Trip to Idaho

***WARNING… IT’S A LONG ONE!!!***

On Saturday, June 29, I receive a call from GW Avery, my mom’s fiancé. He asks me if he should take my mother to the hospital and they had been in an ATV accident while herding cattle. I ask two questions: Is she hurting? and Did she hit her head? To which both were answered with “YES”. Concerned that she may have a concussion, I instructed them to get to the emergency room. Not even 10 minutes later my mother calls me and asks what could happen if she didn’t go. Shaking my head I said “Mother, if you have a concussion and it’s bad enough, you can die. Get your butt to the hospital!” With that, she submitted!

My grandmother and I discussed the possibility of going up to Idaho, at this point we didn’t know what was going on. Later that night we get another call from GW saying that mom was being admitted to the hospital with 8 broken ribs, not cracked, BROKEN. Thankfully there was no concussion. So grandma and I determined, at the insistence of Jonathon, that we would go up to Idaho and help mother out. There was no way she would be able to do a lot of the things that she normally did! So July 2, we headed out on the long drive to Idaho!

Ethen loved helping to feed and take care of the horses. He wanted to ride one so bad. Of course we were going to let him, but he would have to wait. Well, wait he did NOT want to do! One afternoon he comes SCREAMING into the house, covered in dirt, grass and his face bloody! After calming and cleaning him up he told me he fell out of a tree. No worries, he’s a boy and boys climb trees. Later that night he confides in me about what REALLY happened. Our conversation went as such:

E: Mommy, I’m sorry but… I lied.

Me: Oh, what did you lie about?

E: (takes a breath) I didn’t fall out of a tree

Me: Well, what did you fall off of then?

E: I tried to ride the horse. I didn’t know he was going to start running and I feel.

Me: Oh wow, Ethen. That must have been pretty scary. I’m so glad you’re ok. You could have been REALLY hurt!

At this point I realize the enormity of what COULD have happened. He was so lucky. That horse could have trampled him! I’m thankful that it wasn’t worse! I scooped him up in my arms and all though I was a little upset that he lied to me, my concern for his safety won out. I explained to him that he didn’t have to lie to me and that he could tell me the truth.

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The next day – July 4th, Ethen went to work with GW and got to ride on a swather! He loved it!

We even got to see some fireworks! It wasn’t a bad show – just bad pictures! We probably weren’t suppose to, but we snapped a quick picture on the train that was parked where we were!

I think this is the best shot that I got of the fireworks. Wish I could take those stunning images that you see in magazines! BUT – I don’t have the camera for that!!!

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Ethen was a HUGE help to grandma – he even helped water the flowers!

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We even made our own pizzas! Sauce… cheese… LOTS of black olives!!!

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After church one Sunday we headed up to GW’s land for a campfire picnic! Roasted hotdogs, potato salad, chips and marshmallows – yum!

Me and my g-ma! I love that woman!!!

Panoramic view!!! So beautiful!

Ethen got to ride in the back of the truck on the way back. He loved it!

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The mosquitoes were horrendous in Idaho – Ethen was practically eaten alive… and this is just his legs!!!

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There was a massive storm system that went through Idaho while we were there. Thunderstorms for several days and even a TORNADO warning (WHAT – In Idaho!) During one storm I actually watched a bolt of lightning strike a transformer and it subsequently exploding! WOW! After the storm passed we went outside and saw this amazing double rainbow! Sweet!!!

Well that’s pretty much our trip. We had one more even, mom and GW’s wedding, but I’ll save THAT for another posting!

Where Has the Time Gone?

Not only is this a post about my anniversary - but it's also my 150th post!!!

 

Jonathon and I celebrated our fourth wedding anniversary this month. It amazes the both of us that it’s ONLY been four years, it seems like it’s been longer – MUCH longer!

Our Love Story -

We met, online, while living in San Diego. We chatted and became quick friends and finally decided to meet in person. Jonathon was serving in the Navy at the time and he was planning a bon-fire at Mission Bay and invited me to join the group. Of course I didn’t want to turn down some fun like that so I happily obliged. This was back in the time when NEITHER Jonathon or I were living a life of high morals. We both had issues with drinking and needless today – that night I had a bit too much. I planned to sleep in the back seat of my car until the morning, but Jonathon was having none of that! Being the gentleman that he is, he offered to drive me home. Somehow, in my incoherent state, I was able to guide him, turn by turn, to my apartment. A feet I’m sure I’ll never be able (nor will I have to) to repeat! Shortly after that, Jonathon and I started hanging out together and just having fun. We visited, quite often, a dueling piano bar called The Shout House. It was a pretty cool place with a great atmosphere. One night, Jonathon decided to drink a little more than he should have and then call me. I was not with him that night and don’t really remember the conversation but Jonathon says our conversation went something like this…

“Hello”… “Brandy… I like you!”… “I like you too Jonathon.” “No… I REAAAAALY LIKE YOU!”… “Ok”…

I’m not sure how he won me after a call like that… but he did! Shortly after that we lost contact with each other. Jonathon went on a deployment and I was busy with everyday life. It would be almost a year and a half later when we would re-connect – through MySpace!

Much had changed in my life in that short period of time. I rejoined the Marines, had a baby and started living my life the in a manner that was good in the sight of God! I started going back to church and was in the process of taking my temple prep classes when Jonathon and I started dating. Jonathon too had turned his life around. After a hard deployment, divorce and lows that only he could describe (suicidal thoughts) he finally turned back to the God that never left him. We were not members of the same church, I was a Mormon and Jonathon a member of the Assembly of God church, that Jonathon invited me to church with him. At this point I was smack in the middle of Temple Prep so I made a deal with him, since I couldn’t miss my classes if he would come with me that Sunday, I would attend his church once my classes were complete! Little did I know, that event would change our lives!

That Sunday came and I explained to Jonathon that our full Sunday services were 3 hours long and I was ok with him only staying for the first part and not Sunday School classes. He humored me and said he would stay for the whole thing, even though I would not be with him the whole time! During my Temple Prep class Jonathon attended Gospel Principles taught by Matt Romney (Yes the son of that guy!). It was during this ONE class that most, if not all, of the questions that had hounded Jonathon his entire life, were answered! On the way home Jonathon asked me how one becomes a member of the church. I said he would want to talk to the missionaries! I was cool, calm and collected on the outside, but I was completely giddy at this point!

A month later Jonathon was baptized and a year after that we were married in the San Diego Temple.

It seems that heaven and earth aligned at the perfect time to bring us together! I can’t believe that I have been blessed so richly with my family! I have a wonderful man as a husband and I am more in love with him today that I was the day we married!

So – for our anniversary Jonathon got the hook up! A room at Treasure Island, dinner and tickets to see the Cirque Du Soleil show, Mystère! It was lots of fun to just get away – while staying!

First – The Drive and Check in!

This is the main reason why I stay away from the Strip… too crowded for me!

Took this picture for Lil’man… He freaked out when I showed him Bumblebee was on the Strip!

Our room – pretty nice huh!

The view from the top – well 29th floor! Jonathon about had a heart attack when he looked out the window and looked down. Not too smart for someone afraid of heights!

This was a cool bike that was on display. It was built by a local shop and weighed over 900 lbs. Of that, 250 was crap metal that was pulled, twisted and turned to create the look! Pretty amazing!

We explored outside a bit! This is Siren’s Cove – a free show plays 4 times nightly (not that great if you ask me, it used to be MUCH better!)

Off to dinner at the Seafood Shack. The food and atmosphere was amazing!

Our appetizer, crab and spinach dip on toasted bread. It was yummy!!!

My fish and chips were awesome, to include the original recipe tartar sauce!

Next stop was the show! This was my favorite part! I have seen the show before with my brother and best friend, Jenna, but that was years ago!!! These were literally the best seats in the house, 5th row and center stage! You could see the sweat coming form the performers! It was amazing!!!

This is us in the theater waiting for the show to start!!!

After the show we ventured back outside to watch the Siren’s show. There we met two Marine Lance Corporals our celebrating the Marine Corps Ball. They had just returned from a tour in Afghanistan. It was fun hanging out with them for a few minutes!

The next morning we went to pick up Ethen. I loved this picture of my favorite people walking hand in hand! They are so awesome!!!

Well there you have it! I told Jonathon that I think he’s gonna have a hard time topping this anniversary. Not that it’s necessary to out-do one celebration from the next, but this one was AMAZING!
Brandy