Guess Who: Volume Two

Okay, here are some more fun pictures of friends and family posing in the abaya, shayla, and veil. Try and guess who these fun ladies are:

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A New Experience

Hey, when Abbey was about three she kept telling us that she wanted to move because she wanted to have a new experience. Well, moving to Doha has certainly given her that -- probably more than she bargained for.

Speaking of new experiences, I did something this summer that I never thought I would: drive a Jet Ski or Sea Doo or Wave Runner, whatever your preferred term is. Yes, at first I was hesitant as Brett coaxed me to get on with him and hold little Kimball between us as I made my maiden voyage. I was hooked and went with him a second time, this time remembering to take off my insulin pump first. It was a good thing I did too, because Brett dumped us. But that didn't dampen my new found enthusiasm. Brett was then able to talk me into driving with him on the back. Before I knew it, I was racing across Jordanelle Dam, daring the bugs to crash into my teeth as I smiled from ear to ear. It was freezing cold that morning, but the exhilaration of moving so fast across the water helped me forget myself for awhile and experience the thrill.

Then a few weeks after that first encounter with combining speed and water, the Reilleys invited us to go wave running with them. I hadn't planned to drive solo, but that is exactly what I ended up doing. Brett was on one wave runner and I was on the other. Then Lori and I went out together. I even got brave and did some "risky" turns. Abbey even ventured on the water with me. No, she didn't drive, but she did hold onto my life vest as I twisted us through the waves.

No, I wouldn't impress anyone but myself with my new skills, but I conquered a fear. Not everyone knows what it is like to have a diabetic reaction, so not many people understood my reluctance to be on a high powered machine in the middle of a large body of water all alone. Exercise and excitement can sometimes bring on these reactions, so my worries were not imaginary. I finally just had to tell myself that the life vest would do its job if the most terrible thing happened.

I'm so glad I let myself be coaxed and cajoled into trying something new. It was pure enjoyment, and the thoughts of those days skimming across the water will go a long way during the heated days of Doha these next few months. The family day we had at Jordanelle will go down in the Kearney History as one of the best. I don't have a photo of Kimball sandwiched in between Brett and me on the jet ski, but that moment is embedded in my memory forever - the first time Kimball and Grandma Dianna rode the wild waves. Thanks for sharing it with me little Kimball boy!

Kearney Family Pictures

The last time we had a family portrait taken Ben was about seven. He just turned 23 last month, so another photo shoot has been long overdue. So this summer, during a short window of opportunity while everyone was under one roof, we scheduled a picture taking session. We even planned the wardrobe and had everyone dress in black, white, and jeans. It was going to be a dream come true for me and for Brett.

Well, the day arrived and everyone, including the little grandsons, were in top form. Our smiles were sparkling, our attire was well coordinated, and our personalities took on amazing photogenic qualities. Both Thomas and Kimball smiled and laughed through the whole session. Our photographer had a special connection with them, and it showed. They really piled on the charm. Brett and I were thrilled. We would finally have a family portrait we could hang in the living room that we would be proud to point at as we bragged about our beautiful family.

Well, then we got word from the photographer that something had gone wrong with the settings on her camera. Most of the pictures had turned out blurry, and she doubted that we would want any of them. She was so apologetic and embarrassed, but we weren't angry. Oh, we were sad. Oh, how I shook my fist at the photography fates who, over the many years, have sabotaged so many of our attempts to make a reproduction of our family.

After a few weeks, I talked the photographer into letting me at least see the shots she had taken. When we opened up the file and scanned through the hundreds of photos, we were pleasantly surprised and found a few that were worth printing. The photo quality wouldn't be the best, but at least our little family had been captured and frozen in time for once. Brett and I could still have a tangible object that represents the love and devotion of our life. So here are a few of the best shots. We are going to try this again at Christmas and thumb our noses at those photography fates again, because they will not deter or discourage us from this mission! Any advice?

Picture of the Week

Last Sunday we made a spontaneous trip to Temple Square to enjoy the flowers and the reverent feeling there. We timed it perfectly and stepped out of the car just as a heavy rainstorm ended. The temple is so beautiful and this is my favorite picture of this iconic building. I'm so grateful for a perfect plan that allows all of us to look towards eternity when we look at a temple.

Grandma Heaven

Brett and I are in the middle of a week with our grandsons, and it is so tiring, but so worth all the sagging bones. When their parents aren't around, we seem to get more hugs, more cuddles, more time being their go to guys. Kristy and Jared are celebrating their fifth anniversary with a vacation to Hawaii, and after they called tonight to talk to the boys, Thomas actually sat in my lap for fifteen minutes, missing his parents. He said, "I miss them and worry about them." I asked him what he was worrying about, and he said that he worries about if they will come home. Luckily for all of us, he doesn't have to worry about that.

It is so touching how much these two little guys adore their parents. Kristy and Jared are amazing parents. They both video taped themselves reading stories and talking to the boys so Thomas and Kimball could watch them each day. When I turned the videos on yesterday Kimball was so excited he started bouncing up and down. Thomas kept asking me to play one more. They watched with rapt attention and complete adoration. The picture just doesn't show how completely enthralled they were.

I already have a renewed appreciation for what young parents go through. The energy required to keep up with these guys is enormous. It is just a good thing we called in reinforcements today when we went to the zoo. We needed all the help Great Grandma Kearney and Great Aunt Marcell could give. Brett and I are going to be a bowl of soggy jello by the time these refreshed parents return. We do have a secret weapon for survival though: Aunt Abbey is remarkably gifted at entertaining her nephews and surprisingly cheap to hire!

Pandora

I just have to post these perfect pictures of Ben and Mary's lab puppy. Her name is Pandora, but we call her Dora or Pandy for short. We love her so much. She is a sweet, sweet puppy and she stole the show at the parade on the 4th. The crowd wanted to pet her more than they wanted to watch floats and bands pass by. Since her name is clearly linked to the Greek myth of Pandora's Box, her new parents might be opening a whole new set of adventures. Happy Puppy Adventures, Ben and Mary!

Haircut

BEFORE

Abbey decided to get her hair cut two weeks ago. She has been asking to do it for months. I told her we could do it when we got back to Utah. She then told me that she wanted to stop at a hair salon on the way home from the airport! Well, we didn't quite do that, but it finally happened.

Because the 4th of July was coming, and Abbey had convinced Mary that they needed to look like twins on the holiday, Abbey wanted her hair cut only to her shoulders so she and Mary could have the same kind of braids. So when she sat down in the salon, she made sure that the stylist knew how much she wanted cut. As the stylist played with Abbey's long hair, she said that it was long enough to donate to Locks of Love if she would let her cut it just a little bit above her shoulders. Abbey really didn't want to agree, but somehow she was persuaded. As the stylist began to cut, I walked over and asked Abbey if it was too short. She said everything was fine.

Well, just above the shoulders turned into just under the chin. Abbey seemed happy as we walked out of the salon. Then we ran over to Target for a few items. That's when the tears started. How do you comfort a daughter who says through heavy sobs,"I should have stood up for myself, but I didn't want to hurt her feelings!"? It was amazing to me that she could verbalize such a complex personal struggle. The deed had been done, so we tried to make the best of it. The funny thing was that Abbey was more upset about not being able to be twins with Mary for the 4th than she was about her hair being shorter than she wanted. I told her that twins often wear their hair differently so people can tell them apart. That seemed to calm her a bit.

AFTER

Brett and I both think she looks so grown-up and so pretty. And the best part . . . . Mary knows how to braid even the shortest of hair! Below, are the cute twins at the parade.

20 Years of Friends, Fun, and Fireworks

Happy 20th Anniversary to a great tradition: a 4th of July picnic with the best of friends and an evening of games and fireworks! Yesterday marked this welcome event, and I thought it warranted mentioning. Whatever the situation, our two families have met and continued a much loved friendship.

Lori and I met almost a hundred years ago in the Granger 14th Ward. She is only a few years older than I am (one or two, right, Lori), but when I was a Beehive, and Lori was one of the youth camp leaders, the age difference seemed huge.

Fast forward about ten years. Brett and I moved to a little apartment in Taylorsville, we went to church, and one of the counselors in Relief Society introduced herself. She instantly remembered me, but my memory wasn't so quick. It was Lori. She, her husband Frank, and their three children lived practically next door to our new apartment. We quickly fell into a much needed grown-up friendship, complete with walking in the mornings, long conversations, craft days (Lori filled in my gaps in that past time), babysitting for each other, institute classes, and crying on each other's shoulder.

The first 4th of July we spent together was at Sugarhouse Park. Surprisingly, our husbands and our children got along almost as well as we did, so the fun we had was spontaneous and organic. Lori spent a lot of that first picnic studying her law book. She had just started taking a few college courses, getting back into school. I don't know how much studying she accomplished, but we had fun trying to distract her. The day was such a success (except for the LONG wait in traffic to get home), so we decided to make it an annual event.

Our tradition has survived as we have carefully tended our friendship. Lori deserves most of the credit for that, but she has always made it easy to be her friend. Together we have weathered all the storms of life and well . . . . the actual weather. One year Lori was so sick she couldn't make it, but her devoted Franky gathered their children and went ahead with the plans because Lori INSISTED that he do so. Some years thunder and rain would threaten our celebration, but nothing has gotten in the way of our reserved get together. We've changed venues a few times and some of our children have moved on to their own traditions, but we have always oooohed and awwwwwd together over fireworks at the end of the night. Sometimes those fireworks were the kind we lit in the street, but they have always represented the blessings of our friendship. So, thanks Frank and Lori, for a wonderful 20 year run. Let's hope and pray that we have at least 20 or 30 more together!