- Aunt -

AUNT: Just like Mom, only cooler!!!

Enough said.

- It's Official... -

It's official!!! I am THE worst blogger ever!!!! I'll try to do better in the future, okay? Pinky swear!

And.....I plan on catching up on a few things that have gone on over the summer. Here they are just so you'll have something to look forward to! :)

- Diane's retirement.
- Relay for Life.
- Butlers big move.
- My Birthday.
- Steel Days.
- Bear Lake.
- Pug and Joey's love story.

So stay tuned!!! They will be put in chronological order so you might have to look hard for them...

- One Year Older and Wiser Too -

That's right! I'm one year older and wiser too (hopefully). It was a GREAT day!!!

It all started off with my wonderful brother-in-law making a yummy breakfast for everyone. Yummmm......french toast, hashbrowns, scrambled eggs, with bacon and sausage. And I got to blow the candles out on my french toast. Could it get any better? Nope!

When it's your birthday in our family, YOU get to choose what you want to do. Well...I chose to hike to Timp Cave! I LOVE it up there! One summer, a group of us would hike the trail in the mornings about three times a week. We learned many fun facts along the way that not everyone knows about...like the "watch tree". Anyway, the Butler's and I made the trek to the cave. It was so fun and I'm so grateful that everyone were such great sports about it!!!

HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!!! :)

- I HEART OZ -

Guess what I did this weekend?!

That's right...I saw WICKED!
I only have two words - LOVED IT!!!
After all, GREEN is my favorite color!

- Who's the Leader of the Club . . . ME!!! -

- My Pammy -

Pamela Jane Durrant Hunsaker
February 28, 1953 - January 4, 2009

When an artist paints a picture of someone, they try to capture more than what first meets the eye. They try to capture everything about them from the inside out. The little intricacies of each line of their smile. The sparkle of kindness that lights up their eyes. How the winds of life trials float through their hair. The love they have felt in the rosiness of their cheeks. And the hearts they have touched through the details of each brush stroke. When the artist’s job is done, the canvas of the subject’s life is more than a beautiful painting. It speaks a thousand priceless words that otherwise cannot be described.

It’s hard to paint a portrait of my Pammy. SHE....was the one who danced through life with a paint brush in hand and a palate of vibrant colors splashing, painting, and spreading love and memories in all of our lives. Pam created for each of us special moments that only she could paint in her own beautiful way.

The portrait of Pam’s life spreads laughter and joy to all who she has come in contact with. And I, Pammy’s Manda, will always treasure the following memories....

• Singing oldies along with the radio while driving in California rush hour traffic after an amazing day at the beach.

• Starting the traditional skinny dipping event in Bear Lake together.

• Chocolate covered cinnamon bears, almonds in any form, steak and mushrooms, large diet cokes with a lemon, and always on Christmas Eve...peppermint ice cream with homemade hot fudge and brownies.
  

• Going to Jazz games as VIP guests and eating gourmet hot dogs together.
  

• Tagging along with her to her annual Treasurer’s conventions in St. George and the burnt almond fudge frozen custard she HAD to get at 10:00 at night.
  

• Sharing stories on how she kissed that guy...and that guy...and that guy when growing up.
  

• Helping her do marathon Christmas shopping when she didn’t feel good where my arms practically fell off trying to carry all the bags so she wouldn’t have to.
  

• Going to her boy’s games and girl’s recitals and being a tad embarrassed at how loud she cheered because she wanted to make sure her kids could hear her.
  

• Sliding down the old City Hall stairs having races on card board boxes and sharing that tiny office where we were packed in like sardines.
  

• Lint brushing her perfectly shaped bald head after Suzy shaved it during chemo....trying to lighten the situation.
  

• Participating in Relay for Life events and cheering for her while she proudly took her survivor laps.
  

• Running to her bedside after I went through the temple this summer just to give her a big hug because I knew how bad she felt because she was too sick to attend.
  

• Walking over to her house at any time of the day just to sit on the floor next to her bed....just to be with my Pammy.
  

My list could go on and on!!! She has been my mentor in every way. My second mom. My best friend. I know the brush strokes of Pam’s influence will definitely continue to paint masterpieces within all of our hearts.

She was an artist and her life was her canvas.
Celebrate her brilliance.

She loved life and it loved her back.
Celebrate her passion.

She listened to her heart above all other voices.
Celebrate her wisdom.

She saw every ending as a new beginning.
Celebrate her resiliency.

She ignored people who said it couldn’t be done.
Celebrate her independence.

She added so much beauty into being human.
Celebrate her presence.

She walked in when everyone else walked out.
Celebrate her friendship.

She just had this way of brightening the day.
Celebrate her radiance.

She made the whole world feel like home.
Celebrate her warmth.

She colored her thoughts with only the brightest hues.
Celebrate her optimism.

She ran ahead where there were no paths.
Celebrate her bravery.

She held her head high and looked the world straight in the eye.
Celebrate her strength.

She designed a life she loved.
Celebrate her joy.

She remained true to herself.
Celebrate her authenticity.

She made the world a better place.
Celebrate her.