Small Reasons I Believe Big Time

I Believe!!!!

There is nothing that reaffirms my testimony that God lives and loves us like a long, slow walk among the beauties of nature.  We are taught that all things testify that there is a God.  There are those, many of whom are highly educated, who would have us believe that it all just happened.  Seriously, how long would one have to wait until the earth elements, in and of themselves, just lying around, would  turn themselves into such beauty as I was able to see today.  If  I were a gambler, and I am not, I wouldn't bet a plug nickel on any of it just happening.  None of these, so called educated geniuses, have ever been able to make a single thing live, without the spark of life having already been there. It  is not just beauty either, each of these beauties is alive.  They grow. They reproduce.  They survive in some of the harshest conditions.  They mend themselves if they are for some reason damaged by external forces.  They seem to die and yet in the spring of the year they come back in all their glory.  Then there is color and oder, and smell and sight, and all the processes of life, each species of plant or animal being different and filling the measure of it's creation in the great macrocosm of the universe.  Is it any wonder that following the Creation and the ordering of all things, that God said:  "It is good."

I, for one, am glad that He created me and  you, and that he gave us a brain and the power to reason, and the freedom to make decisions, big and  small.  I, for one, am glad to know that He is my Father and that if I am obedient to the laws of heaven and earth, I can someday become like my Father.  That reminds me of a scripture recorded in the Book of Abraham 4:18. "And the Gods watched those things which they had ordered until they obeyed."  That is a topic for a long and serious discussion, in and of itself.  Suffice it for now, to say,  God created us and all things.  He loves us and wants us to be happy and return to Him.  He will patiently watch over and nurture us until we learn to obey those laws which will allow us to progress and enjoy true and lasting happiness.  It is our choice when we decide to learn His laws and abide by them.  I see no reason to procrastinate on any of this.  We cannot truly break the laws for they are eternal and unbreakable.  We can only break ourselves against them.  Heaven forbid.  I believe big time and will do all I can to learn the rules and abide by them.  I will not gamble on the words and theories of the "worldly wise".

So much for my thoughts while wandering around in the Lord's University today.  Below are just a few of  my teachers today.  Of course, I was feeling the Spirit as I wandered too..  If any of you get to feeling really smart, or know someone who is, just ask them to create anything  remotely comparable to any of these using the elements of the earth alone.  Humility will undoubtedly follow the honest seeker of truth.

Where does color, sight, and smell come from?

This flower was about a quarter of an inch in diameter, and yet so complete and so perfect in the minutest detail.  It is just one of the millions I was able to see today.  Never has a man made object, and I have seen some of the great ones, contained the beauty and power of this small flower.

Or this pair of small, but brightly colored, and beautiful butterflies

Even this little ground squirrel seems to have a peace and serenity about him, that most humans can barely imagine.

I never cease to be amazed at the infinite variety and beauty of His creations.  Do you suppose God ever gets bored?  Or should we?

Love you all and always,

Grandpa Bart

Happy Birthday, Alison!!!!

July 25th

Happy Birthday #36 to Alison!!!!!!!!!!!!

We want to express our love and appreciation to you on your birthday.

You are a wonderful daughter, thoughtful, and kind to everyone you meet, especially your aging parents.

You are a wonderful sister who cares about your brothers and their families.

You are a faithful companion to your husband and a very beautiful one as well

You are a marvelous mother who always shows love to her children and others.

Most of all you love your Father in Heaven and His Son and teach your children and others of your love for them by following the example set by our elder Brother, Jesus, who loves you for what you are and what  you are becoming.  We could not be happier with the kind of life you lead and the person you have become.

MAY YOU HAVE A VERY, VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY, AND MANY MORE TO COME.

Thanks for being our daughter!!!!!

And Should We Die

We have done a little celebrating and a lot of reflecting this Pioneer Day.  It is important that we remember the faith and the sacrifice of those who went before us.  It is equally important that we have faith and are willing to sacrifice for others.  I have come to believe more strongly than ever that we are all a part of a great eternal vision and reality, where each of us has challenges and opportunities to reach out to others and help them along their journey.  May we all find our role and do our best all along the way.

This is a picture of Iris standing next to the first known McMichael to accept the restored gospel and join the Church.  Robert McMichael was born in Londonderry, Ireland in 1811.  He joined the Church and was baptized in the spring of 1841 in England.  We do not know all the particulars but somehow he and his family made it to England where he met the missionaries and accepted the gospel.  This was during the time that Brigham Young, John Taylor, Wilfred Woodruff, and other early missionaries were  working in England.  We again do not no all the particulars, but Robert McMichael and his wife next show up in the records of the Church in 1853 where they received their endowments in the "President's Office."  They would have crossed the ocean by ship from England and later the Great Plains  to the valley of the Great Salt Lake by covered wagon sometime before 1853.  They eventually settled in Hoytsville, Utah where Robert and his wife Elizabeth McMillan McMichael are buried and where some of their descendants still live to this day.  We visited the Hoytsville Cemetery on our way home from Colorado just over a week ago.  We talked with people who knew some of the older generation McMichaels as well as some who still live in the Hoytsville/Coalville area in Utah.

This is only one of our family pioneer stories. May we be ever mindful of their faith and sacrifice and of our own personal and family heritage as we think of those "blessed, honored pioneers."

It is a strong testimony to us, that the Lord is ever mindful of us and is persistant in wanting to share with us the blessings of eternity.

Hiking with Grandpa

Today I played grandpa.  Justin's boys have been wanting me to take them on a hike.  I figured today was as good as any so I called them up to see if they'd like to go today.  Of course they did and so did Kate.  Justin didn't have to work today so he came along too.  We didn't do anything really exotic, but we did enjoy a nice hike together on the Stokes Nature Trail along the Logan River.  The weather was perfect and we just took our time and enjoyed the fresh air, the natural beauty, and each other.  Grandma met us at the Canyon Entrance park by First Dam with lunch at the end of our hike.  We had a good time being together.

Here is Ethan playing King of the Hill on top of a big boulder.

Here is Hayden using sections of snake grass for claws.  Cute kid, eh.

Kate went along too.  She enjoyed most of the walk, but she got a little tired toward the end.  Not bad for a four year old though.

I challenged Ethan to climb up onto a small cliff.  With Justin's help he made it with no problems.  Here they are perched on the top.

I enjoyed being with them and am glad that they wanted to go with their Grandpa Bart and that I live close enough so that we can do this sort of thing occasionally.

Eborn Reunion 2010 : A Good Time Was Had by All

On Saturday, July 17th, the extended family of Darrell and Edna Eborn met at The State Park on the east side of Bear Lake for a family reunion.  Many of the family was able to attend and those who were unable to make it missed a good time.  Family came from far and near.  Those who had to travel great distances, like Erin from Texas and Hannah from Moscow and Nina and Steve's clan from Boise were especially appreciated. It was good to get together and renew old acquaintances and see how everyone is doing. It was also fun to sing happy Birthday as an extended family to Jason.  Happy 43.  We are a very blessed family in so many, many ways.  This Reunion came about largely through the organizing efforts of Reed and Lorraine and their family.  All of the rest of us wish to thank them for all of their efforts.  It turned out to be a great success and I was especially glad they we decided to have another Family Reunion next summer.  Now we all have something to look forward to again.

I took lots of pictures and am including a few of them here.  I'm sorry if you weren't included in the pictures.  No slight is intended.  It's just that there are a lot of us.

Reed not only did most of the organizing, but also did most of the cooking and took as many as wanted to go for a ride on his wave runner.  Thanks, Reed, for everything.

Everyone was happy to see Michelle and her sweet kids.  Here is Iris giving Michelle a hug.

Rachel was actually the one who suggested the family Reunion.  Nothing happens unless someone plants the seed.  Thanks, Rachel.  She is going to be the new Vice Principal at a new Elementary School in Moab.  I think some of the family is hopng she will have a big basement down there.  Good luck in your new assignment.

Here are Justin and Gail recalling old times.

Ryan, Samantha, and MEgan relaxing a bit.

Here is Philip trying to prove his tough guy reputation, ha,  I think, the may have met his match in Garrett, Gavin, and Ethan.

Here are Myrna and Dean.  They are still looking good.  It was good to see those of your family who made the journey to the Reunion.

No family reunion would be complete without plenty of great food and conversation.  This one was no exception.

And of course, if you come to Bear Lake for a Reunion, you have to spend some time cooling of and having fun in the cool waters of Beautiful Bear Lake.  This is just a small sample of all the fun that was had in the lake and on the beach.

Again , thanks to all who came.  Please stay in touch and keep us informed about what is happening in  your family.

Colorado Rocky Mountain High

We spent several days in Colorado visiting with Stephen and Candice and their sweet family.  We also took the scenic route out through Steamboat Springs and then on the way home we spent a couple of days in Estes Park and the the Rocky Mountain National Park.  We especially enjoyed the  drive over the Trail Ridge Road, sometimes called the Going to the Sky Highway.  It tops out at over 12,100 feet.  It was truly the most awe inspiring forty-eight mile drive I have ever taken.  The mountains are so rugged and majestic.  We were far above the tree line for much of the way and there was still ice and snowdrifts along the sides of the road in many places.  If any of you ever get a chance to drive this road, do so, or better yet ride your bikes over it, as many others were doing.

Here we see Stephen and Mason on the "Dome" at San Isabel Scout Ranch where Stephen is the Camp Director.

Mason standing on top of the world, San Isabel Scout Ranch, Colorado, Summer 2010.

Stephen at  work.  His job is very demanding.  at times, but it is never boring.  He does so many things and does them all well.  We are very proud of him and his family.

This is Halle. She'll be in Fourth Grade this next school year.  She is growing up to be a beautiful young woman.

Gabrielle is going to be in First Grade in the Fall.  Is her teacher lucky to have such an eager , happy, smiling girl in her class?  Yes, she is, and the whole class will be better because Gabi is there too.  She loves, her Uncle Jason as well as the rest of the family, and we all love her.

We haven't seen nearly enough of Sophie.  It's hard to believe that she is growing up so fast.  She is full of life, energy, personality.  We just love her and all of the rest.

This is just one of the scenes from the Rocky Mountain National Park.  Longs Peak is one of over fifty 14,000 plus foot peaks in Colorado.  I had the greatest urge to go climb it.  I think I could, but maybe I'll have to find a willing climbing partner first.  Any takers?

For us there were many reasons to identify with the John Denver song, Rocky Mountain High.

Celebrating Country with Family

The Independence Day holiday  for us was spent celebrating the birth of our nation at church, with family, at cookouts and parades.  We missed the fireworks on Saturday, except for the noise that is.  Personally. I'd rather spend my time in the canyon around a campfire eating dutch oven food than see a million dollar fireworks show.  I'm just that simple.  We had a relaxed and wonderful holiday remembering the things that matter most, God, family,and country.  Indeed, it is hard for me to imagine one without the other.

Grandma Iris and Micah at the Dewitt Campground in Logan Canyon.

There is something about Dutch Oven food cooked over an open fire.

Much of our Fourth of July Celebration is about tradition.  Some are handed down to us, others we hand down to our own families.  Ryan and Sam are starting a new tradition of retiring a spent flag each year on the Fourth of July.

I'm not sure whether this is a new tradition, but it certainly added a patriotic aspect to the picnic.  Thanks Sam.

On Monday we attended the Parade in Hyrum.  It was our first time there.  A neighbor told us to get there early to get a place to see it.  It was a fun parade, especially for the kids.  Ada marched in it with her dance group, and we all took part in gathering up as much candy as we could, as it was thrown from the parade participants.

Taking a break from gathering up candy to let Grandpa take another picture.

Even our youngest, Tristan, could tell it was celebration time.

 

On the Hyrum parade route.  It wasn't the Rose parade, but it was fun for all, parade watchers and participants alike.

One Nation Under God