I was talking to a friend at work today, and the story about fourth year hike came up.  She said I should write it down - so here is the story.

This has been several years ago.  

I got to go with several girls on the Fourth Year Hike.  In the LDS Church, it is something special that girls get to do as they develop their camping skills.  Our Bishop also went with us, as well as our Stake President (Joseph Smith) who was also from our ward.  

This hike is supposed to be a five mile hike.  Our hike - thanks to a drill sergeant sort of stake leader was a twelve hour hike!!  I'm sure we covered more than five miles.  I think we hiked from Alta to Brighton and back to Alta.  There wasn't one bit of level ground.  Also, we were hiking on slate  - pieces of slate that slipped every time you stepped on it. 

My girls did great, and actually made it to camp an hour or two before me.  I promised President Smith I would NEVER go hiking again.  And I have been true to my word.

This same drill sergeant had the rest of the girls do a "one mile hike".  My girls were prepared with water and treats.  This one mile hike turned into about a five mile hike.  (I didn't go - because I was already sick of hiking)  My girls gave their treats and water away.  It was a hot day.  When they got back, most of the girls were dehydrated.  We gave the girls water and all was well.

Until . . .  the middle of the night!!  I started hearing sounds that make me gag - girls in the other tent were starting to barf.  My friend, Ruth Ann who was in that tent called out.  "Jimi, come in here and help us.  The girls are throwing up."  Just the words make me gag.  I said I would pass anything into them that they needed, but I just couldn't go in there.  Ruth Ann helped the girls get their sleeping bags, and what ever else was barfed on into some big plastic garbage bags.  I was on the outside of the tent while this happened.

Finally, things were good in that tent.  I went to crawl back into my tent.  The zipper was stuck at about the twelve inch mark.  I had to slither in there like a snake.  My daughter, Brenda had escaped the barfs now had a nose bleed that was like a red fountain.  No matter what we did, that thing did not want to stop bleeding.  I think that went on for about half an hour.  

The rest of camp was uneventful - thank heavens - for me.

As time went on, Ruth Ann couldn't ever find the bag that had her pants in it.  Sometimes I envision it as a giant, black HUGE plastic bag, bouncing it's way across the USA.

On Saturday my hubby & I went for a walk at South Towne Mall.  As we approached the door, a little guy, maybe 6 or 7 opened up the door, handed me a beautiful long stemmed pink rose and said, "Happy Mother's Day."

He was so cute - reddish hair, big smile.  I thanked him, and went to his father, the guardian of the roses, and thanked him, too.  What a wonderful gesture.  That little boy is learning a lot about how to make a woman happy.

Thank you!!

This was my wall at work.

Valentine's Day was one of my mom's favorite holidays.  When we were in elementary school Mom would make heart cookies for our class.  When I was in second grade, i tripped on a stair going in, my box of cookies dropped and most of them were ruined.  My mom was sympathetic to my pain.

In later years, when we had all grown, gone and had families of our own, Mom would always sent us a valentine in the mail with a dollar for a treat.  That meant a lot to me.  I still have the last valentine she sent me.

I love valentine's day, too.  At work we have co-workers appreciation week.  From Monday through Friday, we put treats and valentines, notes or other happy things into a super large envelope that we made in our meeting the week before.  We were suppose to be sneaky about it.  Some were, some were not.  It was a very fun time.  I'm looking forward to next year.

Knee Replacement

Just as I am feeling almost recovered from my accident, Al, my hubby has had knee surgery.  It's been two and a half weeks, and he is in so much pain.  Until the steri (?) strips fall off, he has to have his knee covered with plastic wrap every time he takes a shower.  He is on crutches.  He has to wear compression stockings - that I have to put on him.  He really can't wear his jeans right now, because they are too stiff on the knee.  What a challenge!

Everyone that has done this says it is so worth it.  I can't wait until I feel like it has been worth it.

At least these crutches don't aggravate  your under arms!