I got this message today from Stephanie, our niece, who is living in Spain, currently teaching English:
I thought of you today! I went on a 45-minute run (my longest yet, hooray!) and on my way out, I passed a man with a German shepard. We smiled at each other and I kept running. Then after a while, I turned around and headed back and passed him again. He had a cherry blossom in his hand and he held it out to me. He said, ‘Take this, for your incredible willpower!’ And the whooole rest of my run seemed easier, because that phrase just kept playing over and over in my head. It felt like an Andy-moment to me, so I thought I’d share.
I love it that Stephanie would take the time to share a story like that with me.
Today’s photo goes back 10 years or so and is of Stephanie on a Smallman family vacation.
Today’s Question: Recount a special interaction you’ve had recently with a family member.
Andy Smallman 
That’s a cooking moment I had forgotten. We had to ‘massage’ that plastic bag so it would make ice cream, I think. Should be in the recipe book, shouldn’t it?
For sure! Isn’t it?
My brother has has a partner for 30+ years who has two sons. I hardly know one at all, but the other was with me and my sister when both my brother and his partner had to have cancer surgeries three days apart over seven years ago. We worked as a team for ten days getting them up and about again, ready to go home.
Carlin is a wonderful son and human being. This week his mother called to tell us that Carlin got us VIP tickets for the four day Dew Tour here in Utah. He is the technician in charge of setting up some of the spectacular ramps and obstacles that the skiers and snowboarders use for some of the competitions. We will be sitting with the athletes, families and other Very Important People. We see Carlin maybe once every two to three years, but that bond formed so many years ago still touches a tender spot in both our hearts.