Family Updates

Some of you are great about sending pictures from home, some not so much. Here are some recent pictures I've received from the home front.



Kaitlin, Jeremy and Lexi







Jason's sweetheart, Lainey






Hay Bug eating breakfast

Myrtle Beach 2007

It is official. Kevin and I are flying to SC for 10 days in June for the family beach trip festivities! Kevin will get the crash course in southern culture as we explore from Charlotte to Charleston. Load up the boogy boards, start boiling the peanuts, pass the sun screen, Here we come!

Muddy Creek Ride

I recently spent a day riding horses in the Muddy Creek Wilderness area in central Utah. 10 horses, 10 riders, and 3 dogs rode back and forth across the Muddy Creek in a beautiful canyon. We made our way to a cabin well over 100 years old and it still had a cast iron stove sitting on the buckling floor with the year 1899 on it. It left my mind full of questions about the people who lived there and the sacrifices they made to live in such a beautiful yet remote place.
About 4-5 hours into the ride our group separated into two groups and we kept our eyes open for the wild horses living in the area. The scenery was beautiful and the terrain rough; the horses worked hard for us. The final few hours of a 10 hour day in the saddle is a little “uncomfortable” and the horses were really tired. We kept getting cliffed-out and finally decided to maneuver down a sketchy drainage off of the plateau. As I led my horse, Laredo, down the steep and loose boulder filled drainage; it was a bit scary. Laredo would begin to lose control of her footing with me standing in front of her. A few tense moments later, we were all safely at the bottom.
When are spirits needed it the most, two wild horses put on a show for us. They ran away down a side canyon and circled in front of us. After watching us for a few moments they ran straight towards us, stopping a couple hundred yards away. My childhood day dreams were being played out in front of me.
Although it was a great day in the saddle, my body has never been so glad to see the truck and trailer. We were all walking a bit funny the next day.

Dear Kaitlin

~John Mauney Jr.

Life has always been a gift to cherish,
The pains of death are proof.
Live each day with strength and hope,
do more than simply breathe.
Succor yourself with meditation on blessings bestowed by God
The more you smile the happier you’ll be.
and the grief will slowly leave.
There’s joy to be found in the path you take,
wherever it may lead.