We drove the scenic way up to Charleston by way of Hilton Head Island, the Angel Oak Tree and Sheldon, an old church ruin. Hilton Head was beautiful, as expected. White sandy beaches, huge ocean front mansions and resorts. We just stopped at one beach to walk a bit in the sand and surf and then hit the road again.

Our next stop was Old Sheldon Church-a church ruin originally built in the 1740’s and burned by the British in 1779 during the Revolution. It was rebuilt only to be burned again by General Sherman in the Civil War. The ruins are surrounded by ancient oaks and graves scattered in and around the churchyard. It had such a sacred and reverent spirit. I’m so glad we stopped to see it.

Friends,
who have come into our church yard
Please
treat these sacred ruins, the graves and grounds that surround them, with the respectful reverence they deserve.
Let us
leave feeling Old Sheldon is not worse but better for our presence.

Isn’t that how we should treat all of life? Both people and places-Better for our presence and not worse.

Our next stop was just as sacred, though not a man made structure built for worship. I have wanted to see this 400 year old Angel Oak Tree, just outside of Charleston, for years. It did not disappoint. I thought my pictures couldn’t do the size justice, and so when writing this post, I looked for a better one, but it turns out, no one’s camera does the size justice, so here are mine.

One way or another, all of nature-man or otherwise, reaches for the Sun/Son.

We arrived in Charleston just in time for our early dinner reservation at Hall’s Chophouse.

This was probably the best dining experience we’ve ever had. There were so many men in suits running the place, it felt like we’d stepped into a mafia den. The waiter spent 20 minutes telling us about this meat platter and all the millions of different cuts and ways of cooking that we could choose.

And it was the best steak I’ve ever had in my life! Perfectly crispy on the outside and cooked to perfection on the inside with about a 1/4 cup of truffle butter melting on top. The waiter asked us to cut into our meat to make sure it was cooked the way we wanted! The bread was divine, the mashed potatoes unreal. Seriously, I would pay plane ticket prices to fly back to Charleston someday just to eat here again. I will be dreaming about that meal for years. Rock will be dreaming about the pepperjack creamed corn. lol.

Stay tuned for downtown Charleston and Magnolia Plantation…and our bonus extra day!

I love Civil War history. I’ve read Gone with the Wind and it’s sequel many times, and of course I’ve watched the movie countless times. In fact, Rock and I watched it on our 3rd date, where he also held my hand for the first time. I also love the movie Glory; when the other kids in my high school history class were asleep on their desks, I was riveted. But Rock is not as big a history buff, so I was rather surprised when he suggested that for our getaway this year, we go to Savannah, GA. No trip to the South would have been complete for me without seeing a plantation and since there are some good ones outside of Charleston, we did Charleston, NC too. To avoid the humidity and mosquitos of a southern summer, we went in April. It was beautiful and warm and green-unlike the never ending winter we’ve had here in Idaho.

Savannah is made up of beautiful squares that make the whole city feel like a park. You walk from one square to the next passing historical homes built in the 17 and 1800’s. The trees in the south were my very favorite. Live Oaks are evergreen and breathtaking. My camera could never quite do them justice. Savannah, as well as Charleston, were covered in azalea bushes that unfortunately had already bloomed (mine at home had just barely turned green again!), but I will go back someday in March to see the South on fire with azaleas.

Before heading on our walk through the city we ate a yummy southern breakfast. Best fried chicken ever!

That evening we wondered down to River Street to shop for souvenirs and get some dinner.

Huge container ships go up and down this river all the time. It’s shocking to be so close to something that big that is moving.

The next morning we ate breakfast at an adorable bed and breakfast across from this amazing Catholic Church before driving up to Charleston.

Stay tuned for more from our trip….

We lost my wonderful Aunt Karla and Rock’s sweet Grandma Hymas in January. Both women had a profound affect on my life and I will miss them enough, both women had a way of making you feel like you were their best friend. All the people who stood to share stories of both women, at both funerals said that. It was totally true.

My Aunt Karla was beautiful and funny. She was the life of the party wherever she went. She and my uncle Rich were my family’s guardian angels growing up. When money was tight, my Aunt Karla took my siblings and I on what can only be termed a shopping spree to buy school clothes. To a 4th grade girl it was the best day of my life! I will never forget it. She and my Uncle opened their home to my family when I was a senior in high school and we lived with them for a year. Their generosity really knew no bounds. Her amazing home and parties were the stuff of legend and she is the standard in my mind and heart of hospitality. I miss her but am so grateful she was a part of my life. The earth got dimmer the day she left it, but heaven, brighter.

I have always wanted to go back to Long Lake Park in the neighborhood where I grew up but they put a gate up years and years ago so I never could. This time I decided to wait for someone to come by who lived in the neighborhood and beg them to let me in. We didn’t have to wait long. A nice lady walking her dog let us in. I have so many memories of this park, playing and walking through the trails and swimming. It was wonderful to see it again.

I will dearly miss Amy Hymas, Rock’s sweet grandma. I’ve written about her before, but her positivity and love knew no bounds. She was faithful and stalwart and dedicated to the gospel and to her family. “Isn’t it wonderful?!” was one of her favorite phrases and really showed how she saw the world and everything in it, good or bad. We are trying to use that phrase more now at our house. Loved this little lady who loved me as her own, but I’m so glad she can be with Grandpa again. She passed peacefully in her sleep after a long life well lived. We will miss you, Grandma!

Levi tried lots of new things this month. He was in a boy band, learned cross country skiing, and blessed the sacrament for the first time.

First the Boy Band. His friends in choir convinced him to perform in a group for a high school version of “The Voice”. They looked awesome and were all so cute up there that they won the competition even though their mics and music didn’t work that great. Girls love a boy band. He learned a ton and had a blast. They named themselves Wrong Direction and are making big plans for their future fame. The recording below is from a second performance a few weeks later when the sound worked better.

Also this month he decided to try the high school Cross Country ski team. Even as a novice he did awesome and placed 3rd and then 2nd.

No pictures of the sacrament but it was really awesome to have all three of my handsome boys up there blessing the sacrament together.

Liberty had her ballet recital and we love seeing how much she has improved over the years. She gets more beautiful and graceful with every year.

I continued with skiing in January. I get a little better every time, but I’m still a slow learner. Libby has passed me up, now and I’m back to being the slowest Hymas on the hill.

It was a fairly low key December this year. We celebrated Levi’s 15th birthday and he has begun the traditional whine that all my kids will whine, “All my friends are taking driver’s ed, why can’t I?” And I answer with my traditional answer, “Because even though we live in Idaho and the driving age is 14, you do NOT drive a tractor or work on a farm and do not need to be driving a car at 14 or even 15.” They have to wait until all of the non farming states allow drivers ed which is 15.5. He decided he wanted boxing gloves and even though he could still give himself or another brain damage, I opted for the lesser of two evils.

Cade gave Levi his old airpods-but just the airpods-not the charging case. For that, Levi had to wait until Christmas. Cade thought he was pretty clever for coming up with that idea.

We made our traditional Christmas goodies.

Reagan even helped with the peppermint bark this year.

Christmas Eve

Christmas Day

I got an air fryer that we have used almost every day since!

Christmas would apparently not be Christmas without Legos so Rock got each of them a small Lego set too. It’s all about tradition!

Due to damaged shipping, the kids didn’t get their biggest gift this year on Christmas. Instead they got Cue Stick Chalk.

In other words, they got a pool table, that now, thanks to two damaged shippings, they still do not have. Maybe they’ll get their Christmas present by Valentines Day.

We took the younger two down to see Cade perform in the BYU Christmas concert this last weekend. On the drive down we stopped to get dinner in Sandy and saw this beautiful tree!!

On Saturday we took them around campus and regaled them with stories of when we were at BYU.

The building on the left is the HFAC-Harris Fine Arts Center where generations of Hymas and Wesel family members spent much of their time at BYU. They will be tearing it down soon and Cade’s concert was the last concert ever performed there.

On our tour of campus we stopped at the BYU bookstore and Rock showed the kids where he basically got arrested for shop lifting. It’s a good story-ask him about it sometime. He certainly looks the part of a criminal in this picture for sure. While in the library he told them about the time he kissed a girl (not me) in the stacks. They were begging him for stories the whole trip after those two.

After campus, Sarin took the kids to the aquarium for the behind the scenes tour. She knows everything about the aquarium now after working there for a year. While they were at the shark tank a special visitor dropped in to feed the fish.

Rock’s parents drove over from Colorado to see the concert and brought gifts with them!! This is a beautiful “old” 12 string Rock’s dad passed down to Rock and Levi. They’re super excited to play a duet with it.

They also brought us these fantastic antique books!

Before the concert we went to dinner at the Brick Oven for another trip down memory lane where Rock told the kids about the time we went on a double date there together but not with each other. Ironically enough, we went to the HFAC that night too to look at an art exhibit.

Then it was on to the concert. It was all the choirs and the BYU Philharmonic Orchestra. I wish that I didn’t need a tissue when going to these kinds of events but music about the Savior, music of this caliber and music with that many voices-ie REALLY BIG, moves me to tears. I can’t help it. I loved it. It was worth driving 10 hours to hear. I don’t know which was better; Cade’s excitement over the last song, or the last song itself. The First Noel is my favorite Christmas carol and the arrangement they sang was incredible. They blew the roof off. I’m so glad we got to hear it. I’m so grateful Cade has had this chance to make beautiful music with talented people.

Greeting his guests after the concert was fun for Cade, but not as cool as the guest he got to meet after Friday night’s concert! Thank you to the random mom that thought to snap a picture of this!

Sunday morning we attended St. Mark’s Episcopal church in downtown Salt Lake with Monica. It is the 2nd oldest church in SLC! The ornate wood and stained glass windows were beautiful! It was the 2nd Sunday of advent and such a beautiful service. I love seeing the similarities that exist in the different religions of the world-it is thrilling and fascinating. And wonderful to share in the joy and celebration of the Savior’s birth with fellow Christians.

We had a yummy breakfast with everyone and then headed home.

Awesome trip! Wore the kids out.

We had a few new happenings this Thanksgiving, only one of which was eating smoked turkey for the first time. But before I get to Thanksgiving; my trip to Utah.

I went down to Provo to see Cade’s concert and celebrate Sarin’s birthday. It was great to see them. Shopping at IKEA with my sisters is always fun and this time Cade came along. He didn’t find it as enjoyable as we did of course, but he got to eat twelve Swedish meatballs so he didn’t complain.

His concert was awesome! I love the choirs at BYU, they never disappoint.

Also in November I became one of the lucky few who have gone to a Dave Matthew’s concert with Rock. He has been to 5 total. I’m not a big fan, but I like a few of their songs and have lived with their music playing somewhere in my house or car for over 20 years now so it was fun to see them in person.

Thanksgiving

We had just my parents and sisters this Thanksgiving in addition to our family. Cade came home with the girls and Alli brought her boyfriend, Cameron, home as well. It was great to spend more time with him and get to know him better. And it is good to see my sister so happy. But the best part about him coming to Thanksgiving was that he is a Turkey Smoking Expert. He smokes the turkey for his family every year and when his mom found out he was coming here for the holiday she said, “Darn, I have to cook the turkey in the oven.” So we borrowed Derek’s smoker and Cam made us the best turkey we’ve ever had!!! It was crazy to watch him prep it. I’ve never seen someone spatchcock a Turkey and I honestly hope I never do again-it’s pretty gruesome. Think chiropractor meets surgeon.

He did a ton of work that day and to top it all off he did my least favorite part of Thanksgiving-cleaning the meat off the bones. Thank you, Cam, for the best tasting turkey ever.

Liberty and Rock were in charge of the pies this year and they did an awesome job. They started three days early! Apple, pumpkin, key lime and French silk. Rock really got into it.

And possibly my favorite part of Thanksgiving dinner was this little guy I picked up at the store. I forgot about him in the hustle and bustle of Thanksgiving day, but luckily he tasted just as good on leftovers.

Liberty and Levi got to tag along to go see the Scentsy lights.

This year I’m grateful for smokers (that smoke turkeys.) 😉

Well, this year our Halloween Festivities included only two children. I guess back in 2007 it was only two children too, but growing is different than shrinking. It’s more fun.

So, for tradition’s sake, here’s the 2022 pumpkin patch.

Here’s Halloween. Libby and her cute friends were M & M’s.

Also in October was my 20th anniversary of being a mother and Rock’s of being a father. I couldn’t get him to smile nice for the camera.

Levi just finished up his amazing Cross Country season. He continued to improve his times with every race he ran. About half way through the season at the Bob Firman race, a huge invitational run with schools coming from all over the western US to compete, he finally beat the one freshman who was on his school’s varsity team, putting him not only onto Varsity but winning 10th place out of 270 kids!

At districts he got another PR-Personal Record, with 17:22. Varsity placed 4th and qualified for State.

And then it was on to the state competition in Lewiston Idaho, 5 hours away. Rock drove there to watch the race and texted me live updates. Centennial did Awesome! They were one point away from the 4th place trophy. Levi PR’d again with the sub 17 minute time of 16:55. He is the 2nd fastest freshman in Centennial High School history, behind the fastest by only 1 second. Rock was a cross country runner as well, but he wasn’t this fast, so I keep telling him that, obviously, it is MY genes that have made Levi this fast. 😉

Levi absolutely loved being a part of this team. It takes a special kind of kid to run Cross Country. They push themselves harder than many athletes, mentally and physically. I’m so proud of Levi for working hard enough to make it to state with this team. And I’m so glad he has a good group of kids who push him to do the hard things. He is a great example to our family and to his peers, and not just in sports; he just finished reading Les Miserables. I don’t know ANY 14 year olds who have read that book, do you?! When he was done, he asked Rock if he should read War and Peace next. LOL!!! Rock recommended he wait on that one. 🙂

That time we had a dog for a month.

I told my kids for years that we would get a dog when I was done having babies. We’d watched our friends suffer through puppy-hood with babies still in the house and we did NOT want to do the same. You can’t put a diaper on a dog. Well, 12 years after our last baby, I finally made good on my promise. I agreed to an outside dog, so we prepped the yard; did a ton of work filling in the trampoline hole, planted sod, put up a fence so he’d have a big enough space to roam around but not be able to tear apart the whole yard. We turned the playhouse into a dog house. Insulated and huge with a front porch to boot, this was going to be a dog palace.

Levi researched dogs for months, trying to find one that could be outside and that would be relatively independent (ie. not a golden retriever who need lots of love and attention) and one that was older, not a puppy. He wanted to train the dog to do tricks, so it needed to be a smart dog. Levi was by far the most excited and did quite a bit of the work in the yard to get ready for the dog. He decided a Border Collie would be a good fit. After a few failed attempts at the dog shelters we found a 9 month old Border Collie on Craigslist at a cattle ranch up in the foothills. So we drove up past Hidden Springs to check him out. It was way out there. We had to wait at the gate while the owners rode down in their 4 wheeler to open the gate.

Chasing the 4 wheeler were three dogs, one of which was Tucker. We followed him as he raced alongside the 4 wheeler back up to the main house area. When we got out of the car, Tucker was friendly and social and relatively calm. The owners told us he was basically a failed sheep dog. He didn’t have it in him to chase the cattle and nip at their heels. He just wanted to play and love on his owners and be loved back. We felt like he was a perfect fit, since he’d already been an outside dog, so we took him home. The kids were in heaven. I was apprehensive but he was so sweet and calm that I felt ok about it. We hoped 9 months was old enough.

For a few days, we thought we were incredibly lucky. He never barked, would obey a little, though he hadn’t been officially trained, and he was just sweet as could be. He just wanted to be loved and petted. But the longer we had him the more we realized we had picked the one Border Collie on the planet who was a golden retriever at heart. Sweet but needy, Tucker didn’t want to be in his dog palace and yard, he wanted to be with us. So he climbed over the fence. And as you can see from the picture above, that’s not a safe fence for a dog to climb over. He was going to hurt himself, so instead of being able to roam free in his yard, we had to stake him so he wouldn’t jump the fence and head for the bunny on the other side of the yard-which he did whenever we let him out. Knowing that Collies are super smart and that they need lots of mental stimulation we spent tons of money trying to find toys and things that would occupy him so he wouldn’t wine and be lonely while the kids were at school. I liked Tucker, more than I thought I would, but I was not going to play with him all day. Well, none of the toys worked for long and that’s when the digging started. He dug holes all over the new grass we had planted for him and tore up all the sod he could reach. He started digging up the rock path that I had spent so much time and effort and muscle on creating. In planting the new grass, we created a bit of a drainage problem that Tucker uncovered for us when he dug up a hole in the low part of the yard and started drinking from the well he’d dug. Rock and I got nothing done for two weeks as we tried to keep the dog safe, entertained and out of trouble. He was also becoming a lot more wild and jumpy-he is still a puppy after all. And it’s not fun to have a dog who’s been digging in mud jump up on you. Liberty, who had been so attentive to him in the beginning, was now starting to avoid him because he wrecked her clothes every time she got near him. And even with all of that, he was so sweet. He just wanted us to love him and pet him. He adored attention. I felt terrible, knowing that he was just bored and needed more attention than we could give him, but knowing that I am not ready for an indoor dog at this point. Dog training, which Rock and Levi wanted to do themselves became a more immediate priority, so we looked into dog training, we looked into building a taller fence, we looked at having a french drain put in to deal with the drainage issues. We looked at all the options to help make this work for Tucker and for us.

We went into this thinking (foolishly) that the kids would be around to help with a lot of the work of owning a dog, but it quickly became clear that Levi was way too busy with school and cross country and friends to really spend much time with the dog and even Liberty, who did quite a bit, was not enough to balance it out. Rock was doing most of the walking, poop scooping and training. Unfortunately, I’m not a dog person. I did my best. I made trip after trip to Petco to find bones for him to chew on instead of the playhouse, I filled kong ball after kong ball to keep him occupied. I tried to love him and pet him and give him what he needed, even if it was often through the fence because every time I got near him, he’d jump up on me and well, that bothers me. Ultimately, it was Rock who decided it was time to find Tucker a new home. Most likely an indoor home where he could be loved and adored and petted all day by a family who could give him what we couldn’t. After doing all the work and seeing what kind of time commitment and restraints it put on our time and freedom and with the damage being done every day to the yard, Rock and I both felt like it was the right call. The kids were sad, but they realized that this wasn’t a good fit. We listed him on several sites but didn’t get any takers, so today Rock took him to the Humane Society where they have a really high rate of adoptions. He is such a sweetheart, I know he will get snatched up quickly.

Will we get another dog? We don’t know yet. I think we’ve all decided that for the stage our family is in right now, an indoor dog is the only kind that would get any attention and I’m not sure yet that I can do that. That being said, it will surprise many of you to know that it made me sad to give Tucker away. Yes, I even cried. I never thought I could come to love a dog, but Tucker helped me get a taste of what it’s like to really care for an animal. I really wanted him to be happy. And let me tell you, “the puppy dog look” is REAL. And even though it was only for a month, (and even though he destroyed our yard and ate our playhouse :-), I’m grateful for the chance to have had him as a member of our family for just a little bit.