Heather Spurlock

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.

Sugarhouse Park

It was the first warm day in the Salt Lake. We had the weekend with our three cute nieces. It was pure pleasure. I woke up early daily hearing, “Aunt Header” each day. It made me happy to see cheerful faces with the hugs and kisses they freely give. We planned on feeding the ducks and there were only seagulls. We had to go over to Fairmont Park to find ducks. We should have done dinner first. The girls thought we were there to feed the girls!

Survey

Gardner Village

These are the pictures I took at Gardner Village. It was so much fun. I spend hours there checking out the unexpected. It has much to offer, more than shopping.

A new angel, born Rushton

A perfect baby

It was a special day when you finally meet the expected first grandchild. It is more emotional that I could ever imagined. I pictured myself as the young mother holding my baby Jacob in my arms. The deep love you immediatly have is overwelming. As I look upon a perfect child of God it brings it back to mind why, we are here. Melissa did a great job of delivery and is a great mom. Jacob is a natural already packing him around. 

Rushton was born Februaruy 22. We were notified on the birth events not by phone but, by twitter. I was able to share the big phone call, on speaker phone with my mother in a nursing home as we heard all the birth details. It is her first great-grand child. I took my father down to the hosptial later that night as we all welcomed this amazing child into our family. How can my baby be having a baby?  Time does fly by.

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Check out, back to reality

Reality calls, then I am back to my loved ones. I have to be checked out  of the Marriott at 10:00 am. I got up after 9:00. I checked out and went to the pool for three hours. Soaking up the sun and some reading (homework). I went to the mall on international drive and it was a sad mall. When we were there years ago it was bustling cool place to be, FAO Swartz used to be a favorite to visit. With the economy, weak it has taken businesses and closed many doors in this mall. 

I returned my Budget rental car early and ready to fly home. Soon I found out that my next destination to Atlanta, was way behind schedule because of heavy rain storms. We left an hour and a half late. I soon met a lovely lady from Nebraska and we were pals for the next several hours. She went the conference that Ken was going to (ASCB). We enjoyed talking about  our school experiences. She is a principal at a elementary school. Soon we were telling our life stories to one another. We made a connection. I made my connection back to Salt Lake, unfortunately she did not.

Finally I got home at 1:30 am today. Several hours later than expected. I am bushed. Some how I still did the laundry, grocery shopping, made lunch and dinner, visited my mother whom is back in the hospital, got her things from the nursing home, did the dished and read several hours of history 1700. I guess I’m not on vacation any more. 

Nikon 200 lost at Cocoa Beach

It was a crazy day of tears and excitement. I went to Cocoa Beach late this morning. I had frozen food for breakfast. I planned a fresh seafood lunch. After driving two hours with all the other crazy’s going to see the space ship launch. I went to a restaurant that was specialized in florida seafood. I was seated, then ignored. Fifteen minutes later, I had not even been greeted by a server or asked if I would like a drink. I felt invisible. I went to the hostess and told her these complaints and my table had not been wiped off, so I was left. I drove to subway and waited 45 minutes to get a sandwich. I bought a lawn chair across the street and then I noticed my pride and joy Nikon 200 camera, was missing.

I searched the car franticly. No camera. I started to cry thinking back on all the places that I had been, did I lock the car each time, how or if I can get it back. I went to the beach with the gear in tow lacking my camera. I sat down and started to pray about finding the needle in the haystack. I just put sunscreen on when a thought popped into my head. I left it at the restaurant 15 miles away. I wanted to picture the south fresh seafood. I packed up and drove back and could not find it. I over drove by 12 miles, a total of 20 miles. When I realized I passed it, I turned around. I did not know the name of the restaurant or the address to put it into the GPS. I asked the Lord to help me, to be my GPS. I had looked once and failed. A few miles later. I was directed to my destiny.

I walked right up to the table I had perviously sat, and my camera was gone. I went back to the hostess that I had talked with earlier. I said that I had left my camera there and was wondering if someone had turned it in. She went behind the counter and gave me my prize possession. I was emotional as I thanked her for the kindness, that I had not shared earlier. I was very humble.

I had even more traffic than before to struggle with but at least I was able to record my adventure. I parked much further away and finally was able to eat on a chair at the beach. I even took some pictures on myself since I am by myself and of the shuttle launch.

I had my telephoto lens and used it for the event. It was amazing to watch and shoot and  it moved so fast with a fiery tail. About 15 seconds after lauch there was a loud BOOM. I am sure it was important but it reminded me of 23 years ago when another mission did return the astronauts. I enjoyed taking the pictures. I hope you enjoy them, because we are blessed to have any pictures today.