USU Homecoming Parade

This morning we went downtown to watch the USU Homecoming Parade.  Actually, I think we were anticipating meeting up with some of our awesome grand kids.  We were sitting on the side of the road in our lawn chairs ready for the parade, when all of a sudden we heard this great big, BOO.  It was Annika and Ada.  They are such sweet girls and were having a good time together.  Ada had spent the night with her cousin, Annika.  We are glad they like each other and enjoy being together.  The are such beautiful girls and always fun to be around.  They gathered up their share of candy being thrown their way at the parade,  I sometime wonder if the dentists aren't some of the leading sponsors of parades these days.  Micah and  Tristan were there also and enjoyed watching the parade and collecting candy too.  Micah even got a fresh chicken sandwich, compliments of Chick-Fillet.

Below are few of the pictures I snapped of the morning activities.

It was a little cool so Ada and Annika decided to borrow Grandma's jacket.  Yep, one jacket for two girls.  They had fun with it.  Though it did present a challenge when they were out picking up candy off the street, especially when they wanted to go in opposite directions.

Maybe the prettiest thing I saw at the parade was little Neveah.  What a doll.

Grandma even found Kate.  She was riding on a float for her little dance school.  Iris even had to cross the street since she was riding on the opposite side of the road from us.  I think she was glad Grandma made that little extra effort,

Micah and Tristan gathered up their share of candy and then took off to explore the nearby pioneer history statues located just behind  where we were watching the parade.  It is true; some of our greatest blessings call us grandma and grandpa,

Sights of Autumn in Northern Utah

I am so very grateful to be able to see.  I have always loved the month of September.  It seems that the beauties of the earth, which are truly wondrous at any time of the year, reach their peak during the fall season, beginning in September.  Yesterday, Iris and I decided to take a little sight seeing drive.  We went down through Paradise and then on over the rough road to Liberty and Eden in the Ogden Valley, from there we turned left and headed up over Monte Cristo to Woodruf, Randolf, Laketown, Garden City, and Logan Canyon before we arrived home late in the afternoon.  We enjoyed the trip and Iris was patient enough to let me stop here and there and take pictures.  You know me. I've got this twitchy finger than just has to be pushing down on a camera shutter.  The fall colors and the cloud formations were impressive and led me to some rather nice photographs in spite of my amateurish skill level and only bridge type camera.  Since digital photography came along, I've said that if you take enough pictures your bound to get a few good ones.  It's certainly not for lack of suitable material; that's for sure.  Then, this morning I got up a little earlier than usual and went for a hike up to the Wind Cave in :Logan Canyon. I've been there before a few times, but never when the hike was any more beautiful and inspiring than today. The lower reaches of Logan Canyon are simply spectacular this year, in my view.

Below are just a few of the many pictures I was able to take.  I'm sure they are not prize winners and that thousands of other people can do better, but they are inspiring to me and cause me to deeply reflect on the beauties of the world created for us.  I am grateful I can see.  I am grateful to live in an area so filled with beauty.  I am grateful for sufficient health and strength to be able to hike, albeit at a slower pace than in years gone by.  I am grateful for digital cameras and all the technology that goes along with them.  This photography hobby turns out to be an excellent excuse to stop along the mountain path and  figuratively "smell the roses."  That way I don't come home nearly as tired as I used to in days when my health and physical condition allowed me to undertake more strenuous endeavors.

View of the cloud shrouded mountains between Avon and Liberty from the rocky road we traveled over.

Clouds on the mountains east of Ogden.  The mountains are especially imposing from the back side.  The clouds and the changing autumn leaves contribute to the picture.

I played around with the panorama feature on my camera.  It's a little hard to take multiple pictures that can be seamlessly stitched together.  This is an example of one over the wide open spaces  to the south of the Monte Christo highway between Huntsville and Woodruff, Utah.  I love the wide open spaces and the special feeling I always get when I look of into the distance and can see mountains maybe as much as two hundred miles distant.

Another view of the Monte Christo Aspens and the far horizon.

There's about a half a million dollars (well, maybe not quite) worth of beef in the road.  I think maybe I should have been a cowboy.

Fall foliage overlooking Bridgerland Village above Garden City and Bear Lake.

A panorama of Bear Lake covered by cloudy skies.

Along the trail to the Wind Cave in Logan Canyon. 

The moumtains are covered  in brilliant red thanks to maple trees like this one and the cool nights and shorter days.

A view of the Wind Cave in Logan Canyon.

Along the trail with the Wind Cave barely in view in the distance.  The mountainsides are ablaze this year and probably will be for another week or two before giving way to the changing seasons in preparation for winter.

A view of Logan Canyon looking upstream from the trail to the Wind Cave.  Views such as these take a little effort, but they are certainly worth a few hours of a man's time.  We are indeed blessed to live so near to such awesome beauty. 



What is Happening?

Last Saturday and Sunday Stephen, Candice and their family made a visit at our place.  We don't see them as often as we'd like and were grateful to have them  with us for a while.  Their kids are all growing up so fast, especially Mason.  We were sitting on the living room floor with our shoes and socks off, just kind of relaxing, when someone suggested we compare feet for size, Mason and I. We turned around and put our tootsies up together.  Either I'm shrinking or he is really growing.  I think Mason is going to be one big dude before he is all done.  He just turned thirteen.  The lad is certainly not lacking for a firm foundation, and that is true in more ways than one.  Love that kid and all the rest of our precious grandchildren.

Beautiful Daughter, Beautiful Blessing, Beautiful Day, Beautiful Life

On Sunday, September 1st, many of our family, Samantha's family, and friends and associates of Ryan and Samantha and their sweet family were privileged to gather at the River Heights First Ward Church to witness the blessing of Ryan and Sam's sweet little  newborn daughter.  She was given the name of Neveah Kensington Eborn.  The name and the blessing bestowed on her were given by her father.  It was an outstanding blessing, given by  the priesthood of God with much power and dignity.  This little angel is fortunate to come into the world where she will be loved and cared for, taught and nourished physically, emotionally and especially in things pertaining to the Spirit.  It is a great challenge to be responsible for the upbringing of these pure and innocent little ones so recently living in the presence of God and now entrusted to our care in this world where trial, hardship, and testing are to be experienced in preparation for the ultimate blessings promised those who will be faithful and endure to the end.  What an honor, what a privilege, what a responsibility.  If the love and teaching they give their other children are any indication of what lies in store for Neveah, she is indeed blessed, as are all of us who will have the opportunity to know her and extend an helping hand when it is needed through out her life.  She is our twenty fifth grand child, now including twelve boys and thirteen girls.  We are all blessed beyond measure.  Our gratitude to the Source of all our blessings is great.

Neveah is just five weeks old at the time of this photograph.  Samantha says she never fusses, unless she is hungry or has a messy diaper.  Knowing Sam and Ryan, that will translate to a pretty peaceful upbringing.  She is so blessed as are the loving parents and the rest of the family.

A proud papa and rightly so.

Mother and Grandmother are likewise proud of little Neveah

Bear Lake Monster Run Two

On Friday night we went over to Bear Lake to help Jared with his second edition of the Bear Lake Monster Run.  We were to assist him in early packet pick-up at Cafe Sabor for the races he was sponsoring the next morning..  All went well for a while, but then it got rather windy and started to rain a bit so we closed up shop for the evening with the intent of finishing our job just before the race on Saturday.  We stayed the night with Reed and Lorraine in their beautiful home high on the hill at Bear Lake West overlooking the lake.  It was a full moon night (in fact a Blue Moon) and though there we still some clouds, the moon reflecting on the lake through the light and scattered clouds was a beautiful sight to behold.  They are treated to similar displays almost every night.  Lucky them. 

The next morning when we woke up it was raining.  I looked out toward the lake and it couldn't even be seen for the clouds.  At first my heart sank as we thought about the run that had been scheduled for the day and all the work that Jared had put into it.  We readied ourselves to go and do what we could.  Before we left we had a prayer that things would turn out for the best.  We've learned to trust in the Lord and his wisdom regardless of what might come.  By the time we got down to Harbor Village where the race was to begin the clouds seemed to be getting a little lighter and the rain was diminishing somewhat.  By the time the check-ins and packet pick-ups were complete it appeared that the sun would soon be breaking through.  Stephen and I went to the second aid station to do what was needed there.  By that time the sun was starting to shine,  the temperature was climbing and a light breeze stirred the air.  Before long the first runner appeared.  He was followed by the many others who had registered for the race.  The rain had settled the dust on the trails, but not much more.  The temperature was just about seventy degrees for most of the race.  That is almost ideal.  The clouds left in the sky just added to the beauty of the setting in the hills above Garden City.  The autumn leaves were just beginning to turn, which added to the scene through which the runners would pass.  There were three different divisions, a 5k, a 10k and a half marathon, something for everybody.  The half marathon course had an elevation gain of about 1100 feet so it was exerting.  All of the runners were thrilled by the change in the weather, thankful for the cool day after such a long hot summer, and impressed by the beauty that surrounded them.  It was fun to see them enjoying some good physical exercise in the great outdoors.  I was glad to be able to help out and to spend some time with Jared and Stephen.  Iris, Kinsey, Mason, Halle, and Candice also contributed to the success of the races along with others.  I think Jared was happy to have family support in his endeavor.

Below are a few pictures of this event.

Bear Lake shortly before the races began,  The sun is starting to break through after early morning showers.

The wild turkeys had to share the road with some human ones for a while during the race.

This is just a typical scene of the runners coming and going from our aid station.

Stephen with some of the runners pausing for a moment at aid station two.

Grandma Iris and Kinsey, our USU freshman Aggie.  It's hard to believe she has grown up so fast.  We got to bring her home after the races.  She is awesome and we love her very much.  She will go far in life and we are very proud of her and all she does.  It is hard to believe she is already  a college student.