Rain, rain, rain, believe it or not I miss the rain and the cool weather and the breeze which comes with it. I do not do well with warmer higher temperatures.

Today, I am grateful for my wonderful spouse. I am grateful for his "I know things are not going the way I want them to, stop, regroup, start again and keep on going attitude". He is amazing and a great example to me. I hope all of you appreciate the wonderful father that you have.

I am also grateful for my own wonderful father. He has always been a great example of faith. He didn't just teach us the words he actually walked the walk and we learned more from his example then words could ever teach us. Just a few examples:

He always honored his priesthood and tried to keep the Lords commandments. He was an intelligent business man and worked with many prestigious people in the community. During his business activities, other individuals would offer him alcohol but he never gave into peer pressure. In fact the President of Reynolds Aluminum would jump in an say "Give him orange juice, he doesn't drink" even before my father could speak for himself.

He was always generous with his money, And he always paid his tithes and offerings. When ever he saw missionaries on the street he would go up to them and give them each 100 dollars to help them out.

He was most diligent in fulfilling church callings.

As a child I remember going to the Garden Gate ice cream parlor for parfaits, the popcorn store for different flavors of popcorn, the drive in for Ice Cold root beer in frosty mugs, Artic (?) Circle for Fish and Chips and fresh lime squeezes and hostesses wearing roller skates. Wonderful trips to California, Disneyland and Knottsberry Farm. And wonderful Lake Powell. We were blessed with amazing opportunities because of him. He expected a certain kind of respectful behavior, but mostly I remember that he always loved me through out my life and I know that he always will. I could say a millions more things about him and maybe someday I will, but for now, I love you Dad, thank-you for everything.

I have been reading articles and comments about people being indicted for stealing indian artifacts from the 4 corners area. Greg and I have had some association with Jeanne and Jim Redd who were two of the people indicted and it seems that Jim Redd decided to end his life, I am sure that it must have had to do with other circumstances in his life and not just the indictment because he probably would have done a plea bargain and had to pay a fine (possibly some jail time). I am very sorry for the family and their loss and offer my condolences at this time. And I am sickened at the cruel words and rudeness of some individuals in our society who think they can say what ever they want no matter how crude or unkind, not caring who gets hurt.

But it has got me thinking about the law and respect for people and their beliefs. On one hand I have looked with awe and amazement upon indian artifacts that I have seen in museums and it has given me an ability to feel apart of their culture and see things that I never would have the opportunity to see anywhere else in my life.

But I can also understand the sanctity and reverence of places where these items came from. As you know we have Cherokee in our Davis Genealogy. My great grandmother was a Cherokee Indian princess, her name was Laura Irene Bishop and she lived in South Carolina, she was a real person to me and of great value. I do not like the idea of people digging up bones and skulls to use as home decoration. I do not like it anymore than if someone were to dig up my own grandmothers grave and take her bones or possessions. I especially do not like it when thoughtless individuals mar and destroy hieroglyphics and Indian sights just to be malicious , self serving or leave their own initials carved into the rock.

I think there is a great deal of disrespect for things of importance and for people.

But I am grateful to see and admire and enjoy artifacts (pottery, clothing, tools etc.) in a museum, giving me a world of insight I would never have known. So there is a muddled line here between what some people see as crime and desication and sharing beauty and culture with the world. I am grateful for my beliefs and good parents who taught me to be respectful and reverent concerning other peoples good values and different lives. That doesn't mean I condone or respect everyones beliefs especially when they are cruel, crude, evil and disgusting or disrespectful of others. This world is filled with diversity and that can be bad but also very,very good.

First of all I would like to thank Jenny for helping me set up my blog. She was amazing and I could not have done it without her.

We had a totally fun time this last weekend camping as a family up AF Canyon. I would have turned off the rain switch however, if I had the chance. The Canyon was beautiful, green and lush and right down below our 5 tents was a stream that sounded like rain during the night (just not hitting the tent). Thanks to Adam for the canopy over one picnic table or we would not have had a dry table to eat at. Everyone did a marvelous job with their part of the food, we enjoyed Hawaiian Haystacks, Foil Dinners, Meat Sandwiches and PB and J Sandwiches with all the extras and delicious pancakes, bacon, sausage, OJ and eggs for breakfasts.

Sorry to say that Kristiena and Ryan were sick, but what troopers they were and they missed their own foil dinners to head home to the insta care.

Life got a little confusing, and sad during an incident with the camp nazi's over shooting a gun outside of camp limits (target practice). Talk about a hot head (the head camp director). We were very sad to see Adam and Jenny go, it all happened so fast and I was cooking dinner, it seemed like 10 minutes later and they were gone. Camping wasn't quite the same after that, there was a down feeling, and we really missed our family. The next day it rained and rained and rained. Trying to cook breakfast in the rain until I was soaked and the make shift tarp dripping, falling down and water running off the edge into the frying pans was quite the adventure. Breakfast still tasted good and then we decided to leave. Everyone packing up in the rain. The tents were wet and kind of dirty. We were Soaked!

Still, we will always remember this camp out with fond memories because everyone had such a great time laughing, reminiscing, riding 4 wheelers and fishing at silver lake.

What a great family we have! I am so grateful for each one of you, the direction you are going in your lives and the wonderful job you are doing raising your children, our Grandchildren.

Love Mom