I've been thinking..

I was thinking about my post yesterday and how much I love writing and remembering back to January of '09 when I got the news that the Salt Lake Tribune was cutting all of their freelancers. I was devastated as it had been the perfect job for four years.

As I look back over last year, I now realize what a blessing in disguise it was for me. I became pregnant shortly after learning about the Tribune's cuts, so I was quite sick for several months (not nearly like my sister-in-law Marian or my friend Heidi down the street, but sick none-the-less). Just as I was coming out of the first trimester sickness, I got the news of my dad's death. I still don't remember how I functioned last summer. I was simply on autopilot and would not have been capable of even typing up a story, let alone doing an interview with someone.

Fall was Megan's birth, hospital stay, and months of house arrest (or at least felt like it anyway) while we tried to keep our new little babe healthy. I was barely holding on to the edge as I tried to adjust to a new person into our household and keep everything else still functioning. Again, I never would have been able to write during those months.

Now that I have adapted to life with four kids and overcome the initial grief and shock of my dad's passing, I realized mid-summer that I was ready to get back to my passion of writing. Some people do crafts, some people sew, some people cook - I write. Last year when all of us were let go from the Tribune, I had been told the Standard-Examiner was not looking for any more correspondents, so I was a little worried I wouldn't be able to get on with them. However, I felt a gentle nudging that I needed to call them during the summer. I had planned to wait until September when my girls were in school and life settled down a little bit, but again, the nudging continued, so I called in July, and wouldn't you know it, a position had just opened up and they hadn't even started advertising yet.

I am now writing every spare minute I have and loving every minute of it. In fact, this job is even better than the Tribune because I can get my stories printed any day of the week, rather than just on Friday's when the Davis County section I wrote for printed. I now have yet another example of how I've seen the hand of God working in my life. I could never have foreseen last years events, but my Heavenly Father had and knew exactly what I needed. I am grateful to know that I am a child of God, who loves me, knows me, and shares His love freely with me and all of His children. May you know and feel of His love also.

Front Page Story!!

So, I am a lowly pion correspondent at the Standard-Examiner where my stories usually end up in the second section of the paper, like Top of Utah or the Business Section. However, every once in a blue moon, a correspondents' story will end up on the front page, and that is exactly where one of my stories ended up today - on the front page (A1) above the fold.

Here is the link if you are interested in checking it out...

http://www.standard.net/topics/sports/2010/08/28/72-year-old-can-chun-kuk-do-layton-seniors-focus-turns-fancy-writing-fancy-

Or you can just google dana rimington karate standard examiner and it will pull up.

In really, really tiny print below the title, you might be able to see my name.
If you click on the picture, it enlarges a tad. Not that you don't know what my name looks like.

Did I mention how much I love my job? I love that I can work from home doing interviews on the phone and writing up my stories at my own convenience. I have mastered the art of writing with constant interruptions if I decide to take a nap while Natalie and Megan are sleeping instead of writing.

Done, Finally. Finito.

I've been told by some that these pictures just do not do it justice, so if ever you want to come see in person, feel free...

End of an Era (almost literally)

Eight and a half years ago, John was called to be the cub master. He has remained in his most favorite calling all this time. His first cubs are now driving cars around the neighborhood. He has been a wonderful cub master and enjoyed planning each month's pack meeting.

His new calling you ask? Cub Committee Chairman. The apple doesn't fall too far from the tree, huh.

At his last pack meeting, they retired our old flag that was torn and battered after many years out on our flag pole. I'd never seen this done before. It was very emotional as we gave the flag it's last pledge of allegiance and stood in silence as we watched this flag burn and what it has represented for us over the years. It was our same flag that flew at half mast on September 11, 2001 and the weeks following those events. It was the flag we flew with pride and joy on every holiday our nation celebrates. It is also the same flag that flew to remind us of our anniversary on flag day (thank goodness for national holidays to help us remember in our old age).

The primary president, all of the cub scouts, and their leaders
gave John candy bars to thank him for his many years of service.

Going Public

I have now made my blog public rather than private, so for those of you who have my site listed specifically on your blog, I think you'll need to delete it, then reenter my public blog - that way you can see when I've made updates and you don't have to enter passwords. Enjoy!

Bear Lake Trek

We made our annual trek up to Bear Lake with the entire Rimington gang and had us some fun-fun times. It is something we look forward to every year, and especially me this year since I was sidelined from the jet skis last year with Megan cooking away.




Sadly, there is no family photo of us - someone always seemed to be out on a jet ski, taking the mile-long trek to the porta potties, or fast asleep...

We did get this classic shot though.

Might I say I felt very vampire-like.

Here is what I had envisioned before John intervened...

And Megan is starting to experience a few food firsts -

Her very first ever red vine. Success.

My friend introduced her to her first oreo. Double success.

and she's decided watermelon is definitely a hit.

Well, it's a good thing we had such a good time because this week we are slaving away in our bedroom wielding our paint brushes. So far, 10 hours into the painting torture, and only the white is done :( Wednesday and Thursday will be tan and Saturday will be red. Then let the shopping fun begin.

Baptism Memories

On Saturday Alicia was baptized. It was a lovely day and we enjoyed having many family members join us for the special day.

Speaking of family, John's sister is in town with her kids, so we enjoyed a fun day at the zoo with them.

Of course we enjoyed the bird show (I had a hard time picking just one picture of the 30ish John took with the camera)



Now for an odd assortment of pictures and ramblings -

We said goodbye to the Galant - the first car John and I bought together 11 years ago. It brought Kimberly and Alicia home from the hospital when they were just tiny babes, it took us on many adventures around the country (okay, not east of the Colorado river - but almost every state west of it), and transported John to work faithfully in recent years without any mishaps. We might still see it around town since the gentleman who bought it from us gave it to his son, who is a senior at Davis High school.


After we had our family pictures, we enjoyed a picnic dinner up in the mountains and got this beautiful shot. The other girls were originally in the picture with me, but had officially had it for the evening posing for a camera.



and Natalie is at it again this time coloring all over Megan with pen. ahh the joys of being the youngest.

New Family Pictures

We went up to Albion Basin last week and had our family pictures taken.
Such pretty wildflowers that only pop out about one week out of the year.


And finally 13 years later, we have some professional shots of just the two of us.



I can see that we've definitely matured over the years...

and the kids in all their glory looking particularly cute

and because Megan is so cute, I couldn't pick just one picture...