I love this view

of our front porch.  

 The rosebush was transplanted from Mom and Dad's house by my brother-in-law, Greg.  We were back in Missouri for Misty and Dan's reception the week after Mom died, and when we got home it was planted. Every year when it blooms I think of Mom and Dad and Greg.  Add the chair and swing into the mix, and it feels like home.

Our first

shaved ice of the season.   And we really needed it.

Our air conditioner has been broken since Saturday afternoon.  And the house is very hot.  I know that air conditioning has not been around for that many years.  And I know we are really spoiled by it.  But how in the world did people survive summers without it?

Since we'll

be in Oregon next week on Father's Day, Natalie and I treated Gary to a Father's Day meal and bell ringing.

 Natalie brought some Brigham's Rootbeer

that tasted especially refreshing because right now 

our air conditioner is not working.

I told Natalie that she is like a "ray of sunshine on a cloudy day" 

when she comes over on Sundays.

She asked if our lives were that boring. 

How could our lives be boring when I've got

my latest projects and good deals and freebies

spread all over the floor figuring out what to do with them?  

Gary agreed.  He said we're exciting because he

 never knows what mess I'll be making next.

This morning we

had to go downtown to pick up a missionary plaque for one of the missionaries from our ward (one of Gary's responsibilities as Ward Clerk).  We ended up having to take a very circumvented route because the Provo City Marathon was going down University Avenue. 

As I was watching some of the runners, I thought how strenuous and hard it looked.  And hot.  And miserable.  I think you may catch the drift that I will not likely be running a marathon anytime soon.  And I haven't run any marathons in the past.  

But then I remembered an experience when we were juniors in high school (42 years ago).  Gary and I signed up for a 20 mile walk for some kind of charity fundraiser.  There are a couple of things I remember about it.  

First, that in the course of the 20 miles, Gary and I had several fights.  I don't remember what we fought about (what do 17 year olds fight about?).  But since we couldn't really walk away and were stuck with each other for the duration, we also had time to make up from out fights.   

The other thing I remember about it was that I felt almost delirious when it was over and that we had to go to a dance that night.  We were Junior Class officers and, as a courtesy to the other schools in the community, we would go to their Junior Proms.   So we had to go to Orem High's Jr. Prom that night.  I remember being so tired that dancing seemed impossible.

Well, that was a random memory.  But, maybe that is what ruined me for long distance anything.  In fact, I'm pretty sure that if it weren't for that experience I would have become a marathon runner.  

Yeah, well, if you believe that . . .      

Life is good.

I'm grateful for my blessings, which are many.  I see many people going through lonely and difficult times.  And uncertain times.  Yet they keep going and doing the best they can.  And we lift each other and encourage and share our faith and hope.  That's what life is all about.    

"I wish I had a

nickel for every time I came down that mountain looking like a stud."

at Sundance after looking for possible pavilions for an Anderson cousin reunion.

After being

cooped up inside all day, we decided to eat in the backyard.