A Weekend of Celebrations

This weekend we were able to celebrate with Andrew and Lindsay as they graduated from USU and with Matt and Asia Briscoe at their wedding reception. It was fun to spend time with family and enjoy the milestones of this next generation.

We went to the Coppermill for dinner Friday night.

Andrew and Lindsay at the College of Engineering Commencement.

Afterward, we stopped and got an Aggie Ice Cream cone. Nice!

We missed the wedding that occurred earlier in the day but that evening we went down to Bountiful for Matt and Asia's wedding reception. It was a fun event because we got to visit with Briscoe 3s, there was lots of good food, and the home where the reception was held was beautiful.

Diana and Emmy looking stunning.

Mike and Grace are so cute.

They are both starting to work on getting mission papers ready to turn in.

The whole family

Daniel, Grace, Michael, Asia, Matthew, Sandi, Diana, Tom, Emmelia, David

Mothers

To Mother -

Whose love keeps me going in in times that seem bad

And who's taught me the value of blessings I've had.

To Mother -

Who is wise and loving and, in her own way,

Has made me the person I am today.

This is a post I've wanted to write for a while but have procrastinated because I know I won't be able to do it justice. Nevertheless, I need to do this and this seems to be the appropriate time.

I have been blessed with three of the most wonderful mothers any girl could ever hope to have.

My mother was an extremely talented, fun-loving, and hard working lady. She was always busy with a dozen different projects - sewing, painting, music, cooking..... She loved the gospel and was always willing to serve in whatever way she could. That was one of the greatest challenges for her after MS started taking it's toll - not being able to do all those things she loved to do and not being able to do the mothering things that she longed to do. She faced her trials with courage and grace. Even when she was hurting, she would try to laugh and reassure us that she was okay.

My Grandmother, Great Grandmother, Mother, sisters and me.

My mother died 7 months after Dennis and I got married. Luckily for me, I have a wonderful mother-in-law. Lola was there to help and support during all of our young married years. She was there to lend a helping hand and support when each of the babies were born. She watched the kids while we went on trips and did such a good job that it was never a sure bet that they'd want to come back home afterward. She's been there for me through so many of the good times as well as the bad and always lent support with her kindness, patience and love.

Twenty-two years ago, my dad remarried. Nedra has been a wonderful mother and grandmother. She is a remarkable woman. Her example, courage, and strength have taught and inspired me to be a better person. Her love for me and our family has blessed us all.

I hope when I grow up, I can be even a little bit like each of them.

I love you all!

Jessica and the Izzy Family

Jessica came home last weekend just after attending a "Tea Party" bridal shower. Here is the hat she created for the event -

So cute and creative!

This weekend, all of the Isrealsen family was together. Katie finished her semester at BYU-I and a band trip to Canada and will soon be leaving for Nauvoo on her mission. Michelle asked if I would come over and take a couple of pictures so here are some of the results:

Addison has just discovered her hands. They are pretty fascinating and yummy.

As you can tell, I had a lot of fun taking pictures of baby Addi. She is growing up so quickly.

Spring Flooding

This is the pasture to the East of Wescor, early Monday morning - not many worries of flooding.

Photo by Karole Sorensen - Tuesday morning

We had a very wet fall, followed by lots and lots of snow all winter and now a rainy/snowy spring. All that water is wonderful for our desert climate and it means that we should have plenty of water to meet our needs through the summer and fill our reservoirs. The problem is that all that snow has to melt and all the rain has to run off and the rivers are already full. This last weekend, it rained foooorrrrr days and now we have rivers that are flowing above flood stage. It is causing a lot of damage to homes, roads and public areas as well as creating a lot of work for public works officials.

On Monday, my friend, Darlene, and I had talked to several people about some of the flooding that was going on along the Blacksmith Fork river so we decided to take a drive and see what was really happening.

We knew that things were going to be interesting when we headed down 1700 S. toward Wescor and the Channel 5 helicopter flew over. Almost the whole RV park across the street from Wescor was under water.

Tuesday afternoon

We tried to drive down Hollow Rd. We got about 3/4 of the way down and then the road was closed off by local residence while they worked at pulling a tree that had fallen in the river and was blocking and backing up the water. We turned around and went the long way around to get to Blacksmith Fork canyon. There were waterfalls coming off the mountain were there had never been waterfalls before, at least that we had ever known of. The river was well over the banks all the way up the canyon. It was amazing to see whole campgrounds underwater - just the tops of the picnic tables showing above the running water. At the Hydropark park, only the hand rails on the bridges are visible.

Later that evening, I drove past Wescor again and the front yard of the building was a lake and there was 4-5 inches of water flowing over the road.

Wescor's front lawn and the road. Photo by Karole Sorensen - Tuesday Morning

When Dennis went down this morning early, there was a big log stuck under the bridge and water was about 8 or 9 inches deep all the way down the street.

One of the logs stuck under the bridge. Photo by Dennis Briscoe. Tuesday morning

Photo by Karole Sorensen - Tuesday Morning

Photo by Karole Sorensen - Tuesday Morning

Today's work was a little different for some of the employees.

Photo by Karole Sorensen - Tuesday Morning

Alyna's Birthday

Last weekend, we celebrated Alyna's 19th birthday. It may not have been the most exciting day of her life but she came through it with her typical sweetness and graciousness.

She actually began celebrating on Thursday with a dinner with Grandma and Grandpa Hatch at Angie's. Then on Friday, we went out to dinner at the Black Pearl and then came home and watched the latest installment of Harry Potter.

On her birthday, we had one of her favorite breakfasts - monkey bread, fruit, and chocolate milk. That was a real treat considering we are all dieting. Then she went and had her hair colored and trimmed. Aaaaah. That always feels so good. She spent some time visiting with Sam and then came to watch our ward talent show. That evening, the family all gathered to have cake and open presents.

She didn't want to blow out the candles (we could only find 2) on her cake -

it gets germs on it so we stuck the candles in a bowl of grapes.

Happy Brithday baby girl. I love you!

A Busy and Interesting Week

This past week was spring break for many Utah school kids. It's always a time we all look forward to - warm weather and no school for a few days. This year we had a whole week Whoot!

I got a little yard work done, made good progress at physical therapy, and got some organizing around the house done. It started raining and then snowing on Thursday and snowed for three days. The wet heavy snow wreck havoc in our yard. The worst damage was to one of our globe willow tree - it actually split in half.

While it was snowing, I spent some time sewing. I had cut out some fabric to make a handbag several months ago but didn't have time to work on it until now. I had so much fun making the first one that I got a second one made .

It was a busy family weekend. It began Saturday morning with Anya's baptism in South Jordan.

It was a nice ceremony and she was so sweet and beautiful. Liz gave a beautiful talk on baptism.

Afterward, we drove over to Murray and helped Shaynie and her family set up for Traz and Stephanie's Open House.
I helped get things set up and decorated while Dennis ran around picking up cakes, ice cream and a bunch of other last minute things. It was a fairly simple set-up as far as church receptions go. The basic theme was a puzzle with these thoughts:

"God made many puzzle pieces but only those two 'cut out' for each other, can fit together to create a perfect and beautiful picture."

"We fit so well...it's like pieces of a puzzle... the way our hands just melt into one, the way I feel complete when I'm with you...like the pictures finally completed and I'll never have to wonder what I'm missing."

This is the cake Shaynie asked me to make. It turned out okay - the names could have been a lot better but they were all pleased. It was a bit harder to cut than a normal cake but they got it cut.

It was fun to be able to spend time working together and visiting. We don't get many chances to do that.

Jesscia got back from running the Moab Marathon in time to come a visit for a little bit before heading to Providence. It was the first chance we had to visit with Jordan since returning from his mission.

Traz and Stephanie are quite the dancers and even Shaynie got out on the dance floor.

Today, Nathan blessed Addison in the 4th ward. Nate gave Addy a really nice blessing and there were many, many family members there to support them. Kristie, Michelle and Grandma Briscoe made her beautiful dress. It is twice as long as she is tall.

It was fun to attend 4th ward again and see so many friends. There were about 50 people at Izzys for dinner afterward so it was quite the party.