Heather Spurlock

Rush!

What a cute baby!

Walking+Friend=Therapy

When I turned 40 life changed. I had a physical and was diagnosed with asthma and high blood pressure. I don’t have any history of asthma in my family, so this was a surprise for me. I was determined to make some changes to improve my health. I started to slim down and walk up Millcreek Canyon daily. One day a friend of mine Julie asked me if I wanted a walking partner. Soon we were best friends. We heard the ins and outs of daily grind, and success of our families.

We experienced so many things. One day we saw a deer injured in the creek and we made many phone calls to get help for the helpless deer. Another day we were dodging a propane tank that fell off a utility truck. We even had our husbands come with us on a Saturday a few times. One day my speedy cyclist brother-in-law buzzed by me so fast on his bike yelling at me that I actually jumped into Julie.

We always had our rituals of walking. We walked up the hill backwards on the steepest part of the hill. There was an area that fish hung out. We would tell fish jokes. Then we would count how many and if there were many we determined it would be a great day. I always walked on the side of the moving cars. Julie walked on the protective painted curb. Julie wandered more than me and I could keep us safely on the road.

Those were the days. Since then Julie started working and I went back to school. Our ties are softer from the mountain but still remain friends. I did learn that “walk talk” was never to be repeated. You never need a therapist with Julie around she was there for a reason, and at the most important part of my life. I am sure she would say the same thing.

Last week I could not wait to walk up the canyon with the new fallen snow. I even walked back home to get a camera. Then the floods of memories came back. Thank God for the canyon where I grew up riding with a boyfriend on his motorcycle and therapy with Julie.

The “Crunch Years”

I was greeted by Uncle Jim and Aunt Lou, with welcomed arms. A sweet kiss on the cheek, asking how my kids are doing. They came from St George to visit my ailing mother in a rehabilitation hospital. It was sweet to catch up with these relatives after a long break in communication. There was laughter and smiles. They make me feel like I am important to them. Love was shown.

When it was my time to leave mom, I mentioned we had a death of my husband’s, Aunt Ella. Aunt Ella has been a part of of lives for six years. She purchased a home 7 houses away from us, as a new widow, moving from Tennessee. I had met her but had not had the chance to get to know her until 2004. She only had her sister left in immediate family that lived some distance away. So we were the on the spot family for daily visits, mowing the lawn, and repairs. She was a funny lady that made you laugh. She always kept us up to date with the “Robb” family and who was in graces with her and not. When you visited her you were strongly encouraged to take a drink of your choice, she found out our favorites and always had them cold for us. She would sit with us and enjoy her Coke. You never left her house in less you had a tin of her famous fudge. If you all ready had some, you needed more. When she made banana pudding we seemed to get some too. I asked her many times for the recipe of the banana pudding and she would not share it. Until one day I made her orange fluff salad, she wanted my recipe. I finally got the coveted recipe.

Aunt Ella fell and broke her hip in November. The following day she had surgery to repaired the hip. Following the surgery she had a massive stoke and never recovered. Sunday this angel left this world at 83 years young. I am sad at my loss but happy for the reunion with of her siblings, parents and extended family on the other side. It must be similar to when I was greeted with Uncle Jim and Aunt Lou. arms opened and love received.

I was explaining to the family at the nursing home we had some family choices we had to make. This weekend the funeral in SLC and burial in Paragonah or the farewell of my niece Tia in St. George called to Germany/Austria mission. We can’t do it all. Mom’s roommate at the rehab piped up, you are in the “crunch years”. As I reflect on her statement I agree. I feel pressure from all points. What the roommate does not know is that I had a son move back home from Florida. We are moving him out of his old room to vacate his room for my mother-in-law to move in. My sister is getting a divorce who has 8 kids. Another sister struggling with breast cancer. We are preparing a son for a mission call, while I am also a student finishing my Associates Degree.

As I reflect on my crunch situation. It is hard to balance it all. I don’t want to rush when my time comes to meet my maker and other family members, so I will do the best I can. Aunt Ella made it through the crunch time to a peaceful time. Aunt Ella, I love you, save a hug for me.

Sugar Illusion

A masterful magician makes clever illusions of making a woman cut in half seems real. Knowing that a person can not survive being cut in half. There are many illusions in this tricky world to watch out for. Deception in our food about sugar is something to be aware of. We need to be educated to watch out for all sugars. Artificial sugars are worse for health and have serious side effects. We are lead to believe that all of these sugar are good for us even at times healthy, by marketing ploys (ex. whole wheat fruit loops).

I wanted to be informed for my own life and for my family health. Both my parents have diabetes. I have watched my mother in the last year be in and out of hospitals and nursing homes, due to complications of diabetes. Doctors whittled off parts of her foot, threatened to cut off her leg for most of the year. It has been horrible to watch and feeling helpless for a disease that can be avoided.

See past the illusion and see sugar for what it truly is.

High Tech English 2010

Ben’s the dancing queen

The In-Laws

I have seen a trend lately in young marrieds homes. Look at the photography displayed in the homes. See if you see the bride, groom, smiling faces of days past with friends, the brides family, or of the grooms family? The later is what is missing. Why is that? Is the brides family pays for the wedding photos mostly? Do the grooms not notice or care? Does the bride only love and cherish her family and the other side of the family the unimportant side?

Many years ago I was given a small photo of my husbands fraternal grandparents. I never knew his grandfather but loved an cherished his grandmother. I got a small frame and put it up on a shelf where I have other family photos. Ken, my husband was genuinely happy to have his family framed.

Look around and see what is happening in our homes. Are we showing photos of all the family so they can be seen and loved?

 Princess Tea Party

Princess Liberty

I lack girls in my life with six sons. I fill girl needs with my darling nieces. I planned a princess tea party at their house. My son Zack had just come home from college so he came as a surprise prince. Brooklyn freaked out with him wearing a mask. She ran off and disappeared. Later we found her under her mom’s bed crying so scared of this masked prince. I told her is was cousin Zack. She finally came to the tea party.  

I purchased girly food with lots of fruit and pink. For tea I warmed up apple juice. We had lessons on drinking tea and how to be polite. Paris showed us how to curtsy for the prince. I loved how she shut her eyes to curtsey.

After tea we danced with princess music. It was lots of twirling and laughter. It was a beautiful spring day with my favorite princesses.

Ben’s Eagle Court of Honor

Ben, Joshua, Zachary, Nicholas, Tyler and Jacob (youngest to oldest)

The Spurlock Eagle Men

Man of the hour

Ben is our sixth son. Ben has had many examples in his life from his brothers. A good example from all his brothers is being an eagle scout. Some of my sons had earned the eagle early in the teen years. We had a family rule that no one could get their license to drive in-less they had the eagle finished. Most had theirs at 13 or 14 years of age.

Tyler was a bit of a challenge to get his eagle done before driving. He had all of his merit badges finished but not his eagle project. When he got his school schedule he had driver education on it. Tyler and I went back to the school counselor and had it taken off. She asked us what he wanted to take in place of the divers education. Tyler was pretty mad and would not look at the choices. I pointed at one class and signed him up. On the way home I asked if he wanted to know what I signed him up for. He said no. I said you would look amazing in a tutu with all the girls in modern dance. He had the eagle project done in two weeks. Then I revieled I had signed him up for ballroom dance.

I can’t explain the joy I had to see my sons in their scout shirts all at one time. It was a special moment that I will cherish for life. Thanks boys for being my sons and trying to do good. You brought a tear to my eye last night. I love you.

Beehive House

When I was a child I loved to see the historical building downtown. When I was assigned to do a documentary on something I choose the Beehive house. It was many phone calls and patience working with the church to have this opportunity, in the end it was all worth it. I loved the architecture and spirit with the history. I focused on the details but photographed many other room as well.

The Beehive House was built in 1854, was the official residence of Brigham Young the second President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and first governor of Utah Territory. The home has been restored to reflect the New England architecture. It has symbolism all through the home Beehive on the woodwork and doors. The Beehive represents industry of the early saints. They made the desert bloom with their hard work.

You can find this historical home downtown Salt Lake on State street and South Temple. The tours are free and great.