He died doing what he loved

In some sad news recently in Utah State there have been 3 recent BASE jumping deaths in their famous southern Zion National Park. If you aren’t aware what Base jumping is, it is a sport where you jump off with a parachute from different tall structures. The acronym comes from B for building, A for antennae, S for span, and E for earth. 

Basically it’s finding the tallest places all over the world, climbing up to the top and jumping off. Kind of like when you were a kid and playing Superman off the couch or the top of your bunk bed. A lot of base jumpers play it legal and only jump in places that they have permission to, but many get a thrill of doing jumps from buildings and parks where they know it’s not allowed. You can get a bit of attention if you successfully climb and jump off a popular or famous place like the Eiffel Tower or the Empire State Building.  Base jumping is illegal in Zion’s National Park.

I get it, it’s a thrill, an adrenalin rush to evade the authorities and be somewhere you aren’t allowed then the thrill of doing the jump, having your buddy film it with his camera and post the video online. You can then relive your death defying moves over and over, while getting a little public notoriety among your peers or the public. It’s risky. They know it. It’s part of the adventure and for some people it’s addicting. I’ve never really understood it because I don’t enjoy the feeling of panic and fear. The adrenalin addiction for some people, though, has actually been studied as an actual, you know…..addiction.

One person who died was on her honeymoon, just a couple weeks after her wedding. A whole life ahead of them now cut short. Another was a well-known jumper among those who do the sport, and his wife was pregnant, expecting their first child. The friend of the other man who died told the reporter that he had 5 of his friends who had died in the last year also from base jumping accidents but that "he will continue to pursue the sport he loves"

As I read thru a few notes on the comments section it was said that it was comforting to know “he died doing what he loved”.

Hmmm. Well, you see, I have a bit of a problem with that. Now I might upset a few people if you really really love getting a personal thrill at risking your life for the sake of your recreation.

I find it incredibly selfish.

 It is selfish on so many, many levels. That comfort will be pretty hollow for that mother when her baby comes into the world and he isn’t there to share that moment with his wife. That comfort won’t help the parents of the young woman now left with only memories of a life cut short. Losing a child is the biggest hurt, I’ve been told. So, yes it’s a selfish sport. The price they paid for adrenalin was pretty big. 

Now while I don’t think you need to sit back and wrap yourself in bubble wrap for the rest of eternity, there are some sports that are entirely developed to defy death and attain that adrenalin rush. So sure, go out and have fun. Push yourself a little. Live life to the fullest.

But, if I die “doing what I love” it’s not going to be alone with a parachute jumping off something big. What I love is my family: My kids, my grandkids, my husband, my siblings and parents, my friends. If I die “doing what I love” and what really matters, it's going to be helping others and making a difference in someone’s life.  If I go out in the middle of baking a big ‘ol pie for someone I love, I will have died “doing what I love”. If I die caring for my parents or speeding to get to my grandbabies birth, I will have “died doing what I love”.

So what is it that you would be doing if you “die doing what you love”?

100 things to "DO" on Sunday

1. Read stories in Church magazines  
2. Prepare any future talks or lessons. 
3. Use crock pot recipes to cut down on extra cooking. 
4. Prepare Family Home Evening lessons 
5. Visit people in the hospital. 
6. Visit Temple grounds
7. Share dinner with someone. 
8. Share rides to sacrament meetings. 
9. Surprise someone in need with a visit. 
10. Find something to share with less active families. 
11. Have family scripture study. 
12. Give time to a nursing home 
13. Help others read or write letters from loved ones.
14. Re-visit families on your H.T. or V.T. routes 
15. Make a gift for a friend. 
16. Talk in the car about what you learned today. 
17. Check out films from the Church library
18. Rest and reflect on what was taught in Church classes. 
19. Listen to scripture CD’s or view scripture videos. 
20. Read other Church-oriented books
21. Listen to BYU devotionals
22. Read children's scripture story books. 
23. Pair children up in separate rooms together with games or books.
24. Fix an unusual or creative breakfast. 
25. Sort family pictures.
26. Have a simple and short music lesson. 
27. Prepare stories about your children to tell them. 
28. Tell children stories of when you were their age. 
29. Have grandma or grandpa tell stories about themselves. 
30. Record family stories in a journal 
31. Make a special tithing and mission bank.
32. Take a walk as a family and talk about nature. 
33. Invite another family over for a lesson. 
34. Make a "Things to Do" box. Pull out one idea each Sunday 
35. Plan and rehearse a family musical recital. 
36. Sing at a nursing home or children's hospital. 
37. Watch “Mormon messages” on Youtube
38. Make a song & story tape for a loved one far away.
39. Call or write letters to special friends and loved ones. 
40. Prepare home or visiting messages for the month. 
41. Set goals or begin a "Pursuit of Excellence" program. 
42. Compose an original song.
43. Develop greater appreciation for music by listening to great works. 
44. Invent a design, crest, emblem or logo to display on a family banner. 
45. Practice a skill such as knitting, etc. 
46. "Adopt" a friend. Select someone special. 
47. Let return missionaries help you learn customs of LDS around the world. 
48. Write notes in copies of the Book of Mormon  
49. Make a puppet show of a Church history event. 
50. Make a play from a scripture story.
51. Form a rhythm band to Primary songs. 
52. Make a "I'm thankful For..." mobile. 
53. Make a large poster of your Sunday lesson.
54. Make paper dolls of family members and tell story of reverence 
55. Do a secret “cookie drop” on a doorstep for someone. 
56. Make a family scrap book with letters, pictures and school things.
57. Make a story book with pictures.
58. Make a tape or letter of your testimonies. Save them for next year.
59. Compose some poetry
60. Write letters, thank-you cards, get-well and thinking-of-you notes. 
61. Make family progress charts with goals and certificates. 
62. Use salt dough or clay or construct a nativity scene or other scene
61. Do a "Why I Love You" spotlight on a family member.
64. Make puzzles from pictures in old Church publications. 
65. Make a book of favorite articles from Church publications.
66. Mount church pictures from old Church magazines on sturdy paper. 
67. Make personalized get well or I love you cards. 
68. Mail birthday cards for the coming week of friends or ward members.
69. Make a scroll story with butcher paper and two sticks. 
70. Plan a family service project. 
71. Invent a Church-related game or play one you have.
72. Make a family notebook to keep out for all to write thoughts in.
73. Make dot-to-dot pictures 
74. Memorize scriptures, hymns, stories , or poems. 
75. Find a way to welcome a new ward member or family
76. Have each member of the family do a report on a prophet.
77. Have a person tell a story of courage or valor.
78. Listen to tapes of conference talks. 
79. Practice playing or singing hymns. 
80. Look at books containing great works of art. 
81. Have a FHE in the park.. 
82. Pick an item around the house and make a gospel lesson about it.
83. Set genealogy goals. 
84. Have personal family interviews. 
85. Write a family song or cheer. 
86. Write a family newsletter to send out. 
87. Write a giant letter to the missionaries from your ward. 
88. Plan family, picnics, camp outs, vacations, and holidays. 
89. Make a picture book for each family member. 
90. Plan activities for next Sunday
91. Bake cookies for someone in your ward or on your street
92. Take notes of Church meetings. 
93. Listen to quiet music. 
94. Learn the Articles of Faith. 
95. Play a Scripture Hunt game. 
96. Play Hang Man, or Word Scramble with Church-related words. 
97. Learn some Primary song finger plays. 
98. Have a memory contest on what you remembered from last Sunday.
99. Have a “Prophet of the week” spotlight with games and food.
100. Choose a talent you would like to develop and set some goals. 

Big News

Since a picture is worth a thousand words,

We are moving here:

So we can be closer to:

and

This will be our view north:

where these come from:

This will be our view south:

To our east we can ride one of these:

  

to get us to:

David will be working for:

these wonderful people

This will be his new office:

Starting in:

We are pretty excited. And hope that you will come and visit us here:

 

Enumclaw, Girls and a Sweet Hubby

I took a trip to Seattle (technically Enumclaw, but no one knows where that is when I say it) last week to visit my family. I had planned for this trip to be a “David and Shelli” trip but as the day to leave got closer and closer my sweet hubby with his duty minded responsibility troll kept popping up. In the end he realized that he just couldn’t keep ignoring that darned troll and knew that he would have to stay behind. Dang-it!! So I did what I usually do in these situations when I find myself alone and in need of a buddy, I called my next best friends, my two daughters. Being the awesome, full of fun and ready to jump at a chance for an adventure on a days notice, we all jumped in the car including our newest girl chum Kenley.

What we didn’t do was tell the woman who taught me how to have wonderful girl dates with daughters. We decided that it would be much more fun to surprise Grandma with a visit from her new little great-grandchild. And…it was.

We laughed and chatted and ate our must have road trip food (corn nuts, twizzlers, and Mt. Dew). Kari played her ukulele much to the delight of Kenley who watched in fascination until she couldn’t keep her eyes open any longer and fell fast asleep. All in all it was a great bonding time. One that may be our last for a long time so it was even more sweet. I have two pretty incredible women that I call my daughters.

I knew also that this trip would be a great testing moment to see how sweet hubby manages on his own without me. When the big move to West Virginia comes he will be out there for most of the time without me as I will stay behind to get Evan finished up with school. I did try to make things as easy as possible for him. I filled the fridge and freezer with easy “man meals”, I had all his clothes washed and ready to wear, and had the kitchen put in order.

Periodically I would text him a message or a photo. The first part of the week I would get the usual sweet hubby messages in return. Then later on after I sent him a photo his reply was “Next time, can you be in the photo?” He misses me…. The next day was our trip back home. His text was “I’m anxious to be with my better half.” When I got home he had actually made the bed and cleaned up both the bedroom and the kitchen so I would have a nice welcome home. Sweet hubby never makes the bed. Sweet hubby missed me bad! I love that he missed me. I love the cute messages saying he missed me. I love that he cleaned up in anticipation of my return. I love him!!

This next year is going to be really hard to be apart for so long. I remember dating long distance and getting on the plane to fly back and forth from Salt Lake to Seattle. I remember crying big tears every time I had to be separated from him. I hope that May comes realllllly fast this year.

Kaia, Ivy and Kenley

We have three little girls that have woven their way into our hearts in a way that can only be experienced and not ever explained in words. Only another grandparent knows this feeling and all attempts to describe this phenomenon are left with futile words. These three little girls are named....

Kenley, and.....

....Kaia and Ivy. 

These three little people have the ability to turn an otherwise very composed and dignified physician into a clown faced, nonsensical noise maker. I have witnessed this transformation many times now and it never ceases to amaze me how instantly this happens.

 

One minute I have a husband and as soon as the door opens with one of these little people, all notion of my former spouse dissapears and is replaced by facial contortions and some sort of new high pitched language that includes lots of clicks, raspberry blowing and giggling. It is truly a site to be experienced!

 When my "grand-parentage" was in the pregnancy stage I had all sorts of people who told me how wonderful it was going to be and how much fun being a grandma was going to be. What no one ever told me was the awe that I would experience as I watched our own children transform from "kids" into parents themselves. I have seen my daughter spend every minute of her day ensuring that my granddaughter's every need is taken care of. I have watched her stress and worry about every little cry and work so hard to study and learn about how to care for this new little person.  I have seen her give up her make-up, her fun clothes, her sleep, and sometimes her sanity, and has completely given up herself selflessly to make sure my granddaughter is taken care of in the most ideal way that she can provide. I have seen a young father who would really have loved to have a son, fall madly in love with this little angel. The moment he comes home from work, his first words are "Can I hold her now?"   

I have seen a son who his whole world used to be snowboarding, music and whatever mischief he could find turn into caring for two little girls. His mystical transformation into a true man came when we watched his "shell shocked" face as he came to tell us that not only was there a suprise on the way but that surprise was actually going to be Two surprises. Most hints of his former self were replaced with a very responsible dad who worked hard for straight A's in college, worked a steady job, and stressed over feeding and nap schedules.

I want to warn any of you who have yet to experience these phenomenon. The side effects of becoming a grandparent exhibit themselves in watery eyes, runny noses, warm fuzzy heart, and a disregard for your own schedule if there is a mention of a visit by little people.