Driving In the Country



While listening to General Conference on the radio, Richard and I drove through the mountains to get a last look at the Fall colors. It was incredibly beautiful. Along the way we were stopped - as a hundred or so horses were being corralled through a country street to another Ranch. It was the most amazing thing to watch and the horses were so pretty. We also came across some free roaming cows. I love cows. I've loved them ever since I fed a baby calf on the Rood Farm in Coos Bay, Oregon. Richard knows that if we're on a drive and we see some moo moo's that I'm going to have to take a picture. Today was no different. Well, it kind of was. These cows actually seemed to be posing just for me. I took some great shots. In fact, I think I could publish these photos. One looks like a head shot for a Senior Portrait. Too crazy! Another is of a family. The way the little ones are peeking behind their mother is totally adorable. I love them. My only wish is that I was brave enough to take pictures with them. THAT-would be cool!

The Man I Married

I like to think I married the most perfect man.  I stopped thinking that a long time ago and finally admitted openly that I did.  I've never been one to brag much, but sometimes you just have to share what's in your heart.  Today my heart is full of Richard. 

Richard.  I love the sound of that name escaping my lips.  Richard.  Richard. Richard.  He's tall, handsome, and has the most incredible brown eyes.  I spent my whole life just waiting for that one perfect person to come along and love me.  Finally, just when I was about to give up...Richard came along. 

He didn't care about my past.  He wasn't worried that my childhood horrors would interfere with our life.  He never considered me "damaged" like so many others did  because of the things I had been forced to endure at the hands of others.  Richard considered me whole.  He considered me complete.  He says I'm a better person for having survived.  He said it would be a strength in our marriage.  Well, of course, I agree!

We've struggled plenty in our thirteen years of marriage. But we've managed to make the best out of all our trials. Isn't that what marriage is about? When I struggled after my car accident in 1998, Richard and I were able to find the humor in our new life together. I was nicknamed "BabySteps" during the beginning months as I began to regain the strength to walk again. He would assist with my need to find words to complete a sentence, and never seemed to mind that I couldn't remember my married name, or our address, or our phone number. It took me years to even remember our wedding day and when I did, I was begging for a do over! He stood by me when we found out I wasn't able to have children. He didn't fret over my diagnosis of Lupus. He just kept on living. With me. The two of us together. The way it should be.

This past weekend Richard and I hung out at the house together.  We took care of the tasks that most couples with a home take care of.  But this time, as I watched him dig this hole in our yard to repair a sprinkler line that had developed a leak, I smiled.  Richard.  He's strong, knowledgeable, loving, kind, giving, and most importantly, he's in love with me.  Me!  The girl with the past of sorrows- the one who only wanted to be loved, finally knows what it means.

And just in case your wondering what is up with that face...or should I say the hair on that face, he insisted on not shaving during all the scout camps this summer.  I made the mistake of telling him he should keep growing the beard thingy because it would look cool!  I was kidding, of course!  But then I made the even bigger mistake of telling him he could go as Colonel Sanders to the ward Trunk or Treat.  So, he's growing it out until Halloween.  I get to introduce him to Lee Child sporting a ton of facial hair...and I totally think that's cool!

Girl's Weekend 2010

I have a great group of friends that I try to get together with every year for a Girl's Weekend.  I say try because I've backed out a couple of years in a row.  This year we headed to Flagstaff, Arizona where we stayed at a nice and cozy Little America.  The place was tucked away in a quiet location just off the freeway.  It was surrounded by tall pine trees and the scent of the forest.  It truly reminded me of Oregon.  I was amazed that this little place in the desert could be so beautiful.  I loved it there so much that I'm insisting that Richard put it on our lists of places to see and explore. I can't wait to go back! 

While we were there we sang along with some singing waiters at Black Bart's Steak House, shopped the tents at the Flagstaff Art's Festival, dived into some delicious BBQ, toured the beautiful Grand Canyon, and took a walk through a cavern in the middle of the desert that sits 210 ft. below the earths surface.  We also stopped at the Road Kill Cafe on Route 66.  I took lots and lots of pictures of myself while sitting in the very back seat of Teri's MDX on our road trip for Las Vegas to Flagstaff.  We stayed up late playing games.  Well, they stayed up late playing games while I sat around reading books.  This chick has deadlines!  I also made a new friend from Texas.  Her name is Cindy Davis.  I happen to think she is the nicest woman I've ever met, especially since she understands the importance of girl time!

I'm still busy with my book blog.  I've been fortunate enough to have some authors notice my reviews and offer me books to give away.  It's been tons of fun and I'm enjoying meeting all these wonderful people.  You can check out my book blog here: http://myfriendscallmekate.blogspot.com/ .  There is still time to leave a comment and be entered in a drawing to receive a signed copy of How To Grow Up and Rule The World by Vordak T. Incomprehensible!  I still can't believe the author offered me a signed copy after I described the book as "great bathroom reading material."  He must know greatness when he reads it!

MUFASA-SIMBA-NALA-ZAZU-SCAR

If you can't guess by the title what this post is about, then there

 is something seriously wrong with you!

We had a great weekend. We spent one night in Brighton having dinner with friends at their cabin in the mountains and dancing to the Blacked Eye Peas with the little ones.  The next evening we spent at the Lion King!

I was so moved by the giant elephants walking down the aisles and the giraffes and the music that I actually became teary eyed.  I don't know if it's an age thing or what, but I had the best time and I can't wait

for the next big Broadway Show to hit Salt Lake City. 

a little road trip

The last couple of weekends, Richard had taken me on some road trips.  My favorite was a long drive through the country roads leading to the Manti Temple.  We forgot to bring our camera...but if we had, this is what we would have photographed.  I love the way this temple is tucked behind the trees.  It's a beautiful building with a cemetery across the street that Richard says everyone is dying to get into.  I know, I know.  He says that whenever we happen to pass a graveyard. He's a silly, silly man!  Hope you're enjoying your summer as much as we are.

The book blog I created is doing really well.  It was even spotted by a literary agent in New York after I over-posted comments about one of her clients.  It's been a ton of fun and is becoming a true hobby for me.  I attend my first book appearance to spotlight a new mystery writer from Salt Lake in a couple of weeks.

What have I gotten myself into?

  You can find the link here:  http://myfriendscallmekate.blogspot.com/ 

2010 Special Olympics

Our niece, Alisa, is participating in the Special Olympics this week. Her sport is Bowling! And she is dang good! She has set up a blog to share her week with us and I would love for everyone to check it out. If you're feeling moved, please leave her a comment. I love Alisa because she is strong, lovable and extremely independent. Alisa auditioned for American Idol in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, graduated from Montgomery College served a mission in the Washington DC Temple and she's engaged!!! Her blog can be found at this link: http://www.alisaogden.blogspot.com/.

I'm A Book Loving Freak!

What do you do when you're home alone for three days while your husband is away at another scout camp? You create another blog. Such an obvious answer, right? Well, that is exactly what I did this week. It is actually my third blog creation. My second blog is written under another name and is a collection of dreams that I've been having ever since I started reading. It's nothing x-rated or that I'm not willing to share. I just don't want people to think I've developed a personality disorder and so my readers are selected carefully. I only want positive feedback on that blog because I'm just learning the ins and outs of creative writing...and it's hard! It's also been pretty fun putting my dreams in writing. Richard was very encouraging and if he hadn't been so excited about the idea I never would have done it.

With that being said-it shouldn't be difficult to figure out what this third blog is about. It's about my love for books. It will be an awesome blog because everything will be book related. Whether I'm telling you about my latest book find or if I'm just sharing a quick story about how my books are affecting my daily life, you'll be sure to find something useful and hopefully comical too! I'm super excited and I hope you check it out and save it to your favorites. You can leave comments. And if you read something that you think others would be interested in you can hit the e-mail link at the bottom of the post and forward it to a friend.

Happy reading, friends! http://myfriendscallmekate.blogspot.com/