Idaho here we come . . . .

The last three weeks have flown by so fast. I thought I would have so much time to prepare for the trip and here I am not quite ready to start packing, but . . . .

From the time school got out we have been working on our yard to try and fix the rest of the storm damage from last year. Quick recap: June 8, 2008 we lost three large trees and many branches in our yard. The trees hit our house. We had to have our roof replaced and some siding. The trees had to come down and our lawn had to be re-landscaped. The insurance thank goodness paid for the house repair, but the lawn and trees have been our responsibility. Slowly, it is happening. We did get everything cleaned up and some new (much smaller) trees planted on the side of the house last fall. Then, this spring another tree that was probably in the same root mass could not stand by itself and was blown over in another wind storm. We were starting to feel like we were starring in the movie, Groundhog Day. Well, that tree is gone and two additional smaller trees and a bush have been replanted. While we were worrying about getting the last tree down and the other trees planted, weeds and grass grew in the empty spot where the massive olive tree had been—we were saving that area to work on for this summer. After lots of weeding, putting down black landscaping paper, planting and replanting, it is almost done. I am missing my little windmill (still on the shelves at Lowes), cutting a little more sod out and another yard or two of mulch and it will be done. Maybe that will be Family Home Evening tomorrow. If not, maybe Lorin will have so much spare time when we are gone, he will finish putting down the mulch and cutting the sod away from the flower beds. I’ll have to do some sweet talking to get it done. Anyway, I am very thankful to our wonderful neighbors who helped take down the trees and haul away the branches and stumps. Our neighbor Brent is a master of chainsaws. It is like they were one machine for HOURS!!! Our neighbor, Rose Mary, who lives across the street and is a master gardener, helped redesign our yard. She went above and beyond and gave us from her yard many of the plants and a bush. When you see the light at the end of the tunnel it makes you just want to cartwheel.

The other change is our mode of transportation--a motorbike-- for home/visiting teaching, trips to the church or errands. I think it started out last summer as a way to save gas, but now it is just a fun adventure. As Jerry Fulk told us, “Motorbikes can make you go to the next state for ice cream—be careful.” We are beginning to understand. We are trying to take mini trips each week to prepare ourselves for our trip on bikes in July to Tennessee. All in the name of preparation we must go on a date each week—sounds like a good excuse. Life has changed, but I think it is for the better.