Challenge "I"

The things that "I" love are:  Ice Cream, Indian Paintbrush, and Infants (you know, babies) But most of all I love IRA.

I LOVE Ice Cream.  Way too much.  In fact I have had to ban myself from buying it because if it is in the house I eat it.  I have one exception.  When Dustin is coming I always buy him Ice Cream, but I can resist eating it because I want him to have all he wants.  But I hate it when he leaves some because I eat it.  This happened about a week ago.  But I figure that since I don't have it very often then once in a while won't hurt.  After all I LOVE it.

Indian Paintbrush is a flower that grows wild in the Nevada deserts.  It is red and really brings some beauty to our desert.  On years that it grows best, which is a wet year ( I mean wet for Nevada) it is everywhere.  It decorates the side of the road.  It is a sturdy plant and a beautiful plant.  I really love it when Indian Paintbrush grows.

Infants.  I love babies.  I knew from a young age that I was cut out to be a mother and a grandmother.  And I could have been a really exceptionally good aunt if any of our family chose to live close enough for that to happen.  I love the innocence of babies.  I love their sweet smell.  I love their smiles and their coos and especially their laughs.  It is intoxicating.  I just love infants.

I am really, really mad at myself right now.  I was looking at a picture of my family and realized I had left one whose name started with "I" off my Challenge of things I love.  Ira Roger Hatch is very special to me.  He is my little buddy.  He lives so far away so I have gone several times to visit him and his family.  I get to stay in his room and he is in a big bed so we have shared the bed.  He is a joy to be around.  He loves to play with me.  He loves to sing.  He loves doing puzzles.  We just have a great time.  He is definitely the most important "I" that I LOVE.

Challenge "H"

"H" things I love are Hatch's, Hull's, Horses, Hair, and Hiko.

Hatch's - I haven't met every Hatch I am sure, but every Hatch I have met, I love.  Most of them are close family.  But I am proud to be a Hatch.  It is a good name.

Hulls - This, too, is a family name.  My mother's maiden name was Hull.  I have been reading about the Hull's in a book put together by family.  I have found the Hull's to be honorable, good people.  I am also proud to have Hull blood in me.

Horses - I have loved horses all my life.  They are such a beautiful animal.  I also love them because they connect me to my father.  It was horses that brought us close.  He saw my love for horses and riding and he taught me all about them.  I have only realized lately how much he did teach me.  I love that this is something my father and I shared.

Hair - I don't love my hair, but I do appreciate a beautiful head of hair.  I kind of envy those who have such nice hair.  So count your blessings if you are one of them.

Hiko - Hiko is where I live now.  It is where a lot of my ancestors settled.  It is where my father spent his early years.  It is where he ended up at the end of his life.  It is where he died.  I love the ranch that he left as a legacy.  I love the part that ended up being mine.  Good people live in Hiko.  Hiko is beautiful.  I LOVE Hiko.

Challenge "G"

The things that I love that start with "G" are Grandparents, Grandchildren, Gum, and Green. To start off with, Green is my favorite color. I don't actually like all green shades, but I like the darker shades of green, like forest green.
I love gum. I chew gum a lot. It freshens your breath. It keeps me from feeling like I have a dry mouth. And it keeps me awake when I am driving to town each day for work.
Grandparents are one of the biggest blessings in life. I loved all of my grandparents, but my Grandma Hull was particularly close to me. I have already talked about her in the "E" challenge. Her name is Grace Evelyn Bailey. She went by Evelyn. I was reading today how death is just like a separation when someone moves to a far away place. And it also said that this life is part of our eternal life. It made me realize that even though I miss my grandmother very much, she is still here. She is just too far to visit, but we will be reunited and that reunion will be AWESOME.
Being a grandma is the best. I love my grandchildren with a passion. I don't know how it happens but they just steal your heart right away. Each one is special and has their unique personality and place in my heart. Each one is my favorite at one time or another. Yes, grandchildren are our reward for putting up with their parents when they were difficult. I wish I had more kids so that I could have more grandchildren.

Challenge "F"

The things I love that start with "F" are Family, Friends, and Fruit. My family is the most important thing to me on this earth. They come before any other thing hands down. And I might add that I have a fantastic family. I am a lucky lady.
My friends are important to me to. However, some of my very best friends happen to be family also. I do have one friend that I have had since birth, Becki. She is the kind of friend that is the true definition of friend. The kind that everybody wishes they had. Neither time nor distance changes our friendship. I am so thankful for a friend like her.
Fruit is natures candy. I love fruit. Right at this moment I might say that pineapple is my favorite fruit. The weird thing about that is the fact that I didn't like pineapple when I was young. It is a taste that I have acquired later. But my favorite form of pineapple is dried. Now THAT is truly nature's candy. I love it.

Challenge "E"

The first thing that comes to mind when I think of the things I love starting with "E" are all the Evelyns in my life. Here they are Kate Evelyn Bailey, Grace Evelyn Hull, Kate Evelyn Wright, Kristina Evelyn Westwood, Kate Evelyn Hatch. But the only one that went or goes by the name of just "Evelyn" was my grandmother Grace Evelyn Hull. I loved my Grandmother so much. I was her first granddaughter from her first child and daughter, so we had a special bond. I think I was her favorite. At least she always made me feel like I was. We had a wonderful relationship. I always knew my grandmother loved me and that took me through a lot of rough times. I am going to be so excited to see her again. All the other Evelyn's will come up when I do the letter "K".

What else do I love that starts with "E"? Enchilada's. I really, really, really love enchilada's, especially when my daughter makes them. She makes some really good ones. I also miss the ones my mother used to make. Hers were great.

I also love Eggs. I have always loved eggs. I could have them every day of the week, but for a while I steered away from them because they didn't always sit well with my stomach. Since then I have learned that it is the yolk that doesn't sit well, so now I have eggs a lot only I take 3 out of 4 yolks out. They taste good and I can eat them all I want. Yep, I love eating eggs.

Challenge "D"

The things that I LOVE that start with "D" are Dalley J, Dustin, and Dad. Dalley J is one unique and special little boy. He has some things inside of him all in the wrong places, but that kid is a fighter. No one would ever know of his problems. He lives life to the fullest. He is a true blue cowboy just like his Dad and his Grandpa. Which brings me to his Dad, Dustin. Dustin is my favorite son-in-law and he always will be. He is perfect for my daughter. He is the best Dad a kid could ever ask for. He loves his kids and does all the chores that go with having a kid. He helps us a ton on the ranch and he is always happy and willing to work hard.
Last, I put my Dad. I love my Dad so much. He taught me so much during his life. And some of those lessons are still being reinforced with me. He is on my mind constantly. He left a legacy which fills me with such gratitude for having such a Dad.

Challenge "C" (FINALLY)

I know that I have been lax on this Challenge. But in my defense I am not used to juggling kids, a job, and everything else. I used to do it. But I have been in retirement for a few years. Soooooo I didn't get this done. Now I am able to get back to it. Yesterday I had a funeral and family home evening to keep me occupied, so I am back today.

The things I love that start with "C" are Crystal Marie, Cody Robert, and Church. Crystal is in college. She has grown up into a beautiful young lady. She is my first grandchild and no one can ever take her spot in my heart. Cody is Luke's oldest. He is a bright spot in my life. It is so fun having him live so close and also I get to teach him in Primary. That is really fun. I love this boy. Now as for Church. I love my church. which is the "Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints". I love that it is Christ's true church and that it teaches me all the things He wants me to know to bring me back to Him. And that I can be with my family for eternity. I LOVE that.