Existential Crisis or Midlife Enlightenment?

 Goals:

1. Finish reading the Bible. As a Christian, I believe I need to read the whole Book, cover to cover. It was a goal to have accomplished by my 40th birthday (I'll be 42 in July). I have one chapter left of the OT...maybe I can finish this summer.

2. Hike more. Hike A LOT. My newest thought...hike a 14er on my birthday for the rest of my life. The difficulty is finding a hiking partner. I think Adrion is game...

3. Write more. Here. Be transparent. Who cares?

4. Read more.

5. Be me. No more striving. No more degrees. No more careful conversations. Just be me, a less-than-perfect human who loves God.

General Updates and Onward!

 From June 6, 2019 to Now:

August 2019--Tori and Adrion baptized in Cove Lake and then sprinkled by water from the Jordan River.

New Year's 2020--Can and Nell to WY to celebrate with Marcia and Todd...Todd to start chemo late Jan.

Feb. 9, 2020--Jillyboo dies suddenly. Adrion turns 12.

Mar. 1, 2020--Donna dies.

Mar. 13, 2020 (Friday the 13th)--Last day of school for 2020. Covid pandemic hits.

Apr. 23, 2020--Tori turns 18.

May 1, 2020--Garon starts new job at ACHE

June 2020--Dad and I go to WY...I stay with Marcia, and Dad and Todd go to Denver for stem cell transplant.

June 5, 2020--Tori earns Black Belt.

July 12, 2020--Tori finally gets a HS graduation ceremony.

July 13, 2020--Troy White dies of heart attack. 

Aug. 4, 2020--Tori moves to ATU.

Aug. 24, 2020--The year of Covid begins at school. Masks mandated.

Sept. 26, 2020--Kernses buy camper.

Dec. 17, 2020--I graduate UA with second Master's. Mom is 72.

Dec. 2020--Tori out of college for now.

Feb. 8, 2021--Snuffy dies.

March 2021--Me to WY to visit. 

May 20, 2021--Lauren graduates HS.

May 29, 2021--Family to AZ for Sarah and Josh's wedding.

June 2021--Babe dies.

This Saturday, June 19th--Leaving for Florida vacation.

Soooo, ONWARD!!!

2019?!

How has this much time passed again?!  I have so many ideas to write about.  I've declared a fast from Facebook and all of my time-consuming phone games (currently Candy Crush and Peggle) for the sake of reclaiming cognitive and spiritual space.

Most recent news...historic flooding of the Arkansas River, start of Impact leadership program (beginning next week), Tori (senior, new job at Steffey's, opened first checking account yesterday, time to look toward college), Dad (heart cath and EP past two days...diagnosis afib), and celebration of Mom and Dad's 50th anniversary last Friday with renewal of vows.

Upcoming...major vacation to Grand Canyon, Zion NP, Great Salt Lake, Tetons, and Casper.  I'm so excited! 

Kid Questionnaire

From Facebook..."Without ANY prompting ask your kids these questions" Tori = 1st answer. Adrion = 2nd answer.

1. What is something I always say to you? You love me. " I love you"

2. What makes me happy? Me not being non-social. Jillyboo

3. What makes me sad? Deaths. When I get really angry.

4. How do I make you laugh? When you're being way too crazy. Tickling me like a psycho person.

5. What was I like as a child?  I have no clue. I do not know.

6. How old am I? 36. 36.


7. How tall am I? I don't know. I don't know.

8. What is my favorite thing to do? Read. Sit by Dad.

9. What do I do when you're not around? Do County Line work. Lay down in bed.

10. What am I really good at? Drawing. Playing Peggle.

11. What am I not very good at? I don't know. I don't know.


12. What do I do for a job? Counselor at school. Counselor.

13.What is my favorite favorite food? Crispitos. Macaroni.
14. What do you enjoy doing with me? Talking. Playing with toys.

Worry in Haiku

Granny

Lonely, Resigned, Frail
Waiting, Missing Loved Ones Gone
Generation's End

Mama

Tired, Short of Breath
Atrial Fibrilation
Lung Carcinoma

Still Kickin'

I can't believe I haven't blogged since 2014.  So much happens from day to day, so the absence of time represented here seems impossible to go back and document.  I've been in dormancy.  No reading or writing to speak of since finishing my master's.  All purposeful thinking on "things" and desire for seeking out the "things" to think upon in books went away for awhile.  I've been hiding behind the digital world, watching from behind my screens.  I'm feeling a reawakening, though.  After the holidays have kicked my tail, I'm planning on reinvesting in my cognitive and spiritual selves that have been ignored for too long.  That probably means I have to turn off the screens.  That's okay.

Wyoming 2014

Wonderful trip.  Missed Garon like crazy.  Some favorite pics...

View off south side of Casper Mountain of Muddy Mountain and beyond

Examining a rock on Crimson Dawn trail on Casper Mountain

At the Smith cabin

Oh deer!

Uncle Toddly ♥

Jackrabbit at Hell's Half Acre

Reservoir side of Buffalo Bill Dam

On the dam...200+ feet to bottom

Pretty

Wapiti Valley east of Yellowstone

Greencreek Inn, Wapiti Valley

Hot!

The road by this sign (Firehole Drive) melted in July before our visit!

Too close!  Only way through was past him, though...

Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone

Great-grandma Marcia ♥

Todd cut holes in the fence between Marcia and her neighbor to give the dogs a view.

Adrion and his look-alike great-uncle Todd