Betsy's Very Brave Weekend

We haven't hiked as much as I had hoped this summer-- It has been a very full of so many good things. This was a particularly enjoyable hike to Ghost Falls up Corner Canyon.

Do you see the temple in the distance?  So beautiful.

No good is complete without a good snake catch...

...or a lizard.  

George, Leland and I went climbing up some large steep boulders.  It felt very dangerous and brave to me.  Honestly, I probably had no business doing what I did, but it was fun.

Perhaps you cannot perceive the steep incline or sense the danger I faced from this picture.  But trust me--- the risk for serious bodily injury was real.  But this wasn't the bravest thing I did this weekend.

My friend Gretchen is teaching me to ride horses.  Her horse named Tigger to be exact.  I walked, jogged and loped in her round pen.  I was not complete inept, so she suggested a trail ride.

So we went on a three hour trail ride up Yellow Fork Canyon.  

It was breathtakingly beautiful and so much fun!  I loved every minute of it.  I don't know that Tigger loved every minute of it.  She got tired (I don't blame her), so we took a little short cut back to the trailhead.  This new trail was shorter but markedly steeper.  

Once again, I don't think the picture does the steep grade justice.  We're talking "Man From Snowy River" steep.  But I didn't panic and I was adventurous and brave.  But this still wasn't the bravest thing I did this weekend.

Do you want to know what was the bravest thing I did this weekend?  Like, bravest by A LOT!  It's the bravest thing I've done in a long time.  

Okay, here's the story.  When I was in Mexico with Gretchen back in May, I reverted to my Island Betsy persona.  In which I am relaxed and fearless and most assuredly lacking in judgement.  In this dangerous (but extremely enjoyable) state of mind, I received a message from "Bart" -- a fellow Texas Fort Worth missionary (and close friend of Bethany's) who had just finished up his mission and was planning his homecoming talk.  The question:  Would I be willing to sing the song he and Bethany had worked on and recorded-- "My Lord".  In truth, I LOVE this song!  It is one of my favorites she's written and Bart created the most beautiful accompaniment.   

 

But a SOLO??  In his ward in Draper?  BIG YIKES!  But you see, since I was Island Betsy in Mexico and not my normal self at home, I agreed.  I assure you, regular life Betsy was not amused when she arrived home to this commitment

I FREAKING AGREED!  I am NOT and will never be mistaken for a vocal soloist.  I mean, I can sing, but I do not consider myself a singer (nor does anyone else).  But for Bethany and for "Bart" (whom I also adore), I will do it.  Horror of horrors, but I will do it.  I won't really know anyone in the ward, so I'll just get up there and play the part of an amazing singer.  The trained ears will know I'm a fraud, but maybe I can convince a few that I am legit.  

My plan of anonymity and acting was a good one, and it would have worked-- except-- come to find out--- Bart's home ward happened to be our old ward in Draper where we lived when Bethany and Elinor were born.  So much for not knowing anyone and no one knowing me.  Oh well--best laid plans.  

Oh friends, it was so scary.   I will just say that it went as well as could have been reasonably hoped.  Mostly, I was relieved to have it done and I probably don't need to do that ever again.

Parade After Party

We love the parade so much-- especially the time with friends and family and neighbors.  We all gather and have a great time and then it ends and we go back to our own houses.  Sadness!  I'm not done playing yet!  Our solution was to host a post parade hotdog roast and potluck hangout.  It worked out exactly how I hoped.

It was a perfect summer evening.

Jon and Misty's 9-square set was a hit!

Ah! The lovely Chase sisters

We provided hot dogs and buns and everyone brought side dishes and it turned out to be a delicious feast with no shortage of watermelon-- which is the most important part of a meal in the summer.

John Hancock made an appearance at the festivities!  My dad plays the role of various founding fathers for Patriot Camps around the the Wasatch Front.  

The Snow clan-- AKA the biggest BYU fans in the neighborhood.

Matthew, Clark, and Thano

Corrine and Jakob

Nice photobomb from Aliyah

Look at that beautiful sunset!--- Between that and the wonderful people, this evening filled up my soul.

This doesn't look dangerous at all.  Thankfully there were no injuries, but hopefully some good core memories.

3rd of July Parade 2023

 

Is there anything better than summer and kids and parades?  I suppose there are some things, but still-- summer and kids and parades are pretty dang good.

We love sharing this tradition with friends and family.  Abe sets up his shade tents and supplies everyone with popsicles and its just FUN!

Kate came seriously prepared this year.  

Little boys and firetrucks-- so cute

See the kid in the tan hat and sun glasses?  It is one of our chief joys to scream our heads off cheering for him when the Riverton Marching Band passes by.  We show no mercy in our love for Justin.  We want EVERYONE to know how much we love Justin and how proud we are to know him.  I think he secretly appreciates us:)  He's one of my piano students and he knows it's coming.

The color guard gal in the center is one of my young women and this was our first year to cheer insanely for her too.  I think she appreciated us more than Justin.  

Chaston cousins

It was a treat to have Baden and Mary's family and Marjorie and Chris's family join us.

Cousin Will and Cannon

The Riverton Rodeo 2023

The Riverton Rodeo-- we love it!  We've gone for several years now and we get ridiculously excited to go.  Abe and Greta got in line super early (as in, very first in line) to get us good seats.  Abe takes his commitment to good seats very seriously.   

This year we didn't have Elinor and Brandon because a Rodeo at 8 months pregnant is no bueno.  And of course, Bethany is still in Fort Worth on a mission, but we did have Leland (George's dance friend who stayed with us for a month for ballet summer intensive).  We are excessively fond of the gal in the blue hat and red glasses in the top center of the picture.  

Skydiving in with the American flag?  That's just awesome!  

George and Leland

This is how we celebrated our 26th wedding anniversary.  How has it been 26 years???  I love Abe and am so grateful for him.

Over the course of the evening, Faith decided that a rodeo boy was definitely for her.  She's on the lookout:)

Far and away, the high points of the rodeo are when the children are chasing the cash cow to try to grab the dollar bills attached to it's little pink cape thing.  Clearly, we are not knowledgeable in the world of cow stuff.  Anyway, the kids stampede around the arena tormenting the poor calf, until they get all the money off.  They are then sent back to their families in the stands, either celebrating their cow chasing skills or crying.  

Last year, as you may recall, in Peter's efforts to grab cash off the opposite side of the calf, he inadvertently and momentarily, rode said calf and was "bucked" to the ground.  In our efforts to comfort him and prevent a melt down at the rodeo, we all cheered for him like crazy! Peter, you are now a real bull rider!  You're so brave!  WAHOO!!! YES!  

We were very convincing.  We didn't realize that for the past year, Peter has been planning his next attempt at riding the bull. 

This time in was not inadvertent.  It was his plan all along.

Before you click  HERE to see the video, please know that no calves were harmed in the making of this video.  The same cannot be said for children.      KIDDING.  Peter was fine... mostly.  There was only a bruising and a little bit of blood.  

Peter was trampled by the calf.  He really was just fine.  He walked away and returned to amid much raucous cheering and laughter from his family.  Now, I ask you.  What is wrong with us?  Why did we find this so hilarious?  And the more we watched the video, the funnier it got.  Granted, if he'd gotten hurt for real, it wouldn't be funny.  Was this enough to discourage another attempt next year?  I don't know.

Just some hoof prints on his back.  The woman in front of Clark does not appear as amused as we were.

But this all does lead me to how I felt upon leaving the rodeo.  I love everything about the rodeo except the bareback and the bull riding.  Mostly because those are actually freaking dangerous!  Every time we've gone to the rodeo, at least one cowboy, but sometimes more, are carted out of the arena in an ambulance.  And they aren't taken out of an abundance of caution.  No, we're talking mangled limbs, unconscious, not able to move and such.  Like, DUDE!  You're never going to fully recover from that!

And I ask myself, "Is this what the spectators at the Colosseum felt like?  Did they take pleasure in watching other human beings risk life and limb?  Is this not the objectification of our fellow human beings?  How can I find the suffering of other children of God entertaining?"  

But then I think, "Well, now wait.  Those guys didn't have a choice.  They were forced to do what they did.  Those spectators are way worse than me."

But then I come back with, "Yeah, but if no crowd came to watch these cowboys, would they still do what they do?  Probably not.  The cost of my ticket is encouraging them to risk their lives for glory.  If I didn't buy a ticket, they wouldn't do this.  I am complicit in this."

But then I think, "But this is America!  I love that they can choose to do this if they want to!  'MERICA!"

In the end I come home feeling so sorry for the ones who stupidly risked it all for a moment of glory and a few bucks reward money.  And it bothers me that we never find out if they are going to be okay.  At the end of the day, will I return to the rodeo each year.  Yes, mostly likely I will, but then I will be racked with nondescript guilt for taking pleasure in another's suffering.  I'm complicated  like that.