Sunset thru our buggy window
The gang setting up dinner
Heidi sharing her Capri Sun
Summer, TJay, and Addie --"Don't look so excited, TJay..."

Silly James Ole
Gram helping Heidi & Summer roast Marshmallows
TJay's Camping Face

Matthew Melin & Grandma at sunset
How Paradise Valley looked as we headed home at 9pm
Horses crossing the Pine Creek trail just off East River Road...

Sweet Dreams!

Songs from Heidi

Heidi's Sunday Serenade from MelinFamily and Vimeo.

"And if there be no righteousness, there be no happiness"

Something's been on my mind lately---it's a recurring question. Let me give you a little background.

About 11 years ago when I was serving as Relief Society President, the bishop called me into his office for a chat and a certain conversation I'd had with a woman in Relief Society came up. I told him she had come to me first about something which should have been discussed with him, because I don't have the ability or the authority to deal with it. Ability?--you may ask? Yes, the ability to be truly compassionate, I guess, because my first response to this young woman who was, in essence, confessing sins and telling me all about the aftermath was this: "So what do you THINK was going to happen?" The bishop suggested I edit that part of my thoughts from then on. Good advice.

But that doesn't mean I don't still think it all the time. And it's not like I don't feel sorry for people who are suffering, even if it's because of their own choices. Suffering stinks. But at the same time, you can't stop suffering until you make different choices, and at some point some people need to be reminded of that.

I find myself wanting to grab people by the shoulders and say, "What did you think your life would be like when you married someone with no education, few skills, and little motivation? I mean, I'm all for love and everything, but if you're gonna do that, you better get comfy in your double wide--you can't complain about never having money or never being able to get ahead. It's what you signed up for." Or perhaps, "What results were you expecting from your kids when your poor choices have robbed them of a stable home life, unconditional love, and the presence of a father? Did you think you'd get some sort of a free pass and somehow, against all odds, your kids would just accept it?" And I don't say that with any judgment. Seriously. The only thing I have a problem with is people making choices and THEN complaining about the consequences. I don't care where or how you live as long as you accept the consequences.

I suppose my two greatest peeves are hypocrisy and her close cousin, lack of accountability.

On a related tangent, it becomes more clear to me each day that there really truly is only one way have joy. Remember that straight gate and narrow path? They are real! We can take what ever path we choose and we may even convince ourselves that we are happy "off-roading". But I can guarantee that (a) people around us have suffered for our choices and (b) our happiness is fleeting. Of course one can always make a "course correction" through the atonement--that' s real, too--and it gets you right back to where you should have been all along. But I'm just sayin'--it's SO MUCH EASIER to just DO IT RIGHT THE FIRST TIME. Make the right choices--from the small daily things like being honest, forgiving someone, praying, choosing kindness, to the bigger choices like getting an education, being married in the temple, providing for one's family, or living within one's means.

DISCLAIMER: I am NOT in any way inferring that I make the right choices all teh time (or even half the time). I am struggling every HOUR like most people. But I am also aware that there is a consequence--good or bad--affixed to each choice i make. I understand that most of the difficult things I encounter in my life are the direct result of my own poor choices (or occasionally, someone else's). I also understand that the most joyful, fulfilling wonderful parts of my life come to me by the grace of God and through His Son. Happiness comes to me and my family when we work with Him.

It's a simple equation, really. And I guess I am just re-stating THIS (click and read). So I testify that the things that Lehi chose to teach his children at the very end of his life are still true. We do indeed reap what we sow, and we can't be surprised when weeds continue to spring up from seeds we carelessly scattered years or even decades ago. We were created to ACT and not to be ACTED UPON; we are instructed sufficiently to know good from evil; and we can, if we just THINK before we ACT, foresee the consquences of our actions. May they be joyful!!...

**end of rant, er, sermon?**

Hot in the City? Make This for Dinner...

Lisa arrived safely last night, right on schedule (about 11:30pm). The girls tried to wait up for her (we took a bubble bath adn did our nails and watched TV on my bed, but they crashed at about 11:15). As I type, each Melin kid is contentedly playing with the gifts she brought them--Hello Kitty scrapbooking kit for Addie, Calico Critters Playset, and a cute set of touch-n-feel cards for Wee Bub. Good times!

Anyway, we are busy today and I can't post recent pix just yet, but here is something DELICIOUS I made for dinner Tuesday night (courtsey of my favorite mag, Real Simple). It's good hot or cold--we ate it cold and LOVED it! It's my first experience with fresh tarragon--a unique taste, but definitely worth buying the fresh stuff in the produce section. Hope you try it and like it!Shredded chicken from rotisserie (I just used 4 breasts left over from grilling)
4 medium carrots, shredded
4 scallions cut on diagonal
1 TB fresh tarragon, chopped
Salt & Pepper
2 tsp dijon mustard
3 TB white wine vinegar
1/2 c EVOOil
3 TB Honey

2 Heads of radicchio
(I used green leaf and you could easily use Bib lettuce leaves)

Combine shredded chicken, carrots, scallions, and tarragon (I even added a cup of chopped celery for crunch).

In small bowl, whisk together the mustard, vinegar, and honey. Slowly add oil, whisking til emulsified.

Spoon chicken mixture in to lettuce leaves and drizzle with dressing.

AND THEN ENJOY!!!!

(It tastes a lot like the Parisian Salad you can buty at Costco--so good, people! Even Rich filled up on it, and NO COOKING!) Stay cool! XO

The Cutest Thing I Have Ever Seen

Addie and Heidi are drawing and coloring right now and Addie jsut brought me this. It's the cutest thing I've ever seen (except for the Real Thing, and his two sisters!)

Twenty-Four Crazy Hours!

Stop One of Four: The Ward Campout at Mill CreekFriday Night: Now THAT'S a barbecue!
Ward Family eating dinner, bonding 'round the campfire...
Addie and her root beer
James surprised by the flash!

Good Morning! Our tent on Saturday morning
Daddy making pancakes and hashbrowns
Addie and James at Breakfast
During breakfast, the North Dakota Melins arrived...

here James is super- excited to see Cousin Matthew (hence the spaz face).

(Terry Carter is holding Matthew)

Heidi loves Matthew, maybe because, unlike James, Matthew is half her weight!
Heidi had lots of questions for Uncle Jess...
...like "when are we going to the carousel?"

We packed up camp and were gone just after nine, only to quickly huck all our gear into the garage, clean ourselves up, and leave again at 10:30am for Helena.

Stop Two of Four:

The Great Northern Carousel in Helena Rich, James, Mike, Heidi, & Addie spin on the carousel
Heidi and her giddy-up bunny
Addie hiding and Cousin Danny looking on
Jess, TJay, & Summer
Jake (and his mom in the background)
Cute Post family on the carousel...our favorite thing in Helena!

Stop Three of Four: Gates of the Mountains Boat Tour

...but first, popsicles for the 100-degree heat!
How the canyon looks from the boat
Amazing Limestone Formations
Heidi-Lynners on the boat
Sweet Adeline on the boat
The Postums and the Melins pulling away from the marina

James thought Sam and Jake were hilarious...
...here's Jake making us laugh, and look at sweet baby Sam!
Sam Post with his Daddy

TJay Melin and his Daddy
Pictographs (or was it petraglyphs?) on the canyon wall

Heidi got to drive the tour boat...
...and so did Addie
Always check your rear view!

We had a great time on the tour adn can't wait to camp in the canyon sometime!

Thanks for taking us up there, Gram & Gramp Melin!

Stop Four of Four: The Watson Family Barbecue in Townsend, Montana (Watson Irrigation)

Heidi, Me, James, and Grandma enjoy our dinner at the kiddie table...Matt and his kids were behind us on the grass.
Heidi and Jake took a swing while everyone enjoyed the cowboy music. (There was a jumping castle out front, too!)

Here's the fam watching The Ringling Five perform

(We all agreed that Dad Post would love this band--he might even join them!)

And here are the horses in the field at sunset...
...have I mentioned I love Montana Summers?

***

We just couldn't make it til the fireworks...we were beat (Grandpa Melin always wears us out)...we headed home at 9:30 and got to bed about 11:30...WHEW--what a day!

My Wee Hausfraus

While I was doing house work last Monday, the girls went and got their aprons on, too, and brought their animal "babies" up for a nice walk (in the house and on the drive way).When I asked them what they were doing, they said...
"We're playing Mommies. We're walking our babies so we can be healthy."

Yay! No soap-ops and bon-bons for these little hausfraus!

Stay tuned for more pictures of a WILD weekend ...

(after we get THIS Monday's housework done!)

Only TWO DAYS til Aunt Lisa gets here! YAY!