It was a Green Pond kind of spring...

This spring, we all had a few free hours one evening 

so we headed to Green Pond.

Rascal joined us for his first time.

This was only Zac's second time to the pond 

as we heard about it and hiked it lots with Hunter 

when Zac was on his mission in the Carolinas.

Zac says he loves this beautiful little hike too!

Vickie and her family were wanting to go hiking 

so a few weeks later we got to visit 

Green Pond with them.

It was exciting to see the difference 

a few weeks made in the plants.

The trees had all leafed out. 

We saw critters in all shapes and sizes...

(Robin eggs)

(little snake)

(someone's dog)

and picked up pebbles along the hike 

to try and skip across the pond. 

We also found lots of mud!     

;)

“Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth find reserves of strength 

that will endure as long as life lasts. 

There is something infinitely healing 

in the repeated refrains of nature -- 

the assurance that dawn comes after night, 

and spring after winter.” 

-Rachel Carson

Tar Heels!!!!

March Madness ended well in this guys eyes!

Let's hear it for the North Carolina Tar Heels!!! 

Tar

Heels

Tar

Heels

Tar

Heels

!!!!!!!

Gone to Carolina, traveling...

This summer after Zac came home from his mission 

to his beloved people in the Carolinas 

and before Hunter left home for his mission 

to the wonderful people of New Hampshire, 

we hopped a plane or two. 

We went back to Zac's most recent stomping grounds 

so he could introduce us to the people and places 

he'd loved in North and South Carolina.

Traveling in and of itself can be an adventure 

and one of our biggest laughs came from this little guy 

who had found a unique way to pass time 

while waiting for his flight. 

The twigs noticed him first and snapped this picture. 

Can you see the sign above him as he rides the moving sidewalk hand rails?

Yup, he was definitely embracing creativity!

We loved the green that is the Carolinas!

This was our girlie's first time on a plane 

and all three twigs on one flight or another

 got the chance to enjoy a window seat. 

Yikes - we were sad to see our favorite Antelope Island on fire!

On our last layover as I watched people hurrying by, 

carts zipping here and there, 

I considered the marvel it is to fly across the country 

and the orchestration required 

to make things run as smoothly as they do. 

It amazes me!

Counting down the days...

One of the terrific people who trusts me to clean his/her teeth 

is a happy, optimistic man 

who is approaching the age of retirement 

(though you'd never guess it.)

 Most people I get to visit with who are nearing retirement 

are excited at the prospect 

and are counting down the days, weeks, or months. 

When I asked about his retirement plans, 

his response surprised me. 

Counting down the days 

is not in the plans for this awesome guy. 

Not that he's planning on working forever, 

 he just wants to live today to it's fullest.

 Counting down the days would distract him 

from enjoying what today holds. 

He says he'll think about retirement when the time comes.

How smart is that!

I've heard Thomas S. Monson call it

"finding joy in the journey" and "living in the present."

We have a lot of "counting down the days"

 opportunities in our family right now.

There's

counting down the days till we get to have Zac back with us, 

counting the days we'll all be together 

before Hunter heads off to Timbuktu 

(New Hampshire), 

counting down the days till vacations

and parties

and reunions

and the temple

and homecomings

and farewells.

So many counting down the days!!

I'm really trying not to count down the days. 

(It's harder than it sounds!)

I'm trying to follow my friend's wisdom and enjoy what today holds!

I gotta tell ya though...

the green grass of summer

with it's accompanying 

 evenings devoid of the scene above is calling my name...

with a bullhorn! 

;)