Mitch and Haley: May 2009

Saturday, May 30, 2009

SLOWING THINGS DOWN

My dad got a new toy . . . hope you enjoy it as much as we did!

When I was 5 years old we had Eric, an Indian Placement Student, come to live with us. Eric lived with us for so long that our family considers him another sibling. He was so much fun to be with. He was crazy & spontaneous - once he decided to just run up the mountain and he did - up to the very top of the one in front of our house. Another time he decided he wanted to ride his bike to Monument Valley from our house (a trip that would take 7 hours in the car). We loved having him in our family and I think he loved it too. Eric served in the Marines and served a mission in Antonio Texas. He decided to go back to the reservation in Monument Valley and learn more about his Navajo people. He was giving tours there and selling his hand-made Navajo jewelry with his birth family. A few years ago while he was working, he was struck by lightning and killed. Eric was buried on the reservation in the middle of the valley. As sad as it was to lose Eric so suddenly, I'm confident that if he could have chosen his exit from this life, lightning would have been it. We miss Eric so much that it's hard to think about it. But I know that we will see him again and that brings me great comfort. Because of the sacrifice of our Savior, Jesus Christ, I will see Eric, Tanner, Irv and all those I love again.

This year Logan decided that visiting Eric's graveside would be a great way to spend Memorial Weekend.

ARCHES
We visited Arches National Park on the way down. Ben was excited for the hike to Delicate Arch.

MONUMENT VALLEY
We spent Saturday in Monument Valley. The Navajos built a monument to Eric at the location he was struck by lightning.

Eric's grave didn't have a head stone, so the men built one from the stones they could fine near by. Eric was burried at the location he had planned to build his home. The site is stunning. Once we were finished fixing up the grave site, Logan talked to Eric's sisters & mother about how Eric's death helped him solidify his testimony of the Plan of Salvation and his love for the Savior. Logan was serving in Sweden on his mission when Eric passed away, so it was especially touching to hear his testimony and his love for Eric. We sang "Go My Son" at the grave side. We really do miss that crazy Indian and we love him so much.

On the way home we visited Arches again and had lunch at Balance Rock.

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Cookie Connoisseur?

I used to be a Cookie Connoisseur of sorts. My mom got me started at an early age. Almost every day after kindergarten, a couple friends and I would jump up on the kitchen counter and spread flour all over while we mixed the cookie dough. I became really quite good at baking them. I would use my cookies as payment for rides home from school and saying thanks for being taken to a dance etc. Once I talked a rental company into letting the Student Body Officers use a generator to light up the "V" for $30 rather than the $70 they normally charged just by offering my killer cookies.

Unfortunately, it seems I have lost my touch. My killer cookies have become cookies that could kill. The other day my brother in law and sister were coming over for dinner. I decided to make some of my "killer" cookies and they turned out to be more like oatmeal mush than oatmeal cookies. I decided to call my sister Mollie who is a bit of a Martha Stewart in the kitchen and get a better recipe. Here's how my second attempt turned out:

I called Mollie back and realized I had forgotten a very important ingredient: FLOUR!! I made the same recipe again and they turned out a little better.