The Best Laid Plans

In a poem by Robert Burns is the line "The best laid [plans] of mice and men, often go awry".

Three years ago my nephew Allen and I began planning a cruise to Alaska, we booked a year and a half in advance and just about every time we talked the cruise would come up and both of us would mention how excited we were.

Life happens however and plans went awry, though not for negative reasons.

Allen has had a job for a couple years that was not a good fit as he was completely over qualified.  The unfortunate thing with the job market being the way it is (and living in a small town) there was not any options for him.

To make a long story short, he got an incredible job a week ago in the Chicago area and is very happy.  It is an incredible blessing for him and the entire family is very happy.

Downside: Allen is unable to go on our cruise.


Not to make this all about me....but....well this is my blog so I can :-)

I have been very stressed for the past week while Allen was trying to figure out if he could go.  I am a planner, I do not do well just going with the flow.  I wish I was but I am not, pretty sure I inherited that trait from my dad.

All week I begged my sister Keena to go with me if Allen could not make it.  She was very hesitant to go but finally seeing how stressed I was she agreed to go if he could not.

**That is not at all how it went, here is the real story**

Me: Allen may not be able to go on the cruise anymore.
Keena:  I'll go!

Plans still need to be worked out but at least I now know who will be my travel companion*.  I do feel bad that those on the ship will miss the opportunity of the dynamic duo that is Allen and Krystal but the duo of Keena and Krystal is also awesome.

The wonderful news is there is no problem changing the reservation to Keena's name and Southwest Airlines will not charge me to change my flight.  I am very excited to go as I have never been on a cruise or been to Alaska before.  Let the countdown begin!

*Fun fact about me and Keena.  Several years ago when we started taking road trips together we decided that we were co-captains and all decisions would be make together.  Shortly after that decision came the decision that Keena was senior co-captain and she had the power to veto any decision I made.  It was a very funny conversation--wish you could have been there, you would have found it HILARIOUS. However I have made it clear to Keena that this time I am the senior co-captain.  I may soon find myself drunk with power.

Cruise Countdown:  32 days to go!

This is a couple months old but it was a fun time so I thought I would blog it anyway. About a year after I moved here a customer at the pharmacy told me about Kanarraville Falls. He said that is was beautiful and that I had to go. He also kindly warned me that I should "prepare to get wet". This past Labor Day some friends from my Singles Ward were going and I asked if I could tag along. As all of you know I am not a very good hiker so it was not the easiest thing I've done. Also two of the girls seemed to be more in the mood to get it over with fast while I was being the typical city girl and walked slow and stopped to take a few pictures. It is gorgeous there (sorry that my pictures don't do it justice) however the warning to "prepare to get wet" should have been "you'll be walking in ankle deep water half the time".

This past weekend Keena and I drove up Cedar Mountain. We have driven there a few times but I had never driven to the area that has a large white "C" on it. It was very cold and very windy but the view was incredible. We were able to see all of Cedar and it was amazing to see how the land changed to this flat area out in the middle of nowhere to the mountains. Fall had already reached that high of elevation so the colors were beautiful. That drive was just what I needed as I have a tendency to feel a bit trapped every so often here in Cedar. I was reminded of the diverse beauty here in southern Utah, and while I am sure I will always feel a need to escape once in awhile from this small town, I am blessed to live here.

Sorry that it's been awhile but my roommate bought a new place last fall and since then Internet access not been as easily accessible so I got a little lazy. My family has grown by two, James McClaren Dexter (10/27/08) and Ruth Hardin (5/04/09). Mom and I were able to go to James' blessing in Provo and as you can see from the photos he is adorable. Ruth was born in England so I am anxiously waiting for a picture of her and a chance to meet her. Great-Grandma Dexter with Lydia Claire and James McClaren. With family now in Logan I have had a couple opportunities to visit the Logan Temple, I think is the most beautiful LDS Temple. On one of my visits there I got some pictures of it at night so I just thought I would share them. The last picture is the one and only Michael Dexter

I heard the bells on Christmas day Their old familiar carols play, And wild and sweet the words repeat Of peace on earth, good will to men. I thought how, as the day had come The belfries of all Christendom Had rolled along th' unbroken song Of peace on earth, good will to men. And in despair I bowed my head: "There is no peace on earth," I said, "For hate is strong and mocks the song Of peace on earth, good will to men." Then pealed the bells more loud and deep: "God is not dead, nor doth he sleep; The wrong shall fail, the right prevail, With peace on earth, good will to men." Till, ringing, singing, on its way, The world revolved from night to day, A voice, a chime, a chant sublime Of peace on earth, good will to men! -Henry Wadsworth Longfellow-