Signs of Spring

Autumn has always been my favorite season of the year, but after a long cold Colorado winter, spring often takes a close second. As I was out for my walk this afternoon, I was enjoying the warm springtime temperatures, knowing that it was only a tease before our next cold snap. Springtime in the Rockies usually means snow for Easter Sunday, and this year will probably be no exception.  

 (Photo by Barb)

 (Photo by Barb)

My friend, Barb, traditionally walks around her neighborhood  this time of year, looking for the first signs of spring. That usually means finding the first blooming crocus, and I love how excited she gets on the day that happens. She usually posts a picture on Facebook, with a joyous hope that springtime is just around the corner.  Today I saw bright yellow daffodils in my neighbor's yard that made me smile. As I was working in the yard, after my walk, I noticed that our fruit trees were budding and just about to blossom, only to be suppressed by the impending snowfall. 

During this season of renewal, Christians around the world celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus Christ on Easter Sunday. As we have all been forced to "slow down" a bit this year, Easter has taken on a special meaning for me that I have rarely experienced in the past. As parents raising our young children, we always tried to do the Easter bunny and basket celebration on Saturday, and leave Sunday for reflection of the true meaning of Easter and the resurrection. That being said, I still have seldom taken the time to personally study and ponder the events of the days preceding that glorious moment. By doing so, this Easter will take on a special significance, as I reflect on the amazing gifts of the Atonement and Resurrection of our Savior Jesus Christ, and what that means for me. My heart is overflowing with gratitude.  

Old blog, new face lift, and things I've learned from isolation...

While on our mission at Cove Fort, I discovered that I really enjoyed writing, so I decided that when we got home, maybe I should pick up writing again on the first blog that I started many years ago. As a matter of fact, the last post I wrote here was in 2013. 6 grandchildren and many life experiences later, it was time for a face lift on the old blog and to start anew. 

So here we are, in the middle of a worldwide health crisis that I never imagined I would see in my lifetime. Since I am pretty much of a social person, unlike my introvert husband, I am finding this isolation thing a bit uncomfortable. Thank goodness for electronics and social media. 

While we were serving at Cove Fort, we were pretty much isolated from the world, but the one thing that made it bearable was having other couples around to socialize with, and of course, the guests that came to visit the fort each day. 4 couples are left at the fort, and I can't imagine what they are experiencing just now. 

Even though this whole social distancing thing is something I would rather not have to experience, there are always lessons we can learn from unusual situations.    

Things I have learned during this isolation period:

• I need hugs. 
  
• Even though I love my husband, I still need female interaction.
• In the middle of a crisis, people still celebrate anniversaries and birthdays... and that usually means a cake. (Curbside deliveries and online payments)
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• It helps to keep busy, as long as that doesn't mean baking and eating all day.
• It's easier to eat sugar when you're stuck in the house.
• It does no good to store wheat if you don't have a wheat grinder. 
  
• Isolation brings out creativity, new recipes and ingredient substitutions. 
  
  
  
• It doesn't help to have cheap gas, if you can't go anywhere. 
  
• It helps to have a calendar hanging in 3 different rooms so you can remember what day it is. 
  
• Hand lotion is a necessity and not only a nicety. 
  
• 66 is considered elderly, even if I don't feel old.
• Having 42 rolls of toilet paper stored in your cupboard is somehow very comforting. 
  
• When our prophet encourages us to be prepared, we need to listen.
  
  
  

  
  

Hats!

You often here the phrase that someone "wears many hats." Well, I can say that about Bruce... figuratively and literally.  Bruce is Grandpa, "Grumpys," hubby, "Sweetie," hard worker, hiker, helper, garbage man, delivery man, custodian, "author," and all around great guy. And here are a few of his real hats, usually worn while hiking...

 This is his favorite...I call it his hillbilly hat.

 This is a hat that I made for him a few years ago...very warm for Colorado climate. Also wears this one to work on cold mornings.

 This hat makes him look like a homeless guy.

This is my favorite...it says "Awesome Grandad," which he is!

If you're going to visit Colorado Springs, don't forget your hiking shoes!

Garden of the Gods is certainly one of our favorite spots here in the Springs - to hike at or even just to drive through. There are so many great trails that we never get tired of coming here. It is certainly a favorite picture-taking venue also. This beautiful area is visited often by us locals, but also from people from all over the country, and yes even the world. Today we went over to Garden of the Gods to go for a hike since the weather was perfect for hiking. Being a Saturday and having beautiful weather make for Garden of the Gods to be a busy place. When we visit, we like to check out the parking lots to see where the other vehicles are from. Today we hit a jackpot... besides cars from our beautiful state, this is what we found...

And this is why...

We love Garden of the Gods, and we love Colorado!

Proper hiking equipment...i.e. Bruce, get some new shoes!

By now you know that Bruce and I love to hike... every chance we get... and we live in the perfect place to do so. I guess Bruce thinks he is immune to using proper equipment, so in the past he has hiked with tennies or other shoes with absolutely no tread. So off we go with his "treadless" sneakers and his Moses staff, which he informs me is better than my super trekking poles, because "trekking poles are for wimps." Well, this was all fine and dandy until we came across an obstacle on a recent hike that we were not planning on... snow and ice... lots of snow and ice! 

 On icy slushy trail with hiking shoes and trekking poles

 On snowy trail with treadless tennies and Moses staff

 Safe in snow

Not safe in snow

We slowly and carefully made it to the top of St. Mary's Falls (which I would suggest visiting during the late spring or summer if you actually want to see water running in the falls), but on the way back downhill, things became a little more treacherous, and Bruce ended up falling on his butt/back 3 times, as compared to my 0. This was most likely due to my guess what? Good hiking shoes and trekking poles... what a concept. Anyway, this happened last Thursday, and early this week, we were out getting Bruce some decent hiking shoes... finally. We originally took in some old leather shoes, that he said were really comfy, to see if we could get them re-soled. The shoe repair guy told him that they were beyond repair, and that he needed to buy a new pair. Thank you Mr. Shoe Repair Guy! So off we went to Famous Footwear (my favorite place to buy really good shes), and now Bruce and I have almost matching hiking shoes. By the way, these are called Birkie Trail hiking shoes by Columbia, but don't try to find them anyplace except Famous, because I think this is a special style that they do only for Famous Footwear.  

He tried out the shoes for the first time yesterday on our hike to Spruce Mountain. I still haven't talked him into the trekking poles, but he did add a new piece of equipment... his famous hat. So stylish! 

At trailhead

 

 Matching hiking shoes

 

 Bruce on the trail

 The "Moses Staff"

 Love my trekking poles

Taking my van to the repair shop is like pulling teeth!

Today is a lesson in staying positive. Just last week, we spent $1000 on Bruce's pickup for new tires and repair work. Now my van is in the shop getting some much needed, but VERY expensive repairs. There is only one thing that I hate worse than car repairs, and that's going to the dentist...oh wait, I just did that two weeks ago too. So between the dental bills and the vehicle repair bills, I'm watching my savings dwindle away slowly. Through it all, I am trying to stay positive, and make the most of not having my van for a few days. I knew that I wanted and needed to go exercise at Curves today, so since I didn't have a vehicle, I decided to walk. It's not all that far-only 2 miles. So I waited until it wasn't quite so cold and bundled up, and off I went. I think I kept up a pretty good pace because I got there in 35 minutes. It was actually kinda fun and I burned allot of calories besides. Between walking 4 miles and exercising at Curves, I think I burned about 700 calories...not bad. That's definitely positive! As I was walking, I had plenty of time to think. As much as I hate forking out $2000+ for car repairs, in the long run it's still better than a monthly car payment, and my van has been pretty good to me over the last 13 years. If we plan on doing any traveling, especially to visit family, and we plan on keeping the van for 4-5 more years, I guess the repairs will be well worth the money. On the way home I walked past this street sign, and by the time I got home, I realized that I was pretty hopeful that all would be fine.

2013 Leavitt Family Newletter

Our 2013 Leavitt Family Newsletter is hot off the press. If you haven't had a chance to see it yet, I've posted it here on our blog. Enjoy!

May you all have a happy and prosperous New Year from the Leavitts!