Summer's End

The summer went way too fast, especially for my garden. Some of my favorite times throughout the summer was when I caught my boys rummaging through the tomato, carrots, strawberries, peas. No technology necessary, just good old fashioned gardening.

Our cantaloupe, watermelon and pumpkin crops were so plentiful that we ended up giving some away. I've now been spoiled by such sweet, perfectly flavorful fruit that store bought just tastes bland.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


The dry, hot summer led to many fires throughout our area as well as much of the USA. Montana had so many fires that it was said the whole state was burning away.

A truck driving over dried fields started a fire only a few miles from us, out by the Menan Buttes. In a matter of hours, what looked like a manageable fire grew to an evacuation warning for people just 1 mile away on the other side of the Snake River.

Helicopters ran consistently, fire agencies worked overtime and in two days they had it contained. The air however, took much longer to clear. Through a constant headache from the charred air, I was grateful that no homes or lives were lost. My perspective is forever changed having watched our neighbors lose their home only months previously.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Vivien and Gabor shared tidbits from their trips over the summer as well.

Each time I see photos of their traveling spots I have the urge again to go visit. Then reality and our finances pull me back and I live vicariously through them.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


My dad, Grandpa Evan Fullmer, asked the boys the last time he saw them, what their favorite scripture story was. After one-line answers he challenged them that the next time he saw them he would ask again.

They instead (at a mother's nudging) wrote and mailed him hand written letters of their current favorite stories. Though I prompted the writing, I was touched and impressed with their detailed sharing.

Nathan wrote out another note for me, prompted by his reading in the Book of Mormon of the 2000 stripling warriors. Again, I am touched by his depth of understanding and application to his own life.

Complete with art work.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I'm not sure where or why this fits in but it seems like it should be included.

What a kid!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hyrum and I had a startling, scary experience on the way home from the orthodontist one morning.

While driving on US 20, a large truck went flying perpendicular across the freeway, missing us by only a car length. While going southbound, he had crossed the median and through a miracle, he did not hit anyone as he went between the vehicles traveling northward. Nor did he flip and he left our two lanes of traffic and barreled through the shoulder, a fence, and flew over a mound of brush to land on top of the train tracks.




Hyrum and I were shaken to tears and I immediately pulled over, as did the others who had witnessed it. Others got out to make sure the driver was okay. The police showed up and took statements and I sat for a few minutes longer to catch my breath, pray with and offer words of comfort to Hyrum, and we went on our way. Gratitude for our safety is an understatement.

Hyrum decided on his own that he would no longer sit in the front seat. He isn't tall enough for it anyway - the airbag could injure him if engaged. He also gained a testimony of prayer before traveling since we had prayed for safety and a beautiful morning before we left for the orthodontist.

Original Story:

IDAHO FALLS — A pickup truck crashed near railroad tracks on U.S. Highway 20 on Monday morning.

Idaho State Police said around 9:30 a.m., a Dodge pickup went across all lanes and ended up on the northbound side of the railroad tracks between the Hitt and St. Leon Road exits. Troopers are still at the crash and investigating the incident.

UPDATE:

The following is an update from Idaho State Police at 4:40 p.m.

On Monday, August 7, 2017, at approximately 9:18 a.m., the Idaho State Police investigated a one-vehicle injury crash on US20 at milepost 313, near the Hitt Road exit, near Ucon.

Tyler J Sutton, 30, of Rigby, was driving westbound in a 2015 Ram 1500 pickup when he drove off the left shoulder. The vehicle continued to go through the median, crossing the eastbound lanes of US20, then through a fence, where it came to rest on the railroad tracks.

Sutton was not wearing a seatbelt and was taken by private vehicle for medical evaluation. This crash is under investigation by the Idaho State Police.