Everything Good Is Readily Available

I read that once.

Not in one of my fancy Pulitzer's either. I'm certain it was in a magazine: nothing as lofty as "The Progressive" but nothing as shady as "The Enquirer." Maybe it was "O" or "Good Housekeeping." But, I digress.

Wherever I read it, the sentiment has stuck with me. Sometimes when I am mired down in chores, or conflicts, or stresses, I remind myself that all the good things in this world are mine for the accepting. One of my core beliefs is that this world has a "Giver." A supreme being, if you will, and I need only accept what He is offering.

Just what does this have to do with anything, you ask? I'm getting to that. We spent the weekend in Southern Utah with my dad, much of our extended family, and some very dear friends for the 2nd Annual Grover Boyz Picnic. We ate, we laughed, we played, we ate some more. The scenery was beautiful, the company was good, the weather was largely perfect. And it served to remind my that this life is so damn ABUNDANT. That we haven't been given only a little food, or a little beauty, or a little love. That instead, our Creator has poured out amazing things for us, for no other reason than for us to enjoy the world and enjoy each other. I find it amazing, and after a harried and stressful couple of weeks, I was grateful for the reminder that the world is abundantly beautiful, people are abundantly good, and that I am loved (and love) in abundance.

So, yeah, it was a good time.

Dan, Dave, and Ben

Bruce, Trea, Dave, Kay, Jill, and Kate Kay, Me, Jill, and KatePorter attempts to take Kiki's life.

Fortunately, she was equipped with a force field.

Me, Angela, and Courtnee

Kate and Grandpa Jack

Me and the Grover Boyz.

Kate's presence indicates that a third generation is in the beginning stages of their indoctrination by Jack and Doug. Formal beliefs include: 4-wheelers are an absolute evil. Cheese is an absolute good. Horses and dogs=good. Whiners=evil. Secret spots=good. There's plenty more, but that's a post for another day.

Ben and Kiki.

Preston, Eric, and Kyle on the fence.

Desperate for the wrong kind of attention.

Jack and Doug present the awards.

A rapt audience.

Doug and Trea.

These two were my spare mom and dad.

Fawn and Kiki foraging for their dinner.

Angie and Dan

When the sun went down it was camp fire time.

Jack promised Kay somewhere decent to sleep. After all the time they've spent together, you may wonder why his assurances didn't raise her suspicions, but she's trusting.

Misplaced trust, as it turns out.

Jack constructed this on site.

It's like a camper trailer, only wood.

And only not a camper OR a trailer.

We call it:

The Jack in the Box.

Kay is laughing here, but she wasn't the next morning after laying awake all night listening to a blue tarp whipping 'round.

Sunday morning brought some water play in Grand Staircase.

Then we walked in a little baby slot canyon. I has everyone lined up for an awesome shot when Powder ruined it with public urination.

That's better.

Courtnee and I hug a tree.

The Hatch Fam.

The Barratt/Rasmussen Fam.

Kiki has the same talent as Powder for ruining pictures.

Kiki laid down in the red sand, rolled around, then dumped several handfuls of sand on her head, so Bruce and I decided a shower was definitely in order.

Showers and Popsicles restore good spirits.

Then, another night of campfires and XXL s'mores.

Lots of kids.

Dan and Madie.

Half decade of friendship. We may be witnessing its final moments here, however.

Then a crazed killer attacked us all.