Dear family and dear friends
Three days after mom’s passing in August, Val and I flew to Seattle
to
witness and celebrate a wedding of our eldest granddaughter in Bow, Washington,
at Beau Lodge. We heard: “Mawiage is what bwings us togevah today!”
Pachelbel’s Canon in D, "One in Christ” added melody to an afternoon beneath the forested canopy. 
Our arrival home connected with grandchildren packed to camp at Lilly Lake. (Note the spelling.) Our GPS set for “Lily,” directed us to a 1.8-mile all-terrain vehicle trail of large, round river rocks. After hearing from a backseat, “Grandpa, my stomach used to be comfy, but is not so comfy anymore!” and not knowing whether to continue or turn around, we hiked forward to said lake to learn reservations were unheard of here. Reminded of Matthew 18:10 “their angels do ALWAYS behold the face of the Father” a 10-year-old asked “May I pray?” A prayer and request to sing a song with words “ONWARD,” preceded a kind couple in a black all-terrain vehicle. Steve and Becky ushered us back to a forlorn, empty, alternative site. Steve, seeing crestfallen countenances, asked if we would like to share his flushable toilet and recreational vehicle site at the entry to the Lily Lake trail. "Yes!!"
Darkness gathering quickly. I emerged from the clean RV to find Steve, Val, and grandchildren positioning poles of our green tent. Connected, crafted in a calm, collected covering, we bedded down, content.
(this is Val practicing in our yard. Yes, it can pay to practice. But home is NOT always exactly the same!)
About 2:30 a.m. scouting a sagebrush and silently slinking back, aiming to avoid dancing of distant drops, I zipped the tent to shut out brewing of a billowing Uintah summer storm. In a rush to bed before pitch dark, stakes for the tent had been postponed. Walls of the tent were burgeoning. 10-year-old hands pushed to steady a tent in dramatic diagonal sway. Again, a request for prayer. Remembering disciples discouraged at a sleeping Master, and glancing at a brother snuggled slumbering, petitions arose to protect other children camping who might feel scared. As the sweet words were offered, the wind quieted directly. Pelting drops ceased. Four campers bedded down again for rest. Arising to sauté sausages, eggs, and pancakes; and whittle pine prongs to protect Grandpa Ivin Gee’s relic camp stove from drippings of jumbo marshmallows; some of us walked around Mirror Lake, and all enjoyed Quiddler and Golf card games with new friends.
Days later, Becky texted a photo of the REAL Lilly Lake. By Camas. Lessons learned: Spelling matters! Maps may help when reception is in question. Asking for direction can lead to friendship. Prayer can change things.
Camping gear mostly stowed; grandchildren headed for school; we headed directly for BYU Education Week.
Highlights: Millennial Choir 250th celebration. Ideas of
music for deceased loved ones. Invitation
to allow covenants to overcome habits and weakness, trust a compensating power
of Christ. 
Returning, we opened home and hearts to gather family (this happened in August AND September) :
Neighbors and friends from Kaysville offered
support. With clothing, jewelry, paintings, furniture,
photographs, letters (and more) carefully distributed, donning of altered skirts;
gems and jewels examined and collected; games, conversations, meals, and services offered
replete reminiscence. 
Views of valleys and mountain glens preceded a gathering at a Paris Pioneer palace.
Can “All [be] safely gathered in, before our winter storm begins”? "Yes!"
(Ask Grandpa about a 4 AM call to collect a forgotten stroller on the way to an early flight!)
(Or our meteorologist neighbor tracking our tiny tornado Friday.)
With power in words “remember, remember,” we see hearts can lift as they turn. Thank you for turning a few pages of majestic moments with us. We love you! Laurene and Val
