August and the Perseid meteor shower

Wow, August just zipped past. We recieved our Japanese summer exchange student on July 31 and she left on August 15th. What a whirlwind of events happened in those two weeks.  Our students name was Ryoko. She was absolutely the most wonderful young lady ever! So very helpful and always happy. Just a real treat!!
It was difficult to send her home. Hopefully she will rejoin our family someday. Our hearts were touched and grew to love her so much in that 2 weeks.  She was such a delight!. We visited all the local sites in Brigham City. She and Eve went to the Brigham City Musuem and the quilt exhibit that was showing. We took her to the Bear River Bird Refuge. What a wonderful place! If you are in the area... go its well worth the time. Be sure to Watch the Movie about the Bird Refuge, called "Wings of Thunder". It's absolutely beautiful, nearly a spiritual experience!  We went shopping, and shopping and shopping from Logan to Salt Lake. Took her to the Cheese Factory, the Pepperidge Farms cookie factory, the Fat Boys ice cream factory, The creamies ice cream factory and of course the Logan Mall. We also went to Salt lake and escorted her through Temple Square starting with the LDS Conference center, then the North Visitors center, The Assembly Hall, the South Visitors Center, the Beehive House and all the grounds. We had a wonderful day there!! Then they went to the Olympic ice rink in Murray and skated for a couple of hrs. It was a very hot day and so their advertisement of the "Coolest Place in Town" was correct!! It was great!  We even went up to Mantua campground to watch the Perseid Meteor shower. Perhaps we went up there too early, it was 11pm, and we saw 3 or 4 shooting starts. It was neat, but we thought we'd see more. I think that Ryoko was impressed as she said in Japan they don't see the stars like we see them here.  We really are blessed that within 5 miles we can get to somewhere that there aren't any street lights and you can see the heavens bright and aglow! Then we took off on the weekend with her to take her to Arches National Park. What a beautiful place!!! We hiked all over the place! It nearly killed me, but it was so much fun inspite of the pain and aches. I have medical problems and problems from an accident a few years ago when an officer ran a stop sign and totalled my van. But I am not going to quit living.. I love life and I want to do things with my kids and family.  The beauty of Arches is so gorgeous.  Ryoko had the best time there!  This is the 2nd summer that we have spent in Arches. Seems the Japanese exchange students all want to see Arches.... so I oblige! Sorta hoping that the new one will want to see Yellowstone. It's been a few years since I was there last.
Two days before Ryoko left we recieved our Japanese school year exchange student. Her name is Fuzuki, she is a beautiful girl and so much fun! We just love these girls. Our lives are enriched by the exchange students and sharing of cultures. It's so great!
In less than a week school starts again. The girls attended the back to school BASH tonight. They had a great time. Being a teenage is so much fun! I love having teenagers in my home. The world is so much fun and they see the most positive things in life. They are just good kids. I am so blessed to have such great chidlren who are following Christ and have good goals and are seeking the good in life!

Can't beleive that August is nearly gone!