Did you think we would ever return?

I myself can't believe how busy I have been since I last updated my blog. I don't know where to begin. Probably the most bizarre but interesting experience I've had was meeting my first Shaman here in St George Utah. Shamans are considered by some to be spiritual beings with the ability to heal, work with energies and 'see' visions. The essential characteristics of shaman are mastery of energy and fire as a medium of transformation. My curiosity was peaked, mostly by the fire ceremony that was held in a Red Rock Canyon natural ampitheater sitting high above the city of St. George. Coincidently, it was also a full moon that night. It was a most unusual experience to say the least and I now have yet another experience to add to my list.

I've been taking advantage of the gift certificate that Jason and Tawni gave me on Mothers Day to The Getaway Spa for a pedicure and of the free massage that all of the staff at the Summit Fitness Club got. My pedicure was fabulous and I left with my toenails painted black. I know it sounds bizarre, but they're georgeous!! That same night I had to bolt over to candle party that Tawni's Aunt Sandy was having at her house.

Earlier that week, we had a BBQ at Steve and Sandy's house as a going away celebration for their daughter Holly who was chosen to participate in an exclusive 6 week dance school in New York City. She is extremely talented and we are all so excited for her.



Two nights last week I went to dinner with friends. One was Tami Stepp whose husband is our new VP of Operations. They relocated here from Allentown, PA. Tami and I went to Scaldoni's a wonderful Italian restuarant here in St. George. They have a great Chicken Caeser Salad and they carry one of my favorite hard to find wines by the glass! Cheers to the Gewertziminers!

Last night I hosted a "Casual Mingle" with all of the management team from my work and their significant others. There were about 15 people here for beverages and appetizers. We had a great time and they all loved my new place and especially the views. It felt really nice to entertain a group of friends like that again.

On the nights that I wasn't attending fire ceremonies or hanging out at spa's I was busy working at the Fitness Club. I love the people there, both the staff and the members. It's really not like going to a job at all. My full time job is going well but there are a lot of changes going on.

Today was the first day that I really have not had anything demanding in quite awhile. I turned on the NASCAR race only to realize that it was NHIS at Louden New Hampshire, where I attended my first and several other NASCAR races. It made me think of all my National Distributors friends who were there in the grandstands and of each of the trips I had made there, most often with Cort. Of course, the race ended due to rain, which quickly diminished any longing I had to be there. I looked out at the beatiful blue sky and puffy white clouds here in St George and just smiled.

My little Stella is becoming quite the big girl. Tawni always has her dressed up to the hilt, in fact Tawni's dad Dave was laughing and telling me that Stella is like an accessory for Tawni! Her smile melts my heart and I can't get enough of her.

My latest read, called "The Shack" has been a real page turner. In fact, I'm ending now so that I can spend the evening reading the rest of the book. Enjoy the pics and know that I love each and every one of you!

A MidSummer's Night Dream

This picture was taken only a few minutes ago from my front porch. I worked at the Fitness Club until 8:00 pm tonight and while driving home I called Cortney to see if he wanted to walk the golf course with me tonight. He was up for it so when I pulled in the driveway he was there with two 5 irons and a pocket full of range balls. We walked a few streets over to the 11th hole and starting to hit balls from the fairway, dodging the rainbirds that were shooting water as if out of a canon. We were having a great time when we saw a truck stop on Coral Canyon Blvd, just a few feet away. We thought we were busted for sure. Instead, it was Jason, returning from his golf league with his buddies. He spotted Cort and I out on the course and jumped out to join us, his full set of golf clubs in tow. We shot around a bit and all of us were hitting Jason's amazing Ping driver. I watch in amazement at how good Jason is at golf. Cort is also good but he doesn't get to play as often as Jason. Anyway, when we finished we all walked home. Cort was giving Jason a ride up to his house as it is a little to far for Jason to walk carrying his club. When I turned around to wave goodnight to Jason, the moon was absolutely breathtaking so I ran inside and grabbed the camera.

What a wonderful evening I had with my sons. I loved the spontenaiety and how, without any planning, we all ended up at the same place hanging out together. Will someone please pinch me??

Girls Night and Fathers Day

Stella turned 5 months old this week. We can hardly believe it.

Jason, Tawni and Stella enjoy Jason's first Father Day.


Everyone came over for a big lasagne dinner for Fathers Day. After dinner and dessert we played several rounds of a new game that Jason and Tawni brought over.


It was a fun week. Girls night turned out to be so much fun. The group of women that I went with are so interesting and diverse in their backgrounds. They range from Realtors, to Interior Designers to Bookstore owners. We laughed so hard that we found other patrons of the restarant a little put out with us. We are all reading the book The Shack and are going to be having a "Shack Party" to discuss it.

Jason and Cort are right in the thick of the mowing season. It was 106 degrees today and they mowed 16 or so lawns after they finished their full time jobs at Electric Wholesale Supply. Jason has about 60 clients in Coral Canyon so they are really busy. The lawn at my new house was left in pretty rough condition but it looks 100 times better since the boys have been taking care of it.

I have another busy week but I get to have a free massage at the fitness club that I work at. They are giving all the employees 1 free hour massage. Now THATS a benefit!

Love to all!
Glenda

Best Friends and Family

What a great week! We're still getting settled but found time for fun. Jason and Stella came over Saturday night while Tawni was busy with a Youth Conference activity at church. It was so awesome just hanging out with them. We hung out watching television and played with Stella. You can see in these pictures her new fascination with sucking her fingers. She smiles all the time now. Around 8:00 pm Jason and I took Brody the dog and Stella out for a walk around the neighborhood. It was an excellent night!

Today my friend Jean Thomasson, the manager of the Kay Jewelers store in the mall went with me to Best Friends to volunteer. We arrived in Kanab around 9:00 a.m. and immediately went to Dogtown to sign up for walking dogs. We walked 6 dogs; Charlie Brown, Kira, Prunella, Molly, Del Monty and Trap. It was a spectacular weather day, tons of sunshine, nice breeze and 85 degrees. After walking the dogs we went to the Clubhouse Octogon to see some of the Michael Vick dogs. They are doing great! Some of them are even wearing green collars which mean they are almost ready to be worked with by volunteers! Best Friends has does excellent work with these dogs and I can't wait until I have a chance to help them as well. After finishing our work at Dogtown we drove around the rest of the sanctuary so Jean could see how amazingly large it is. We went to Cat Headquarters and socialized with several of the cats then went down to Pottbellied Pig Way and checked in on them. Brittany, a very old PPP who has special priveledges sleeps in the office there. They are next to the big horse pastures and also near the main center. We finished our tour by going to Angel Rest and checking in on Madison. Everthing is just how I left it when I was there in March, but someone has added an extra polished stone to her collection. Odd, huh?

We decided to come home through Zions Park which is always a treat. We stopped in Springdale to eat at Oscars of course. I wished I didn't like Oscars so much...it keeps me from trying any of the other great eateries in town. I of course had my favorite Garlic Burger...The Murder Burger with a house salad with Lime-Chipotle Vinegarette Dressing. Ummm, Good! We sat on the outside deck and once again the weather was delightful. After lunch we enjoyed a walk along the streets in Springdale visiting the galleries. It's a great little place.

Now I'm back home getting ready for a busy week. I work every day and night this week up to and including Saturday with the exception of Wednesday night. That night a group of friends and I are getting together for dinner at a wonderful restaurant called the Painted Pony. My friend Treena Garrisson spends every summer in Maine at their cottage. She is leaving on the 21st of June so we are all getting together to see her off. She was one of the first people I met here in St. George. How amazing is it that she's from Maine!

Have a good week everyone!

Love Ya

Our First Week In Coral Canyon

What a great week it has been. The highlight was last night when I stopped by Jason and Tawni's to drop off the extra car seat that we use for Stella. It was late, around 9:00 p.m. when I went over and Stella was having her bath. She LOVES her baths but I hadn't actually been able to watch her. She was so cute, she kicks a flails her arms and is in Seventh Heaven naked in her little tub. Unlike the old hard plastic baby bath tubs, Stellas has a "hamock" like net in her tub which suspends her in the water. Tawni lays a little wash cloth on her very full little belly and Stella goes to town. She plays so cute for awhile and then goes to bed. She is sleeping through the night most of the time now which is so nice for the kids.

Cort went up to Salt Lake with Kory this weekend. Tawni is busy with church functions this weekend so Jason is coming over tomorrow night to hang out with me. On Sunday, I'm heading to Best Friends with a good friend of mine to volunteer and take a hike with one of the dogs. As usual its a very busy weekend.

For the most part we are settled in our new house and it is absolutely fantastic here. The views in the morning of the sun coming up over Zions National Park is breathtaking and there is no better way to start my day.

Sorry no pic's with this post, but will hopefully have some by the end of the weekend.

Love to all,
Glenda

Settling In...

Here are some photos from around the house and Coral Canyon's Clubhouse. There is still work to do as you will see with some of the boxes laying around and bare walls.Cortney got home from work and headed down the street on his 4-wheeler to go swimming with Jason and Tawni. The last I heard he was driving up to Jason house to pick Tawni up on the 4-wheeler and drive to the pool.

I went to the clubhouse for a few hours this afternoon and sat by the pool. It was 97 degrees outside and the pool was so refreshing. It sounds so-so hot, but it really is very nice. This morning I sat on the back patio drinking my coffee watching a lizard sun himself on the block wall that surrounds my back yard. There was a great breeze keeping it very pleasant. Jody, Kevin and I sat out there yesterday morning and watched what might have been the very same lizard!

I hope you all have a great week. Love Ya!

Moving Weekend!

We're here and we love it! We had so much help from friends, family and new neighbors it was amazing. As I had mentioned before my best friend Jody and her husband Kevin drove down from Salt Lake to help us move. Kevin and Cortney tore it up when it came to hanging, fixing, and installing things at the new house. When we pulled up to Black Stone Circle and started unloading the moving van, neighbors from all around us started pitching in and unloading. It was awesome! On Saturday night we had a big BBQ for everyone who helped. Cortney manned the BBQ, Tawni made an excellent pasta salad and we threw in some baked potatoes and corn. We were all so hungry it hit the spot!

Jody crocheted a handmade blanket for Stella which is beautiful. Tawni just loved it and Stella used it for her morning exercises as you will see in the slideshow. Jody and Kevin stayed until mid afternoon on Sunday and then they headed back to Salt Lake. I love you both and thank you so much for your help! I can't wait until you come back so we can have a weekend of playing not working!

We've already reaped the benefits of living near Jason, Tawni and Stella. Saturday morning they all showed up to visit while we were unpacking. We got to see Stella in her "morning mood" which is so sweet. Then last night Jason and Tawni grabbed Cortney and they walked over to the golf course after it closed to find golf balls. I guess they take their irons with them and when they find a crappy golf ball they play it, if its a good ball they keep it. Cort said they walked about 2 miles.

Today is Monday and it's my final day off. I'm wrapping up a few things and then head back to my crazy schedule tomorrow. I've really enjoyed my quiet calm morning at my new house. It is everything I had hoped and more.

In a few days I'll post some more inside pictures of our place. Now we have even more room for all of you when you come to visit!

Thanks again to all who helped. I love you!