New Year---New Journey

I haven't posted for a few months. It has been a journey for me that is for sure.   My Dad became ill in September and I have been back and forth to Idaho and Utah since that time.  My Dad died  December 17th.  We had his funeral on the 22nd in Kaysville, Utah. 

What is it about our parents that leads us to believe they will never die?  I am a really positive person and I honestly thought he was going to get better....and he tried so hard to do so.  The last time I spoke to my dad he told me that he was so very tired and didn't want to live his life if he couldn't be active.  He was done.  I told him I loved him and that he was the very best Dad anyone could ever have.  It was so hard to KNOW that he was going back to Heavenly Father, but comforting to KNOW he was ready.  I am at peace with all that has happened....I miss him so very badly!   I was cleaning out my planner in my purse and came across some notes that he had written to me in October while he was intubated in the hospital.  I was at work....whew....tears flowed!  I think of him everyday when I hear a song or find a new recipe that he would have liked to try, or while driving to Utah spotting the deer, antelope, and mountain sheep along the road! (I am the best at that). He instilled in me my positive, sunny, disposition.  Everyone was his friend....including strangers anywhere!  I am like him in that way too.  I love him so very much!
So, now what?  New Year, new journey.....with my Dad watching me and helping me from above!
For my Dad...new life, new journey....with much work to be done!

Idaho, Utah and Pretzel Chocolate Chip Cookies

Here we are @ The Conference Center...my sister, Jana, Monte, Me, Brennan and my friend Melanie...taken by a nice tour guide. The big building behind messes up the shot for sure!

Whew....vacation is over. It was super fun. We went to southern Idaho and visited my parents....ate yummy food....fresh blueberry pie (I had never eaten fresh blueberry pie)....watch for the post on that one....Lava Hot Springs...Chesterfield...UTAH....warm and sunny...American Fork Harley Davidson, Grandma's Foods, Cabella's....cards ( I suck @ 5 Crowns....but it was fun)..Ryan and Ashley...SLC Farmers Market.....Caputos....Conference Center, Temple Square, Church History Museum....Deseret Book Flagship store ( Where I saw the Pretzel cookies)Lone Star Taqueria....wish I had some of their Pico.....fireworks...Hunter 16th Ward....can you say SUPER SMALL WARD! 26 ladies in RS and 4 of us were visitors! More cards....I REALLY suck @ Shanghai! Pack up...go home!

The cookies are my basic recipe below.....Melanie and I decided to add about 3/4 cup of crushed salted pretzels to the dough with the chocolate chips. Actually....Brennan did the mixing! MMMM!