Selected

I have been occupied since Monday with the case I was selected to be on a jury for. What a year of learning some things regarding how our country works! I was confident that I would not be chosen so was rather surprised when I was. It was a criminal case. I know that young people sometimes read this blog so I will not give details. Suffice it to say that the assault was by a male to a 7 year old little girl. The last incident occurring when she was 10.
My stomach churned with the little information I was given about the case as they began the jury selection. I wondered how I could possibly sit and listen to what we would have to hear. But it all came down to "could you be objective and impartial while listening to the evidence and in deliberating the case." As much as I wanted out of this particular case, I didn't feel that I could say anything to get out of it and be honest. I was a mom with four children that were near the ages of the child in the case, I knew the State would want me, but not the defense. We began opening arguments as soon as the jury was selected. Honestly, I didn't have an opinion one way or another whether or not the man was guilty when we started. We were told that he was innocent until the evidence had been presented and I truly saw him that way. But I left the courtroom with the opening statements in my head and thought I was going to be a basket case through this process. I was not to talk about any aspect of the case with anyone, not even fellow jurors. I dream and was worried that images would keep me from sleeping well or at all. But I calmed myself with knowing that I could ask for a blessing and that God created this government to work this way (in general) and that there was probably a significant reason I was there. I learned things about myself that I didn't know I was capeable of.

Jury Duty

We had a great 4th of July weekend and I will post about it later, but today I have to be at the courthouse by 12:00 for Jury selection proceedings. Hopefully, they won't want me. Today we all had dental cleanings and were at the dentists office from 7:00-10:15! Mardi and Keddi were late to school and Tersa will have to watch Shinara, pick up the other girls from the bus stop (in 108 degrees) and help with homework! I could be gone until 5:30. Fun stuff at the Barber house!

Scott and Katie's Wedding day

We were rushed Saturday morning because we got up later than I wanted to and the girls wanted to play out in the yard (which they did as I packed). At 9:30 we left to visit a BYU roomate of mine who lives in Sandy. Nikki, Dirk and their daughter Brynna entertained us until about 12:15 when we rushed off to the wedding at Mt. Timpanogus (sp?) temple. (Addmittedly I was a tad late. I would have liked more time with my friend.)

After the ceremony we stood around outside to wait for them to come out and stayed long enough to be in a group picture. My children were starving and we went with Aunt Michelle, Meghan, Rachel and Aunt Marcie to the Brick Oven for a late lunch. Then we went up to BYU to walk around the "Wilk" for a bit. We spent some money of course and then headed to the reception which was held outside at an amphitheatre right next to the temple they were married in. It was a grassy area with rabbits running around and I let the girls kick off their shoes and run amuck. (As much as our girls will anyway!) We ate, visited, danced and relaxed. And I took three pictures. Shocking I know. I did borrow my brothers video camera to film the little girls dancing, but I would have had to follow all of the girls all over to get pictures and they were always moving!!

The little girls are with their Aunt Katie (now we have two.) The four men are my father and three of my five brothers. (Cameron, Brady (#6), Shae (2) and Micah (8). Mardi is with two of Shae's kids, Meghan and Rachel. And Ben could not get his father's (Brady) attention and found butt biting to be rather affective.

Big Cottonwood Canyon

There was a BBQ at a pavilion in Big Cottonwood Canyon for Scott and Katie and that is where we went at 4:00 Friday afternoon.

When we first arrived, some of my siblings were playing in a field with a ball and bat. Keddi wanted to play so I told her to ask her uncles. Thanks to Uncle Caleb (in picture), Uncle Brian, Uncle Micah and Uncle Brady for pitching to her and helping her get her batting down. Actually, she hit pretty much everything that was pitched (well) to her. We had to get her to stand sideways to the pitcher, but the rest of it came pretty naturally to her. She had fun!
Shinara started off playing with cousin Thomas who was born just a month and some after her. They were playing in dirt, with rocks and jumping off the big rock while Keddi batted. Later, Mardi led Thomas, Keddi and Shinara all over the area we were in, exploring. Unfortunately I would only let them go where I could readily see them and though that still left plenty of space, it just wasn't enough sometimes.

Mardi found a stream and many other things she enjoyed when she was exploring on her own. That is what she did at first. Then she included the other children and they enjoyed themselves. We didn't get back to Aunt Nancy's till late again!

Continued Utah Trip

On Friday morning, we woke up late and took our time getting ready for the day. Uncle Gale had invited us to pick strawberries out of the garden to have with breakfast so once everyone was showered and ate some cereal, we went out to pick strawberries.
Then, until 4:00 we lounged in the hammock, played in the sand, Mardi climbed the cherry tree and we ate some cherries, jumped on the trampoline, Mardi played with the dogs and the younger girls helped Aunt Nancy in her garden. It was a relaxing day with so much to enjoy. We loved having access to a real yard with grass and fun things to do. It only got up to the mid-high 90's and the girls were outside pretty much the entire day!