Adventures Summer 2015

May 27th or so I set out for TX. I had been offered an opportunity to stay with Mike and Eva Jones and help her with housework. She had said that she had been ill with cancer etc over the last few years and had gotten "behind" on things.

In March 2015 I had moved out of the home Kimberly/Shad/Destiny and I shared back into my old apt. I had realized with Amanda and then with Ashley that I was not in my girls/grandkids everyday life (or not needed there) and I needed to start a life of my own, distance and independence was a way to start that. Amanda who had been living in SL had asked to come live with us about the week after I had made that decision...so she came to live with me.

Living in my apt for a couple of months solidified the fact that I truly needed to find a life of my own, thus making it easier to come to the conclusion that I should indeed embark on the TX adventure.

I made the decision quite easily and then as in all other decisions, I started to panic. I started to realize exactly what it meant to not be there to pick Destiny up from school, go to both Tyson and Destiny's school programs, and go on adventures with them and their families. Missing my lunches with Chrissy and dinner and shows with Kimberly..I was not willing to do this.

However, every time I tried to make it work with staying, I did not feel good and ran into roadblocks. Both Kimberly and Christina offered me a place rent free so that I could finish school and do what I needed to do but neither felt like what I should do. On the other hand, everything fell completely like dominoes when I made the effort to go to TX.

My lease, which I had just signed, was surrendered without penalty due to their handyman coming to them the morning I told them I needed to move. He signed a lease and gave them the deposit and they released me and returned all of deposit and pro-rated rent for month of May because I agreed to be out before end of month. WAY more than I expected.

Apex EDI, my place of employment, said no to a 3 month remote situation but my immediate boss said yes to a 1 month agreement (much to the current Presidents way of thinking!!) and I was going to be in TX helping/house sitting for their 3 week Denmark/Norway adventure, and be making money...win win.

I arrived in TX after a beautiful drive thru Moab, parts of CO and NM and a very nice 2 day drive. Kimberly had gotten me a nice hotel in Santa Rosa NM and I slept well.

Upon my arrival I walked into a beautiful home, pristine lawn/neighborhood, to find what one could describe as a hoarding situation. paths thru the living area/master bedroom, and no counter space in the kitchen. Every surface and for several feet in front of all surfaces there was stuff. I nearly turned around and got back in the car. But I felt very welcomed and at home and knew I could help.

I had some good talks with Eva about what I could and could not do while they were gone and made a plan. I spent the evenings talking with Mike and truly enjoying myself. I was in TX for 5 weeks and made a ton of progress and relaxed, but never unpacked my car. Eva had talked about me staying for years, before I got here, Mike thought I would be here for a month and return home, so I truly did not know what the plan was going to turn into.

When they returned home from their trip they were blown away by the progress that I had made. You could hear little comments when a new cupboard/pantry was opened, wow this is even cleaned...and that made me feel good, but still figured I was going back to UT.

However, now Mike started talking about me coming back, about what we would do when I did etc. so now I had to make sure that was still what felt right. I had to return to UT for a meeting on July 6th but I felt like I should unload my car before I go.

That decision made, I chose a different route back to UT via Oklahoma, Kansas, different part of Colorado and enjoyed that drive as well, but it was more main highway and less scenic view.

I stayed in UT for a couple of weeks, then headed for Oregon to visit my parents. I had one of the more enjoyable trips to OR that I have ever had. I spent quite a bit of time with my friend Jody, spent several days with Dorothy/taking her to lunch/store etc. and mom and I went to the coast with Geri Goe. That was the funnest trip to the coast that we have ever taken. It is tradition that we make that journey when I come up each year but we had missed out on a couple so we were looking forward to it. Geri missed her turn off in the heavy traffic however, so we went the 6 miles to the next exit and planned to turn around but decided to see what the GPS had to offer instead. So we plugged in our destination and hit shortest route. Off we went. We ended up on a back road that was spectacular looking. We went thru hops country, which was truly beautiful. lots of farms and crops that were stunning and ended up riding a ferry when the road ended over the Willamette River. I had never been on a ferry and was thrilled with the opportunity. We all said that we could probably never find that same route again but it was so very very worth it. We then enjoyed shopping at the outlet mall, taking pictures of the gorgeous ocean, perfect seafood lunch, and then going to Depoe Bay to enjoy the ocean some more. What an amazing day!!!

While in OR we went to The Dalles to see my grandma and celebrate her birthday, 94 I believe, we went to Phyllis and Cleary's joint bday party that the kids threw for them, and I was able to see their son Marty that I used to sit at the school bus stop with everyday, and several more people that I do not get to see very often. All in all, it was a very wonderful journey to Oregon, one of the best

I then returned to UT for a week or so before heading to CA to see Larry, my biological father. I was able to talk to him face to face and explain why I was heading to TX and what I would be doing there. Before I left he was onboard. Was a short but good visit with him. He is now feeling so well that he is playing pool at the senior center and doing some things that I never thought he would do.

then on Sunday August 16th I headed back to UT for final good-byes and packing. I was able to see most everyone during those few weeks I spent in UT this summer. I had a wonderful time and thoroughly enjoyed my family/grandkids. We got to do some fun things and enjoy our time together, at least I did lol.

I headed back to TX on Wednesday August 19th and took yet another road to TX for more adventure. I ended up on a road in CO that was so spectacular. not good for quick travel as thru the mountains the speed limits were 10-25 miles an hour and you needed to obey those as you were on a road with no guardrail and a 7,792 drop (yes I looked it up!) stunning to the eye but also draining when you are driving. I was lucky in that they had construction that caused a wait so I was able to look around.

The 2nd time I got stopped for construction this gray haired man with only half his teeth came to my window and said that he had to ask all the pretty girls to get out of the car and look at the sites with him. I told him he needed to keep looking down the line of cars to find a pretty girl then, he just laughed and said he wanted to show me a waterfall, I replied that I had seen one a ways back coming around the corner. He explained that this one you could only see from the side of the road, not from the car. So figuring he would not push me over the canyon with so many witnesses, or the belief that he would be prosecuted quickly with so many witnesses, I stepped out of the car.

I am so very glad that I did. The waterfall that you did indeed need to stand and look straight down to see was worth all the slow drive/construction put together. Absolutely breathtaking. We chatted while looking out over the canyon view and I was able to really breath and relax. I said good-bye when he got the all clear to let us go and headed out again.

I ended up staying in the same hotel in Santa Rosa NM which was a tad disheartening as I had been on the road for approx. 1 1/2 hours longer than I had the last time I reached that spot! But alas, it was a great place to stay and I slept well.

Ended up doing not as well on the 2nd day of the journey. Missed my turn off, and didnt realize it until it was too late to turn around. So used the atlas/mapquest/GPS to figure out a side road to connect me back up with highway 246, which I had used the 1st time but had wanted to avoid this time as I was trying to go on new route/more main highway the 2nd day. But I made it. Ran into flash flood warning rains as I entered the last 3 hours of the journey which also made the 2nd day a bit more tiring...but arrived "home" safe and sound about dinner time on Thursday August 20th.

Mike brought home pizza, breadsticks, and wings and we had dinner, then played Ticket to Ride USA and Ticket to Ride Asia. read scriptures and ventured off to bed.

I slept 8 hours!!! then spent Friday just relaxing. Everyone was gone, Mike at work, Nghi at school, and Eva at dentist. I just read my book and dozed. When Mike got home we had dinner then started rearranging my bedroom/moving boxes. Nghi returned home around 9 and Eva went to bed and Mike, Nghi and I read scriptures. Mike and I then played Ticket to Ride Germany. I won a game then he won a game but it was after midnight so we saved the tie breaker for another day.

Saturday I read in the morning as that is Mike and Nghi's only day to sleep and then when I joined everyone we made green smoothies, I scrubbed the upstairs bathroom I use, then Eva and I went to the pool (only 2-5 people in it the whole time we were there!!) and we did water aerobics, well I did, and walked. She had knee replacement not too long ago and is trying to walk and get used to it in a low impact environment. The pool felt great and the sun was behind the clouds so was comfortable. I did get a sunburn on my shoulders because it has been so long since I have been in a bathing suit, but it is just slight burn and does not feel bad, and will be tan soon. I enjoyed the hour and a half in the pool very much.

then Saturday night 3 missionary's serving in the the Vietnamese branch came to teach Nghi a lesson. Nghi had cooked all day to make Spring rolls, Cabbage rolls/soup, and some beef dish...not sure what it was called but it was really good. Fillet Mignon with red/green peppers, red onions, and soy sauce type sauce??? then a traditional sweet bean soup for dessert. I loved the beef dish and Cabbage rolls/soup but not the Spring rolls or dessert, however, I did try a couple of bites of every dish offered. The missionary's were very happy with the meal. I then sat and listened to Vietnamese lesson and enjoyed the talking/visiting with them.

at the end of dinner Eva received a call to let her know that her mother had passed away. So sad, but she was ok she said, as she had lost her mother a few years ago to Alzheimer's and this was just her body finally going. It was a blessing in that her mom died as result in injury from falling out of wheelchair on Tuesday, not the long slow years and years long death that Alzheimer's usually befalls individuals. Still hard I am sure. I am not ready to lose my parents.

Then last night Mike helped me move another bit of furniture in my room and helped me set my TV up so I was able to watch a show on Netflix last night. Made me feel a bit more at home. We still have a ways to go in my room and in the house in general but we will get there.

I miss UT and family so much. Would love to go back and offer to be housekeeper/nanny for Kimberly in order to be close to everyone. But I am going to spend a year/year and a half making a life here, then we shall see what adventure life brings. I may even find me a cowboy lol!!!