I could have chosen a traditional diamond but decided on a beautiful sapphire instead. Nate liked it too.

We made the decision to become a family at that beautiful lake on the 1st week of September, 1999. I've never regretted that decision, it's the best one I've ever made or will ever make.

A month later, in February, my brother-in-law, Shad, lost his mother, unexpectedly. She had back surgery but there were complications as she began to recover. Connie, was a sweet lady but she was an alcoholic so she had kind of "checked-out" of her sons lives a long time ago. Sadly, the alcoholism might have contributed to her inability to recover.

The end of May came with the news that my grams had passed, while expected, it was still a hard time as I reflected on the memories of her and what a wonderful grandma she was. The last few years had been upsetting as we all watched her memory be affected by dementia caused by many mini-strokes. The last few months she didn't really know anyone and wasn't very coherent.

Up until this year, the last time I had attended a funeral was 2 years ago. Before that, quite a long time ago. This year, I've attended 4 funerals. There were two other funerals, within our close community, I was made aware of this year but didn't know the families. My dad tells me my grandpa doesn't have much longer to live. Then there was the passing of Sadie Huish on June 25th. I didn't learn of her story and passing till 2 weeks after she was laid to rest. (her moms incredible and touching tribute to her is here: http://sadiehuish.blogspot.com/) Sadie passed away from brain cancer too. She was 6 years old.

So you're probably wondering what the "tree" part of my title is all about, eh? This year I'm very excited about a project we're participating in with Nate's brother, Dustin, and his wife, Crystal. We're donating a tree to the Festival of Trees. Part of the inspiration for the design of the tree came from some of the sweet stories Sadies mom tells of her. Our plan is to dedicate the tree to Sadie and Lucas. In doing so, we'll be able to display a picture of each of them next to the tree and we hope to bring awareness to brain cancer in children. The proceeds of the auction of the trees are 100% donated to Primary Childrens Medical Center, where both, Sadie and Lucas, were treated. Our family has also spent time at Primarys when Brady was first diagnosed with diabetes. We were treated so well by the staff as they worked to control Brady's high glucose levels. Those that came in to teach Nate and I how to manage this "new normal" did it with respect and kindness. I remember hearing one of the educators call diabetes a "disease", that was the ultimate reality check. To this day, I still hate that word. It's been 2 1/2 years since and, while I don't like that we have to deal with diabetes at all, I still find reasons to feel blessed. It's manageable. We have scares during cold and flu season so, for that matter, please don't send your sick kids to school or church, it really can make a difference--I don't like taking my son to the ER. Other than that, Brady is a typical 4-year-old (yeah, I know he's a tall giant!). He plays, runs, wrestles and enjoys everything you'd expect him to. Should we do a tree next year, perhaps, it'll be dedicated to him and the three other family members who also have Type 1 Diabetes (Brady's cousins, Jacob & Darci and his aunt, Wendy). In the meantime, this year, as I've asked myself many times over, "What can I do?", I can continue to keep these families in my prayers but also, we can honor their childrens lives, and the tough battles they courageously fought, with a beautiful tree that thousands of people will see and their beautiful faces next to it. I hope those of you that read this, and are living in Utah (or visiting December 2-5), will take the time to attend the Festival of Trees. It is one of my favorite traditions. You will be amazed and touched! ......maybe you'll want to bid on the tree too! ; )

More to come as we prepare and get ready in the few months to come.