“Capitol Wreath”

Last year, I listened to a podcast describing what researchers at UC Berkeley explain as the power of awe. They found that being in nature, taking in moments to notice the big beautiful world, can support the wellness of an individual’s mental health. These awe moments can take place anywhere outside: on a walk looking at the mountains, jogging through the woods, staring up at the sky when you take the garbage out, watching the sunset from your doorstep, taking a hike through desert plateaus. Noticing the miracle that is the complexity, beauty, and vastness of earth is medicine for the brain.

Upon hearing this, I thought to myself, “People have known nature is good for the soul for eons, but to prove it scientifically, well that’s just the cherry on top.” And with that, I’ve noticed more fully those awe moments. 

We had many of those on our latest trip with cousins to Capitol Reef National Park this month. Celebrated as the least visited National Park of the five housed in Utah, the place is less busy, and even more so in January. Seeing the white snow against the red rock was magnificent. 

Elsie got a comfy ride sitting in the backpack and seeing the sights with Jess. 

We looked like billy goats hiking the trail. 

I kept telling the kids to “wear layers!” and not to “forget hats!” I harnessed my inner Julie Ann Johnson, and made sure all kids were warm from head to toe. We started out in winter coats. Turns out, the weather was perfect, in the upper 50s, and I ended being the coat goat (it’s similar to being a bag lady but carrying coats, so like a coat lady),

But I’ll be the coat goat any day if it means we hike in perfect weather. 

The kids loved sitting in the alcoves in the sandstone. 

And we loved seeing natural bridges. (I love Ian in this photo with his “hiking stick :)

And walking (and dancing) on the frozen creek. The kids loved throwing rocks on (not in) it. Ha!




We called Elsie “the spider baby” because she was crawling up rocks and over sticks like it was no big deal. We’d bring her back to where we were eating lunch and then she’d take off again, over the smooth rocks. 

We stopped to look at petroglyphs. I love this kind of stuff. 

We hiked up to Cassidy Arch which is no easy feat. Ian did the whole thing without complaint (although, the last quarter required some fun discussion about his preschool’s Teddy Bear Picnic to keep him moving). 

We had myriad awe moments. We’ll have to tell Elsie about this one. 

It was a wonderful time. Due to the short nature of the trip, we decided we’d better go back soon. 

Action!

I recently read a woman’s goals for the new year. She went on like this, “I’d like to produce a show, and write a book...no, two books, and maybe start a podcast!” I kind of couldn’t believe it. Who sets their sights so dang high!?! Then I got to thinking about my sights. How high are they? What goals am I after? How much time, energy, strength do I give, can I give, to my sights? 

I’m often impressed with the “go and just do it” attitude I witness constantly around me. “These people must be really good at succeeding,” I think to myself.  But after talking with so many, I realize they aren’t good at succeeding, they are good at setting goals and then really putting energy, lots of energy, into those goals.

 

My sister once told me she was going to make it a goal to be in at least one art show a year. “Whoa! That’s hard!” I thought to myself. She did it and continues to do so. Some years even more than one.

My sister-in-law said she was going to get her Masters as a 40+ year old and begin her career. “But she’s so busy, how can she do it all?” Again, I thought it would be hard. But she did it and is now in a job she loves, helping others. 

Another sister-in-law said she wanted to run a marathon. “Way too long. Way too hard,” my usual thoughts echoed. She did it, and has now finished more than one. 

Of course all of these things were hard and they definitely took work but they all saw their goals through!

Jess and I talk a lot to our kids about doing hard things. We say things like:  You can do it! It makes you stronger! You grow! You realize the things you can do! It’s an amazing feeling when you discover the power you have! Sometimes you have to force yourself to try! Now it’s time I take those statements and turn them into action. 

Now I’ve done some hard things, don’t get me wrong. I can do them. But I’ve also passed up a lot of things that I’d love to do but I’m so afraid of failing that I don’t even try. “Too hard!” I think.

And so, I make this post as a pep talk to myself. I need pep talks. I’ve needed them since I was a kid, and I still need them now. And with that I say, Ashley, sometimes you have to force yourself to try. You can do it!

Spaghetti dinner

at 10 months...

Happy holidays

We’ve had a very Merry Christmas. 

One of closeness and love, caring and doing, giving and getting, growing and learning. 

We’ve all missed the parties, family gatherings, activities, and concerts. However, the slowing down of the hustle and bustle has been a a nice change of pace for the season. 

Sitting by the fireplace and watching the boys play, Elsie pull herself to standing, Jess sing in the karaoke microphone (best gift of 2020 in my opinion!) has been where the joy comes from most. Thinking of the love of Jesus Christ and seeing it in my home is magical. That’s goodness. That’s a Merry Christmas. 

In other news this season —

Ansel snowboards on the boogie board...this may just be a new Olympic sport come 2036. Ansel’s sure he’d win it. 

Elsie crawls on turbo speed and stands like a pro. She’s even climbed up the whole basement stairs! She talking up a storm and likes to empty the bottom rack of the dishwasher. 

Ian helps make all kinds of goodies in the kitchen. He can crack eggs all by himself. He likes to build Legos using “constructions.”

Ollie breaks his wrist while ice skating (dang it!). But he’s learning to deal with difficulty and have patience. He even got a picture of the full moon through his telescope one handed. 

Onward and upward for the new year. Let’s sing a tune in the karaoke microphone! 🎤 

Checking out the Great Conjunction on Winter Solstice

Yesterday, Jupiter and Saturn came so very close to each other during their orbits you could see them together in the field of view of a telescope. The event was rare. The planets haven’t been so close and easily viewed for hundreds of years. 

We joined others to look at the scene through a telescope. In the photo below, Jess and the boys (with masks) are looking at the view on the screen. A kind gent (in the Santa hat) had set up the view for all with his telescope. 

We then focused on the view with our binoculars. 

We got a shot, but an unsteady one. We needed a tripod!

It was a fun night to do something different this Christmas break week and experience the vastness of the universe. 

If you see this post now (or during the rest of December), you can still see the two planets close together in the southwest part of the horizon. You don’t need a telescope or binoculars. Neat!

Big Tree, Feeling Christmas-y

Cheers to my neighbor who drove by, said hello, and took a photo after she noticed how little I looked as I trimmed the branches of this magnificent tree. 

Isn’t it a perfectly imperfect humongous Christmas tree? I love the refuge this tree gives to my house, my yard, my kids, and the little quail families that we see each year. I love the enormity of it. I love this tree. 

Want a good laugh?

If you want a good laugh, open up Amazon and go to holiday movies, then read the synopsis of each one. You're welcome.

Nine months

This girl has been growing and discovering the world now for just as long as she was growing in my belly. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, it’s amazing how quickly children develop. This little one is a little scientist, exploring and observing it all. Today she was saying “ba, ba” and Jess said, “Try saying ‘da, da’.” She then followed up with “da, da.” I was amazed! Then Jess said, “Say, ‘ma, ma’.” And she did that too! Good job Elsie! She’s said these words before, but I was just impressed that she followed along to what Jess was doing. Very cool. 

She is the sweetest and we love her so. She crawls on turbo speed. She is very ticklish. She prefers to play where everyone else is. And her favorite food is peaches. 

We can’t get enough of her cuteness and fun personality. 

Trying

Have you ever had a conversation with your child and during it you just can’t believe what your kids are doing, saying, thinking about, dealing with, processing, and experiencing? It can be good, bad, sad, enlightening, surprising, amazing, wonderful! 

Lately, I’ve been caught off guard, in a good way, with the things my kids are doing and thinking about. One child in particular is really working on being kind to everyone these days. He says it can be a challenge, but he is succeeding and reaching out. And last night at dinner as we talked about it, he said it made him feel good. 

I once read a blog that said a middle schooler came home and lamented to her mother that she didn’t have any friends. Her mother gave her some advice. She told her to look for someone in her class that was worse off than her and to make friends with that person. The middle schooler went back to school and made friends with a very shy girl. They become good friends and have been best friends ever since. These friends are now in their 70s. Yes!

My mother once asked a women, who was young, vibrant, and very different than most in the congregation at church, if she’d like to join the choir. My mother mentioned that she loved this woman’s singing voice and would enjoy having her as a strong soprano in the choir. “It’s a lot of fun,” my mom continued, “and something we’d love to have you be a part of.” This women answered in the affirmative and then broke down a bit and said, “You are the first person to invite me to anything in this neighborhood, thank you.” An invitation like this can make all the difference. 

I’ve had many examples in my life of people who are kind. I am so grateful to them and I try to emulate them each day. Sometimes I falter, but I’m trying, and that’s what matters. And that’s what I tell my kids. Try! No one’s going to be disappointed by someone who does.  

Autumn 2020

Fall is so delightful. The wind, the smell of those falling leaves, the baking options, the sunsets! It’s enough to make me forget how many trillions of leaves our oak trees drop in the backyard and how often I’m found in said backyard raking those things. 

We’ve had a few mini-medium snow storms around here, so I’m gearing up to say goodbye to fall soon. But before it goes completely, I want to share a few pics from our season. 

Last bit o’ fun at Heber with cousins. 

Pumpkin patch at sundown. 

Visiting the Utah Women 2020 mural downtown. My sister is featured! See her face framed by Oliver’s hand? So cool!

Jazz mural downtown. I told my kids about the kinda-glory days of the Jazz when we made it to the playoffs...twice! 

Elsie’s blessing day was perfect. We did it over Zoom, with grandparents attending, in our living room. This girl is the best!

At the CrossE ranch for some Halloween fun. These slides were a hit. 

Ansel making friends with the sheep. 

Elsie and I wait to pick up Oliver’s carpool. 

Orange Yoshi, Parrot, the Chaperone, a Skeleton, and a Storm Trooper ready for Halloween night. 

Ian loves Scotch Tape. He’s taping everything this days. 

Dapper boys ready for home church. This particular Sunday involved watching the digital Primary Program. 

Ollie wins the highest honor at his school, the Noble Knight. Well done Oliver! I am super impressed with this self motivated, kind, smart, funny kid. 

Picking up Ansel’s carpool with Ian. He sure rocks those shades.