All about My Day

This is a few weeks over due but let me tell you about my birthday. Corey always seems to surprise me, you think I'd expect it, but nope. I came home a few minutes early from work on my birthday to find Chef Corey grillin' up some steaks to be served with a side of fries (my weakness). He had even prepared an appetizer of broccoli with cheese sauce. What more could a girl want? After we ate dinner a few friends came over to celebrate. Corey made a yummy chocolate cake with a whipped cream/pudding frosting, which was delicous along side a scoop of ice cream. Like I said, this was all a surprise and I had no idea he had been up to this all afternoon...and I almost forgot to mention the dozen roses sitting on the table. It was a real dining experience. :o)

Birthday Wishes to Desaray! Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday Desaray!


I wanted to suprise you on your birthday with notes from friends and family about you.  I hope you enjoy them.  You are such an awe inspiring older sister.  You have always been there for me my whole life.  I remember when we were little and you would take care of Sabrina and I, you always helped with dinner and other chores to help us.  I was always grateful to have you as an older sister in school because even though I was a lowly 7th grader, you always said hi to me.  Even through college I knew I could turn to you for help or advice.  It has been so fun to be able to play with you over the years in Utah and have you take me on fun adventures.  I would never have snow shoed before if it wasn't for you, or grown to love hiking around mountains.  Thank you for your support, guidance, example, and love.  I love you and hope your birthday is amazing!  - Megan

Desaray, you and I grew up together. So much of my childhood is intertwined with you. I remember the summer our families went to Nauvoo together and we both discovered that we had armpit hair! That was hilarious. I remember having opposite-matching bathing suits that we liked to wear to the lake together. I remember going to dances and church activities together and I was always so glad that I could go with my best friend. I remember all the late-night chats we would have when we got to spend the night at each other's houses. You were such an integral part of my growing up days and I'm thankful I have such great memories with you in them. I hope your birthday is wonderful and that your family spoils you. I miss you and I'm sorry I won't be there to wish you a happy birthday in person, so I hope this will do! I love you so much, Desaray. Love, Becca

A story about Desaray. It is hard to pick one. But I have three favorites, that she will remember well. She is uniquely graceful, and I remember one time when we were walking from our apartment at Ricks. She had an empty milk jug in her left hand and went to toss it, overhead, into the garbage bin. Well. This is Ricks. There is ice. And with a cartoon-like "thwoooop!" she flew through the air. It scored a perfect ten. She also has amazing cooking abilities--just ask her to make you a grilled cheese sandwich sometime. She made me the best one I've ever had. Finally, a more serious memory, was in 2007--the last time I was home in Utah that I got to see her. I was going through one of the more rotten trials of my life, and she was just... there. Like she always is. The real maid-of-honor at my wedding. The one who helped me give my first baby her first bath. She is one of my absolute dearest friends, and I still think of her and miss her all the time. Happy Birthday, Des. :)   -Becca Riding

Desaray.... I did not get to hang out with u to much but when u came up to Canada for grandpas funeral I just thought u where sooo fun!!! I clicked with ya .. It seemed like we had known each other for a long time!!! I think u r a great person with a kind heart!! I could tell u love all those around u!! Happy!! Happy!!! Birthday! I hope it is full of fun suprises and love from all those around u!! Love your favorite cousin Jeff

Desaray...I remember when you were real little, I would babysit you and your sisters. After I got married, you would come and stay with us while your parents would go on their Amway trips, etc. It was fun! You were always a good kid! After you moved away and would come home to visit, I loved to see your enthusiasm as we were able to see each other again. You make people feel special and you are pleasant and bubbly to be around. I always look forward to seeing and visiting with you at the different family get togethers.

Thanks for being a great niece!
Hope you have a terrific birthday!
Love ya lots,
Aunt Diane and Uncle Daniel

I always remember Desaray as a happy and easy going child and she was always kind of loving. She still is to this day and always has a cheerful greeting when she sees you. She is a wonderful neice!! Love Aunt Becky
When Desaray was a Senior in High School, she played a piano solo at High School District Piano Competition in Joplin. The judge who heard her was Debra Miles, a former Miss America, and a fine pianist.
Desaray performed "To A Wild Rose" by MacDowell. Ms.Miles spoke to Desaray after her performance(judges don't do that usually)--telling Desaray that it was the best performance of that piece she had ever heard. It was a stellar performance and I was so proud of her! It was a delight to have her as a student.
 - Carol Echlos
 
for Des...she was the cutest little girl, so tiny with cute chubby cheeks and the cutest dimples....now she is a beautiful women with those same cute dimples...always smiling ,always kind, I'm very proud of her and I love her alot!!!  - Aunt Ruby

Dear Desaray,

Happy Birthday!!! Just wanted to let you know that I love ya and to wish you a very Happy Birthday! When I think about you, I totally think about goodness! You are one of the good ones!!!   I have lots of memories with you!! The first memory I have of you is when you were born and then watching you grow from a baby to a toddler and then to a young women!! I missed all the fun teenage years! I used to babysit you, Crystal, Sabrina, and Megan until I went off to college. That was always fun---well, for the most part!! ha ha

I remember when I had my second back surgery in 1988, you came and spent part of the day with me. We worked on a big jigsaw puzzle together and just hung out!!! You helped fill my day!! I have great memories of you when your family would come to Grandpa and Grandma's house and just hanging out with you kids!! Also, do you remember the contract that we signed? I don't remember why but we wrote up a contract together and both signed it saying that we would never get married!!! You were probably asking when or why I wasn't married!! lol Well guess neither one of us were to true to our word!!  Well Desaray I do hope you have a great birthday!!! Know that I love you and hope that you are happy and well!!
Lots of Love     -Aunt Melanie

Megan has a new blog

For those of you that like to read my post, I have a new blog.  I though it would make things more simple then just sharing with Desaray.  And even if I don't know you, feel free to read my adventures! haha, I'm sure they aren't too entertaining though. 

adventuresinmegansworld.blogspot.com

Bon Appetit!

Potato Harvest in Ririe Idaho

I worked Spud Harvest for a good friend, Brigham, this past week.  I only worked four days but I still worked about 40+ hours.  I will have to give a play by play of each day to explain my experience.

Monday Brigham put me in my spud truck (see picture below) and took me out to the field to learn how to load the truck alongside the tractor with the 'loader'.  You have to be a certain distance from the tractor and you follow alongside at the same speed as the tractor and there are two lights, red and green, if the green light comes on you speed up until it goes off then you keep pace again.  Same thing with the red but you slow down.  I'm sure you understand.  So Brigham made the mistake of telling me to stop driving so I did! and then the potatoes came flowing over the top of my truck!  Well, I learned quickly how to follow alongside the tractor and not stop until I'm loaded.  Later that day I was driving behind another spud truck waiting for my turn beside the tractor, the trucks ahead of me stopped so I did also.  I pulled out my air brake and then jumped out to see what was going on.  I was outside about 3-4 minutes and then hopped back in.  I pushed my air brake off and an alarm went off.  I tried a bunch of different things but to no avail.  Exasperated I called Brigham.  He said he'd be out as soon as possible to help me.  While I was waiting I walked to the tractor that Brigham's dad was driving and told him my situation, he was like I think your air just needs to build pressure.  So we walked back to my truck to check it out and sure enough the alarm was off and my truck was fine.  Just then Brigham pulled up.... Oh No!  So I had to apologize but lucky for me Brigham brought his dad's dinner with him.  Brigham was a great sport in helping me figure out what to do and not getting frustrated.  We broke down the first two days for at least an hour or so each time and I never saw him loose his temper.

My Spud Truck #99

Tuesday went pretty well.  At the end of the night I took another driver, Ben's, truck home to the shop.  He had a really old truck, a 92, it was so old I had to pull the choke out to kill it.  I pulled up beside the shop and turned the truck off and pulled out the choke.  Well.... the choke kept coming... and the truck didn't turn off!  I kept trying by pushing the choke and and pulling it out and it didn't solve the problem. The truck just kept running!  I tried calling Brigham and he ignored me, so I txt him and told him what happened and he still didn't answer.  So Gary, another driver, showed up and I told him my situation.  He couldn't kill the truck either, I swore to everyone that I did not break the truck!  Finally Jeff, Brigham's cousin, came over and opened the hood and manually pulled the choke to kill the truck.  I finally could go home still swearing I didn't break the truck and I told Ben, I broke your truck!  And he responds... "Hey I didn't break your truck!"

Sunset shot from inside my cab at the review mirror.

Wednesday was great and so was Thursday.  We ended early on Thursday, like 7pm because Brigham's grandpa passed away.  It was a blessing though because he was really ill and in a lot of pain so everyone was just waiting for him to be sent on.  It was such a great blessing though to go and work for Brigham.  He was a great boss and super fun to be around working.  I also felt like I drew back on my roots of farm/ranch work from my childhood.  It renewed my admiration for farmers and all the work they do. 

Idaho sunset across the already harvested wheat field

The cellar all full of potatoes