21 years on the 21st

Happy 21st Anniversary to us

We celebrated our anniversary Friday afternoon mountain biking in Park City before we hit Main Street that evening for dinner.  Can I just say how glad I am we decided to get married in September - really, every year it's such a beautiful time to get out and do something together. The original plan was to head up and take a couple runs on the Alpine Slide before dinner, but after a little more thought, we decided to rent some bikes and have a go at the mountain.  We have been talking forever about finally upgrading our old mountain bikes, so we decided to rent to see what we've been missing.  Ya, it only took about 2 minutes to realize our circa 1990 bikes are a tad outdated.  So, donning matching helmets and matching bikes, courtesy of Jans we hit the trails . . . 

My attempt to get us both in a pic on the chairlift

 Beautiful Park City Mountain Resort

The bright aspens against the brilliant blue fall sky were spectacular!

After dropping off the bikes and spiffing up courtesy the Yarrow hotel bathrooms (perfect place for cleaning up and changing after skiing or biking . . .), we took a trip down memory lane and walked around the newly remodeled Washington School Inn where we spent our first night of our honeymoon so many years ago.  The proprietor was so kind to let us wander around and view the renovations.  It was just lovely and I was having no luck at all talking Chris into checking in for the evening (it definitely wasn't $450/nt when we stayed there), but it sure was stunning inside.

Our conversation over dinner was one of reflection, as well as looking forward.  This weekend was pretty full and it was interesting to wonder what we would have thought if someone had told us on the day we got married that in twenty-one years on the weekend we were celebrating our anniversary we would . . .

• have two teenagers heading to the homecoming football game with their friends on Friday night
• watch our daughter get ready for her first high school dance Saturday afternoon
• send our son with his Dad's car to pick up his Homecoming date for an "all day extravaganza"
• sit on the sidelines cheering my 11 year old daughter during her volleyball game
• take our 8 year old daughter to a birthday party
• celebrate with our 15 year old her undefeated high school tennis season
• discuss the progress of our 17 year old's college application
• listen to two girls practice piano & ask one daughter to practice, despite protest
• need to make sure all homework was complete
• complete my visa application for our trip to China
• have the privilege to sit surrounded by my four amazing children during the Brigham City temple dedication (broadcast) and know that this is what life is all about . . . our marriage, our children, our family, and the gospel.

yosemite

"Everyone needs beauty as well as bread, 

places to play in and pray in, where nature 

may heal and cheer and give strength 

to the body and soul alike . . ."

John Muir

 Giant sequoias in Mariposa Grove

 1800 yr. old "Grizzly Giant"

 Yosemite Valley - beautiful morning for a hike . . .

off we go . . . straight up from the valley floor 3.8 miles/3300 ft. elevation gain

on our way to to the top of these granite walls

 getting closer

LOVED these trees 

we made it- time to SIT!

 aahhh, yes - taking in the views while eating lunch!

Minor freak-out from Chris as I walked out on this rock . . .

 this is as close to the edge as Chris would venture

 The river right before it heads over the cliff

 Yosemite Point - unbelievable, majestic, breathtaking - best views in the park!

 heading back down - the sun reflecting on Half Dome

 El Capitan . . . next trip we'll hike to the top and watch the rock climbers summit!

I don't think I'll ever be able to aptly express how I feel about Yosemite.  Obviously, I haven't visited all the national parks our country has to offer, but out of the parks I have been to, Yosemite is and probably always will be my favorite.  There is a spirit here that touches my spirit and rejuvenates my soul.  The place seems to me a living, breathing entity, which, like a person is constantly changing as the day progresses from early dawn, to bright afternoon, to dusk, to blackest of night.  We were privileged this trip to not only hike to the top of the tallest waterfall in North America, but descend by a full moon (thank goodness just the last 1/3 mile) and then witness that moon rise over half dome from the meadow and light up the impressive, towering granite face of El Capitan.  I will NEVER forget the view of Yosemite valley that night from "tunnel view" as we were departing the park and heading back to our hotel . . .

and hope to return to see it again.

once in a lifetime . . . Jackson Browne

Last weekend I experienced one of those rare, but oh so pure, mesmerizing, "if you breathe you'll break the spell" moments.  A moment that I want to remember for the rest of my life, because it was so fleeting, so real, so beautiful that I really don't expect it to ever happen again.

I know, you're probably thinking my ramblings will continue down the familiar path destined to arrive at a moment when nature spoke to me.  Not so this time, I'll spare you another "Julie loves nature" post for now (that will be included in the upcoming "Yosemite is the most spiritual place on earth" post - just a warning ;-).

I'm talking about spending two magical evenings in nostalgic, tiny, lost in time California towns sitting in small theaters with unbelievable acoustics listening to Jackson Browne work his magic.  It was like we were invited into his own living room for a private, intimate concert.  It's a wonderful sight to see a small stage laden only with a row of guitars, a chair and table, and a piano.

In my eyes, Jackson Browne's music and lyrics transcend the human condition.  It's not just his rich, full, emotionally charged voice that touches my soul, but his sublime understanding of humanity, of love and longing, happiness, laughter, sorrow, peace, and the troubled heart.  I was moved to tears more than once, especially during Saturday evening's concert in Hanford, CA when Jackson became emotional himself and struggled for a moment to compose himself during a few songs ("Late for the Sky," "The Pretender," and "Enough of the Night" - the song written about his sister, who incidentally had passed away last year).

The highlight during the 3 hours happened as we were yelling out our favorite songs and someone asked to hear HIS favorite song . . . .  Jackson then treated us to a beautiful song written by Leonard Cohen, "A Thousand Kisses Deep," which he sang with such raw emotion the audience was spellbound - to be granted entrance to a personal moment like that of someone you've admired for years, was captivating.   To me, this concert almost felt like a "swan song" of sorts, and I'm not sure if I really want to see him perform again because nothing will compare with the beauty of this night.

Chris was just as taken in, if not more, than I was.  I think the best part of the experience for him was having a conversation with Jackson after Friday evening's show about how great it was to hear one of his more obscure songs, "Linda Paloma" from The Pretender (1976), and how amazed we were that he could just pull it out of his hat and play/sing it so beautifully.  During Saturday's performance, Jackson shared with the audience his conversation with Chris and then proceeded to play the song once again for the Hanford crowd.

yep, once in a lifetime.

 It doesn't get any better than this

 Turlock Community Theater (yes, it was that small)

 Chatting with Jackson after the show 

 My new friend Catherine asking to get an autograph on her albums - 

I love how you can see his picture from "Late For the Sky"

Yes, I got emotional

 Saturday night's concert

Thanks Jackson for two unbelievable nights 

After the show inside the Hanford Fox (est. 1934) - we loved the vintage/nostalgic lobby and theater

 My first attempt - the flash didn't go off - had to try again . . .

Chris and his hero

It's such a clever innocence with which you do your sorcery
As if somehow the years just bow and let that young girl go free
I thought I was a child until you turned and smiled
I thought I knew where I was going until I heard your laughter flowing
And came upon the wisdom in your eyes . . .

("I Thought I was a Child" - J. Browne)

Father's Day weekend 2011

We love our DAD!

Yes, Liza really does adore Chris . . . she just wanted to go swimming, NOT take pictures

Big hugs!

Hug for the greatest dad a girl could ask for . . .

not to mention a fabulous GRANDPA!

OK team, you're done - time to swim (notice that Chris changed already ;-)

Before church - the girls' little surprise they made for their dad

Of course every Howick celebration must include an ice-cream cake - thanks Mom!

At the pool . . . daddy/daughter bonding - who knows what Liza is up to?!

The girls playing "pool categories"

Fun times at the Bloomington club pool 

I know I'm a week behind with my Father's Day post, but need to share a little someting Ryan wrote awhile back when he was completing a "Duty to God" requirement.  He was asked to detail ten attributes about a person he admires.  He chose his dad, and this was his list:

• He's smart
• He's a hard worker
• He's in good shape and takes care of himself
• He is caring
• He is a good example to us
• He is fun to be around and makes us laugh
• He is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and has a strong testimony
• He uses clean language - always
• He provides for his family and takes care of us
• He is encouraging and supportive of me in school and all my activities.

Well said Ryan - you are blessed not only with a wonderful father, but a lifelong friend.

Ryan and Chris after Ryan took 1st place in a Jiu Jitsu tournament last year. . . 

this was one proud papa that day!