biking and fishing

What do you do in the summertime?  When all of Washington is on fire?
Do you ride the Hiawatha trail (all 15 miles)!
Do you fish in Rock Lake?
Do you hit a rock and make a hole in your boat?
Is that what you do?
So do we.

Wilson goes to college

We did not parent our oldest son.   We spent 19 years in crisis intervention, damage control and risk management.   It was what he needed and I feel confident in our efforts.  As I drove away from Pocatello on Thursday, I was blessed with the peaceful knowledge that we have laid out all the tools for success that we possibly could.  Wilson can take it or leave it; it is all up to him.  I didn't cry this time dropping him off.  I won't miss how he takes out all his stress on me, swears at me, criticizes everything I do or say or rejects everything that is important to me.  I won't miss him smoking, drinking, lying stealing, hurting the other kids, or his unpredictable temper.  It feels like a big relief to have him far away.  I love Wilson and I want the best for him and he has taught me so much about areas of improvement I have.   I need to redirect my energies from emergency management to actual parenting.   I have no doubt it will be just as painful and humbling.

this is what we saw first upon moving in to Wilson's apartment!

Wilson in his room.

Wilson at the Institute

Saying goodbye

Lundberg Family Reunion

Dear Winwards, Burrs and Lundbergs,

Our family is looking forward to our reunion next week.  We know that the family is of God.  Based on this doctrine, Family reunions are sacred and divine events.  Perhaps some of you, like our family, have felt the adversary working particularly hard to sabatoge our Family reunion preparations.   We are also aware that people are sacrificing employment, sports, money and significant time to be together.  Our family is grateful for your sacrifices.   We believe that your influence will help bring our children to Christ.   We need you.  How beautifully symbolic that we are meeting in Zion—one in heart!

We love you and are grateful for you.

Tony and Kelly

And so we met in Zion, one of the most beautiful places on Earth and experienced for the second time this summer, the healing that comes from family.  After a flight delay, a wrong hotel, a rental car fiasco and a wrong restaurant, we finally joined the adults for dinner and a chance to see Mom and Dad's new house in St George.  The cousins had a night on the town exploring the Chick Filet, frozen yogurt and a lot of silliness.  In the morning we had a quick visit to Abuelita Rippy who just celebrated her 101 birthday.  Grandma still exudes the peace and calm I hope I have as I grow older.  Aunt Clara took us to "the Crack" where some of us faced our claustrophobia fears and slithered through the tight rocky crack.  Some of us (Wilson) have too big of butts.  

After a quick visit to the DI for books and a forgotten swimsuit, we drove to Zion's breathtaking vistas.  Our hotel wasn't quite ready, but a good bumble berry ice-cream made everything better.  Uncle Russ and Aunt Pam served us lunch and then we headed for the narrows.  Only shuttles are allowed into the park so we had many opportunities to be together as a family telling riddles and jokes and playing "would you rather."  The  narrows were cool and inviting and it was such a pleasure to watch my kids be the first ones to jump in.  Thankfully, I have not passed on my hesitant and cautious nature.  Sadly, Uncle Rand had to leave that evening.

We were pretty worn out by about 7:00 so we had hot dogs, smores and family prayer and called it a night.  Our hotel had a delightful swimming pool and hot tub as well as a delicious breakfast at the "Wild Willey Cafe."  The biscuits and gravy and homemade granola were a great way to start our hikes.  On Friday we hiked Weeping Rock and The Grotto before lunch.  After lunch we explored the Emerald Pools.  I was really proud of Grandma and Grandpa who pressed forward, through a hard hike!  We thought ice cream at the lodge was well earned!  Megan and Jason provided us a fantastic Cafe Rio esque dinner when we got back and again we had family prayer, a few mission stories from Zach and back to the hotel for a swim and some sleep.  

Saturday morning we chilled--everyone but Wilson and Dad who hiked up and ran down Angel's Landing--a famously difficult and sometimes treacherous hike.  The rest of us stayed at the hotel for some swimming and to pack up.  Saturday night Lori and Blake and Melanie and David joined us at Winwards for a corn and tomato feed from Uncle Rand's garden--amazing!  The teenagers stayed up late to watch "Sandlot," so there was a lot of belly laughing instead of sleeping.  

Sunday we met at Russ and Pam's ward where we both Zach and RJ gave beautiful talks with excellent testimonies and spot on doctrine.  I am realizing more and more what a miracle it is to send a missionary out into they field and we are really proud of Zach and RJ and their good examples.  

After lunch on Sunday we made a quick visit to see our friends the Workmans.  We were so delighted and surprised when  our friends the Hymas and Hosford families joined us--